Month: August 2022

Categories
Business

Guess which ASX 200 share just increased its dividend by 25%

Guess which ASX 200 share just increased its dividend by 25%

A young woman holds her hand to her mouth in surprise as she reads about the Appen share price rising by almost 5% today

Image source: Getty Images

Owners of shares in S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) online real estate advertising company REA Group Limited (ASX: REA), rejoice!

Your investment just announced its largest dividend ever, increasing its full year payout by 25%.

Sadly, the stock is in the red today after surging 7% on the back of its full year results, released yesterday.

The REA share price is $127.44 right now, 3.69% lower than its previous close.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is also down, falling 0.12% at the time of writing.

But a day in the red likely won’t be enough to wipe the smile off shareholders’ faces. Let’s take a look at the record dividend announced by the ASX 200 share this week.

When will shareholders receive the ASX 200 share dividend?

Financial year 2022 was good to ASX 200 share REA, and now the company is passing a chunk of its takings to shareholders.

The company’s revenue lifted 26% last financial year compared to that of financial year 2021.

Its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) also rose 19% while its net profit jumped 25%.

And much of that profit is now up for grabs.

REA announced a record 89 cent per share fully franked final dividend, bringing its full year dividends to $1.64 – up 25% year-on-year.

That means the stock is currently trading with a dividend yield of 1.28%.

And would be investors have a few weeks to decide whether they’ll pursue the payout. The ASX 200 share doesn’t trade ex-dividend until 25 August.

The dividend is then expected to begin landing in shareholders’ accounts in mid-September.

REA share price snapshot

Despite posting strong earnings, the REA share price has been underperforming in 2022.

The company’s shares have slumped 26% since the start of the year while the ASX 200 has dumped around 8%.

It’s also been underperforming over the longer term, falling 18% in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, the index has slipped 7%.

Categories
Technology

Splatoon 3 demo coming late August with new Splatfest

Splatoon 3 demo coming late August with new Splatfest

Try before you buy.

A Splatoon 3 demo will be available later this month ahead of the game’s release in early September, Nintendo today advised as part of a larger Splatoon 3 NintendoDirect.

The demo will be offered in the form of a multiplayer Splatfest World Premiere which kicks off on 28 August.

According to the publisher, it “offers every Nintendo Switch owner the chance to take part in this global event before the full game launches.”

Access to the demo opens up a couple days earlier, from 25 August; players have seven days to try out the new ink-shooter.

Nintendo also detailed more of what to expect from the full game.

“All main weapon types from previous splatoon games will be available in Splatoon 3 from the start,” Nintendo said. “New, Splatlands-specific weapons have been added as well: the bow-like Tri-Stringer, which can fire in three directions simultaneously and unleash charged shots that briefly freeze before exploding. The Splatana Wiper sends blades of ink flying with the centrifugal force generated by swinging it. If swung after charging up, it’ll transform into a charged slash.”

Players will take part in one of three modes: the story-based Return of the Mammalians, the multiplayer Turf War, or co-op Salmon Run.

You can watch the full Direct below.

Splatoon 3 heads to Nintendo Switch on 9 September.

This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

Categories
Entertainment

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde review at Sydney Theater Company

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde review at Sydney Theater Company

STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE ★★★★★
Roslyn Packer Theatre, August 10 until September 3

How to depict the splintering of a psyche, not just into two, but into endless multiples of two – into all the fractured souls that lie between Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde? That is the conundrum director Kip Williams sought to solve in his follow-up piece of “cine-theatre” after the astounding artistic success of STC’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Ewen Leslie and Matthew Backer are starting in their roles.

Ewen Leslie and Matthew Backer are starting in their roles.Credit:Daniel Boud

The cine-theatre idea is to make theater out of the process of filming that piece of theatre, with live video of real-time acting mashed with images of pre-recorded acting. Yes, there’s a degree to which supping from a similar cup a second time is not quite as seductive as the first, but Williams and his brilliant design and technical team have tailored their approach to the distinctive aspects of Robert Louis Stevenson’s story (adapted by Williams). ), bringing film-noir sensibilities to the narrative’s gothic horror and melodrama, most obviously with the filmed action presented in black and white.

