Month: August 2022

Categories
Sports

Full squads, team sheets, line ups, ins and outs, changes, injuries, SuperCoach, news, fixture, games

Full squads, team sheets, line ups, ins and outs, changes, injuries, SuperCoach, news, fixture, games

Carlton has omitted Tom De Koning, Will Setterfield and Paddy Dow for Saturday’s must-win game against Melbourne.

The Blues bring Marc Pittonet back into the side along with Liam Stocker, while they’ve named Patrick Cripps in the center as he awaits his fate at the AFL Appeals Board.

The Western Bulldogs have omitted Alex Keath for a second time this season, with Ryan Gardner coming into the side in his stead, while Lachie Hunter and Stefan Martin return.

Key forward Josh Bruce has been managed.

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Meanwhile, North Melbourne has made a couple of selection statements, with Hugh Greenwood, Jason Horne-Francis and Josh Walker omitted from the side that will take on Adelaide on Saturday.

As confirmed on Wednesday, veteran midfielder Ben Cunnington will play his first AFL game in 13 months, with Ben McKay and Jackson Archer also returning.

Dangerfield likely to face Suns | 01:17

Geelong has been boosted by the return of quartet Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Mark Blicavs and Gary Rohan to face the Suns. But they’ve managed Mitch Duncan, Isaac Smith and Mark O’Connor, while Luke Dahlhaus (omitted) and Jon Ceglar (medi-sub) also haven’t been named.

Brisbane has turned to a pair of Jack’s — Jaxon Prior and Jackson Payne — to replace injured duo Marcus Adams and Callum Ah Chee for their primetime match-up against the Saints.

St Kilda veteran Dan Hannebery has been ‘managed’ for Friday night’s clash against the Lions after suffering an ankle injury last round.

Fremantle has opted to bring Sam Switkowski straight into its senior team, with the small pressure forward to play his first AFL match since Round 13.

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Bomber Dylan Shiel, as well as Power forward duo Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades have been named for Sunday’s Essendon-Port Adelaide clash, but star veteran Robbie Gray has been managed.

Shane Edwards (Richmond), Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), Peter Ladhams (Sydney) and Ollie Henry (Collingwood) have all been named on the extended benches for their respective Sunday matches.

ROUND 22 AFL TEAMS

ST KILDA v BRISBANE

Friday, August 12, 7:50pm at Marvel Stadium

SAINTS

B: D.Howard, J.Webster, C.Wilkie

HB: J.Sinclair, J.Lienert, B.Paton

C: M.Wood, B.Crouch, N.Wanganeen-Milera

HF: B.Long, B.Hill, T.Membrey

F: C.Sharman, M.King, J.Higgins

FOLL: R.Marshall, S.Ross, J.Steele – C

I/C: M. Windhager, H. Clark, M. Owens, D. Butler

EMER: Z.Jones, T.Campbell, D.Joyce, R.Byrnes

IN: J.Lienert, N.Wanganeen-Milera

OUT: J.Battle (Injured), D.Hannebery (Managed), Z.Jones (Omitted)

LIONS

B: D.Gardiner, J.Payne, D.Rich

HB: B.Starcevich, H.Andrews, K.Coleman

C: Z.Bailey, D.Zorko – C, H.McCluggage

HF: C.Rayner, E.Hipwood, L.McCarthy

F: D.McStay, J.Daniher, C.Cameron

FOLL: O. McInerney, L. Neale, J. Berry

I/C: J.Lyons, J.Prior, R.Mathieson, N.Answerth

EMER: K.Lohmann, J.Tunstill, D.Fort, R.Lester

IN: J.Payne, J.Prior

OUT: M.Adams (Injured), C.Ah Chee (Injured), M.Robinson (Managed)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v GWS GIANTS

Saturday, August 13, 1:45pm at Marvel Stadium

BULLDOGS

B: E. Richards, R. Gardner, Z. Cordy

HB: C.Daniel, S.Darcy, B.Dale

C: J. Macrae, T. Liberatore, B. Smith

HF: R.West, J.Ugle-Hagan, J.Dunkley

F: C. Weightman, A. Naughton, L. Vandermeer

FOLL: T.English, M.Bontempelli – C, A.Treloar

I/C: L.Hunter, S.Martin, L.McNeil, B.Williams

EMER: J.Schache, R.Garcia, R.Smith, A.Keath

IN: R.Gardner, L.Hunter, S.Martin

OUT: A.Keath (Omitted), R.Garcia (Omitted), J.Bruce (Managed), T.McLean (Medi-Sub)

GIANTS

B: I. Cumming, S. Taylor, N. Haynes

HB: A. Kennedy, L. Keeffe, H. Perryman

C: L. Ash, J. Kelly – C, L. Whitfield

HF: C.Brown, H.Himmelberg, J.Riccardi

F: T. Bruhn, J. Hogan, D. Lloyd

FOLL: K.Briggs, J.Hopper, S.Coniglio

I/C: T. Green, L. Aleer, C. Ward, J. Stein

EMER: C.Hamilton, X.O’Halloran, C.Fleeton, W.Derksen

IN: C.Brown, J.Stein

OUT: T. Greene (Injured), J. Peatling (Injured), B. Preuss (Injured)

ADELAIDE v NORTH MELBOURNE

Saturday, August 13, 2:10pm at Adelaide Oval

CROWS

B: J. Worrell, J. Butts, T. Doedee

HB: B.Smith – C, N.Murray, J.Dawson

C: M. Hinge, R. Laird, C. Jones

HF: S. McAdam, D. Fogarty, J. Soligo

F: W.Milera, T.Walker, L.Murphy

FOLL: R.O’Brien, S.Berry, B.Keays

I/C: R. Thilthorpe, P. Parnell, N. McHenry, H. Schoenberg

EMER: M.Crouch, B.Davis, J.Rowe, E.Himmelberg

IN: T. Doedee, R. Thilthorpe

OUT: W.Hamill (Injured), E.Himmelberg (Omitted), B.Davis (Medi-Sub)

