Month: August 2022

Categories
Entertainment

Sass & bide designer Sarah-Jane Clarke on being back at David Jones

Sass & bide designer Sarah-Jane Clarke on being back at David Jones

Since being at the center of Australia’s most high-profile fashion deal, sass & bide co-founder Sarah-Jane Clarke has been on many private journeys but with her travel-inspired brand, she is now returning to the runway on her own terms.

In 2011, sass & bide was snatched from the David Jones family of designers by department store rival Myer, who purchased 65 per cent of the brand for $42.5 million. Two years later the remaining 35 per cent was purchased by Myer for $30 million, and Clarke and co-founder Heidi Middleton happily drifted away from Australian fashion’s front lines.

Designer Sarah-Jane Clarke (right) with model Magnolia Maymuru wearing Sarah Jane pieces at David Jones, Sydney.

Designer Sarah-Jane Clarke (right) with model Magnolia Maymuru wearing Sarah Jane pieces at David Jones, Sydney.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Now Clarke returns to David Jones, taking part in the store’s spring season launch tonight in Sydney, with her eponymous label Sarah-Jane Clarke sharing the runway with Matteau, Toni Maticevski and Bianca Spender.

“It’s quite different to what it was like in my twenties,” says Clarke, who started sass & bide at London’s Portobello Market with Middleton in 1999. “It did seem like we were after world domination back then. Now I’m moving at a gentler pace.”

The relaxed Sarah-Jane Clarke range is a lifetime of experience away from sass & bide’s bum-clutching denim, rats leggings and sequinned vests worn by Beyonce, Madonna, Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker in sex and the city. Clarke started her label de ella in 2018, focusing on slow fashion pieces inspired by travel and distributed online and in resort boutiques.

Step back in time. Sarah-Jane Clark (L) and Heidi Middleton during sass & bide's heyday arrive at the David Jones Tahitian Summer Collection Launch at the David Jones Sydney store on August 9, 2006.

Step back in time. Sarah-Jane Clark (L) and Heidi Middleton during sass & bide’s heyday arrive at the David Jones Tahitian Summer Collection Launch at the David Jones Sydney store on August 9, 2006.Credit:Getty

“It’s been a very, very slow chug along with a different brand ethos,” Clarke says. “With sass & bide we were focused on newness. Now I’m producing two seasons a year of pieces that are multitaskers and easy to wear. There’s still the dopamine rush from great colors and beautiful fabric, but the joy can be experienced in different ways.”

That joy is captured in flamenco-style silk-linen trousers subdued by a biscuit palette, powder blue blazers with sharp shoulders that soften into a baggy silhouette and whimsical tunics trimmed with ostrich feathers.

Since sending the first pieces out from her Watsons Bay studio, Clarke has been in discussions with Bridget Veals, David Jones general manager of womenswear, but waited until the time felt right before returning to Australian fashion’s frontlines.

Categories
Sports

Collingwood’s Grundy deal criticized following latest revelations

Shock blow as Magpies ruckman ruled out for the season

The Brodie Grundy trade links have been revitalized following the latest report.

7 News’ reporter Mitch Cleary said on Wednesday night that Collingwood is willing to pay up to $300,000 of his salary per season to a rival club in order to facilitate a trade.

Grundy has been linked to several clubs including Melbourne, GWS and Geelong in recent weeks, although neither Grundy nor the Magpies have publicly indicated any desire to facilitate a trade.

However, the rise of Darcy Cameron and the form of Mason Cox have seen Collingwood fans miss Grundy less and less throughout the season while he’s been injured.

The speculation comes just over two years after Collingwood signed Grundy to a seven-year deal at big money.

The 28-year-old hasn’t consistently reached his peak form since inking the contract. He struggled in the hubs in 2020, played better in 2021 but only managing six games this season.

All the information available can only say one thing about Grundy’s contract, according to Kane Cornes.

“If Collingwood are now really open and he is open and he’s meeting with clubs on the eve of Collingwood’s finals series and the fact that I heard Collingwood are prepared to pay $300,000 of his wage next year, it might even be more,” the Port Adelaide great began on SEN’s Whateley.

“If that’s the case, and you’ve got five years left on a deal, that’s been an absolute disaster for them.

“To give a guy $7 million for seven years and only after two years you’re looking to pay a large chunk of his salary for him to play for another premiership candidate.

