Month: August 2022

Categories
Business

The RBA to trial digital currency

The RBA to trial digital currency

The Reserve Bank of Australia will trial a digital currency in a “ring-fenced” pilot program as part of a collaborative research project into how it could be used by consumers and businesses that is set to last about a year.

Australia’s central bank has previously declared its interest in digital currency, which could be a digital equivalent of the dollar and rival privately minted cryptocurrencies, but the research project announced by the bank on Tuesday with the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Center would focus on how such an asset could actually be used.

The RBA is collaborating on a research project into the use of a central bank digital currency.

The RBA is collaborating on a research project into the use of a central bank digital currency.Credit:Louie Douvis

The research center’s chief executive Andreas Furche, whose organization is a product of industry, university and government collaboration, said it had already been proven that a central bank digital currency was technically feasible. “The key research questions now are what economic benefits a CBDC (central bank digital currency) could enable, and how it could be designed to maximize those benefits,” Furche said.

In a media release, the Reserve Bank said previous research from central banks around the world had gone into questions such as how the distributed ledger technology that is a hallmark of cryptocurrencies could be used for an RBA-backed currency.

But Michele Bullock, the RBA’s deputy governor, said Tuesday’s project was the next step in its research. “We are looking forward to engaging with a wide range of industry participants to better understand the potential benefits a CBDC could bring to Australia,” Bullock said.

The project would involve a “ring-fenced environment” in which a pilot digital currency would be used that had a real claim on the Reserve Bank. Participants selected by the bank and research center will develop projects that demonstrate how the digital currency could be used to assist businesses and households within that framework. A report will be published at the end.

China has explored the use of a digital currency, with the use of the e-CNY being gradually expanded.

China has explored the use of a digital currency, with the use of the e-CNY being gradually expanded.Credit:AP

RBA Governor Philip Lowe has previously warned that a risk of a central bank digital currency is that it could cause bank runs if jittery consumers use it to withdraw wealth from commercial banks and park it with the RBA in a crisis.

Privately minted cryptocurrencies have fared poorly this year, with even some that are intended to be pegged stably to the US dollar being wiped out.

Categories
Technology

Great, Now the Apple App Store Has Malware Too

Great, Now the Apple App Store Has Malware Too

Apple’s devices and App Store are generally considered more secure compared to competitors like Android or Windows. Apple has greater control and curation over the software it allows on the App Store, making malware much less common than on, say, Google Play. However, as the last few weeks have shown, even reputable-seeming, frequently downloaded apps can secretly be malware — yes, even on Apple platforms.

Most recently, security research Alex Kleber discovered seven malware apps hiding in plain sight on the Mac App Store. All seven apps were apparently made by separate publishers according to the App Store listings, but Kleber discovered they were actually made by a single group based in China.

The apps in question include:

  • PDF Reader for Adobe PDF Files (Sunnet Technology Inc.)
  • Word Writer Pro (Netozo Limited)
  • Screen Recorder (Safeharbour Technology L Ltd.)
  • Webcam Expert (Wildfire Technology Inc.)
  • Streaming Browser Video Player (Boulevard Technology Ltd.)
  • PDF Editor for Adobe Files (Polarnet Limited)
  • PDF Reader (Xu Lu, apparently associated with Sunnet Technology Inc.)

While Apple has scrubbed these apps from the macOS App Store, they won’t be removed from any devices that downloaded them. If you have any of these apps on your Mac, delete them as soon as possible.

All of these apps ranked among the top 100 most-downloaded apps in the US App Store ranks, some of which climbed within the top 10, and PDF Reader for Adobe PDF Files ranked number 1 in the Education category.

Uploading malware to Apple’s App Store is difficult, but clearly not impossible. The developers behind the seven malware apps submitted “benign” versions of apps that hid dangerous code in its encrypted database. Once the app passed certification and was available on the App Store, it essentially “morphed” and activated the hidden malware. Many Android malware apps use a similar strategy to circumvent the Play Store’s security checks.

Apple removed all seven apps following Kleber’s disclosure, but their existence shows how easy it is for malware to appear anywhere, even on seemingly secure platforms like Apple’s App Store.