KANGAROO

B: K.Dawson, B.McKay, La.Young

HB: A.Hall, A.Corr, L.McDonald

C: B. Scott, L. Davies-Uniacke, T. Powell

HF: J.Stephenson, C.Zurhaar, J.Ziebell – C

F: P.Curtis, N.Larkey, C.Coleman-Jones

FOLL: T.Goldstein, J.Simpkin, B.Cunnington

I/C: J.Anderson, C.Taylor, J.Archer, C.Lazzaro

EMER: A.Bosenavulagi, H.Greenwood, J.Walker, J.Goater

IN: B.McKay, B.Cunnington, J.Archer

OUT: H.Greenwood (Omitted), J.Horne-Francis (Omitted), J.Walker (Omitted), F.Perez (Medi-Sub)

GOLD COAST v GEELONG

Saturday, August 13, 4:35pm at Metricon Stadium

SUNS

B: M.Andrew, S.Collins, J.Farrar

HB: J.Lukosius, C.Graham, B.Ellis

C: S.Lemmens, T.Miller, E.Hollands

HF: B.Ainsworth, M.Chol, I.Rankine

F: M. Rosas, L. Casboult, D. Swallow

FOLL: J.Witts – C, M.Rowell, N.Anderson

I/C: A.Davies, S.Day, S.Flanders, D.Macpherson

EMER: R.Atkins, J.Bowes, B.Fiorini, J.Sharp

IN: S.Day, S.Flanders

OUT: J.Sharp (Omitted), N.Holman (Injured), R.Atkins (Medi-Sub)

CATS

B: Z. Guthrie, S. De Koning, J. Bews

HB: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Stewart, J.Henry

C: G.Miers, P.Dangerfield, J.Selwood – C

HF: B.Close, J.Cameron, T.Stengle

F: S.Menegola, T.Hawkins, T.Atkins

FOLL: R.Stanley, C.Guthrie, B.Parfitt

I/C: Z.Tuohy, M.Blicavs, M.Holmes, G.Rohan

EMER: M.Knevitt, E.Ratugolea, L.Dahlhaus, M.O’Connor

IN: P.Dangerfield, J.Selwood, M.Blicavs, G.Rohan

OUT: L.Dahlhaus (Omitted), M.Duncan (Managed), I.Smith (Managed), M.O’Connor (Managed), J.Ceglar (Medi-Sub)

MELBOURNE v CARLTON

Saturday, August 13, 7:25pm at MCG

DEMONS

B: T. Rivers, J. Lever, H. Petty

HB: T.Sparrow, S.May, J.Jordon

C: C.Salem, C.Oliver, E.Langdon

HF: A.Brayshaw, B.Fritsch, A.Neal-Bullen

F: C. Spargo, B. Brown, K. Pickett

FOLL: M. Gawn – C, J. Viney, C. Petracca

I/C: L.Jackson, M.Hibberd, J.Melksham, J.Hunt

EMER: J.Harmes, B.Laurie, A.Tomlinson, J.van Rooyen

IN:None

OUT: J.Harmes (Medi-Sub)

BLUES

B: A. Saad, J. Weitering, S. Docherty

HB: C.Marchbank, M.McGovern, Le.Young

C: L.O’Brien, P.Cripps – C, J.Newnes

HF: Z.Fisher, H.McKay, J.Silvagni

F: M.Owies, C.Curnow, C.Durdin

FOLL: M.Pittonet, A.Cerra, S.Walsh

I/C: L.Stocker, M.Cottrell, J.Martin, J.Motlop

EMER: P.Dow, B.Kemp, T.De Koning, W.Setterfield

IN: M. Pittonet, L. Stocker

OUT: W.Setterfield (Omitted), T.De Koning (Omitted), P.Dow (Omitted)

FREMANTLE v WEST COAST

Saturday, August 13, 7:40pm at Optus Stadium

DOCKERS

B: B. Walker, B. Cox, J. Clark

HB: H.Young, A.Pearce – C, L.Ryan

C: J.Aish, A.Brayshaw, B.Acres

HF: L.Schultz, S.Switkowski, D.Tucker

F: M.Frederick, R.Lobb, M.Walters

FOLL: S.Darcy, W.Brodie, C.Serong

I/C: N.O’Driscoll, G.Logue, D.Mundy, H.Chapman

EMER: B. Banfield, L. Meek, L. Henry, E. Hughes

IN: S.Switkowski

OUT: M. Taberner (Injured), L. Henry (Medi-Sub)

EAGLES

B: S.Hurn, T.Barrass, R.Bazzo

HB: L.Duggan, H.Edwards, J.Jones

C: L.Foley, L.Shuey – C, A.Gaff

HF: J.Cripps, J.Darling, Z.Langdon

F: J.Waterman, H.Dixon, L.Ryan

FOLL: N.Naitanui, J.Redden, X.O’Neill

I/C: S.Petrevski-Seton, B.Hough, J.Nelson, J.Rotham

EMER: I.Winder, B.Williams, G.Clark, P.Naish

IN: H.Dixon, J.Nelson, J.Rotham

OUT: B.Williams (Omitted), T.Kelly (Suspension), J.Kennedy (Managed), W.Rioli (Personal Reason)

RICHMOND v HAWTHORN

Sunday, August 14, 1:10pm at MCG

TIGERS

B: N.Broad, N.Balta, R.Tarrant

HB: L.Baker, N.Vlastuin, D.Rioli

C: M. Pickett, T. Cotchin, K. McIntosh

HF: J.Castagna, J.Short, S.Bolton

F: J.Riewoldt, N.Cumberland, T.Lynch

FOLL: T.Nankervis – C, D.Prestia, T.Sonsie

I/C (from): J.Ross, B.Miller, M.Rioli, J.Gibcus, J.Graham, S.Edwards, I.Soldo, R.Mansell