“I don’t think there’s any way you can look at that contract other than a massive failure, it’s an embarrassment really.”

As to where Grundy could end up, Cornes believes Melbourne is chief among suitors.

“I think he works at Melbourne, just because of Max Gawn’s flexibility and Gawn’s willingness to play a team-first role,” he added.

“I mean Max Gawn doesn’t need the 80 per cent touches in the ruck, he’s happy to play wherever Simon Goodwin needs him, be that forward, be that behind the ball or in the ruck.

“I’d love to see him go to Melbourne, I think it works.

“You’re upgrading Luke Jackson for probably a two-year period where you’re going to get Brodie Grundy in the sweet spot.”

Jackson is widely tipped to return home to Western Australia and join Fremantle during the 2022 trade period.





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Categories
US

Texas Gov. Abbott announces hiring of 30 additional officers in Uvalde school district

Texas Gov. Abbott announces hiring of 30 additional officers in Uvalde school district

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that the state will be taking several new precautions in response to the Uvalde school shooting, including adding dozens of additional officers to the Uvalde school district patrol.

Abbott’s statement explained that the Texas Department of Public Safety “will be providing more than 30 law enforcement officers to campuses throughout the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) for the new school year.”

“The beginning of a new school year should be an exciting time for students and teachers, and the State of Texas is working to provide that for the Uvalde community,” Abbott said. “As a new school year begins, we must ensure students, parents, and all dedicated school personnel can look forward to new opportunities to learn and grow. Texas will keep working to provide all available support and resources to the Uvalde community as they continue to heal.”

The press release outlined other steps that have been taken to stem school shootings in the future, including $5 million to establish a “long-term Family Resiliency Center” to provide mental health services in Uvalde, and $1.25 million for trauma counseling and community outreach in the Uvalde school district.

UVALDE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE SHOWS POLICE RESPONSE AS GUNMAN MURDERED 19 CHILDREN AND 2 ADULTS

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott attends a press conference where he signed Senate Bills 2 and 3 at the Capitol in Austin on June 8, 2021. <span class="copyright">Montinique Monroe/Getty Images</span>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/id8Mmf8Rq73WTg9gL0mnOA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTM2NA–/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/yl186ySlxvJKuioLEMnXTg–~B/aD02MjA7dz0xMjAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://media.zenfs.com/en/fox_news_text_979/9f5a5635db91b4cae91bf00f65d5e1c9″/><noscript><img alt=Montinique Monroe/Getty Images” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/id8Mmf8Rq73WTg9gL0mnOA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTM2NA–/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/yl186ySlxvJKuioLEMnXTg–~B/aD02MjA7dz0xMjAwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://media.zenfs.com/en/fox_news_text_979/9f5a5635db91b4cae91bf00f65d5e1c9″ class=”caas-img”/>

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott attends a press conference where he signed Senate Bills 2 and 3 at the Capitol in Austin on June 8, 2021. Montinique Monroe/Getty Images

A committee of Texas state lawmakers investigating the police response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde in late May that left 19 students and 2 teachers dead released a 77-page report in July detailing “systemic failures” and “poor decision making” from those involved.

The investigation criticized the inaction of state and federal law enforcement, who made up the majority of responding officers. The report states that there were 91 state police officers, 149 from US Border Patrol, 25 Uvalde city police officers, 16 sheriff’s deputies and 5 officers from the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police who responded to the crime.

UVALDE, TEXAS, MAYOR ALLEGES SHOOTING INVESTIGATION A ‘COVER-UP’

The committee said law enforcement failed to quickly confront the suspect, having retreated to safety after taking gunfire and waited for backup.

“They failed to prioritize saving the lives of innocent victims over their own safety,” the report said.

Fox News’ Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

Categories
Business

WA bucks trend as Omicron wave sends office return backwards

WA bucks trend as Omicron wave sends office return backwards

A wave of COVID-19 cases and flu infections over winter has been blamed for a significant drop in office occupancy rates across most major cities.

Melbourne had the lowest return-to-office rate in July, according to data from the Property Council of Australia released on Thursday.

The figures show the occupancy rate of Melbourne offices dropped from 49 per cent in June to 38 per cent in July, while in Sydney the rate fell from 55 to 52 per cent, in Brisbane from 64 to 53 per cent and Adelaide from 71 to 64 per cent

Canberra and Perth were the only markets to record an increase in office occupancy, from 53 to 61 per cent and 65 to 71 per cent, respectively.

