Latest news with #Asquith
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Inside the Bradfield recount: painstaking and polite, but sometimes heartbreaking
The Bradfield recount is being held in a warehouse in Asquith that appears to have been used for a number of northern Sydney electorates, but on my visit only Bradfield is being counted. A space is set aside as a break room for scrutineers, with large teams for the teal candidate, Nicolette Boele, and the Liberal, Gisele Kapterian, who finished just eight votes ahead after the first complete count. Given there were more than 6,500 informal votes in Bradfield (5.51% of those cast), the potential for decisions over validity to settle the outcome are obvious. Each candidate has at least enough scrutineers to have one watching every person counting. The regular counting space is divided into a series of bays. Each bay is dealing with one polling place at a time. The first part of the process is to conduct a fresh first-preference count. Ballot papers are already in bundles of 50, in first preference order. Each counter takes one bundle at a time and removes the rubber band, then carefully checks each ballot to ensure it is formal and that the first preference is correct. It is then laid on a pile facing the scrutineers, who can observe it. This process happens more slowly and carefully than you would expect for an election night count. Once each bundle is fully checked, the rubber band is put back on, and they keep going until all the votes for that candidate have been checked. Once this is done, the counter will take each bundle and hand-count to verify there are 50 in each bundle, and then the other counter sharing that table will swap bundles and do the same check. During this process, scrutineers are free to challenge a ballot. If they do, the ballot is put in a box to be referred to the divisional returning officer (DRO) for review. While I am there this happens with a decent number of votes – a few dozen for a normal booth size – but not excessively. Once the primary votes have all been checked, the informal pile is also checked. And then the box of challenged ballots is reviewed by the DRO. After the DRO review, each booth will redo the distribution of preferences, step by step. The DRO considers each ballot carefully and makes a ruling about the status of the ballot (who gets the first preference or whether it is informal), stamps the back and fills out a little form explaining their decision. At this point a scrutineer can refer a ballot to the Australian electoral officer (AEO) for a final decision. The AEO is the senior Australian Election Commission staff member for the state and is effectively the final arbiter in the recount process. The AEO carefully considers each ballot referred up for adjudication in line with the AEC's formality principles – including by deploying a magnifying glass. Both the DRO and AEO are careful and cautious, but also very clear on their priorities. The formality principles require them to construe the ballot paper as a whole, and err in favour of the franchise. This means that sometimes when a number is not entirely clear, but context clues make it clear that, for example, it would make sense for a number to be a 4 rather than a 7, they may interpret it that way. Officials can be very strict, while also giving a ballot the best chance of being counted. Occasionally scrutineers will politely make a case for a particular figure representing a particular number, but there are no arguments or shouting. You wouldn't know these people are in a fierce recount coming down to a handful of votes. If more people could see how this works it would increase faith in the democratic process, but it is frustrating to see votes that clearly attempt to express a preference ending up informal. In some cases it appears a voter made a mistake by losing count of where they were up to – a ballot might have unique numbers from one to five and seven, but two sixes instead of a six and an eight. In plenty of cases, the culprit was bad handwriting. The AEC officials do their best to fairly determine the correct answer, but ultimately sometimes it's too hard. Voters, try your best to write the numbers clearly and distinctly! But in a lot of cases where votes are made informal, it is perfectly clear who they preferred between Boele and Kapterian – the confusion was irrelevant to the ultimate outcome of the race. There are various ways the rules could be changed to make it easier for some of these votes to count. The most extreme would be to adopt optional preferential voting as used in New South Wales state elections, where voters are not required to number any more than one box. But under that system many fewer preferences would flow, and it opens the doors for parties to run 'Just Vote 1' campaigns to discourage opposing voters from using their ballots to their full value. We could also adopt a system similar to that used in the Senate, where voters are asked to number at least six boxes above the line, but votes are counted even when they number fewer. Short of those more significant changes, we could adopt more subtle 'savings provisions' that would keep the system as is but would give the AEC more flexibility to accept votes with minor errors. Votes with every box filled out but with a duplicate number could be counted until the vote-counters reach the duplicate number. Or we could require voters to number at least six boxes, but not every box. That would eliminate the problem where voters apply the Senate ballot instructions to the House, and as a result have their lower house vote treated as informal. Some have also suggested electronic voting. There are concerns about losing the paper trail, and it would be an enormous effort to roll out the technology and deal with the expected technical problems, to thousands of polling booths. Some jurisdictions, such as New Zealand and the ACT, have used a hybrid model where big pre-poll booths use electronic voting but smaller booths still use pencils and paper. Others have suggested a compromise system whereby a voter fills their ballot out on a screen but the ballot is then printed out and submitted by hand. The AEC plans to conduct a survey of informality after this election, so we know more about why exactly votes have been treated as informal. In the past, this has shown us only about half of informal votes appear to be deliberate. We probably can't do much about those but it is heartbreaking to watch a ballot paper where the voter clearly made an effort to have their say end up on the informal pile. Ben Raue attended the Bradfield recount after being appointed as a scrutineer but took no active part in the process. This is an edited and expanded version of an article that first appeared on his blog The Tally Room.