IN: S. Edwards, I. Soldo, R. Mansell

OUT:None

hawks

B: J.Sicily, J.Blanck, D.Grainger-Barras

HB: J.Scrimshaw, B.Hardwick, W.Day

C: J. Ward, C. Nash, H. Morrison

HF: J.Impey, D.Moore, J.O’Meara

F: J.Koschitzke, J.Gunston, L.Breust

FOLL: B.McEvoy – C, J.Newcombe, T.Mitchell

I/C (from): E.Jeka, F.Maginness, J.Serong, L.Shiels, C.Macdonald, J.Callow, D.Howe, J.Saunders

IN: L.Shiels, J.Callow, D.Howe, J.Saunders

OUT: S.Butler (Omitted)

SYDNEY SWANS v COLLINGWOOD

Sunday, August 14, 3:20pm at SCG

SWANS

B: D.Rampe, T.McCartin, R.Fox

HB: J.Lloyd, P.McCartin, O.Florent

C: R.Clarke, J.Rowbottom, C.Mills – C

HF: W. Hayward, S. Reid, E. Gulden

F: T. Papley, L. Franklin, I. Heeney

FOLL: T.Hickey, C.Warner, L.Parker

I/C (from): N.Blakey, L.McDonald, D.Stephens, J.McInerney, J.Bell, W.Gould, P.Ladhams, B.Campbell

IN: W.Gould, J.Bell, P.Ladhams, B.Campbell

OUT: B. Ronke (Medi-Sub)

MAGPIES

B: N.Murphy, D.Moore, J.Howe

HB: S. Pendlebury – C, I. Quaynor, J. Crisp

C: W. Hoskin-Elliott, B. Maynard, S. Sidebottom

HF: J.Elliott, A.Johnson, N.Daicos

F: B.McCreery, B.Mihocek, J.De Goey

FOLL: D.Cameron, J.Daicos, P.Lipinski

I/C (from): T.Bianco, J.Noble, O.Henry, C.Brown, W.Kelly, J.Ginnivan, J.Carmichael, M.Cox

IN: O.Henry, C.Brown, W.Kelly

OUT:None

ESSENDON v PORT ADELAIDE

Sunday, August 14, 4:40pm at Marvel Stadium

BOMBER

B: Z. Merrett, J. Laverde, B. Zerk-Thatcher

HB: M. Redman, J. Kelly, N. Hind

C: N.Martin, D.Shiel, D.Heppell – C

HF: M. Guelfi, S. Durham, A. Perkins

F: P.Wright, J.Stringer, J.Stewart

FOLL: S.Draper, A.McGrath, D.Parish

I/C (from): J.Ridley, Z.Reid, B.Hobbs, T.Cutler, M.D’Ambrosio, J.Caldwell, N.Bryan, K.Langford

IN: D.Shiel, Z.Reid, T.Cutler, J.Caldwell, N.Bryan

OUT: W.Snelling (Injured), H.Jones (Omitted)

POWER

B: R.Burton, T.Jonas – C, J.Burgoyne

HB: D.Byrne-Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston

C: K.Amon, T.Boak, X.Duursma

HF: Z. Butters, M. Georgiades, K. Farrell

F: T. Marshall, C. Dixon, S. Powell-Pepper

FOLL: J.Finlayson, O.Wines, C.Rozee

I/C (from): T.McKenzie, M.Bergman, R.Bonner, W.Drew, O.Lord, J.McEntee, T.Dumont, J.Mead

IN: M.Georgiades, T.Marshall, O.Lord, T.Dumont, J.Mead

OUT: R.Gray (Managed), B.Teakle (Omitted)

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Categories
Australia

Childcare sector reaching crisis point over workforce shortages and low wages

Woman wearing a blue shirt and hoodie with glasses.

Community childcare center director Rebecca Stiles is close to breaking point.

After 27 years in the industry, she’s now contemplating what was once unthinkable – joining the exodus from childcare and education.

“That’s actually heartbreaking, to think that crosses my mind, to move on to somewhere else,” she told 7.30.

The reason for her growing stress is staff shortages at her community center at Hillbank, in Adelaide.

“Sometimes I wonder how I cope,” she said.

“I do find I spend most of my time staring at my roster at my desk, wondering what I’m going to do for that afternoon or the next day.”

It’s a similar story across the country.

“It was critical before COVID,” said Elizabeth Death, the chief executive of the industry body Early Learning and Child Care Australia (ELACCA).

“It’s now even more dire.”

There is broad agreement about the root cause of the problem – wages in the sector are just too low.

Working in the sector requires at least a diploma qualification or a bachelor’s degree, but many early childcare educators receive little more than the minimum wage of around $24 an hour.

headshot of Helen Gibbons giving an interview.
Helen Gibbons says early educators have “voted with their feet”, leading to huge vacancies in centers across the country.(ABCNews/7.30)

“You can have a degree and work in an early education setting, and exactly the same degree will allow you to earn at least 30 per cent more if you worked in a school,” said Helen Gibbons, the director of early education at the United Workers Union (UWU).

“It’s just obscene.

“They’ve [early educators] really voted with their feet over the past six months.

“I don’t think there’s a center in the country that is not currently advertising for an early educator.”

Brisbane early childhood teacher Samira Shire said she felt undervalued.

Woman wearing a gray hijab.
Brisbane early childhood teacher Samira Shire has been working in the industry since 2014.(ABC News: Chris Gillette)

“Our wages are one of the lowest in the country — I can’t say it’s the lowest, but it’s really quite close,” she said.

“The bit that bugs me when I read comments from the community is always how people think that we are not qualified, how people think that only a percentage of a center is working as qualified educators and the rest are working without qualification — that’s not the case.”

Impact on children

The high turnover of staff can have a devastating effect on the quality of care and education, according to developmental psychologist Karen Thorpe from the University of Queensland’s Brain Institute.

