Monday, October 26

Blog

Tennis players, poisoned toothpaste and explosive phones: Israel’s long history of assassination plots
19Sep By No Comments
World News

Tennis players, poisoned toothpaste and explosive phones: Israel’s long history of assassination plots

By Rebecca Armitage and Basel Hindeleh for the ABC Thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies have blown up in a coordinated attack in Lebanon. Photo: AFP / Anwar Amro It was early afternoon in Lebanon when pagers clipped to the belts of thousands of men beeped simultaneously. Some were shopping for groceries, others were winding their motorbikes through heavy traffic, but the men apparently had one thing in common. They all appear to have been linked to the Lebanese militant Shia Muslim group and major political party, Hezbollah. The pagers flashed a message that looked to be from Hezbollah's leadership, according to the New York Times. But then, according to witnesses and CCTV footage, the beepers became extremely hot and suddenly exploded, leaving horrifying wounds to the stomachs, ha...
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What’s the deal with ‘free money’ from power companies?
19Sep By No Comments
Business

What’s the deal with ‘free money’ from power companies?

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King From time to time throughout the year, you might hear about people in a certain part of the country getting a discount on their power bills - or a credit in their bank accounts. Here's how that works, and why some people miss out. Community and consumer trusts often own shares in their local lines company. Wellington Electricity and Powerco are notable exceptions. Each year, the lines company may pay a dividend to shareholders, or the trust may have its own accumulated funds, and this money is paid out to the trust's beneficiaries - consumers of power using the network. For consumers in parts of Auckland, that process is underway at the moment, delivering a $350 power bill credit or bank account payment for people served by Vector in the Entrust area of ...
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Ashutosh Gowariker turns cop for Marathi series `Manvat Murders`
19Sep By No Comments
Entertainment, Movies

Ashutosh Gowariker turns cop for Marathi series `Manvat Murders`

It doesn’t matter whether he is behind the camera or in front of it, Ashutosh Gowariker feels at home in both places. What matters to the actor-filmmaker is how compelling the script is. Evidently, Manvat Murders delivers on that count. The upcoming Marathi web series—an adaptation of late IPS officer Ramakant S Kulkarni’s book, Footprints on the Sands of Crime—chronicles the kidnapping and murders of women that took place between 1972 and 1974 in Maharashtra’s Manwath village. Gowariker steps into the shoes of the late cop, who led the investigation. How was it facing the camera for the SonyLIV thriller barely a year after his last acting gig, Kaala Paani (2023)? More than anything, Gowariker feels “fortunate” to have played Kulkarni, who was also known for cracking the Raman Raghav case...
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Three things that might bring home loan rates down faster
19Sep By No Comments
Business

Three things that might bring home loan rates down faster

Photo: RNZ A number of factors may be converging that could bring interest rates down more quickly - and two-year fixed home loans to at or below 5 percent by the middle of next year, commentators say. The banks have been cutting interest rates in recent weeks, taking two-year fixed rates below 5.8 percent, from a peak of about 7 percent late last year. Commentators say developments offshore and domestically could help keep that pressure on. Bank competition Housing market turnover is low, which may make banks keener to compete for the smaller number of customers who might be looking for a home loan. But David Cunningham, chief executive at mortgage broking firm Squirrel, said although it seemed that the banks were vying to have a market-leading rate, the situation couldn't be described ...
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IIT Madras’ new AI-based ultrasound scanner to detect sports injury on-field
19Sep By No Comments
Health

IIT Madras’ new AI-based ultrasound scanner to detect sports injury on-field

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed an indigenous and portable Point-of-Care-Ultrasound (POCUS) scanner that can diagnose sports injuries on-field.  The POCUS, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) can potentially allow for on-field diagnosis of injuries, with immediate assessment of the extent of injury that will allow for medical professionals to take a call on whether to permit the sportsperson to continue playing. The novel scanner has a wide range of applications in sports medicine, and it has the benefits of safety (no radiation) and sufficient resolution compared to other modalities, said the team. “We observed a current technological gap and a need for a point-of-care device for injury management and rehabilitation of elite athletes wi...
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The Warehouse facing charges over Roo Crew Take-Apart Vehicle
19Sep By No Comments
Business