It is the interaction between the multiple moving screens that especially catches Stevenson’s tone, however. The images of the actors are teased and jangled, so part of a head – say just the chin – is on one screen, while the mouth, nose and eyes appear on another. It’s an extraordinarily effective device for encapsulating and communicating internal worlds of mental dysfunction and moral decay.

Those states must first be made extant by the actors, of course, and what Ewen Leslie and Matthew Backer achieve in this regard is startingling. The latter mainly plays Utterson, the story’s narrator and commentator, a role Williams has elevated from shadowy passivity into being our eyes, ears, touch and raised heartbeat as events unfold.

Were Backer’s reactions more exaggerated, the work’s inherent melodrama would swiftly become dominant, and the audience would titter rather than being transfixed. Indeed, there is occasional laughter, but it comes as a reaction of wonderment to the mind-boggling virtuosity of the production itself; a virtuosity that manages to keep replenishing itself.

Leslie is magnificent. His Jekyll de ella is torn and tormented, his de ella Hyde a recipe for insomnia. As with Backer’s, it’s a performance that could so easily slip beyond a tipping point, yet never does. However manic he becomes, we sit spellbound. Leslie’s versatile voice and rubbery face also make for utterly distinctive characters in Poole, Jekyll’s butler, and a copper aiding Utterson in what becomes more of a detective tale than the original, neatly dovetailing with the lighting’s plunging, noirish shadows.

Williams has kept much of the prose and dialogue intact, so we can relish such classic Stevenson lines as a minion being described as “having a face smoothed by hypocrisy.” He also sustains the tension, even through the challenge of Jekyll’s long, final letter. His collaborators of him, meanwhile, (reassembled from the Dorian production) match his ideas at every turn, from Clemence Williams’ music (including some string quartet writing music that would wake your cat), through Marg Horwell’s design, Nick Schlieper’s lighting, Michael Toisuta’s sound design and David Bergman’s video design, to the army of technicians expertly bringing it all to life.

Categories
Sports

Stuart MacGill’s alleged kidnappers granted bail

Stuart MacGill's alleged kidnappers granted bail

Two brothers accused of being hired “muscle” in the kidnapping of former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill have been granted bail while they await trial.

Richard and Frederick Schaaf are charged with abducting Mr MacGill from outside his home on Sydney’s lower north shore last year.

The pair pleaded not guilty to charges of take/detain in company with intent to obtain advantage, with the matter expected to go to trial mid next year.

On Thursday, they watched remotely from Bathurst Correctional Center as they were granted bail by Justice Richard Button under “strict” conditions.

The Schaaf brothers heard they will be not required to undergo electronic monitoring when they are released from jail sometime in the near future.

They were arrested along with four other men, including Mr MacGill’s de facto brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos, over an alleged cocaine deal gone wrong.

The court was told that Mr MacGill introduced Mr Sotiropoulos – who is the brother of his partner Maria O’Meagher – to a cocaine dealer, with the cricketer claiming that it was the extent of his involvement.

Mr Sotiropoulos has since been charged with a supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and will stand trial alongside the Schaaf brothers.

Mr MacGill alleges that a group of men forced him into a car outside his home and confronted him after the drug deal ended in a “rip off”.

The former Test spinner claimed that he was taken to a Bringelly property where he was threatened with a gun, assaulted and demands were made for money.

Earlier this month, Schaafs’ lawyer Avni Djemal argued that the evidence against the brothers supported them being released on bail.

He argued that Mr MacGill had gone willingly with the group of men to an abandoned house in southwestern Sydney and said there was no physical evidence that he had been brutally assaulted.

“The evidence implies Mr MacGill to a high level. I’m surprised he’s not charged with the actual drug transaction that he says, in his evidence, ‘I had nothing more to do with it, I just introduced the brother-in-law, Mr Sotiropoulos, to a person who I knew used to sell drugs’,” Mr Djemal said.

“The gentleman, now a registered source, he says that this gentleman, MacGill, was an avid user of cocaine and said to be on it all the time or drunk or desperate for money.”

Mr Djemal added there was no evidence to support Mr MacGill’s assertions that he had been punched to the front and back of his head, knocked to the ground and suffered a concussion.

Mr Djemal said the only evidence of any injuries was Ms O’Meagher saying she felt a lump on Mr MacGill’s head.