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Meaning behind ASOS, H&M, B&M and other big name brand's names
There are many high street shops and fast food outlets throughout the UK whose names are actually abbreviations - but what are the hidden meanings behind all of them? It turn's out quite a lot is in a name, especially when it's an acronym. Many of the high street's biggest brands, as well as shops, restaurants and other firms, choose to adopt acronyms because they sound good and gets rid of any unease about saying a long-winded name fully. H&M, KFC and B&M are some of the most memorable - but what do they actually mean? Most people - especially those over 30 - will know that KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken, as it was only changed to its acronym in 1991. But do you know what the letters in ASOS, H&M, B&M and more actually stand for? Let's unravel the mystery.... ASDA The company was established in 1965 when the Asquith family, who owned a supermarket, merged with the Associated Dairies company of Yorkshire. ASquith plus DAiries led to the creation of ASDA on May 3, 1965. It expanded across England during the 1970s and 1980s. Just remember to call it The Asda, alright? ASOS This global fashion brand and online megastore began in 1999 as a supplier of unbranded clothes to celebrities appearing on TV. The concept was that people could find clothes and accessories they had seen celebs wearing. Before long, people started referring to AsSeenOnScreen as ASOS and in late 2000 the domain name was purchased. B&M Bargains and More would really suffice but it actually stands for Billington and Mayman as it was set up by Malcolm Billington but shortened to B&M for Bargain Madness. Established in 1978 - Billington remained the company director until 1996. B&Q Block and Quayle may sound like a deep house duo who would have performed a six-hour set at Cream back in the day. However, Richard Block and David Quayle are actually the founders of B&Q. Their joint business venture began after they purchased and refurbished a former furniture warehouse in a Southampton suburb. The pair soon shortened the brand to B&Q as stock delivery notes and invoices were already unofficially abbreviating the name. C&A This retailer still has many stores in Europe despite there being none left in the UK after the last one closed its doors in 2001. The company was founded by brothers Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer in 1841 as a Dutch textile company before transitioning into clothing in the 1900s. H&M H&M is Swedish and was founded all the way back in 1947, although back then it was just known as Hennes. Originally the store sold exclusively women's clothing, but when hunting apparel retailer Mauritz Widforss was acquired, men's wear was also included and 'H&M' combined the initials. The first UK store opened in London in 1976 - this was also the first store to be built outside of Scandinavia. HSBC Houses, Shoes, Boats and Cars are just some of the things you can buy if you take out a giant loan at HSBC but sadly that's not what it stands for. HSBC was actually founded by a Scotsman named Sir Thomas Sutherland in Hong Kong in 1865. Back then, Hong Kong was still a British colony. HSBC benefited from the start of trading into China. The banking behemoth HSBC took its initial steps across the Channel only at the turn of the millennium, scooping up Credit Commercial de France and bringing a piece of 'Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank', which the acronym stands for, to continental Europe. IKEA Swedish furniture giant IKEA had humble beginnings in 1943 when teen entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad established it in Almhult as a mail-order business. Following World War II, IKEA expanded its offering to include furniture and launched its first physical shop back in 1958 in Almhurt. The brand's Swedish roots are evident in its name, with 'Elmtaryd' harking back to the farm Kamprad was raised on, while the 'A' signifies his Agunnaryd hometown. By the 70s, IKEA had already begun its conquest of Europe, and by the 80s, it had firmly rooted itself in the UK market. LEGO This household name traces back to Denmark, with its name derived from the local phrase 'leg godt', meaning 'play well'. Ole Kirk Christiansen's passion project in his woodshop during 1932 evolved into The Lego Group by 1934, shifting from wooden toys to plastic ones in 1947. It wasn't much later that the signature Lego brick won its patent in January 1958, paving the way for Brand Finance to crown Lego as the "world's most powerful brand". QVC This moniker mirrors the simplicity of its televised retail service – promising Quality, Value, Convenience. Yet, in today's fast-paced digital landscape, one could debate whether browsing the internet trumps sitting through television broadcasts for that perfect bargain. QVC, based in Knowsley Industrial Park, was established by Joseph Segel in Pennsylvania in 1986 and now broadcasts to over 350 million households in seven countries worldwide.