Property Council Chief Executive Ken Morrison said a rise in illness during the winter season was a contributing factor in the decline.

“Office occupancy numbers have gone backwards for the first time in six months as a wave of Omicron and flu cases kept workers away from the office,” he said.

“We have been seeing a steady increase in the number of workers returning to offices, but this stalled in June and has now declined in most capitals, which is disappointing but unsurprising.”

Office occupancy rates in Melbourne have remained below 50 per cent since the start of the pandemic, while in Sydney and Brisbane occupancy rates peaked during a lull in COVID-19 cases in early to mid-2021.

Victorian opposition jobs spokesman David Southwick said the state government should lead by example.

“Hybrid working may be here to stay, but it’s clear Daniel Andrews’ three-day-a week target for public servants isn’t close to being met,” he said.

“Melbourne will never be the world’s most liveable city once again with only one in five people showing up throughout the week.”

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Categories
Technology

An Abridged History of Foldable and Flippable Smartphones

An Abridged History of Foldable and Flippable Smartphones

You don’t realize how cyclical life is until you return to a gadget trend after a decade. When I shut my Motorola Razr back in the naughties, I figured that it was the last time I would be flirting with that form factor, as candy bar-style smartphones were now taking over the general gadget zeitgeist.

Then, I reviewed the Galaxy Z Flip 3 last year. And I realized there’s a future in folding smartphones. Just overnight, Samsung introduced its fourth generation of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold. We thought there was no better time than now to reflect on the journey that brought us here.

Samsung may be the manufacturer that’s popularized the folding smartphone, but others have introduced their own versions that are worth mentioning. Here’s an abridged look back at the history of the folding smartphone in the last decade.

Thank you, flip phones of yore

An Abridged History of Foldable and Flippable Smartphones

First, we have to shout out the original flip phone of yore for paving the way. If it weren’t for Samsung’s flip phones or the Motorola Razr (which it tried to reprise as a foldable later on), we wouldn’t have considered that phones could be condensed down to a pocketable size.

Isn’t a foldable e-reader just a book?

Screenshot: GSMArena / YouTubeScreenshot: GSMArena / YouTube

Before Samsung came out swinging with its foldable AMOLED display, a few other companies tried to make strides within the industry. In 2006, Polymer Vision showed off a rollable concept and a foldable device called the Readius, which functioned mostly as an e-reader rather than a full-blown mobile device.

It’s morphing time! Nokia shows off its Morph concept

An Abridged History of Foldable and Flippable Smartphones

In 2008, Nokia showed a concept video of a foldable display that could be molded into different form factors. The original teaser shows a thin tablet that’s essentially a slab of glass that could then tri-fold down and latch on to your wrist like a slap bracelet. The novel nature of the Morph made it seem like the technology was ahead of its time.

Samsung teases us with foldable AMOLED

An Abridged History of Foldable and Flippable Smartphones

The first hint that Samsung was working on a foldable display was in 2011, when the company showed off a concept tablet that utilized a fully flexible AMOLED display. The display could bend, fold, and roll-up. It was even a bit see-through.

Kyocera was on to something

Image: GSMArenaImage: GSMArena

Around the time Samsung started teasing us with its foldable AMOLED, Kyocera released a dual-touchscreen Android phone called the Echo. It had dual 3.5-inch displays that folded into one another, plus software tweaks allowing you to run two apps simultaneously, side-by-side. Again, this is a case of another manufacturer being ahead of its time. The version of Android it was running didn’t yet support split-screen mode.

The three-screened ZTE Axon M just didn’t quite cut it

Photo: Sam Rutherford/GizmodoPhoto: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

Samsung may have had the technology for folding smartphone displays, but it would take a while before making a phone with that particular form factor. Until then, if you were considering a foldable smartphone, you were likely looking at something dual-screened like the Kyocera Echo.

ZTE launched the Axon M in 2017 in the US via AT&T. I still have my original review unit floating somewhere in my gadget closet. The phone had three screens in total: a 5.2-inch front screen and two 5.2-inch displays on the inside that folded out into a larger 6.8-inch tablet-style display. The Axon M was certainly cool, but the lack of proper software optimization, plus the physical bezel separating the two displays didn’t quite deliver on the experience.