In fact, last week MacRumors reported on a high-ranking third-party Facebook Ad management app that was stealing user data, taking over their accounts, and using the account owner’s ad budget to promote ads for the malicious app developer’s software. Apple also removed the unnamed fraudulent app from the iOS App Store, but it apparently racked up over 250,000 downloads before it was disabled.

While you’re safe from this recently-identified App Store malware, let this serve as a warning against downloading unknown apps from any platform. No platform is completely safe, and if fake apps can climb the rankings like this, it’s likely there’s other malware hiding on the App Store right now.

Malicious app developers go to great lengths to appear legitimate. Some apps will imitate, or outright steal, the interfaces and features of other software. They will normally work as intended, too, while hiding scams or invasive data-stealing functions. These intrusive features usually — though not always — require high privilege permissions that are unrelated to the app’s advertised use.

Many hackers even create fake companies, including fake websites and privacy policies (which are requirements for submitting an app to Apple). We’ve seen other fraudulent apps use fake privacy policies on the App Store, but they’re easy to spot if you look closely. Many appear on random domains unrelated to the app or its publisher — the seven apps found by Kleber all used a single GoDaddy domain, for example. Similarly, the apps will often feature suspiciously high ratings and glowing user reviews, which is why it’s important to read more than just the highest-rated or top-listed user comments.

Still, even if you’re hyper-vigilant, the best way to keep you and your devices safe is to only download well-known apps from trusted publishers.

[Mac Observer]

Categories
Sports

West Ham fans threaten to boycott London Stadium for charging $13 for pint of beer

Is this too much for beer?

West Ham have been slammed for charging AU$13 for a pint of lager.

The Hammers were in action at London Stadium for the first time this season as they fell 2-0 to Manchester City over the weekend.

Football fans arriving at the match were left bemused by the astonishing costs of refreshments, The Sun reports.

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Twitter account Football Away Days warned: “If you’re off to West Ham this season, you’ll need to remortgage your house for a few pints.”

Pints ​​of Amstel, Birra Moretti and Heineken were all priced at £7.60 ($13), while even a half was £3.70 ($6.40) for the former and £3.85 ($6.65) for the latter two.

Even a bottle of Coca-Cola was priced at an astonishing £4.50 ($7.80), with a packet of crisps setting fans back £2.50 ($4.30).

Is this too much for beer?Source: Twitter

Football Away Days’ post gained plenty of traction among irate fans, with one responding: “That tastes like bankruptcy.”

A second blasted: “Absolutely dreadful club.”

While a third smoked: “Ripping off their own fans during a cost of living crisis. Stay classy West Ham.”

Another added: “£4.50 for a bottle of coke!!! S*** the bed! That’s absolutely scandalous! They’re probably buying them in at less than a £1 a bottle.”

A further supporter called on fans to boycott, writing: “The only retaliation is to not buy a thing. (Maxwel) Cornet wasn’t worth it if the fans have to pay his wages weekly. Disgusting.”

A recent survey found that Man City was home to the cheapest pint in the Premier League.

According to Top10Casinos, you can pick one up from Etihad Stadium for just £3.40.

Fans smoked last year about the cost of a burger and chips at Arsenal.

The greedy Gunners charged fans $31 for a burger and chips at Emirates Stadium.

Erling Haland of Manchester City. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Erling Haaland scored twice on his Premier League debut as Manchester City opened their title defense with a 2-0 win at West Ham.

Haaland lived up to the hype since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to give the reigning champions a perfect start to the season in the searing heat of East London.

West Ham nearly derailed City’s title chances when they led 2-0 at halftime in the penultimate game of last season before Pep Guardiola’s men battled back for the point that ultimately edged out Liverpool at the top of the table.

But they were no match this time as Haaland immediately provided the value of City adding a proven goalscorer to their arsenal.

The Norwegian has been signed as the long-term successor to Sergio Aguero and started his City career just like the club’s all-time record goalscorer with a double on his league debut.

Haaland had missed chances in City’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Community Shield, but Guardiola’s warning that the goals would soon flow proved to be correct.