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
New UK airline ‘that takes passengers back to golden age of travel' launches first flight
GLOBAL Airlines has taken off from Glasgow Airport after promising to make travel less painful - here is everything that the airline claims to offer. 3 The first Global Airlines flight took off today Credit: Getty 3 The Airbus A380 is heading to New York JFK Credit: Getty The British airline's maiden flight, with an Airbus A380 plane, heading for New York JFK, was due to set off at 11am today, but was slightly delayed and finally took off at 11:34am. The 36-year-old has promised that it will be a new era of flying. He said: "People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better." Read more on airlines He added that he is "constantly bewildered and disappointed by the poor experiences he has encountered aboard hundreds of Instead, Global Airlines hopes to give passengers "the best experience in the sky " and get "fast relief from the aches and pains associated with commercial air travel". According to In addition, one passenger paid £2,999 for a Most read in News Travel Other passengers reportedly requested to pay for an upgrade, but were given it free of charge. It is also rumoured that food and drink for the inaugural flight cost £40,000. The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her top tips when flying In 2013, Asquith became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world at 24-years-old. However, he has now been overtaken by Asquith previously worked in investment banking for eight years, before launching the Holiday Swap website – which is partially funding the Global Airlines project. The airline currently owns two European-built Airbus A380s and the one that is serviceable is 12 years old. Will the airline take off? Lisa Minot, The Sun's head of travel weighs in. IT'S being billed -by its millionaire owner - as a game-changing new airline that will revolutionise the passenger experience. But despite the lofty ambitions of its founder James Asquith - and its first commercial flight today from Glasgow to New York - the plain fact remains, it is simply not a functioning airline yet. With just two fixed-date, charter flights from Glasgow and another - from Manchester later this month, the airline does not yet have the necessary permits - or slots - to fulfill its original ambition of launching regular scheduled flights from Gatwick to New York. It is also taking on the big boys of the UK and US aviation industry on the most popular transatlantic route. Asquith is looking to offer a revolutionary new service by using the huge Airbus A380 but Global's only functioning plane - flying on the Glasgow inaugural today - is a 12-year-old A380 that was owned by China Southern. Despite promising five different classes on the plane - including a much vaunted 'gamer class' that would sit between premium economy and business class and feature pods where passengers could play Xbox and PS5s - the aircraft taking off this week will feature just the original three classes if flew as a China Southern outfit - first, business and economy. The London to New York route is lucrative for the legacy airlines like British Airways and Virgin as the number of business class passengers mean it can bring in decent profits. Global Airline's plane will have fewer premium seats than its competitors on an older plane - and right now can't even offer scheduled flights or regular departures. While competition is always good for passengers, Global has a mountain to climb before it can consider itself a serious alternative to the traditional carriers. It will be interesting to see if the ambitions translate into a real game-changer of a service. The other, a 16-year-old SuperJumbo formerly flown by Singapore Airlines, is still stored at Lourdes in southwest France. Global Airlines currently only has four transatlantic flights planned and has promised scheduled flights from London Gatwick to the US, but does not have the necessary permits or slots. In addition, Plus, 3 There are currently only four Global Airlines' flights scheduled Credit: Getty
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A startup airline with an Airbus A380 is making its first official flight across the Atlantic
The first official flight for Global Airlines' Airbus A380 took off on Thursday. James Asquith's startup has attracted many critics who doubted whether it would ever take to the skies. Global has to contend with a competitive market and develop a more refined offering. It's taken several years, but Global Airlines finally took to the skies on Thursday for its official launch flight. The Airbus A380 departed Glasgow at 11:34 a.m. local time and is scheduled to land at New York's JFK Airport around 1 p.m. ET. Travel journalists, influencers, and aviation enthusiasts descended on the Scottish city for the long-awaited event. Economy tickets were initially selling for as much as £780 (about $1,000), but it looks like slow sales prompted discounting. With the promotion, return fares were listed at £380. A business-class return ticket was on sale at £1,999 ($2,660), and for first class was £2,999 ($3,990). The Independent's Simon Calder reported that 170 passengers were believed to be on the flight — just a third of the plane's capacity. Thursday's