Latest news with #April2026
Phone Arena
5 days ago
- Phone Arena
The next big flagship from Oppo will get some massive upgrades
The Oppo Find X8 Ultra ranks as one of the best phones we've reviewed so far, which means the sequel should be even better. Featuring a massive battery in a very slim body (only 9mm), the Find X8 Ultra is a very good camera phone the flagship recently hit shelves and we don't expect its sequel to arrive until April 2026, Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station is bringing us the first details about the Find X9 Ultra's camera, a phone that we shouldn't even talk about until next to DCS, Oppo's upcoming Find X9 Ultra will feature an improved camera system and a better chipset. As many of you probably know already, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite powers the Find X8 Ultra, but its successor will use a Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 instead, a chipset that Qualcomm is expected to introduce in importantly, the Find X9 Ultra is getting a massive camera upgrade. Just like the Find X8 Ultra, its successor will feature four cameras, but there will be bigger sensors inside the Find X9 Ultra. For starters, Oppo's upcoming flagship is rumored to boast an incredible 200-megapixel main camera, which will be complemented by a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a pair of periscope telephoto cameras: 200-megapixel and 50-megapixel. Oppo Find X7 Ultra | Image credit: PhoneArena In comparison, Oppo Find X8 Ultra has four 50-megapixel cameras. It's also worth mentioning that the 200-megapixel camera will also double as a macro lens and will feature 10x optical zoom. In a previous report, DCS claimed the Find X9 Ultra sports a large 6.82-inch OLED display with 2K+ resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate. Unsurprisingly, the flagship is expected to ship with ColorOS 16 based on Android 16, which is expected to be released soon after Google launches the stable version of Android 16 . Featuring at least two major upgrades – camera and processor, as well as a smaller one – display, the Find X9 Ultra will be a strong competitor for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 series. Even if this particular model will remain exclusive to China, a slightly different version is likely to make it globally. It remains to be seen if the international model will be just as powerful as the Chinese variant.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Aussie company's wild $30k luxe Euro trip
An Aussie travel company has just launched a 'once in a lifetime' experience set to shake up the industry. When you think of travelling around the world in a private jet the first thing that comes to mind is the price tag, which understandably is a lot, costing upwards of about $100,000 for a few weeks, according to Luxury Escapes founder Adam Schwab. But the man behind the online booking company known for its luxe holiday packages, has managed to compress the hefty price tag by teaming up with six different tour companies to charter a private plane around nine European countries for 25 days, in April 2026. He's described the experience as a game-changing move in luxury travel. 'The private plane experience around the world is really for the top 1 per cent – it's so out of reach for Aussies,' Mr Schwab told '[But] we were able to charter a plane for 25 days at a super wholesale rate which is inaccessible for the normal person. 'We have got six tour companies sharing one plane, with around 140 passengers. 'It's not as luxurious as eight people on a plane, but 90 per cent of the benefits are the same – you're getting almost all the perks but at a lot less cost.' The price is $1200 per person, per day – over 25 days that's $30,000 and includes twin share, minimum 4 and 5 star accommodation and all the touring activities and most meals. While Mr Schwab said it still may not be for everyone, when breaking down what's involved 'it's worth it'. 'This is not to say $30,000 isn't nothing, but it's targeted as a 'once in a lifetime' experience,' he explained. 'Many of the routes we will fly aren't offered as direct flights by commercial airlines so flying on [your] own exclusive plane between some of the most extraordinary places in Europe will allow [our] travellers to make the most of the amazing outings hosted by local experts in each destination.' The A320-200 aircraft will travel between Prague, Bergen, San Sebastian, Porto, Marrakesh, Champagne, Sicily, Dubrovnik, and Istanbul. He said it takes the hassle out of spending hours at an airport, checking in baggage, going through customs and security, as this process involves a private, smaller airport, with bags also dropped off at each hotel you stay. The private trip is limited to 140 people, with a fleet of small luxury coaches taking a maximum of 25 people at a time on their in-destination adventures. Passengers will have options for Michelin-starred dining on top of the all-inclusive local culinary experiences. Other experiences include a Flåm Railway journey through Norway's fjords, a Pintxo tour in San Sebastian to explore the city's famed bars and sample Basque tapas, Agafay Desert luxury camp in Morocco and beachfront hotel in Taormina, Sicily with a private beach surrounded by carved rock. Mr Schwab said at a time where people are concerned about the cost of living, he's also noticed people are happy to spend a bit more on something that is of great value – 'paying less and getting more'. Luxury Escapes created the private charter tour in direct response to the growing demand for 'unique, meaningful travel', with customer research showing more than 70 per cent of Australians are more likely to indulge in a luxury holiday if it goes 'beyond the ordinary'. Mr Schwab said the new tour the most ambitious trip they've created, adding it's a seamless collection of once-in-a-lifetime European moments 'with some serious bougieness'.