“He doesn’t have one visible injury after those events,” Mr Djemal said.

“If the hits to the front of your face have produced no lumps and you say the onslaught was to the front, the side, knocked you to the ground, how could that be?

“How could his word be that there was a kidnapping? What if he went, saw photos and got brought back?”

The trial is due to begin in October 2023.

Read related topics:sydney

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Categories
Australia

Diggers and Dealers organizers distance event from alleged groping of Kalgoorlie journalist

A woman stands with her hair out and arms folded

The company at the center of an alleged sexual assault say they have a “zero-tolerance policy” towards such behavior after a 23-year-old journalist was allegedly groped at a Goldfields mining event.

Kalgoorlie Miner deputy editor Amber Lilley alleged she was propositioned, groped, and followed after attending a Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum event last week.

Forum chairman Jim Walker said the organization was disappointed to learn of the alleged incident that occurred at a sideline function during the week.

“While the incident did not occur at a Diggers and Dealers event, the forum has a zero-tolerance policy towards such behaviour,” he said.

Mr Walker said there was an expectation that people who attended the forum, including sideline events, behaved in a “respectful and inclusive manner”.

“Our expectations of delegates’ behavior also extended to unaffiliated events and private functions that take place around the city during this period,” he said.

The alleged incident took place at the Graduates Hall of the West Australian School of Mines, with school alumni hosting a networking event the same week as the conference.

A joint statement by the West Australian School of Mines Alumni and Curtin University said they were “extremely disappointed” by the behavior of one of the attendees.

The statement said the organizations were working to address issues of sexism and misogyny and improve opportunities for women in the mining sector.

“We are absolutely committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning and work environment,” the statement read.

“We strongly believe in the value that education and awareness can play in change, and as part of that, we have recently appointed a director of equity and diversity in the WA School of Mines.”

a close up image of an older man in a suit
Mr Bowler says he is pleased the incident has been brought to light.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance: Robert Koenig-Luck)

Not an isolated incident

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler said the Diggers and Dealers Forum should not be made responsible for the actions of one man but conceded it was unlikely the incident was isolated.

“Sadly, we get idiots who get a few beers under their belt and misbehave, but to say it’s just in Kalgoorlie-Boulder or just at the Diggers and Dealers conference is unfair,” he said.

Mr Bowler said he was pleased the incident had been brought to light and would like to see the man in question banned from future forums.

“This person, I hope, won’t be allowed back to Diggers and Dealers, and anyone who behaves like him should be treated the same,” he said.

“They [Diggers and Dealers] have assured me that will be the case.”

The incident has been condemned by the mining sector and state politicians, including the premier Mark McGowan who said he was “disappointed” and urged the industry to “do the right thing”.

A close of a woman with scrub in the background.
Senator Cox says the allegations highlight a continuing trend of harassment towards women in mining.(Supplied)

Greens resources spokesperson Senator Dorinda Cox said Ms Lilley’s allegations highlighted a continuing trend of harassment towards women in mining.

She said the industry’s action on harassment was lacking despite the June release of a scathing report into sexual assault and harassment within WA’s fly-in, fly-out mining industry.

“The WA mining sector has been called out in the report, and its recommendations are clear,” Senator Cox said.

“The ignorance and lip service is impalpable, and holding those in power to account isn’t even a blip on the radar, which continues to leave me deeply concerned.”

Latest assault an ‘opportunity’ for mining sector

The incident has been seen by advocates for women in mining as a new chance for the industry to step up and show action on stamping out harassment.

Former FIFO worker Becky Felstead works as a consultant to the resource sector on sexual harassment, workplace culture and assault and said the industry had an opportunity to target harassment at its core.

A middle shot of woman with her arms folded
Ms Felstead says there are many things that need to change.(Supplied)

“I think the mining industry has an opportunity. We know that this is systemic, and we know that this is happening as a culture, not just in mining,” she said.

“But mining has an opportunity because they can be front runners, and they can be the innovators in making sure that they are creating active bystanders, that they are changing the culture. They are having these conversations.

“I think there are so many things that need to change.”

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Categories
US

Emmett Till accuser Carolyn Bryant Donham won’t be indicted

Emmett Till was killed in 1955.

