Saturday, May 2

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Ali Fazal roped in as lead with Samantha Prabhu in Raj & DK’s ‘Rakht Brahmand`
Entertainment, Movies

Ali Fazal roped in as lead with Samantha Prabhu in Raj & DK’s ‘Rakht Brahmand`

Following the success of his beloved character of Guddu Pandit in ‘Mirzapur 3’, actor Ali Fazal is set to join the cast of ‘Rakht Brahmand’ as the lead opposite Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The ensemble cast also includes Aditya Roy Kapoor, and Wamiqa Gabbi in key roles. The period drama/fantasy series ‘Rakht Brahmand’ is helmed by the visionary duo Raj & and DK, while the series will be directed by Rahi Anil Barve of ‘Tumbbad’ fame.  This will be the next major project for Ali following the anticipation of the release of Anurag Basu’s ‘Metro In Dino’, ‘Lahore 1947’ produced by Aamir Khan, and ‘Thug Life’ being directed by Mani Ratnam. A source revealed, “The project is a marvellous vision of Raj & DK, it’s definitely a step forward in its genre of fantasy drama. The cast has finally al...
The Charlotte Dujardin equestrian’ case rocking the Olympics – explained
World News

The Charlotte Dujardin equestrian’ case rocking the Olympics – explained

By Katie Falkingham for BBC Charlotte Dujardin. Photo: photosport With the Paris 2024 Olympics just days away, the equestrian world has been rocked by the news of Charlotte Dujardin's withdrawal, and subsequent provisional suspension, after footage emerged of her "excessively" whipping a horse. The video, since obtained by the BBC, shows Dujardin repeatedly striking the horse with a long whip around its legs. Here, BBC Sport recaps what happened, the reaction, and looks at what happens next. Who is Charlotte Dujardin? Dujardin, 39, made her name at the London 2012 Olympics, when she won individual and team dressage gold on Valegro. Four years later, they won individual gold and team silver, before Dujardin sealed double bronze on Gio at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Dujardin is also a two...
Here’s why it could get harder to extend your Afterpay
Business

Here’s why it could get harder to extend your Afterpay

Afterpay plans to introduce credit checks and credit reporting. File photo. Photo: Afterpay Shoppers may find it harder to borrow money from buy now pay later (BNPL) providers over the coming months, one banking expert is warning. From 2 September, BNPL providers will be required to credit check borrowers, and report to credit agencies. Afterpay said it would introduce credit checks from this week and credit reporting from next month. Head of international policy Michael Saadat said New Zealand would be the first country with BNPL regulations of that sort, but Afterpay hoped that other countries would follow. He said the "big change" for customers would be the credit check requirement. Instead of an automatic $600 limit for new borrowers, which was then adjusted as they developed a hist...
Benjamin Netanyahu speech draws protests to the US Capitol
World News

Benjamin Netanyahu speech draws protests to the US Capitol

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint meeting of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives at the US Capitol. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/AFP By Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick, Reuters Dozens of Democratic lawmakers skipped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress Thursday morning, expressing dismay over the thousands of civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis from Israel's campaign in Gaza. Thousands of demonstrators took to streets near the Capitol to protest Netanyahu's appearance amid the tightest security since the 6 January, 2021, attack. The Capitol building was surrounded by high fencing, with a heavy police presence. Given a standing ovation on his arrival, the longtime Israeli leader delivered his spee...
Almost half of retail businesses unsure of survival before inflation drop
Business

Almost half of retail businesses unsure of survival before inflation drop

Photo: Supplied More retailers are worried they will have to shut up shop if tough economic conditions continue but hopes of rate cuts might help turn the mood around. Retail NZ's latest member survey shows almost 43 percent are unsure if their business will survive the next 12 months, up from 32 percent the previous quarter. Meanwhile more than 70 percent of retailers did not meet sales targets this quarter. Chief executive Carolyn Young said it shows deepening pessimism about trading conditions. But she says the survey closed before the Reserve Bank changed its tone on the official cash rate, which could make a difference to next quarter's results. "So it may be that we have seen the worst, and we might be on the road to recovery and that's what we're really hope because more and more ...
Thousands of Bougainville residents support lawsuit against mining giant
World News