“Some of our research that we’ve recently reported shows that emotional attachment, and that emotional support and emotional quality of care, has effects on children’s language development, but also we’ve done some data linkage to show it has effects right through to secondary education,” she said.

Woman with short hair wearing a gray jacket and pearl necklace.
Karen Thorpe says early educators are “seriously important” in a child’s development. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)

Professor Thorpe said there was an overwhelmingly strong case for the federal government to invest more money into early childhood care and learning in order to improve wages and conditions.

“We need to more strongly advocate that these are not just childcare workers,” she said.

“They are seriously important educators at the most serious point in human development.”

Measures to improve pay

Apart from providing more federal funds, one of the obstacles to improving pay rates in the sector is the present structure of Australia’s industrial relations system, according to gender pay expert Meg Smith from the University of Western Sydney.

“There’s only been one successful equal remuneration order in the past 20 years, and I think that speaks to some of the challenges,” she said.

However, Dr Smith said she was encouraged by the Albanese government’s pledge to strengthen the gender equity section of the Fair Work Commission and supporting legislation.

“I am optimistic if those changes are to be implemented and to have applications across multiple paths of the Fair Work Act, I would be optimistic that there’s a capacity for change,” she said.

Two female children choose from a tin of colored texts
The Albanian government has pledged $5.4 billion to make childcare more accessible. (ABC North Queensland: Nathalie Fernbach)

The UWU has organized a national shutdown of the early childhood education and care sector on September 7 to highlight these wage issues and is also calling for a more substantial restructuring of the industry.

A recent Australia Institute report found 77 per cent of service providers are private, for-profit operators — one of the highest rates among OECD countries.

“To achieve the aim that ECEC [Early Childhood Education and Care] in Australia becomes an essential service, like Medicare, it has to be delivered more on a basis of public need than private profit,” Andrew Scott of Deakin University and convenor of the Australia Institute’s Nordic Policy Center said.

“To sustain adequate public expenditure on childcare, and to avoid further escalating fees for parents in Australia, there will need to be less reliance in future on paying subsidies to private, for-profit operators.”

The UWU’s Helen Gibbons said there was a “creeping commercialization” in the sector.

Three pictures of children's artwork hanging on a string.
Australia has one of the highest rates of for-profit early education operators among OECD countries.(ABC News: Chris Gillette)

“We have seen an increasing number of for-profit providers – private companies and private equity – making a lot of money off taxpayers,” she said.

“And it’s going to profit, it’s not going to little children … [it’s] certainly not going to early educators.

“It’s a crazy system.”

ELACCA’s Elizabeth Death disagrees.

She said Australia had strict quality controls that allowed a mixed market to operate effectively, and the government’s immediate focus should be on fixing the staffing crisis.

“I think the most important factor here is not trying to turn the sector upside down at a time we have a workforce crisis, [and] at a time our children need the best, most consistent education care.”

Watch this story on 7.30 on ABC TV and ABC iview.

.

Categories
US

Trump news – latest: FBI boss reveals ‘deplorable’ Mar-a-Lago threats as former president pleads Fifth Amendment in NY

Trump news – latest: FBI boss reveals 'deplorable' Mar-a-Lago threats as former president pleads Fifth Amendment in NY

Eric Trump blames Biden administration after FBI raid on Mar-A-Lago

FBI chief Christopher Wray has criticized “deplorable” and “dangerous” threats circulating online against federal agents and the Justice Department after the agency’s raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.

“I’m always concerned about threats to law enforcement,” Mr Wray said. “Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter who you’re upset with.”

As the fallout from the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago continues with rumors of a Trumpworld informant tipping off authorities, Mr Trump yesterday pleaded the fifth amendment in his sworn deposition to the long-running New York State probe into his real estate dealings.

Mr Trump has repeatedly condemned the investigation as a politically motivated “witch hunt”. His children Ivanka and Donald Jr both recently gave depositions in the civil investigation after months fighting against subpoenas for their testimony.

Meanwhile, reports have revealed that before its raid on Monday, the FBI had already obtained surveillance tapes from Mar-a-Lago via a subpoena to the Trump Organization. The former president has claimed without providing proof that agents may have planted evidence at his home.

1660210200

Has someone in Trump’s inner circle flipped?

With each passing day, it becomes harder for a casual observer to distinguish between the post-presidential life of Donald Trump and that of late-season Tony Soprano.

In the past week alone, Mr Trump’s home has been searched by the FBI as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents, he has pleaded the Fifth in a separate case into his business dealings in New York, and now, according to several reports, he is trying to flush out a rat in his orbit.

Read more from The Independent‘s Richard Hall.

Trumpworld smells a rat. Has someone in his inner circle flipped?

Trumpworld is “abuzz” with rumors that a close aid to the former president has “flipped,” according to reports. Richard Hall looks at the possible candidates.

Oliver O’Connell11 August 2022 10:30

1660208700

‘Dark Brandon’ is reclaiming far-right memes, but experts have a warning…

After a string of “good news” for the Biden agenda, White House officials elevated a meme from terminally online obscurity, reclaiming ironic images of a tired and gaffe-prone president cast as a demi-god-like figure.

Alex Woodward reports on the “Dark Brandon” phenomenon.

‘Dark Brandon’ reclaims far-right memes. Extremism experts warn against normalization

The fascist ‘Dark MAGA’ aesthetic flourished in fringe online spaces with explicit calls for violence. Liberals embraced Joe Biden’s ironic transformation as a laser-eyed antidote, Alex Woodward reports

Andrew Naughty11 August 2022 10:05

1660207222

GOP congressman whose phone was seized by FBI goes silent on Fox News

Hardcore right-wing Arizona Congressman Scott Perry saw the FBI seize his cell phone on Tuesday, with the precise reason still unclear. However, it is reported to be in connection with the bureau’s probe into plans to overturn the 2020 election via the deployment of fake voters in Congress on 6 January 2021.