City’s patient possession game wore the Hammers down as temperatures in the English capital soared above 30 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

Haaland took responsibility from the penalty spot to open his Premier League account after he had been brought down by Alphonse Areola.

West Ham started the second half with more attacking intent but that simply played into the hands of City’s new weapon as Kevin De Bruyne split open their defense with one pass on the counter-attack for Haaland to gallop clear on goal and slot low past Areola.

– with AFP

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

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Categories
Australia

Australian man Robert Pether’s health deteriorating 16 months after ‘arbitrary detention’ in Iraq began

Robert Pether surrounded by his three children at a table as they celebrate a birthday with a cake.

There are serious fears for the health of an Australian man languishing in an overcrowded Baghdad jail, with doctors arguing he needs urgent surgery to treat multiple suspected skin cancers.

Robert Pether, 47, has been behind bars in Iraq since April last year, found guilty of what his family and legal team described as trumped-up fraud charges.

United Nations investigators have raised concerns Pether, and his Egyptian colleague, Khalid Zaghloul, have been exposed to torture techniques while imprisoned.

Pether’s family spent nine months trying to get him access to medical experts in Iraq, after a photo of injuries on his back was sent to a doctor in Italy.

“His doctor was absolutely appalled at the state of him,” Pether’s wife Desree told the ABC.

“He’s got so many new moles on his back, he’s got a new mole on the same ear that he had a melanoma before, and it has changed significantly in the last few months.

“It’s displaying the same aggressive behavior as the melanoma that he had.”

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PlayAudio. Duration: 9 minutes 34 seconds

Australian engineer Robert Pether’s wife Desree says she fears he won’t live another six months

He now needs to have seven potential cancers cut out but there is no guarantee he can access the care he needs in Iraq.

“Our doctors stated that he looks 74, not 47, and he looks very frail, like a frail old man,” she said.

“He’s completely grey, and his skin tone is grey.

“There’s also [the risk of] post-operative infection when he’s in a 14-foot cell with 22 other men.”

A computer design of a large building next to a river at sunset
Pether’s firm was managing the construction of the Central Bank of Iraq’s $1 billion new headquarters.(Zaha Hadid Architects)

Pether’s doctor has gone so far as to write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Ms Pether said her husband was “absolutely terrified” about the situation, and his mental health was deteriorating.

“He’s in a really dark place,” she said.

“It’s really, really hard to be in a position where you have to talk him off of a ledge quite frequently.

“And for our 19-year-old son to get off the phone and be in tears because of the way his dad’s talking, and thinking that his father’s going to do something drastic, it’s really difficult.”

Pair face further charges

Pether, an engineer, had been working on the construction of the new $1 billion Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) headquarters in Baghdad, when he was arrested alongside his colleague Zaghloul.

In August last year, an Iraqi court found the pair guilty of deception charges which carried a $16 million fine and five years in jail.

Since then, the two men have been hit with further charges as CBI has tried to enforce further ends for delays in the project.

The case has been put off until later this month.

Ms Pether had been highly critical of the Morrison government’s approach to her husband’s case, saying her family felt abandoned.

She said there had been a “marked difference” in the approach of the new government.

“It’s chalk and cheese,” Ms Pether said.

“I’m hoping that they’re able to do something a little bit more significant … in respect to trying to get him out.”

Peter Khalil and Linda Burney, who's out of focus, sit next to each other and look toward the left.
Peter Khalil is hopeful the Iraqi government might grant Robert Pether clemency due to his ill health.(ABC News: Matt Roberts)

In June, Mr Albanese spoke to his Iraqi counterpart, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.

An official transcript of the conversation from the Iraqi government did not mention Pether’s case but sources have told the ABC the matter was raised.

The ABC has contacted Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office for comment.

Diplomats working ‘around the clock’

Last week, Labor MP Peter Khalil took to his feet in federal parliament to raise Pether’s situation.

“The strain on Robert is terrible, but so is the pain of his family — the pain they’ve had to endure for over 16 months — his wife, Desree, and his children, Nala, Oscar and Flynn,” he told the House of Representatives.

