Latest news with #AUD
News18
4 hours ago
- Climate
- News18
Australia's Algal Bloom Declared ‘Natural Disaster': What's Behind The Toxic Sea Crisis?
Last Updated: A massive algal bloom off South Australia's coast has turned the sea toxic, killing over 400 marine species and devastating local industries. A massive algal bloom off the South Australian coast has turned vast stretches of sea into a toxic green soup, killing marine life by the thousands and devastating local industries. Here's what we know. What Is An Algal Bloom? An algal bloom is a rapid and often toxic increase in algae population in a water body. While algae are a natural part of marine ecosystems, in excessive quantities they can deplete oxygen, block sunlight and release toxins- thus turning the water harmful for both marine creatures and humans. In this case, the algal bloom stretches from Coorong to the Yorke Peninsula, spanning an area twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory. How Bad Is The Crisis In Australia? So far, the bloom has reportedly killed over 400 species of marine life, including large numbers of fish, shellfish and other coastal organisms. Beaches have been lined with rotting carcasses and the normally pristine waters have taken on a sickly green hue. What's Causing Algal Bloom In Australia? Experts have said that the crisis is being driven by climate change, which has led to a combination of rising sea temperatures, excess nutrient runoff from agriculture and urban sources as well as prolonged drought conditions. These factors have created ideal conditions for algae to multiply rapidly. Yes, at the state level. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas declared the bloom a 'natural disaster" and criticized the federal government for hesitating to do the same. He said, 'This is a natural disaster and should be acknowledged as such. I think politicians do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities." The federal government has committed AUD $14 million for relief- including clean-up, research and support for affected industries. The South Australian government matched that funding, bringing the total response package to AUD $28 million. However, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has so far refused to classify the event as a natural disaster. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Reuters
20 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Australia's Insignia agrees to $2.2 billion all-cash takeover by CC Capital
July 22 (Reuters) - Australia's Insignia Financial Ltd ( opens new tab said on Tuesday it has agreed to an all-cash takeover offer from investment manager CC Capital, valuing the wealth management firm's equity at A$3.3 billion ($2.15 billion). ($1 = 1.5337 Australian dollars)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Influencer Who Dished Out $33K on 250 Tattoos Reveals How the Transformation Impacts Her Daily Life (Exclusive)
A content creator details her five-year journey to achieving her tattoo "body suit"NEED TO KNOW An Australian woman has gone viral on social media for showing her 250 tattoos, which cover nearly her entire body, from her chest to her feet (and yes, her butt) Over five years, she's spent around $32,600 on her themed ink, which she reveals are done over multiple seven-hour tattooing sessions Speaking about her transformation, she reveals how her appearance has impacted her confidence and everyday interactionsThis woman's love for tattoos is permanent. Melbourne, Australia-based content creator Blue Valentine has garnered a following online for sharing her tattoo journey, which, today, includes around 250 works of art that've cost her $50,000 AUD (which is approximately $33,000 USD). "I always knew I wanted tattoos," says the 28-year-old, who describes herself as "an all-or-nothing kind of person." Still, when she decided to get her first tattoo five years ago, she approached the process slowly and steadily. "I was initially scared I wouldn't be able to handle the pain, as I don't like regular needles or taking blood. I did a small traditional tattoo flower on my ribs, so if I tapped out, I wouldn't have to look at it too much." But that wasn't the case. Despite the "horrible" pain that occurred during that very first session, she wasn't deterred. "As I left the studio, I got over it and booked in my first sleeve about a week later." There's more than what meets the eye with what Valentine calls her "body suit" (because the majority of her lower half — including her chest, stomach and butt — are, in fact, covered in tats). Each sleeve and collage are designed in different themes: Diner, Military, Sailor, Circus, Garage, Western and Vintage. The one thing they have in common? Illustrations inspired by 1950s pin-up culture, which also influences how Valentine dresses day to day. "I knew I wanted to do themes straight away. I like the organization of it. I picked my top themes, assessed which ones had the most images I wanted and they got the larger portions of my body," she explains. "My favorite tattoo is my throat tattoo. [It reads] 'Not your Valentine', Valentine being my last name. I think it's a bold statement and is a strong representation of my personality. My others would be the ones I have representing my family, such as images of my parents [she revealed in a TikTok tattoo tour that she has an depiction of them as "conjoined twins" as a part of her circus-themed sleeve], brother, grandparents and dogs. 'All Bark, All Bite' across my chest is also another favorite of mine," she says. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. While Valentine's tattoo count may be mind-boggling, she puts thought into every single one she gets. First, she sketches her concepts on an iPad, then gives her moodboard of sorts to her tattoo artists. She's worked with three Australian-based artists, Ben Tuckey, Ben Koopman and Allegra Maeva, over the years (but has never done a tattoo on herself). Then come the time-consuming — and pricey — tattoo shop visits. "I would book six to seven-hour full-day sessions and go either weekly or bi-weekly until we completed whatever sleeve or themed section we were on. I'd then take a month break or so to draw up the next sleeve if I didn't already have it ready. Usually in a full day you could get two big pieces or three medium pieces [completed]. There would also be full-day sessions just focused on filler pieces to close up any gaps, which were usually just free-handed by the artist." She says she's dished out around $800 AUD or $522 USD per session. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Valentine's transformation has cost her much more than money. She tells PEOPLE that her appearance sometimes receives negative responses from people she meets in real life. "Men definitely stare and ask inappropriate questions. I also work in a bar so there's not a night that goes by without some form of harassment and comments made towards me and my tattoos," says Valentine, who works in bar management. "I don't take anyone's opinion of it seriously, as my tattoos are everything I planned out and wanted. I'm very proud of what me and my artists have achieved, and I've become incredibly confident in my skin because of it." She also says she has a loving partner who supports her tattoo journey as she does hers. That means she really (yes, really) doesn't have any regrets about her ink. "I'm so glad I waited until I was 23 to start getting tattooed or, my god, I would have some shockers! Everything was planned and everything worked out the way I envisioned thanks to my artists," she says. The lingering question: Does she have any more room for a few more tattoos? "I only have the bottoms of my feet, face and ears free," she says, though getting her ears done is next on her to-do list. She does have one body part that's absolutely off limits: "I want to keep my face naked." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Astronomer CEO quits after Coldplay concert canoodling - and his replacement had eyebrow-raising reaction to scandal