Mr Perry was outraged by the seizure of his phone, and appeared on Fox News last night to discuss it. But when asked whether the FBI has got his phone back, he went eerily silent:

Mr Perry’s name has come up in the 6 January hearings, where it was revealed that he sought a blanket pardon from the Trump White House after the Capitol attack – this having been an enthusiastic participant in efforts to subvert Joe Biden’s victory.

Graeme Massie has more on the still-mysterious phone incident.

Trump ally Scott Perry says FBI have seized his phone following Mar-a-Lago raid

Pennsylvania congressman a leading supporter of former president’s electoral fraud claims

Andrew Naughty11 August 2022 09:40

1660204800

Christopher Wray makes first public response to FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home

FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke publicly on Wednesday afternoon for the first time about his bureau’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. I couldn’t offer much.

FBI Director Wray makes first public comment on search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home

Mr Wray says he can’t talk about the raid as some Republicans decry his leadership

Oliver O’Connell11 August 2022 09:00

1660203950

FBI director calls online threats against federal agents and DOJ ‘deplorable’

FBI Director Christopher Wray called threats circulating online against federal agents and the Justice Department “deplorable and dangerous.”

“I’m always concerned about threats to law enforcement,” Mr Wray said. “Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter who you’re upset with.”

Mr Wray spoke on Wednesday afternoon for the first time about the FBI’s search of former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence – though he declined to go into details.

“As I’m sure you can appreciate, that’s not something I can talk about,” Mr Wray told reporters in Omaha, Nebraska.

Maroosha Muzaffar11 August 2022 08:45

1660202100

‘We owe you big’: Jon Stewart receives standing ovation at PACT Act signing

Comedian and activist Jon Stewart received a standing ovation as President Joe Biden signed into law the PACT Act, which will provide life-saving care to veterans who have been exposed to burn pits.

Mr Biden personally thanked Mr Stewart for his advocacy on the issue during Wednesday’s White House signing, saying: “What you have done, Jon, matters, and you know it does. You should know it really, really matters.

“You refused to let anybody forget, you refused to let them forget, and we owe you big man, we owe you big.”

Jon Stewart receives standing ovation at PACT Act signing

‘What you have done, Jon, matters,’ Biden tells Stewart

Oliver O’Connell11 August 2022 08:15

1660199400

Informant reportedly told FBI about classified docs at Mar-a-Lago

An insider with knowledge of what government records former president Donald Trump still possessed more than 18 months after he left the White House reportedly tipped off FBI officials to a cache of classified documents at the ex-president’s Palm Beach, Florida home and office.

According to Newsweek, two “senior government officials” have said the Monday search of Mr Trump’s rooms at Mar-a-Lago — the mansion turned private club where he spends most of his year — came after a confidential FBI source provided agents with information on “what classified documents [Mr Trump] was still hiding and… the location of those documents”.

The officials also said the search for the ex-president’s property was based on concerns that Mr Trump was unlawfully holding on to classified national defense information.

Trumpworld informant reportedly told FBI about classified docs at Mar-a-Lago

The search of Donald Trump’s Florida residence comes after an FBI source reportedly revealed that the ex-president was concealing classified national defense information from the government he once led

Oliver O’Connell11 August 2022 07:30

1660196700

Video juxtaposes Fox News coverage of Clinton’s email scandal with footage of Trump raid

Fox News has not been enamored of the FBI’s raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence as the former president’s legal troubles rapidly mount.

Fox News hosts and other leading figures in the Republican Party and conservative movement have decried the FBI’s raid on Mr Trump’s motivated residence as a politically overreach of government power. but as a DailyShow video juxtaposing Fox News commentary on the FBI investigation of the Hillary Clinton’s email scandal with footage of Mr Trump shows, the network’s hosts have not always been so opposed to FBI intervention.

Mashup video juxtaposes Fox News coverage of Clinton email scandal, Trump raid

The Daily Show reminds viewers that Fox News was all in favor of an FBI investigation when Mr Trump’s opponent was the one being investigated

Oliver O’Connell11 August 2022 06:45

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Meet the Florida blogger who broke the Trump Mar-a-Lago raid

Just after 6.30pm on Monday night, FloridaPolitics.com publisher Peter Schorsch landed the biggest news scoop of the year.

Bevan Hurley spoke to reporter Peter Schorsch on how he broke the biggest political story of the summer.

Meet the Florida blogger who broke the Trump Mar-a-Lago raid without even knowing it

Florida reporter Peter Schorsch speaks to Bevan Hurley about how he landed the scoop that the FBI was raiding Mar-a-Lago

Oliver O’Connell11 August 2022 06:00

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Biden heads to South Carolina to begin summer vacation with family

President Joe Biden left Washington on Wednesday to begin what is expected to be at least a seven-day vacation in South Carolina with members of his family.

Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, departed the White House by motorcade to Joint Base Andrews outside the capital, where Air Force One was on hand to take them to Charleston. The first couple was planning to be in Kiawah Island, noted for its private beach and golf resort, through Tuesday, according to Federal Aviation Administration advisories.

Biden begins summer vacation with family in South Carolina

President Joe Biden left Washington on Wednesday to begin what is expected to be at least a seven-day vacation in South Carolina with members of his family

Oliver O’Connell11 August 2022 05:15

Categories
Business

Telstra has finally cut the NBN earnings anchor and can chart its own earnings course

Telstra has finally cut the NBN earnings anchor and can chart its own earnings course

Nothing in the corporate world has seen-sawed quite like opinions on the performance of Telstra’s outgoing chief executive, Andy Penn. But on Thursday as he delivered his final result in the top job, he must be deeply satisfied he muscled through the detractors to leave the telco on an earnings high note.

His parting gift to Telstra – the first increase in its dividend in seven years – is particularly meaningful because it says everything about the Telstra board’s certainty about the company’s prospects to increase its earnings.