Categories
Business

Subaru recalls 80,000 cars over dangerous brake defect

Subaru recalls 80,000 cars over dangerous brake defect

Popular car brand Subaru has announced a recall of nearly 80,000 cars with faulty electronic brakes.

A total of 78,617 vehicles across a range of popular models made between 2015 and 2019 have been affected by the fault.

A defective cord within the electric parking brakes can lead to parked cars rolling away, which can cause damage to its surroundings and is potentially deadly.

For more Recalls related news and videos check out Recalls >>

“Due to a manufacturing issue, the Electronic Park Brake (EPB) adapter cord connector may not operate as intended,” the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications said.

“This could result in the vehicle moving or rolling away whilst the vehicle is engaged in the park position.

“If the vehicle moves from its parked position while unattended, it may increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users.”

The recall affects the Liberty sedans, Outback wagons, Levorg wagons, and WRX sedans made between 2015 and 2018.

Impreza models and XV models made between 2017 and 2019 have also been affected.

Owners of these models can book their car in for a free repair at any authorized Subaru Service Center Australia-wide.

Subaru Australia will also contact affected owners in writing to request that owners make an appointment to have the vehicle repaired.

Owners can find the contact details for their nearest authorized dealership by entering their postcode here and selecting “Service” from the “Department” drop-down menu.

A selection of the nearest Subaru retailers will be displayed, including the contact details to book instantly online or by phone.

Watch: Australia’s Top 5 Most Shocking Recalls

Watch: Australia’s Top 5 Most Shocking Recalls

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Categories
Technology

The Company Behind Pokémon Go! Is Powering Mercedes’ Next-Gen Infotainment

The Company Behind Pokémon Go! Is Powering Mercedes’ Next-Gen Infotainment

Unity Technologies’ graphics engine powers tons of popular modern mobile and desktop games and soon it’ll be powering your Mercedes dash.

Mercedes-Benz’s current MBUX infotainment system is really, really good. It’s smart, responsive, easy to navigate and simple to use. How then is Mercedes supposed to improve on that for its next-generation platforms? Well, I’ve got two words for you: Pokémon Go!

OK, hold on. I’ll explain. When I say Pokémon Go, what I actually mean is that Mercedes is partnering with a company called Unity Technologies, whose technology powers the graphics of tons of super popular games – both mobile and on desktop – one of which is Pokemon Go.

The new infotainment system will be called MB.OS, and according to a report published on Monday by Automotive News, it’s set to make its debut on 2024 model Mercedes-Benz vehicles. If Mercedes follows the same kind of rollout that it did with MBUX, we’d expect to see MB.OS in A-Class and C-Class models first, followed by everything else.

“With our own operating system, we want to achieve three key things: to shape the user interface according to a luxury brand, to create a bidirectional communication with the customer and to integrate the digital lifestyle of the customer into the vehicle domain,” said Magnus Östberg, chief software officer for Mercedes-Benz, in a statement to Automotive News.

While we won’t see MB.OS until at least next year, we have already seen some of the work that Unity and Mercedes have been doing together with the Mercedes Vision EQXX, which debuted earlier this year at the CES show in Las Vegas.

Just in case talking about Pokémon has, for some reason, gotten you hungry. Here are 15 Pokémon that we would like to eat.

Categories
Entertainment

Flash star Ezra Miller linked to mum and three kids reportedly missing in Vermont

Flash star Ezra Miller linked to mum and three kids reportedly missing in Vermont

A young mother and her three children who were allegedly living with Ezra Miller at the actor’s Vermont farm are reportedly missing.

Vermont State Police are looking for the 25-year-old woman and her kids — aged five, four and one — believing that the Flash star may be concealing their whereabouts, rolling stone reported Wednesday.

According to court documents obtained by the publication, officers say they attempted at least twice over the weekend to serve the mom an emergency care order requested by the State Attorney’s office, which demanded the youngsters’ removal from both the property and her care, the new york post reports.

But Miller allegedly told cops the family hadn’t lived there in months, which the State Attorney’s office said seemed like an attempt to “evade service” of the order.

rolling stone reports that it was during one of the authorities’ visits to the 96-acre Stamford estate to locate the family that Miller was charged with felony burglary for allegedly breaking into a house and stealing several bottles of alcohol back in May.