Andy Byron resigned Saturday as the CEO of the $1.3 billion ($1.9 billion AUD) AI company he helped found, Astronomer, just days after he was caught canoodling with his head of HR on a jumbotron at a Coldplay concert. 'As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,' the company said in a statement Saturday. 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' The company's board could have chosen to fire Byron, leaving him with nothing, said sources who noted the resignation was likely his best course of action financially. Byron, 50, and Kristin Cabot, 52, sparked a near-unprecedented viral storm when they were seen desperately dodging the kiss cam while cuddling at the concert near Boston Wednesday night. During the deer-in-the-headlights moment, Cabot quickly covered her face and Byron swiftly ducked out of view. Lead singer Chris Martin, thinking he had caught a tender moment, seemed confused before remarking, 'Either they're having an affair or they're very shy.' By Thursday morning, the pair were identified as the high powered CEO and HR boss of a tech company. On Friday — the same day new video emerged of Byron and Cabot locking lips and embracing at the concert — their stunning downfall accelerated, as both were both placed on leave while Astronomer said it was investigating the debacle. Byron began negotiating an exit package after he was placed on leave Thursday, Axios reported. And an interim CEO, company co-founder Pete DeJoy, a Brooklynite, was named. Byron, estimated to be worth between $50 and $70 million, was paid between $469,000 and $690,000 a year, but received handsome performance-based bonuses. Cabot's future with the AI-driven data company remains unclear. Astronomer will start searching for its next chief executive while DeJoy leads the company. In a cheeky nod to the scandal, on Friday, DeJoy reportedly 'liked' a LinkedIn post from Zachary Hensley — who was the vice president of technology and operations at Astronomer from 2019 to 2024 — in which Hensley admitted, 'Yes, I've laughed at the memes.' 'Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,' their Saturday statement said. 'While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.' Astronomer was thriving in the months leading up to the incident, as it reportedly raised nearly $100 million from big investors and was rapidly growing. Byron's wife, Megan Kerrigan, 50, removed their shared last name from her Facebook profile before deleting it altogether after being inundated with messages about the alleged affair. Cabot is also believed to be married to Privateer Rum owner Andrew Cabot, 60. The couple were seen in a recent photo posing with two kids, with Kristin Cabot appearing to wear a wedding ring. A man who answered the door at the Massachusetts home of Kerrigan's mother angrily declined to comment Saturday, but one neighbor who knew the family praised them. 'The Kerrigans are salt of the earth, hardworking people and they don't deserve to be dragged through the mud,' the neighbor told The Post. Andy Byron, Megan Kerrigan, Kristin Cabot and Andy Cabot could not be reached for comment. It's unclear where both marriages stand in the wake of the high-profile scandal – before which, it appeared both families were living the American dream, complete with happy family photos and sprawling mansions. Less than five months ago, Cabot and her CEO husband bought a ritzy $2.2 million abode in the seaside town of Rye, NH. Originally published as Astronomer CEO quits after Coldplay concert canoodling - and his replacement had eyebrow-raising reaction to scandal
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Two new campuses coming up, Ambedkar University set to shift from Kashmere Gate site
With two new campuses under construction in Northwest Delhi's Dheerpur and Rohini, Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) is set to relocate from its heritage campus in Kashmere Gate. While the Dheerpur campus, spanning 4.95 acres, is being developed at a cost of Rs 1,199.02 crore, the Rohini campus, spread across 20 acres, will be set up for a cost of Rs 1,107.56 crore, The Indian Express has learnt. Both projects received statutory clearances in 2022, and the construction is underway. Vice-Chancellor Anu Singh Lather said the move was necessitated by infrastructural limitations and long-term maintenance costs at the existing site. 'The university building that we are functioning out of is a very old heritage building. We have maintained it well, but we will have to move out of here soon,' said Lather. 'It will take at least a couple of years for the construction of the new campuses to end and for us to relocate.' The current campus at Lothian Road in Kashmere Gate sits on a 3-acre site housing a 400-year-old building complex. According to the university's website, it has 'well-stocked libraries, reading rooms, online journals and computer labs,' as well as 'classrooms equipped with audio-visual equipment and WiFi connectivity'. Hostel facilities are available only for women. In addition to Kashmere Gate, AUD has been operating a 6.5-acre campus in Karampura on Shivaji Marg since 2016-17. Originally housing Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College and before that Shivaji College, the Karampura campus has been retrofitted with modern infrastructure. 'The Karampura campus has all the facilities that the Kashmere Gate campus have — technology-enabled AC classrooms, library, computer labs, student activity areas, playgrounds and cafeteria,' the university website states. Currently, over 800 students study at Karampura campus, which is also home to the School of Global Affairs (since 2018), and is expected to house the School of Vocational Studies and the School of Law and Governance in the coming years. A training kitchen and restaurant have also been set up for students of tourism and hospitality programmes. Established in 2008 by the Delhi government, AUD focuses on the humanities and social sciences and is expanding to accommodate growing academic and infrastructural needs.