Royole Flexpai was a royal letdown

Photo: Matthew Reyes / GizmodoPhoto: Matthew Reyes / Gizmodo

Technically, the first bendable smartphone to market was the Royole Flexpai, launched days before Samsung showed off its updated flexible display. The Chinese electronics brand made it immediately available for a little over $1,800, though initial impressions of the device didn’t seem like it was worth the hassle of procuring one from overseas.

Samsung officially starts us off with the Galaxy Fold

Photo: Sam Rutherford/GizmodoPhoto: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

Samsung launched its first consumer-ready foldable smartphone in 2019. The device was teased relentlessly, though when it was launched, it landed with a smack. The Fold, which started as a device with a measly 4.6-inch display, opened up like a book to reveal a 7.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED inside. It also had a protective plastic film on the inner display, which some reviewers unknowingly pulled off. Samsung then retracted those review units and relaunched the Fold a few months later with a fix.

It’s still too bad Huawei is banned elsewhere

Photo: Sam Rutherford/GizmodoPhoto: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

Huawei isn’t a brand you can buy to use in the US anymore, but it made stride around APAC with the foldable Mate X. The expensive bendable phone stole the spotlight from the Galaxy Fold after a wave of mishaps with Samsung’s initial review devices. Huawei is still making folding phones.

The Mate X was a bona fide, all-screen folding smartphone. But it folded back into a candy bar-sized phone rather than into itself like a book. It had a 6.8-inch front display and a 6.38-inch display on the back, which also housed the rear-facing cameras. To open the Mate X, you could press a button, transforming the phone into an 8-inch slate device. Huawei made headway with this design, especially ensuring the bezels weren’t overloading the available screens.

Xiaomi figures out folding phones

Screenshot: XiaomiScreenshot: Xiaomi

Xiaomi also waves the folding smartphone flag around the region. China’s largest smartphone manufacturer joined Samsung and Huawei in manufacturing flexible phones. The company once teased a tri-fold design, but its first launch was actually the Mi Mix Fold in 2021.

Motorola reprises the Razr as a folding flip phone

Image: VerizonImage: Verizon

Motorola tried desperately to revive the Razr brand as a folding smartphone in 2019. And I mean, it REALLY tried. The 6.2-inch P-OLED foldable, which resembled Motorola’s original Razr flip phone, also had a “Quick View” display on the front, a 2.7-inch OLED. But the phone suffered from lackluster reviews, and its exclusive deal with Verizon in the US meant it was only available to a small set of users.

Samsung’s Galaxy Flip did what Motorola couldn’t

Photo: Caitlin McGarry / GizmodoPhoto: Caitlin McGarry / Gizmodo

Samsung’s first Z Flip model came at the right time. It was after the company had some time to work out the kinks of its almost-disastrous Galaxy Fold launch. It also followed Motorola’s struggle to capitalize on the nostalgia of its hit flip phone from the early aughts. The Galaxy Z Flip has since endured more iterations, and the fourth looks badass.

TCL tried its hand at something foldable, too

Image: CNETImage: CNET

TCL is typically known for its affordable smartphones and TVs, though it’s also played around with a folding form factor. The company showed off a foldable concept device at CES 2020. Then, a month later, it teased a slide-out smartphone that managed to capture more eyes for its relatively creative way of folding within itself.

Microsoft Surface Duo: Hey, it folds!

Photo: Sam Rutherford/GizmodoPhoto: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

The Microsoft Surface Duo is not foldable in the current sense. It doesn’t have a screen that bends in the middle, though it has two inner displays that fold into an 8.1-inch device. It also features a host of software tweaks to make it the ultimate productivity device. Unfortunately, even with the second-generation Duo 2, Microsoft failed to impress users.

We can’t forget Oppo’s brave attempts

Image: GSMArenaImage: GSMArena

We’d be remiss not to mention OnePlus’s parent company, Oppo, for its first flagship foldable, the Find N. Although it’s not available in the US market, its existence has helped normalize the form factor as a crucial part of any manufacturer’s device portfolio . To its credit, Oppo has a history of trying on different smartphone styles to stand out from the saturated sea of ​​competition in the Android space.

Will Google ever have a folding smartphone?

Photo: Sam Rutherford/GizmodoPhoto: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

We’ve reached the end of our folding smartphone journey, though there’s plenty more up ahead to look forward to, including rumors about stretchy displays and Samsung’s other experiments. Microsoft might even have another form factor up its sleeve, though it’s uncertain if it’ll be in the smartphone space, considering the Duo’s reception.