“The Pether family have sold a property to help pay for Robert’s legal fees, and, I think, a car as well. All they want is Robert to return home safely.

“His daughter, Nala, draws pictures of what she plans to do with Dad when he gets out and is back home. Desree tells me it’s hard to keep the kids’ and Robert’s hopes up.”

Mr Khalil said diplomats were working “around the clock” on the case, and hoped the Iraqi government might grant him clemency based on his deteriorating health.

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Categories
US

Maryland Towns to Pay $5 Million in Black Teen’s Death in Police Encounter

Maryland Towns to Pay $5 Million in Black Teen's Death in Police Encounter

Three towns on Maryland’s Eastern Shore have agreed to pay $5 million to the family of a Black teenager who was killed in an encounter with police officers in 2018, lawyers for the family said on Monday.

The announcement of a partial settlement in the federal lawsuit brought by the family of Anton Black came nearly four years after Mr. Black, a 19-year-old former star high school athlete with a nascent modeling career, died after being restrained by three police officers, who held him face down for about six minutes, pinning his shoulder, legs and arms, according to the lawsuit. As part of the agreement, the towns also agreed to make changes in how their Police Departments train officers to prevent similar deaths.

Mr. Black’s death drew comparisons to the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, who was pinned to the ground under the knee of Derek Chauvin, a white former Minneapolis police officer, for more than nine minutes.

After local prosecutors did not pursue charges in the death, Mr. Black’s family filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Baltimore in December 2020, arguing that the police officers — all of whom were white — from Police Departments in the towns of Centerville, Greensboro and Ridgely had used excessive force on Sept. 15, 2018. The lawsuit also contended that the officers tried to cover up an unjustified killing by claiming that Mr. Black was under the influence of marijuana laced with another drug and had exhibited “superhuman” strength.

An autopsy report released four months later by the state’s medical examiner at the time, David Fowler, blamed congenital heart abnormalities for Mr. Black’s death and classified the death as an accident, saying there was no evidence that the police officers’ actions had played a role. The litigation by Mr. Black’s family against the medical examiner’s office and Mr. Fowler — also defendants in their lawsuit — is continuing.

Jennell Black, Mr. Black’s mother, said in a statement that “there are no words to describe the immense hurt that I will always feel when I think back on that tragic day, when I think of my son.”

“No family should have to go through what we went through,” she added. “I hope the reforms within the Police Departments will save lives and prevent any family from feeling the pain we feel every day.”

In addition to the three towns, the partial settlement of the lawsuit resolved the family’s claims against several people in the towns, including Thomas Webster IV, a former Greensboro police officer; Michael Petyo, the former chief of the Greensboro Police Department; Gary Manos, the former chief of the Ridgely Police Department; and Dennis Lannon, a former Centerville police officer.

The men could not be reached or did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment on Monday night.

The lawyers representing the three towns — Patrick W. Thomas, Sharon M. VanEmburgh and Lyndsey Ryan — did not immediately respond to emails or calls seeking comment on Monday. The attorney general’s office, which is representing the medical examiner’s officer, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment on Monday.

In the summer of 2018, Mr. Black developed mental health issues and began behaving erratically, according to the lawsuit. He was eventually found to have bipolar disorder.

On Sept. 15, 2018, a woman called 911 after seeing Mr. Black roughhousing with a 12-year-old boy, the lawsuit says. The officers who arrived used a Taser on Mr. Black and pinned him down near his mother’s home in Greensboro, the lawsuit says.

While he was being held down, Mr. Black told his mother, “I love you,” and cried out, “Please,” according to the lawsuit, which cites body camera footage from the officers.

Moments later, after his mother noticed that Mr. Black was “turning dark,” emergency medical workers tried to resuscitate him, but he died after being taken to a hospital, the lawsuit says.

Judge Catherine Blake of the US District Court in Maryland said in a ruling earlier this year that the video evidence from Mr. Black’s encounter with the police “is not so conclusive as to ‘clearly contradict’ and outweigh the plaintiffs’ allegations” of excessive force, which dealt a setback to the Police Departments’ case.

