Saturday, June 27

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Nautilus Aviation confirm helicopter pilot was ground crew member
World News

Nautilus Aviation confirm helicopter pilot was ground crew member

By Kristy Sexton-McGrath, Christopher Testa and Sarah Richards for the ABC A cordon in place at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns. Photo: Supplied / Queensland Ambulance Service The pilot who was killed when a helicopter crashed into a Cairns hotel roof in the early hours of Monday morning was a current ground crew employee, who had started working with the company four months ago. Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that a member of their ground staff "gained unauthorised access to [the] helicopter hangar and misappropriated one of [the] helicopters". He said the employee held a New Zealand pilot's licence but had never flown in Australia. Finn said there was a gathering of company employees on Sunday night, including off-duty-pilots,...
Shoppers going online to find bargains, convenience
Business

Shoppers going online to find bargains, convenience

Photo: 123rf Online shopping is awash with bargain hunters, citing convenience as the number one reason for buying online. A report by global data and insights organisation Pureprofile and Australia's Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) indicates 83 percent of Australian online shoppers and 77 percent of NZ online shoppers were active every month. The survey of 1000 Australian and 1000 New Zealand online shoppers during July 2024 also found an increase in the number of shoppers prioritising lower prices and discounts, while 62 percent switched products and brands in favour of cheaper alternatives. Search engines remained the most used method for shoppers, with 38 percent using price comparison sites and services, and 20 percent using major shopping events to find discounts. The top thre...
Why do people hate Colleen Hoover? We explain as It Ends With Us drops
World News

Why do people hate Colleen Hoover? We explain as It Ends With Us drops

By Yasmin Jeffery of the ABC The It Ends With Us movie adaptation is here. Here's why people hate the Colleen Hoover novel so much. Photo: Sony Pictures/Nicole Rivelli It Ends With Us looks like your average pulpy love-triangle romance novel, if you go by its pastel-pink, flower-filled cover and the genre it purports to belong to. Even the blurb of Colleen Hoover's 2016 New York Times bestseller promises a "captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters". "It Ends With Us," it continues, "is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price." Warning: This story contains mentions of rape and descriptions of domestic violence. While romance does feature in It Ends With Us, it's actually an incredibly graphic story about the intergenerational effects of intima...
Wearing earphones for prolonged periods may damage your hearing; here`s how
Health

Wearing earphones for prolonged periods may damage your hearing; here`s how

If you are someone who regularly uses earbuds or earphones, beware as its prolonged usage can significantly damage your ear health, said experts on Monday. Prolonged exposure to loud volumes through headphones or earphones significantly increases the risk of permanent hearing loss. Regularly listening at high levels can damage the delicate structures in the ear, leading to irreversible hearing impairment. It`s crucial to monitor volume levels and take breaks to protect your hearing. This risk is particularly heightened among young people who frequently use these devices for extended periods. Additionally, using noise-cancelling headphones at moderate volumes can help reduce the need to turn up the sound, further safeguarding your hearing health. Regular hearing check-ups are also recomme...
‘Energy fretting’ becomes a year-round, national event
Business

‘Energy fretting’ becomes a year-round, national event

A Southern Star Oil rig platform in Taranaki. Photo: Supplied Analysis - For the second time in three months the whiff of panic has enveloped the country's power sector. In May it was a case of plunging temperatures, rising demand, scarce supplies and the threat of lights out. The country got through without blackouts by the finest of margins. And now a scarcity of gas, and a lack of wind and rain have sent wholesale power prices skyrocketing and forced big industrial users to reduce usage and cut production, in some cases even to shut up shop. This time the world's biggest methanol maker and New Zealand's biggest gas user, Canadian based Methanex, has come to the rescue with a deal to shut its production until the end of October, and sell the gas it would have used to power generators ...
Some Islanders don’t want to leave homelands despite climate closing in – research
World News

Some Islanders don’t want to leave homelands despite climate closing in – research

Ruins of Vakaloa Resort, west Tongatapu, following TC Harold. Photo: #ToddHenryPhoto A Tongan researcher from the University of Waikato found that in the Pacific region, particularly in Tonga and Samoa, people don't want to move despite what she calls the "stigma" associated with climate change. Lora Vaioleti conducted research alongside the University of Auckland and Mana Pacific Consultants, that drew on Pacific-based researchers and methodologies. She said the research "brought up an interesting insight" that people in Samoa and Tonga want real-life support. "People obviously don't want to move; they want real, practical, hands-on support as well," the survey found, but Vaioleti said they did not know why so they followed up with some interviewees. They then found there were families...
Concerns over KiwiSaver funds invested in firms related to Israeli West Bank settlements
Business

Concerns over KiwiSaver funds invested in firms related to Israeli West Bank settlements

KiwiSaver has been criticised for continuing to invest in companies linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Photo: IRD/screenshot An ethical investment group is raising fresh concerns about KiwiSaver funds invested in companies involved in constructing and financing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Research from Mindful Money showed investment in such companies increased by 20 percent in the six months to March to $85 million. Last month, the United Nations' highest court said Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories were illegal, though it was disputed by Israel. Mindful Money chief executive Barry Coates said the charity identified a number of companies involved in settlements, covering a broad range of categories, including demolition...
Former Australian police officer accused of murdering Sydney couple has charges replaced
World News

Former Australian police officer accused of murdering Sydney couple has charges replaced

By Jamie McKinnell for ABC Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Photo: Supplied / Instagram Former NSW Police constable Beau Lamarre-Condon has appeared in a Sydney court via audio-visual link nearly six months after he was charged with the murders of Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies. The 29-year-old, clean shaven and wearing prison greens, sat quietly during a relatively procedural listing of the case in Downing Centre Local Court. He spoke only to confirm he could see and hear the magistrate, replying: "Yes, Your Honour." It was the first time the ex-officer's case has been in court since police last month laid two fresh charges which now allege the murders were domestic violence-related. He is also facing a third charge of aggravated break and enter with intent to commit an indicta...
Supermarket staff not happy at costume request
Business

Supermarket staff not happy at costume request

Photo: Ziming Li First Union says its members who are Woolworths staff aren't happy at having to pay for their own Disney costumes as part of a promotion at the supermarkets - but the chain says it's completely voluntary. Woolworths is running a new promotion in which customers are given cards featuring Disney characters. As part of that, staff are being asked whether they want to dress up as Disney characters - though they must provide the costumes themselves. The union said staff were told were to dress as accurate Disney, Marvel and Star Wars characters with licensed Disney clothing, and were not allowed to dress as DC characters or mix their costumes. Staff have been involved in industrial action with the company over pay and staffing levels. First Union national secretary of retail ...
Isaac Hayes’ family threaten to sue Trump for $3m over use of song
World News

Isaac Hayes’ family threaten to sue Trump for $3m over use of song

By Mark Savage, BBC News Isaac Hayes was one of the most prolific and successful soul musicians of the 1960s and 70s. Photo: FRAZER HARRISON / Getty Images via AFP The family of the late soul singer Isaac Hayes has ordered Donald Trump to stop playing the star's song 'Hold On, I'm Coming' at his campaign rallies. A letter sent to Trump and his team, and shared by Hayes' son on social media, threatens to sue the former US president if he does not comply by 16 August. The family is also demanding US$3 million (NZD$4.9m) in licensing fees for the campaign's repeated use of the song between 2022 and 2024. The song, which was made famous by soul duo Sam and Dave, is a regular feature of Trump's rallies, often playing before and after his speeches. Hayes composed the song in 1966 with Dave...