However, the company we’re holding out hope for is Google, with its Pixel lineup of smartphones. We’ve been following the rumors over the past few years in a sort of will-they-won’t-they way. It seems that currently, they won’t. The last thing we heard was that Google’s foldable Pixel had been delayed for a second time, and we likely won’t hear much else until at least the end of the year.

This article has been updated since it was first published.

Categories
Entertainment

Kanye West covers up as he’s seen out following ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s split from Pete Davidson

Out and about: Kanye West appeared to be in good spirits as he was seen stepping out in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Kanye West appeared to be in good spirits as he was seen stepping out in Los Angeles on Wednesday, following recent news that his ex-wife Kim Kardashian split from her beau Pete Davidson.

The rapper, 45, covered up in a sleeveless black hoodie worn over a camouflage long-sleeve shirt, which he paired with gray denim pants and a ball cap.

The outing comes after Dailymail.com’s exclusive story in which a source said Kim, 41, found Kanye’s Instagram post on Monday – an image of a fake New York Times newspaper with the headline ‘Skete Davidson dead at age 28’ – ‘appalling.’

Out and about: Kanye West appeared to be in good spirits as he was seen stepping out in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Out and about: Kanye West appeared to be in good spirits as he was seen stepping out in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The musician finished his look with a pair of sturdy black boots. The busy star was also seen holding his cellphone in his hand.

Not wanting to draw any attention, he was seen pulling his hoodie over his cap at one point and shielding his face.

The entertainer posted the mock-up newspaper page announcing Pete’s, 28, ‘death’, just two days after his split with Kim.

Casual: The rapper, 45, covered up in a sleeveless black hoodie worn over a camouflage long-sleeve shirt, which he paired with gray denim pants and a ball cap

Casual: The rapper, 45, covered up in a sleeveless black hoodie worn over a camouflage long-sleeve shirt, which he paired with gray denim pants and a ball cap

Good spirits: The outing comes following recent news that his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 41, split from her beau Pete Davidson, 28

Good spirits: The outing comes following recent news that his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 41, split from her beau Pete Davidson, 28

The newspaper had Monday’s date and also a tagline which read: ‘Kid Cudi meant to play funeral but fearful of bottle throwers.’

That was in reference to Kid Cudi, 38, cutting his headline set at Rolling Loud short on July 22 due to people throwing bottles at him. He filled in for Kanye at the last minute but then Kanye turned up later anyway and performed.

Kim subsequently slammed the ‘appalling’ meme on Instagram, and demanded he take it down. The post was removed from his account of him.

A source close to the star told DailyMail.com: ‘Kim won’t stand for this. She is demanding that Kanye take the post down, but he won’t.’

Busy: The busy star was also seen holding his cellphone in his hand

Busy: The busy star was also seen holding his cellphone in his hand

Exit: Kanye was spotted exiting a building in LA

Exit: Kanye was spotted exiting a building in LA

Covered up: Not wanting to draw any attention, he was seen pulling his hoodie over his cap at one point

Covered up: Not wanting to draw any attention, he was seen pulling his hoodie over his cap at one point

Covered up: Not wanting to draw any attention, he was seen pulling his hoodie over his cap at one point

‘She has been vigorously defending Pete. Ella she’ll never get back together with Kanye over the way he’s treated the people she loves and respects.

‘She has tried incredibly hard to have a good co-parenting situation for the children.’

‘She won’t stand for this type of behavior from him.’

The source added: ‘Kim and Kanye’s divorce is still moving ahead. She thinks that people should not be ok with this post – and Instagram should not allow this type of harassment.’

The reality TV star split with Pete last week after first being linked in October when Kim made her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live.

After less than a year together the pair decided to just be friends, because of the long distance and clashing schedules – with Kim based in the US while Pete is filming in Australia.

Sturdy: The musician finalized his look with a pair of sturdy black boots

Sturdy: The musician finalized his look with a pair of sturdy black boots

Appalled: It comes after Dailymail.com's exclusive story in which a source said Kim found Kanye's Instagram post on Monday - an image of a fake New York Times newspaper with the headline 'Skete Davidson dead at age 28' - 'appalling'

Appalled: It comes after Dailymail.com’s exclusive story in which a source said Kim found Kanye’s Instagram post on Monday – an image of a fake New York Times newspaper with the headline ‘Skete Davidson dead at age 28’ – ‘appalling’

It’s not the first time Kanye has threatened Pete online as he’s regularly posted and then deleted attacks waged at his ex-wife’s former boyfriend.