Richard Potter, a member of the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black, a group that has sought police accountability in Mr. Black’s death, noted in a statement that the police reforms brought on by the settlement would help “prevent this kind of tragedy from happening in our community again.”

The reforms required under the settlement include more resources for police officers who encounter mental health emergencies, de-escalation training, lessons on implicit bias and transparency with hiring.

Deborah Jeon, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, which represented the coalition, said in a statement that “today marks a step forward on the path toward accountability for the police killing of Anton Black.”

On top of those reforms, a Maryland law named after Mr. Black already requires disclosure of information about police misconduct investigations.

La Toya Holley, Mr. Black’s sister, said in a statement on Monday that the settlement gave her hope that another tragedy could be prevented.

“No one deserves to be killed like this,” Ms. Holley said. “Anton Black did not deserve this. He will never be forgotten.”

Categories
Business

National Australia Bank delivers $1.8b cash profit in third quarter

National Australia Bank delivers $1.8b cash profit in third quarter

Citigroup analyst Brendan Sproules said the result was disappointing given NAB’s rally since June, but the impact of the Reserve Bank of Australia raising interest rates would be better reflected in the remaining months of 2022.

“Overall, we expect the market will be disappointed with this profit update after a strong share price rally from its June lows. Rising rates are expected to lead to a very different fourth quarter result with upside risk to financial year 2023 consensus estimates,” Mr Sproules said.

Mr McEwan said the business is “in good shape for this evolving environment”.

“Balance sheet settings remain strong and we are well advanced on our financial year 2022 term wholesale funding task with $34 billion raised by end June,” he said.

NAB’s investments in digital experiences are expected to exceed $400 million in productivity benefits this year.

“We have a clear strategy and executing this with discipline is our key priority. We will continue to focus on getting the basics right, managing our bank safely and improving customer and colleague outcomes to deliver sustainable growth and improved shareholder returns,” Mr McEwan said.

Despite fears about the deteriorating macroeconomic environment, NAB said its credit impairment charges stood at $11 million “reflecting continued benign asset quality including low specific charges”.

“There has been no impact on credit impairment charges from changes to assumptions used in the economic adjustment or forward-looking adjustments during the quarter,” the bank confirmed.

Mr Sproules said cash earnings were in line with consensus, however they benefited from a very low bad and doubtful debt charge of just $11 million.

“Pre-provision profit of $2.5 billion was in line with Citi but 5 per cent below consensus, driven by weaker than expected revenue growth of just 3 per cent,” Mr Sproules said.

“NAB’s underlying revenue growth [stripping out the impact of acquiring Citigroup’s Australian consumer business] of 2 per cent was well below ANZ’s 5 per cent.”

NAB’s net interest margin (NIM) was also slightly lower, dragged down by markets and treasury performance.

“Excluding markets and treasury, NIM was up slightly reflecting the benefit of a rising interest rate environment, partly offset by home lending competition and higher wholesale funding costs,” NAB said.

While the market had been looking for margin expansion on the back of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s move to hike the cash rate in May and June, Mr Sproules said NIM ex markets and treasury was up “only slightly” compared to consensus expectations for a 4 basis point expansion.

UBS analyst John Storey said “the commentary on NIM is maybe a bit disappointing in the context of some banks which have already reported, but the underlying margin trend is as expected.”

Categories
Technology

Netflix subscribers aren’t playing Netflix games

Netflix subscribers aren't playing Netflix games

Late last year, Netflix began rolling out a new service for subscribers called Netflix Games. Intended as a way to get users to stay subscribed between show releases, data shows that not many people are playing along at all.

Since the service rolled out, Netflix games have been downloaded at least 23 million times, retaining an average player base of 1.7 million.

That is less than 1% of Netflix’s total subscriber base of 221 million, meaning that the vast majority of Netflix subscribers just don’t care about their games.

Netflix as a business has been struggling recently — speaking to shareholders last year, the company stated that they were finding it tough to compete with Epic Games and TikTok for people’s attention.

The foray into the games business is intended to be a way to compete, but the reality is that growing into a new business takes time.