The Warehouse facing charges over Roo Crew Take-Apart Vehicle

The Warehouse has issued a recall notice for the Roo Crew Take-Apart Vehicle, saying its small parts pose a choking hazard for children under three. Photo: The Warehouse / Supplied The Warehouse is facing criminal charges over a children's toy. The Commerce Commission said it would soon file charges in the District Court over the Roo Crew Take-Apart Vehicle toys, which had been sold at the retailer from March 2021. The Warehouse had issued a voluntary recall for the product. Commerce Commission principal compliance adviser Grant McIntosh said it was concerned about the risk the toys could pose to small children and was urging anyone who may have bought them to return them. "Businesses must ensure that the products they supply comply with legal requirements and are safe for the intended ...
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New Zealand supports UN resolution demanding Israel leave Gaza
19Sep By No Comments
World News

New Zealand supports UN resolution demanding Israel leave Gaza

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said its vote for the UN resolution was a signal of New Zealand's strong support for a two-state solution. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone New Zealand was one of 124 countries that supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution on Thursday. The UN adopted a Palestinian-drafted resolution that demanded Israel end "its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" within 12 months. There were 43 countries that abstained, while Israel, the United States and 12 others voted against it. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Israel-Palestine conflict had gone on for far too long. He said the resolution wasn't perfect and New Zealand had expressed concerns with some of the text, including the 12-month timeframe which Peters said was unrealist...
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Economy goes backwards as GDP falls 0.2%
18Sep By No Comments
Business

Economy goes backwards as GDP falls 0.2%

Photo: 123rf.com Economy shrinks 0.2% in June quarter Growth contracts 0.5% for the year ended June December quarter 2023 revised from a fall to flat, meaning NZ not in recession Households spend on food but not takeaways, cars, mobile phones Agriculture, construction, retail weaker; manufacturing, IT and health services grow The economy went backwards mid-year as a slide in retailing, construction, agriculture, and service industries stymied growth. Stats NZ data shows gross domestic product the broad measure of economic growth fell 0.2 percent for the three months ended June, with annual growth of -0.5 percent. Revisions to the December 2023 quarter changed a small contraction to flat, meaning the economy had not fallen into recession as previously thought. The numbers were better th...
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US central bank kicks off interest rate cuts
18Sep By No Comments
Business

US central bank kicks off interest rate cuts

US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, Photo: AFP / Mandel Ngan US central bank kicks off easing cycle Fed's policy rate lowered to 4.75 percent - 5.00 percent range Policymakers see another 50 basis points of cuts in 2024 One member of Fed board dissents; preferred smaller cut The US central bank has cut interest rates by a bigger-than-expected 0.5 percentage points in its first reduction in more than four years. The Federal Reserve's benchmark rate was cut to a range of 4.7to 5-5 percent, after being held at a 23-year high since July 2023. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said the large cut was a "strong" move but was not in response to growing worries about the US economy and the labour market in particular. "We don't think we are behind," he said. "We think this is timely b...
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Trampers face being stranded on PNG’s Kokoda Track
18Sep By No Comments
World News

Trampers face being stranded on PNG’s Kokoda Track

By Marian Faa, ABC Papua New Guinea correspondent Traditional owners at Nauro village are claiming they're owed more than A$15 million in unpaid compensation. Photo: WikiCommons Trampers face being stranded on the Kokoda Track after landowners formed a blockade and authorities closed the route. Traditional owners started the blockade claiming they're owed compensation from the Papua New Guinea government. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs says it's monitoring the situation closely as a tour operator warns the hikers are exhausted and don't have enough food if they turn back. There are concerns for dozens of Australian and New Zealander hikers on the Kokoda Track after local landowners set up a blockade, forcing authorities to suddenly close the famous route in Papua New Gui...
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