It was revealed earlier this week that Pete has been seeing a therapist for ‘trauma therapy’ after months of online harassment from Kanye over his relationship with Kim.

The former Saturday Night Live star is said to have found the ‘attention and negativity’ coming from the rapper a ‘trigger’ and has been receiving trauma therapy since April.

A source told People on Monday: ‘He has been in trauma therapy in large part [due to Kanye]. The attention and negativity coming from Kanye and his antics of him is a trigger for [Pete]and he’s had to seek out help.’

At it again: West took another swipe at the former SNL comedian following his split from Kim last week

At it again: West took another swipe at the former SNL comedian following his split from Kim last week

Trauma: It was revealed earlier this week that Pete has been seeing a therapist for 'trauma therapy' after months of online harassment from Kanye over his relationship with Kim; Pictured 2022

Trauma: It was revealed earlier this week that Pete has been seeing a therapist for ‘trauma therapy’ after months of online harassment from Kanye over his relationship with Kim; Pictured 2022

Kanye previously shared a screengrab of Davidson’s defunct Instagram account and took credit for driving him away from the social media platform.

‘Ran Skete off the gram,’ he wrote. ‘Tell your mother I changed your name for life.’

In March, Kanye released a claymation video for his track Eazy, in which he depicted himself committing violent acts against a character resembling Pete.

Kanye also took to social media in March and said he was ‘really concerned’ that Davidson would get Kim ‘hooked on drugs,’ adding, ‘He’s in rehab every two months.’

West previously acknowledged his social media posts came off as harassing Kardashian, after he shared text messages with her saying that his previous torrent of posts were putting Davidson in danger.

Last selfie: A source close to Davidson confirmed the couple's split to DailyMail.com on Friday, following their nine-month romance

Last selfie: A source close to Davidson confirmed the couple’s split to DailyMail.com on Friday, following their nine-month romance

The way they were: Kim and Kanye married in 2014 but she filed documents to be recognized as legally single in December, 2021, following their split; Pictured in 2016

The way they were: Kim and Kanye married in 2014 but she filed documents to be recognized as legally single in December, 2021, following their split; Pictured in 2016

‘I know sharing screen shots was jarring and came off as harassing Kim,’ West wrote on Instagram. ‘I take accountability.’

In the texts, Kardashian told West he was ‘creating a dangerous and scary environment and someone will hurt Pete and this will be all your fault,’ later adding, ‘There are dangerous people out there and this is scary and it doesn’t have to be.’

Kim and Kanye married in 2014 but she filed documents to be recognized as legally single in December, 2021, following their split.

The pair – who have four children together, including North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3 – have been co-parenting since she filed for divorce back in January 2021.

The couple had a trial-setting conference in their dragging divorce on Friday, and it was revealed that the Donda rapper recently lost his fifth divorce lawyer.

His attorney, Samantha Spector asked to be relieved as counsel and said her relationship with Kanye was ‘irretrievably broken’ though she did not specify why, as per TMZ.

The judge also made it clear that unless Kanye ‘submits his financial declarations to settle the remaining issues’ the case will go to trial in December.

Co-parenting: The pair - who have four children together, including North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3 - have been co-parenting since she filed for divorce back in January 2021

Co-parenting: The pair – who have four children together, including North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3 – have been co-parenting since she filed for divorce back in January 2021

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Categories
Sports

Paul Green live updates: Rugby league world in shock after death of NRL premiership-winning coach

Paul Green live updates: Rugby league world in shock after death of NRL premiership-winning coach

Here’s our digital sport lead Kyle Pollard:

Green’s legacy as the first coach to take the Cowboys to premiership glory would follow him even as he farewelled the club in 2020.

With two grand finals and a long-awaited trophy under his belt, the question was always going to be ‘what’s next?’

For Green, it was the Broncos.

The powerhouse club had let Anthony Seibold go, and for many, Green was the natural man to step into the seat. Experienced, respected, and a Broncos Old Boy to boot.

And while his interview was reportedly exceptional, Kevin Walters stood fair and square in his way.

“Look, I was disappointed to miss out on the Broncos,” he told The Courier-Mail’s Peter Badel.

“But I knew the situation I was walking into. I knew what ‘Kevvie’ brought to the job and I knew what I brought to the job.