“We’re going to be experimental and try a bunch of things. But I would say the eyes that we have on the long-term prize really center more around our ability to create properties that are connected to the universes, the characters, the stories we’re building,” said Greg Peters, Netflix COO during an earnings conference call.

The Netflix games catalog currently holds 24 games, ranging from Stranger Things: 1984 to Into The Breach, with plans to expand the catalog to 50 by the end of 2022.

“We’re open to licensing and accessing large game IP that people will recognise, and I think you will see some of that happen over the year to come,” Peters said.

Netflix’s push into games required some big spending, however. Recent acquisitions, such as the purchasing of Next Games, cost Netflix approximately $100 million AUD.

To that end, Netflix continues to express that this is more of an experimental test project and that the company isn’t pushing games for no reason.

“We’ve got to please our members by having the absolute best in the category,” said co-CEO Reed Hastings. “There’s no point of just being in it.”

You will have plenty of time to try some of Netflix’s games out, however. The Witcher Season 3 paused production due to Covid-related concerns, and it is unknown when production will resume, so you have a lot of downtime to give Into the Breach a shot.

Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF.

Read related topics:Netflix

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Categories
Sports

Kane Cornes slams Port Adelaide boss David Koch’s ‘watch out’ warning amid Ken Hinkley drama

Kane Cornes slams Port Adelaide boss David Koch's 'watch out' warning amid Ken Hinkley drama

Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes has blasted club chairman David Koch after he appeared to say no one’s job is safe after a horror 2022 season.

The team has made the preliminary final in the last two seasons but not been able to get over the hump to a grand final but have slumped to miss the playoffs, sitting 14 points out of the finals with just two matches remaining.

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It was a slump few saw coming and sparked fury from certain supporters, who plastered a “sack Hinkley” poster over a sign near the club’s headquarters last week.

Although Hinkley brushed it off, his ears no doubt would have pricked up when Koch appeared to state on radio he was “not afraid to make change”.

“It’s not just about one individual person, it’s the whole program. Turn it around or watch out,” Koch told Fiveaa on Monday.

“Every single person’s role will be assessed at the end of the year, as we do each year.”

But for Cornes, those comments were not good enough, believing Koch had bowed to the pressure from the loudest voices.

“This is a classic example of a chairman kicking with the breeze,” he said on SEN SA Breakfast.

“He had felt the angst from the supporter group, he felt like he needed to make a strong statement to alleviate some of the concerns from the very Port Adelaide supporter group who share their feedback regularly.

“Their desire to sack Ken Hinkley right now, Kochie (Koch) listened to that and he’s said, ‘even though my language has been one way all year, with two games to go I’m going to alleviate some of the concerns from the Port Adelaide supporter group and make a big, strong, sweeping statement about the coaching with two weeks to go’: ‘turn it around or watch out’.

“Turn what around? There are two weeks left in the season. What do you need to know in the next two weeks regarding Ken Hinkley’s ability to coach this club that you haven’t already discovered in the last ten years?

“Either make a call or back him in… ‘turn it around or watch out’, what a ridiculous thing to say.”

Although it appeared to be somewhat supportive of Hinkley’s position, Cornes continued, calling for Koch to make a decision, whether sacking the long-term coach or wholeheartedly committing.

“The thing that David Koch needs to do is make a call, is he your coach or is he not your coach?” Cornes continued.

“And if he’s not your coach, you have to tell him now so that he has the opportunity and you give him the respect to go and find another job.

“There are two vacant coaching jobs right now that Ken Hinkley would absolutely be in the mix for, but he can’t be in the mix for it if he thinks he’s going to be coaching Port Adelaide next year.

“Conversely, if he is your guy and you’ve contracted him for next year, which they have, back him in now. There’s nothing to be learned in the next two weeks that you don’t already know and you haven’t already discovered in the last 10 weeks.

“It was a stupid thing to say, it sent the media into a spin and it now has everyone questioning if Ken Hinkley will be there next year.”

Hinkley has coached Port Adelaide since 2013 and twice won AFLCA coach of the year but the Power have not made a grand final since 2007.