Japan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
BOJ dove Noguchi sees no need to change JGB tapering plan
A noted dove on the Bank of Japan's policy board said there's no need to make major changes to the bank's plan for tapering bond purchases, a remark that comes a month before authorities unveil guidelines for bond buying in the period beyond April 2026. "It is unnecessary at this point to make any major changes to the current plan,' BOJ board member Asahi Noguchi said Thursday in a speech in Miyazaki Prefecture. "The bank will need to examine the reduction plan for April 2026 onward from a longer-term perspective.' Noguchi spoke a day after the central bank concluded a series of hearings with market participants that will help it determine how fast to wind down its purchases at a time when concerns in the market have led to yield spikes, particularly among longer tenors. The BOJ will update its plans at a board meeting ending June 17. The BOJ is currently trimming its purchases by ¥400 billion ($2.8 billion) a quarter and is on course to reach monthly buying of around ¥2.9 trillion by the spring of 2026. In the speech, Noguchi conveyed calm regarding a rise in yields two months ago, when 10-year Japanese government bond yields rose to near 1.6% in March, saying "this rise — albeit rapid — cannot be regarded as disruptive, as it seems to have mainly reflected expectations among market participants of a higher terminal policy rate.' The current reduction plan, announced in July 2024, means that there will be no policy-driven changes in the BOJ's purchases of Japanese government bonds since the formation of long-term interest rates is left to the market, Noguchi said. At the same time, it "allows for making flexible changes to the amount of JGB purchases in the case of sudden market swings,' he said. "Even though recovery in market functioning is important, this would be meaningless if it ended up fostering or disregarding market turmoil.' Noguchi, who voted in favor of the January interest rate hike to around 0.5% after opposing two previous moves, signaled caution over the future policy path partly given rising downside risks stemming from the global trade war. The U.S. faces an "acute increase' in concerns over potential stagflation due to its tariff measures, he said. Amid high uncertainties, he added, the BOJ's terminal policy rate should not be predetermined based on factors such as the estimated neutral interest rate and the bank should examine carefully the impact of each of its rate hikes. "I believe that the necessary approach to the future conduct of monetary policy is cautious optimism, keeping a firm eye on growing overseas risks while calmly assessing how the situation unfolds,' he said. Noguchi spoke as risks are on the rise that Japan's economy may fall into a technical recession following a contraction in the first quarter. April trade data, released on Wednesday, showed that President Donald Trump's tariffs, especially a 25% levy on autos, started hitting Japan's exports, a key pillar of growth. At the same time, inflation is sticky. Data on Friday is expected to show that gains by consumer prices excluding fresh food accelerated in April to 3.4%, the fastest clip in two years. That would extend the streak at or above the BOJ's target to three years. Noguchi said data indicate progress toward reaching the BOJ's target, but the goal hasn't yet been met.
Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Is it time to gift shares before inheritance tax rules change?
Q: I plan to pass our family business on to my children. Is now the time to gift shares before inheritance tax rules change, or could it cause complications down the line? A: With inheritance tax (IHT) relief changes expected to take effect in April 2026, many business owners are wondering whether gifting shares now could reduce their family's future tax exposure. While the upcoming reforms will limit business relief (BR) for private trading companies by capping full relief at £1 million and reducing relief on the balance of value from 100 per cent to 50 per cent, acting in haste could lead to unintended financial and legal consequences. Before making any decisions, it is important to take a step back and consider whether gifting