flight is a huge step for Global, but it still has plenty of work ahead to convince its critics. A drama-free maiden flight will be one achievement. The flight is operated by 9H-GLOBL, a 12-year-old A380 previously owned by China Southern Airlines before being mothballed in California's Mojave boneyard. Global spent millions getting the plane ready for service before it made its first transatlantic flight last May, being ferried to Glasgow. It was the most-tracked flight on Flightradar24, with more than 40,000 people following its journey at its peak. The airline was founded by James Asquith, a 36-year-old who gained fame in 2013 when he became the youngest person to visit every country in the world. He then founded Holiday Swap, a platform for travelers to book accommodation. Critics have questioned Global's business plan, which wants a slice of the highly competitive transatlantic travel. The A380 is a particularly expensive plane to operate because its four engines use a lot of fuel, and there are hundreds of seats to fill. Global is paying Hi Fly Malta, a charter airline, to operate the first flights, with tickets sold through the travel agent Travelopedia. Asquith is hoping that his grand ambitions will help the airline break through. He wants to offer an "elevated service" that will take passengers "back to the golden age of travel." Business-class passengers can be transferred by a Blacklane chauffeur and dine on caviar in the air. However, Global cut more ambitious ideas like a "gamer class" with PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Its "sky pub," a social space aiming to take advantage of the A380's size, is little more than a few bottles on a shelf. "You're looking at many years to certify bigger social spaces and bars, so we will develop our social spaces even more when we have more aircraft in the sky," Asquith said in an Instagram post last month. Global Airlines may not yet be as refined as it would like, but it has already proved many doubters wrong by making its first flight. 9H-GLOBL is scheduled to return from New York on Monday. It's due to fly from Manchester, England to JFK on May 21 and return on May 25. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
A startup airline with an Airbus A380 is making its first official flight across the Atlantic
It's taken several years, but Global Airlines finally took to the skies on Thursday for its official launch flight. The Airbus A380 departed Glasgow at 11:34 a.m. local time and is scheduled to land at New York's JFK Airport around 1 p.m. ET. Travel journalists, influencers, and aviation enthusiasts descended on the Scottish city for the long-awaited event. Economy tickets were initially selling for as much as £780 (about $1,000), but it looks like slow sales prompted discounting. With the promotion, return fares were listed at £380. A business-class return ticket was on sale at £1,999 ($2,660), and for first class was £2,999 ($3,990). The Independent's Simon Calder reported that 170 passengers were believed to be on the flight — just a third of the plane's capacity. Thursday's flight is a huge step for Global, but it still has plenty of work ahead to convince its critics. A drama-free maiden flight will be one achievement. The flight is operated by 9H-GLOBL, a 12-year-old A380 previously owned by China Southern Airlines before being mothballed in California's Mojave boneyard. Global spent millions getting the plane ready for service before it made its first transatlantic flight last May, being ferried to Glasgow. It was the most-tracked flight on Flightradar24, with more than 40,000 people following its journey at its peak. The airline was founded by James Asquith, a 36-year-old who gained fame in 2013 when he became the youngest person to visit every country in the world. He then founded Holiday Swap, a platform for travelers to book accommodation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Asquith (@jamesasquith) Critics have questioned Global's business plan, which wants a slice of the highly competitive transatlantic travel. The A380 is a particularly expensive plane to operate because its four engines use a lot of fuel, and there are hundreds of seats to fill. Global is paying Hi Fly Malta, a charter airline, to operate the first flights, with tickets sold through the travel agent Travelopedia. Asquith is hoping that his grand ambitions will help the airline break through. He wants to offer an "elevated service" that will take passengers "back to the golden age of travel." Business-class passengers can be transferred by a Blacklane chauffeur and dine on caviar in the air. However, Global cut more ambitious ideas like a "gamer class" with PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Its "sky pub," a social space aiming to take advantage of the A380's size, is little more than a few bottles on a shelf. "You're looking at many years to certify bigger social spaces and bars, so we will develop our social spaces even more when we have more aircraft in the sky," Asquith said in an Instagram post last month. Global Airlines may not yet be as refined as it would like, but it has already proved many doubters wrong by making its first flight. 9H-GLOBL is scheduled to return from New York on Monday. It's due to fly from Manchester, England to JFK on May 21 and return on May 25.