“There’s no ill-feeling at all towards the Broncos at all.”

Instead, Green would take the head coach role at the Maroons, in what would be a transition period between the old and the new as the rep team moved from Wayne Bennett, to Green, and eventually to Billy Slater.

It was a brutal result, with a dominant Blues outfit getting the job done in the first two games.

Green would however go on to claim Origin III, and mark himself in the record books as one of only 13 men to coach the mighty Maroons.

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Here’s the highlights from that game.

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Categories
US

Former Twitter Employee Found Guilty of Acting as an Agent of a Foreign Government and Unlawfully Sharing Twitter User Information | takeover bid

Former Twitter Employee Found Guilty of Acting as an Agent of a Foreign Government and Unlawfully Sharing Twitter User Information | takeover bid

Federal Jury Finds Former Twitter Middle East Media Partnerships Employee Guilty of Fraud, Conspiracy, Obstruction, and Foreign Agent Charges for Bribe Scheme to Access, Monitor, and Convey User Information on Behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Royal Family

A federal jury yesterday convicted a former Media Partnerships Manager for the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region at Twitter of acting as a foreign agent without notice to the Attorney General, conspiracy, wire fraud, international money laundering, and falsification of records in to federal investigation. The verdict follows a two-week trial before the Honorable Senior US District Judge Edward M. Chen for the Northern District of California.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ahmad Abouammo, 44, formerly of Walnut Creek, California, and currently residing in Seattle, was employed at Twitter as Media Partnerships Manager for the MENA region. The evidence at trial demonstrated that Abouammo took bribes in exchange for accessing, monitoring, and conveying the private information of Twitter users to officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Royal family. In this position, Abouammo was responsible for protecting Twitter user information and owed Twitter his honest services from him. Twitter policies also required Abouammo to disclose violations of Twitter’s security policies and report gifts from those with business dealings with the company. When questioned about the accesses of Twitter user information and his receipt of bribes, Abouammo then lied to FBI investigators and falsified a document.

“Abouammo acted in secret as an agent of a foreign government targeting dissenting voices,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This verdict shows that the Justice Department will not tolerate any act of transnational repression and will hold accountable those who aid hostile regimes in extending their reach to our shores.”

“The Northern District of California is home to many of the most innovative technology companies in the world,” said US Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds for the Northern District of California. “One consequence of this good fortune is that companies in this district often collect and store vast amounts of data from customers and vendors. In this case, the government demonstrated, and the jury found, that Abouammo violated a sacred trust to keep private personal information from Twitter’s customers and sold private customer information to a foreign government. Abouammo’s decision to accept bribes in exchange for providing to a foreign government the protected information of customers could have untold damaging consequences. As this case demonstrates, we will not tolerate the misuse of personal information or attempts by foreign governments to recruit secret, malign agents at American technology companies. Where such misuse violates federal law, offenders will be prosecuted.”

“Any attempts by foreign governments to hijack free speech – in social media or any form – will not be tolerated here in the United States. This case is proof of the FBI’s commitment to defend our constitutional right,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Authoritarian governments rely on transnational repression to shape the world in their favor and stifle dissent. We remain dedicated to protecting the United States from all foreign and domestic threats, which includes efforts by foreign governments to stalk, harass, or intimidate the people within our borders.”

“The FBI San Francisco division works tirelessly to prevent efforts by foreign governments to suppress fundamental human rights, including the free speech of dissenting voices on US social media platforms,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office. “This verdict reaffirms the FBI’s dedication to stopping transnational repression from any foreign government and sends a clear message that justice will be brought to those who threaten the freedoms of an open society.”

According to the evidence presented at trial, Abouammo began receiving bribes from an official of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as early as December 2014. The foreign official met with Abouammo in London and provided Abouammo with a luxury Hublot watch. Abouammo later acknowledged the value of the watch was $42,000 when he offered it for sale on Craigslist. After the meeting in London, Abouammo began repeatedly accessing private information about several Twitter accounts, at least one of which was an influential account who was critical of members of the Saudi Royal Family and the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Abouammo also continued to communicate with the official of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including regarding the influential critical account.