Hinkley is the second longest-serving coach behind only Mark Williams, the club’s sole AFL premiership winner.

Hinkley’s contract runs until the end of 2023.

Despite the comments, he told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 he knew where he stood as Port Adelaide coach.

“David (Koch) himself has said that he expects me to be coaching Port Adelaide in 2023, as I do and that’s what I am preparing for,” he said.

“I think I’ve been given enough assurances (he’ll see out his deal) through the season, not that I needed them to be fair.

“We all get there’s a finish line for everyone at some point.

“But as I sit here tonight, I’m more than confident that that won’t be at the end of 2022.”

Read related topics:Adelaide

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Categories
Australia

MP John Sidoti suspended from NSW parliament after ICAC corruption findings

man wearing glasses looking sideways

NSW MP John Sidoti has been suspended from parliament after he was found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

The NSW government moved a motion to suspend the former Liberal MP, after the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) made a serious corrupt finding against him last month.

Labor and the crossbench supported the motion, which will see Mr Sidoti suspended until at least the end of the parliament sitting year in November.

Mr Sidoti, the member for Drummoyne, strongly denies any wrongdoing and addressed parliament before the vote.

“I am glad to finally address matters that have impacted my life, my family’s lives and the community I serve,” he said.

“Not one shred of evidence existed to support these allegations.

“The gutter elements of the media created a story of misconduct.

John Sidoti addresses parliament
John Sidoti addressed parliament, saying “not one shred of evidence existed” to prove the allegations.(AAP: David Swift)

“They alleged that any errors of disclosure indicated attempts to hide wealth acquired through illegal means.

“A complete fantasy, there is no extraordinary wealth.

“Our disclosure guidelines are confusing and I found them complex.”

Mr Sidoti was once the sports minister but has been sitting on the crossbench while the corruption watchdog investigated.

The matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

Mr Sidoti is also planning legal action.

“To clear your name is a long, expensive process,” he said.

“I’m lodging an appeal in the Supreme Court this week, I’ll be making a submission to have the matter expedited.”

The ICAC found Mr Sidoti improperly used his position to influence the redevelopment of the Five Dock town centre.

The ICAC report said Mr Sidoti wanted planning controls relaxed so that three properties his family owned could benefit from development potential.

Premier Dominic Perrottet phoned Mr Sidoti after the findings, asking him to resign from parliament.

Mr Sidoti said he gave the Premier a two-word answer.

He is the second government MP to be suspended in a motion brought by the government.

Gareth Ward was suspended in March, while he faces indecent and sexual assault charges, he denies the allegations.

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Categories
US

Driver in LA-area crash that killed 5, including pregnant woman, charged with 6 counts of murder

Driver in LA-area crash that killed 5, including pregnant woman, charged with 6 counts of murder

A driver has been charged with six counts of murder in a fiery crash that killed five people last week near Los Angeles.

A pregnant woman was killed, and her fetus did not survive.

Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, of Houston, is also charged with five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Monday afternoon.

Security video shows a Mercedes Benz E-Class Coupe going through a red light Thursday before it plows into multiple vehicles in Windsor Hills, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The California Highway Patrol said in a statement that Linton drove the Mercedes at a “high rate of speed.” The investigation continues.

Highway patrol officials did not immediately respond to a request for an update Monday.

“This is a case that will always be remembered for the senseless loss of so many innocent lives as they simply went about their daily routines,” Gascón said in a statement Monday.

It was not clear whether Linton has a lawyer, and the Los Angeles County public defender’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Linton was hospitalized with moderate injuries, but the district attorney’s office said Monday she was expected in court for arraignment before the end of the day Monday.

Ashley Ryan, 23, was on her way to an appointment with an obstetrician when her vehicle was struck, family members have said. Her boyfriend de ella, whom the coroner has not publicly identified, and her 11-month-old boy, Alonzo Quintero, were also killed.

Family said Ryan and her boyfriend planned to name their unborn child Armani Lester.

Two women in another vehicle also died in the crash; they have not been publicly identified.

Dennis Romero

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.