A local source told the magazine that several officers were at the Perks of Being a Wallflower star’s home Tuesday night for nearly an hour, though the reason was not made clear. When contacted by rolling stonea police spokesperson referred the outlet to the Vermont Department for Children and Families, who declined to comment due to confidentiality concerns.

The outlet also notes that the mother was posting daily on social media from the property until mid-July when her account went dark and appeared to be deleted.

Reps for Miller did not immediately respond to Page Six‘s request for comment.

The order was reportedly drafted for fear of the children’s safety, as Miller’s property is allegedly littered with firearms, ammunition and marijuana.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, including the children’ father, made the accusations to rolling stone in an exposé published in June.

Two of the sources alleged that there were unattended guns strewn around the Fantastic Beasts star’s home, with video footage appearing to show weapons propped up next to stuffed animals.

One source added that the one-year-old once allegedly picked up a loose bullet and put it in her mouth.

Additionally, both sources alleged that there was frequent and heavy marijuana use in front of the children.

According to rolling stonethe woman moved herself and her children into Miller’s home in mid-April after having met in Hawaii the month prior.

She insisted to the publication in June that Miller provided “a safe environment for (her) three very young children.”

Having a “bad feeling in (his) stomach,” the dad contacted DCF services and local police in mid-May to conduct wellness checks on his kids.

A social worker allegedly visited Miller’s farm on May 16 and informed the father that his children “looked good” but felt they had “more work to do”, according to text messages reviewed by rolling stone.

This is the latest in a string of legal issues for the actor, who was arrested twice in Hawaii earlier this year — once for disorderly conduct, to which they pleaded no contest, and another time for allegedly throwing a chair at a woman. Miller — who goes by them/them pronouns — has also been accused of “grooming” a teenager and had a restraining order taken out against them by a woman and her 12-year-old child.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and has been reproduced here with permission

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Categories
Sports

Little League sportsmanship hug after being hit with pitch goes viral, reaction, Isaiah Jarvis and Kaiden Shelton

Little League sportsmanship hug after being hit with pitch goes viral, reaction, Isaiah Jarvis and Kaiden Shelton

Heartwarming scenes at a US Little League playoff have shown the world there is actually hope for the future.

In the first inning of the Southwest Region Playoff final between Pearland, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma and a spot in the Little League World Series on the line, the video of a batter hugging a pitcher has gone viral.

And remember, these kids are between 10 to 12-years-old.

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A pitch got away from Texas pitcher Kaiden Shelton, slamming into the side of Oklahoma batter Isaiah Jarvis’ head, knocking his helmet off and sending a scare around the stadium.

“That’s a tough kid right there,” the commentator said.

Jarvis needed a second after the painful blow but took his place on first base.

But after looking up and seeing Sheldon was getting teary eyed on the mound, Jarvis went to console him, hugging his opponent in lovely scenes.

“This is really cool because as a pitcher, (Shelton) looks shaken up right now because of what he did and look at Jarvis. This is such great sportsmanship,” a commentator for ESPN said. “He wants him to know that it’s OK, that he’ll be fine. Amazing.”

The moment drew a standing ovation and even tears from some in the crowd.

Pearland went on to defeat Tusla 9-4 and will go into the Little League World Series but the moment has had a life of its own, getting millions of views online.

Speaking to CNN, Jarvis said it was “crazy” the video had been taken off.

Jarvis said he did it because he wanted to spread the lesson that “you should care for other people.”

“As soon as I’ve seen him get emotional because he hit me, I wanted to go over there and spread God’s love and make sure he’s okay and make sure he knows that I’m okay and that I’ll be okay,” Jarvis said.

Shelton said he didn’t know Jarvis was coming to hug him and said: “It felt like he cared.

“I also cared about him and it just shows there’s a lot of sportsmanship in baseball.”

Jarvis’ head coach Sean Kouplen said he believed it was just what the world needed.

“I believe what we are seeing is that our world is tired of divisiveness,” he said. “We all saw is friendship and love and caring trump competition. I believe that just struck a chord with everybody.”

But the world was blown away by the moment when at the professional level, it likely would have ended in heated scenes and maybe even the dugouts emptying onto the field.

While the world can quite often be termed a dumpster fire, scenes like this show the kids will actually be alright.

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