Aspirations and guidance from any corporation can be rubbery and subject to change, but the fact Telstra is paying out more in dividends than it makes in profit is a clear statement of confidence around the growth in future earnings, at least in the current year. Its guidance for the 2023 financial year for underlying earnings is $7.8 billion to $8 billion, up from the $7.3 billion it posted in 2022.

Telstra’s headline earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, and income, were down 5 per cent and 4.7 per cent respectively, but the underlying earnings result was up 8 per cent. And it is the underlying measure, devoid of lots of distorting impacts including the NBN, which allows investors a closer look into the company’s ongoing performance.

This is particularly important from this point onwards because the last of Telstra’s customer migration to the NBN has been completed. This $3.6 billion earnings anchor has now been cut.

Penn has produced an impressive final act, but it’s been a roller-coaster performance marked by some stumbles and sideswiped by issues outside his control – most notably COVID-19 and more recently hyperinflation.

Outgoing Telstra chief Andy Penn is leaving on a high note.

Outgoing Telstra chief Andy Penn is leaving on a high note.Credit:louis trerise

That said, this year also marks the completion of the T22 strategic overhaul of Telstra. This was a massive undertaking that included simplifying mobile plans, the roll-out of 5G, $2.7 billion in cost savings and the part coming out of the towers business, and injecting a new level of digitisation.

The cost-cutting and productivity gains added a bit of positive juice to the earnings of most of its divisions, even those that produced underwhelming performances.

In any year, Telstra produces a mixed bag of results from its business units and this year was true to form.

Categories
Technology

Xbox Says It Was A Bug That Made Us All Think Elden Ring Was Coming To Cloud Gaming

Xbox Says It Was A Bug That Made Us All Think Elden Ring Was Coming To Cloud Gaming

Xbox found itself with a fire in the rumor mill overnight. The Xbox Store began displaying icons indicating that Elden Ring, Soul Hackers 2 and Grand Theft Auto V were all bound for Cloud streaming via Game Pass Ultimate.

The rumor tore through social media overnight because, if true, it would have set an immense new precedent. Elden Ring is not currently available on Xbox Game Pass, nor is GTA V or souls hackers 2. Were they to become available on Xbox Cloud Gaming, they would be among the first big titles to bypass the Game Pass platform in favor of the cloud. Fortnite took the leap and went straight to Cloud Gaming in the last few months. Would these titles follow? Naturally, speculation was rife online as anything even tangentially related to From Software games sets tongues wagging. Elden Ring on Cloud Gaming seemed like a huge swerve. Could it be that some announcements set for Gamescom later this month had escaped into the world a little early?

The blaze in the rumor mill continued, right up until Xbox confirmed to Eurogamer that the ads had been “bugs” and had all been removed.

“We’re aware of a bug that incorrectly displayed some titles as available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Eurogamer. “We rolled out a fix and this is now updated.”

A “bug” is a convenient explanation and is certainly plausible. The Xbox platform, its store, and even Game Pass are built on sprawling, complex systems. It would be very easy for erroneous information like this to slip through. On the other hand, Xbox has one of the biggest gaming trade shows of the year right around the corner, and accidental leaks most commonly occur in the weeks leading up to such an event.

Xbox will head to Gamescom 2022 at the end of the month with plans to provide updates on some of its most popular games.

Categories
Entertainment

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora ‘married in intimate ceremony’ in London

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora 'married in intimate ceremony' in London

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora marriage rumors

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora have reportedly tied the knot in London after over a year together (Picture: Getty Images/Instagram)

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora have reportedly got married in an ‘intimate’ ceremony in London with their closest friends and family present.

The musician, 31, and film director, 46, recently set the rumor mill spinning that they had secretly got married as Taika was pictured wearing what looked like a wedding band.

Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika was snapped by Rita’s sister wearing a ring on his wedding finger as he relaxed with a glass of wine, with the photo making its way to Instagram.

While neither of the stars have spoken publicly about their rumored marriage, an insider has claimed the pair have indeed wed – and Rita has changed her name.

As reported by The Sun, a source said the couple were married in London in a ‘really intimate ceremony’ which was ‘super special for everyone there.’

They added: ‘Their nearest and dearest can see how madly in love they are.’

rita ora and taika waititi

The couple went public with their relationship in 2021 and have since attended glamorous red carpet events together (Picture: FilmMagic)

Rita and Taika have been linked since March 2021, but at first kept their relationship tightly under wraps, and this looks set to continue, with the source suggested Rita ‘didn’t want to make a big song and dance about the wedding.’

‘A big, showbiz-style bash is planned to celebrate, but don’t expect to see it being flogged to the highest-bidding magazine,’ they added.

The outlet also reports that Rita has changed her name following the ceremony, and is now set to go by Mrs Rita Waititi-Ora.

2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - rita ora and taika waititiInside

Rumors the pair were planning to marry first emerged in June (Picture: WireImage for Vanity Fair)

But while rumors abound that the pair have tied the knot, it doesn’t seem like they’re jetting off on a lavish honeymoon anytime soon, with the source claiming the singer is ‘already back in the studio’ working on a new album.

Speculation the pair had wed began last week after Rita’s sister Elena posted a photo of Taika to Instagran that showed a ring on his finger.

And in another eyebrow-raising move, Rita shared the snap to her own Instagram story – but used a caption to cover up her hand.

Taika Waititi wears ring on wedding ring finger sparking rumors of secret Rita Ora marriage

Speculation that Rita and Taika had already wed began last week when Rita’s sister shared a picture of Taika wearing what appeared to be a wedding band… (Picture: Instagram/ elenaora)

taika waititi

Rita shared the picture but conspicuously covered Taika’s hand with her caption (Picture: Rita Ora/ Instagram)

Rumors had surfaced in June that the pair were set to tie the knot, with sources hinting they planned to have an intimate wedding ceremony this year, before celebrating with a bigger bash later.

The couple began dating in March 2021, and made their red carpet debut that August as they cuddled up at the premiere of The Suicide Squad in Los Angeles.