Evidence at trial further showed that after Abouammo traveled to Lebanon in February 2015. A bank account was opened in the name of his father in Lebanon and Abouammo obtained access to that bank account. The account then received $100,000 from the official of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Abouammo laundered the money by sending it into the United States in small wire transfers with false descriptions. Abouammo left his job at Twitter in May 2021 and, shortly thereafter, received another $100,000 into the bank account in Lebanon accompanied by a note from the official apologizing for the delayed payment. Abouammo responded, in part, by asking whether the official wanted any additional information from Twitter.

In October 2018, FBI agents interviewed Abouammo at his residence about his involvement in the scheme with officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Evidence at trial demonstrated that Abouammo provided false information to the FBI investigators and falsified an invoice for one of the payments he received from the foreign official.

Abouammo was arrested on Nov. 5, 2019. On July 28, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging him with acting as an agent of a foreign government without providing notice to the Attorney General; conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud; six counts of honest services fraud and wire fraud; international money laundering; and falsification of records in a federal investigation. The jury acquitted Abouammo of five of the counts pertaining to wire fraud and honest services fraud. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all the remaining counts.

Abouammo faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the charge of acting as an agent of a foreign government and 20 years in prison for each of the other counts. In addition, each count for which Abouammo was found guilty carries up to a $250,000 fine and additional periods of supervised release to follow the prison term. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Assistant US Attorneys Colin Sampson and Eric Cheng for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney Christine Bonomo of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Beth Margen and Alycee Lane. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

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Business

Australia’s banks can withstand end of cheap money

Australia's banks can withstand end of cheap money

If the soft landing scenario plays out as forecast by both the Reserve Bank and the Treasury, the initial lifting of interest rates will level off after working relatively quickly to bring inflation back down into the 2 per cent to 3 per cent target band in 2023.

‘Whatever it takes’ is the way to go

Ahead of next month’s Jobs and Skills Summit, this underlines why Treasurer Jim Chalmers should unambiguously back RBA Governor Philip Lowe’s “whatever it takes” commitment to returning inflation to target promptly, including the need for wage restraint.

Dr Chalmers should heed what Australia’s biggest bank and largest mortgage lender is indicating about getting on top of inflation quickly being in the best interests of indebted households, and rejecting out of hand the “inflation doesn’t matter” school of thought being promoted by the Australian Council of Trade Unions policy paper published on Tuesday.

The wacky thinking latched onto henceforth by the ACTU is a recipe for entrenching high inflation, and higher interest rates, reducing the flexibility of the economy, undermining living standards and throwing away the one achievement of the pandemic, the lower than 4 per cent jobless rate .

The strength and profitability of Australia’s well-capitalised and generally well-regulated banks is a national asset for a commodity-exporting economy exposed to global volatility. The banks’ strength, built mainly on the rock of their property loan books, is also a barometer of Australia’s frontier growth economy that, in normal times, draws in people from around the world to live, work, and buy a home.

CBA’s stellar results coincide with the stepping down of chairman Catherine Livingstone, who oversaw its exit from bancassurance and return to bread-and-butter banking after the Hayne royal commission.

The big four – CBA, National Australia Bank, ANZ, and Westpac – benefit from dominant market positions. The tide of cheap money running out that’s hitting tech stock valuations will probably also moderate the threat that fintech innovators pose to the traditional banks. The competitive challenge may now come from big tech behaviors such as Google and Meta.

CBA is also bearing the downside of digital diversification and the collapse in the buy now, pay later sector, as the value of its $100 million investment in 2 per cent of Klarna plummets.

Yet the intensification of competition for home loan market share has crimped CBA’s net lending margins. It is also driving ANZ’s bid to become a bigger and better competitor by taking over Suncorp Bank.

Lending margins – the difference between funding costs and interest charged to borrowers – tend to shrink and expand as interest rates fall and rise. The banks will now need to manage the large number of borrowers moving off fixed mortgage rates to variable rates pegged to the higher cash rate. Commercial pressures could also assist with this transition as the banks compete on refinancing terms to retain and win market share.

Australia’s banks remain far from perfect. Their business models are all similarly leveraged to a housing market that has been overinflated by too much cheap money and budget stimulus. But given its overall strength, the banking system appears reasonably positioned to withstand the interest rate correction without a crash landing.

Categories
Technology

SpaceX’s Starship won’t make 1st orbital launch this month

spacex rocket firing in static test on launch pad

The first orbital test flight of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle won’t get off the ground in August.

SpaceX is targeting a six-month window that opens on Sept. 1 for the highly anticipated mission, according to a radio-spectrum license application (opens in new tab) that the company filed with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).