Thousands of Bougainville residents support lawsuit against mining giant

Bougainvillean residents say Rio Tinto is responsible for the large scale environmental and social harm. Photo: 123rf There are now 4500 Bougainvillean residents backing a legal suit against mining giant Rio Tinto. This is an additional 1500 people from the autonomous Papua New Guinea region joining the action since it was filed in May this year. Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama said the lawsuit was disappointing and was pursued by those people acting against Bougainville's interests. The government was not backing it in any way, shape or form, he said. The claimants are seeking billions of dollars in compensation from Rio Tinto which operated the Panguna copper and gold mine in the 1970s and 1980s, before it was forced to shut by civil war. The mine was at the heart of that war w...
New Northland expressway plan gets thumbs-up from businesses
Business

New Northland expressway plan gets thumbs-up from businesses

The southern end of the Brynderwyn Hills road construction project, 2024. Photo: Supplied/ NZTA A Northland businessman says a decision to build a Northland expressway as one big public-private partnership has given him hope it will be completed during his lifetime. This week, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the three separate Roads of National Significance making up the planned expressway from Warkworth to Whangārei would be combined into one large project delivered in three phases. It would be built as a public-private partnership (PPP), potentially using fast-track legislation or changes to the Public Works Act to further speed up construction. Riki Kinnaird, co-owner of Russell's Duke of Marlborough Hotel, said many businesses had been hit hard by the lack of a reliable tr...
Samoa police capture suspected double murderer following large manhunt
World News

Samoa police capture suspected double murderer following large manhunt

Samoan Police have paid tribute to Detective Sargent Perite for his"unwavering dedication to upholding the law and protecting the vulnerable". Photo: Facebook / Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services An alleged double murderer hiding in dense bush was caught and arrested on Tuesday following a large manhunt in Samoa. The 58-year-old farmer is accused of shooting and killing of two men, including a lead homicide detective. Samoan police confirmed he was captured in Fasito'o, on the northwest coast of Upolu. A 20-strong team of detectives and tactical unit police carried out the search for the accused gunman. Detective Sergeant Peniamina Perite was investigating an horrific family dispute and was trying to arrest the suspect when he was shot with a .22 rifle, police said. Depu...
Fonterra proposes job cuts, outsourcing labour from overseas
Business

Fonterra proposes job cuts, outsourcing labour from overseas

Fonterra is proposing job cuts at its Waikato headquarters. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Dairy giant Fonterra is proposing cutting jobs at its Waikato headquarters as it outsources labour to overseas. Last week, finance staff at the central Hamilton office were informed about proposed changes as part of an operating model review for the dairy co-operative. Its incoming chief finance officer Andrew Murray said part of the proposed changes to finance operations included outsourcing work to India and the Philippines. "[It] includes co-sourcing elements of our transactional work with an existing partner who has facilities in Bangalore and Manila," Murray said. "The changes... relate to us optimising core operational efficiency to support the entire business." He said the proposed chan...
Why Wendy houses are having a serious fashion moment
Life Style

Why Wendy houses are having a serious fashion moment

How chic is your Wendy house? Micro mansions: Prada Uomo spring summer 2025 show spacePradaForget your middle-class aspirations of a bouji garden office duplex — fashion has decreed the humble Wendy house to be the external living area flex you didn’t know your toddler (and, er, David Cameron) was an early adopter of. At Prada’s June menswear outing the models trotted out of a little white wooden house to the sounds of blaring techno (nursery rhymes are not the vibe); over at Sacai, Abe Chitose built a wooden house-like framework structure for her show set; Bianca Saunders featured a T-shirt with her ‘happy home recipe’ (one barrel of laughter, five spoons of hope, two spoons of tenderness) emblazoned on the front with a naif drawing of a house to accompany it; while at Dior, Kim Jones le...