While Rita and Taika initially kept their relationship on the low-down when they first got together, they have been more open about their romance in recent months, happily packing on the PDA in public.

The pair recently got glammed up together for the red carpet premiere of Taika’s new Thor sequel, looking blissfully in love as they walked hand-in-hand.

Metro.co.uk has reached out to reps for Rita and Taika for comment.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Taika Waititi wears ring on wedding finger sparking rumors of secret Rita Ora marriage

MORE : Rita Ora slays in summer chic as she heads out in Paris amid blossoming Taika Waititi romance

showbiz

Categories
Sports

AFL: Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan backs Harris Andrews

AFL: Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan backs Harris Andrews

Lions coach Chris Fagan has leapt to the defense of Brisbane star Harris Andrews after the key defender was told to “play like a man”.

Two-time All Australian Andrews has been the target of a stinging attack from Fox Footy pundit and North Melbourne premiership-winner David King.

“He’s playing bruise-free footy at the moment – ​​he’s not playing with physicality,” King said of Andrews on AFL 360 on Wednesday night.

“Forwards are just leading around him too easily; there’s no engagement. There’s no body checking, no blocks – there’s nothing. It’s pure intercept or he gets beaten.

“Your big boys need to play big boy footy and I don’t think he is.

Harris Andrews has to play like a man. You can’t have a guy 200cm play like that. That takes you nowhere.”

Fagan was shocked by King’s attack, particularly after Andrews’ performance in Brisbane’s win over Carlton last weekend.

“Was that on the back of his game against Harry McKay last week when he kept him to one goal?” a puzzled Fagan said on Thursday ahead of the Lions’ trip to Melbourne for Friday night’s clash against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

“I would have thought that was a bit of an unusual way to go on Harris. He certainly doesn’t play that way.

“We were really proud of his game last week and hopefully he’ll continue his good form on (St Kilda forward Max) King this week.”

It’s not the first time this season Andrews’ form has been questioned, with Fagan saying the 25-year-old Lion was a victim of his own high standards.

“Because he’s a two-time All Australian, he’s set a really high standard over recent years, and he’s probably had a few games this year where by his own admission he wouldn’t have been that happy,” the Lions coach said.

“People are focusing on that, but generally speaking, that game against Carlton last week, a lot of it swung on the ability of our defenders to not let McKay and (Charlie) Curnow get into the game, and they did that really well, so I’m really proud of them.”

Andrews’ teammate, Darcy Gardiner, who makes his 150th AFL appearance on Friday night, said the criticism of his fellow defender was “unfair”.

“He’s probably been in the spotlight a little bit, but I think he’s been terrific,” Gardiner said.

“I have leads by example every week. He’s someone I highly admire and who I look up to.

“He’s gone to such a high level that teams have put more and more work into him, and that’s just what you want as a player. It means you’re doing the right thing out there and you’re playing good footy.”

Read related topics:Brisbane

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Categories
Australia

Family of man killed in Easter Monday crash tell Adelaide District Court of heartbreak

A woman leaves the District Court after giving a victim impact statement

The family of a “kind and generous” father killed by a drunk driver has told an Adelaide court they will never forgive the “selfish” man responsible.

Campbell Henderson, of Mount Barker, pleaded guilty to causing the fatal Easter Monday crash at Brukunga in 2021, by dangerous driving.

The 29-year-old was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit and was driving almost 40 kilometers an hour over the speed limit when he lost control of his ute and crashed into a tree.

His passenger Nick Peart, 39, died at the scene.

The crash was just meters from the houses of the men, who were neighbours.

Mr Peart’s high school sweetheart and partner of 26 years — Elaine Revi-Peart — told the District Court her husband had paid the “ultimate price” for trusting a friend.

A headshot of victim Nick Peart
Crash victim Nick Peart was a husband and father of three.(Supplied)

“I feel I have been condemned to loneliness for the rest of my life,” she told the court in her victim impact statement.

“We tried to be there at any and every way we could, this desire to help the defendant and willingness to trust them that was the major contributor… that led to my husband’s abrupt death.

“I think it’s important to state how good of a man the world has lost on that Easter Monday.

“He was non-judgmental, kind, tolerant, generous.

“I know the defendant made a choice to drive, and as far as I’m concerned he deserves to suffer any and all of the consequences that are coming to him.”

Children want drunk driver jailed

The court heard Mr Peart and Henderson were neighbors and had become friends – Mr Peart’s children even referred to him as an uncle.

The three children provided artwork to Judge Joana Fuller and told her they missed their dad and “hate” Henderson for taking him away from them.

One said he wanted to give Henderson “a knuckle sandwich”, Mr Peart’s daughter said she wanted to see him “leave in handcuffs and prison clothes”.

“I have lost my dad, my role model, best friend, hero and a piece of my heart, soul and joy,” his daughter told the court.

“I love and miss you Dad”.

The court heard the “staunch environmentalist” had planted more than one million trees as part of his conservation and regeneration work.

Mr Peart’s mother, Wendy, told the court she was living a nightmare following the “senseless loss” of her firstborn child.

“We’ve all seen reports of road deaths on the television and felt sorry for the loss of that person and feel sad for the family,” she told the court.

“But until it happened to us never could I have imagined the utter heartbreak it would inflict on all of our lives.”

A man wearing a suit and tie walks beside an older woman wearing a black and white dress, holding her hand
Campbell Henderson leaves the Mt Barker Magistrates Court at an earlier hearing.(ABC News: Gabriella Marchant)

Henderson apologized for the “irreparable damage” he had caused to the family and friends of his best friend.

“There is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him and the suffering that I have caused his family,” he said.

“It is not fair that my actions have placed his family in this position.

“All I can say is I am sorry for what I have done and if there is any way I could trade places with Nick I would.”

Henderson’s lawyer James Marcus told the court his client made an “exceptionally stupid” decision to drive that day while drunk and that it was “out of character behaviour.”

Mr Marcus told the court Henderson spent weeks in hospital after the crash, had suffered ongoing physical and mental health issues and had a limited memory of the crash.

The court heard Henderson had no criminal history and was likely to be deported to the United Kingdom upon his release from prison.

His lawyer asked for Henderson to be spared jail and serve his sentence on home detention which the prosecution opposed.

Henderson will be sentenced next month.

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Categories
US

House explosion in southern Indiana kills 3

House explosion in southern Indiana kills 3

Three people were killed Wednesday when a house exploded in the southern Indiana city of Evansville, authorities said. David Anson, chief deputy coroner for Vanderburgh County, told The Associated Press that the identities of the people who died would not be released until the next of kin has been notified. Evansville Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Gray said at least one other injury was reported and that victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Evansville Fire Department Chief Mike Connelly said a total of 39 houses were damaged by the explosion at around 1 pm He said the department has not confirmed how many of the houses were occupied when the explosion happened because “some were too unstable to enter.” At least 11 of the 39 homes damaged are “uninhabitable,” Connelly told the Evansville Courier & Press. The cause of the explosion has not been determined, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was investigating. A phone message seeking comment was left at the Evansville field office of the ATF. “Debris is strewn over a 100-foot (30-meter) radius,” including “typical construction materials” such as wooden boards, window glass and insulation, Connelly said.Aerial video posted on social media shows damage in a residential neighborhood with police and fire vehicles on the scene in Evansville, on the Kentucky border.CenterPoint Energy, the local gas utility, was last called to the home in January 2018, Connelly said CenterPoint issued a statement saying it “worked with first responders to secure the area.”“CenterPoint Energy is working closely with the Evansville Fire Department, State Fire Marshal and other agencies as the investigation of this incident continues,” the utility said.Jacki Baumgart, an office manager at Award World Trophies about two and a half blocks from the site of the explosion, said she and other employees in their building panicked when they heard the loud blast and saw smoke. “We thought a tree fell on the building or a car ran into the place,” Baumgart said. “Debris from the ceiling came down.” She continued: “Everybody here immediately ran out of the building. We thought the building was going to come down.”It was the second house explosion in the area in just over five years. A house explosion on June 27, 2017, killed two people and injured three others. Wednesday’s explosion also brought to mind a massive blast in 2012 that destroyed or damaged more than 80 homes on Indianapolis’ south side and killed two people. A man was convicted of tampering with a natural gas line at his then-girlfriend’s home in an attempt to commit insurance fraud, with the explosion killing two next-door neighbors. That man, his half-brother and girlfriend of him all received long prison sentences.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Video above: WFIE via CNN) —

Three people were killed Wednesday when a house exploded in the southern Indiana city of Evansville, authorities said.

David Anson, chief deputy coroner for Vanderburgh County, told The Associated Press that the identities of the people who died would not be released until the next of kin has been notified.

Evansville Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Gray said at least one other injury was reported and that the victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Evansville Fire Department Chief Mike Connelly said a total of 39 houses were damaged by the explosion at around 1 pm He said the department has not confirmed how many of the houses were occupied when the explosion happened because “some were too unstable to enter.”

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At least 11 of the 39 damaged homes are “uninhabitable,” Connelly told the Evansville Courier & Press.

The cause of the explosion has not been determined, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was investigating. A phone message seeking comment was left at the Evansville field office of the ATF.

“Debris is strewn over a 100-foot (30-meter) radius,” including “typical construction materials” such as wooden boards, window glass and insulation, Connelly said.

Aerial video posted on social media shows damage in a residential neighborhood with police and fire vehicles on the scene in Evansville, on the Kentucky border.

CenterPoint Energy, the local gas utility, was last called to the home in January 2018, Connelly said. CenterPoint issued a statement saying it “worked with first responders to secure the area.”

“CenterPoint Energy is working closely with the Evansville Fire Department, State Fire Marshal and other agencies as the investigation of this incident continues,” the utility said.

Jacki Baumgart, an office manager at Award World Trophies about two and a half blocks from the site of the explosion, said she and other employees in their building panicked when they heard the loud blast and saw smoke.

“We thought a tree fell on the building or a car ran into the place,” Baumgart said. “Debris from the ceiling came down.”

She continued: “Everybody here immediately ran out of the building. We thought the building was going to come down.”

It was the second house explosion in the area in just over five years. A house explosion on June 27, 2017, killed two people and injured three others.

Wednesday’s explosion also brought to mind a massive blast in 2012 that destroyed or damaged more than 80 homes on Indianapolis’ south side and killed two people. A man was convicted of tampering with a natural gas line at his then-girlfriend’s home in an attempt to commit insurance fraud, with the explosion killing two next-door neighbors. That man, his half-brother and girlfriend of him all received long prison sentences.

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Categories
Business

Qantas union Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers’ Association could hold one-minute strike over pay dispute

Qantas union Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers' Association could hold one-minute strike over pay dispute

Qantas has responded to an announcement that more than 700 aircraft engineers from Qantas and Jetstar are planning to stop work for “one-minute” in August.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers’ Association(ALAEA) federal secretary Steve Purvinas told members in a meeting on Wednesday the majority had voted in favor of industrial action.

Airline engineers are asking their employer for a 12 per cent pay rise to make up for stagnant wages the last four years.

The union’s first action will be a one-minute stoppage across all airlines sometime in late August.

Qantas engineering executive manager Scott McConnell has said the airline is “disappointed” in the union’s decision to strike and is putting contingency plans in place to deal with disruptions.

ADELAIDE AIRPORT
Camera IconAirline engineers from Qantas and Jetstar will stop work for one-minute in August. NCA NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia

“It’s extremely disappointing the union has taken this step towards industrial action,” Mr McConnell said.

“The union has repeatedly said that any industrial action won’t impact customers’ travel plans and, while we hope they stick to their word, we’re also putting in place contingency plans in case they don’t.

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