Latest news with #Aussies
News.com.au
29 minutes ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Can you decipher this Sydney parking sign? Aussies are divided
A video of a driver struggling to understand a Sydney parking sign has exposed a huge issue with Aussie roads – with many other nations also unable to decipher its meaning. Marie Phitidis, who goes by the name Mars, witnessed a woman spend at least 10 minutes trying to understand a large parking sign on Oxford Street, in the city suburb of Paddington, and concluded it was too complicated for busy drivers. After filming the unknown woman's parking battle, Mars shared the clip online, where Aussies quickly flooded it with their opinions. 'I think parking signs should be able to be understood at a glance, not after several minutes,' Mars, who posts under the handle @phoodietiktok, told 'Especially if you're driving and you don't want to hold up traffic and you need to reverse park. You should be able to glance at the ONE sign and understand it immediately.' The video, which she cheekily captioned 'she was here for 78 minutes trying to make sense of Sydney's INSANE parking sign,' shows a sign featuring a large list of instructions for drivers. The rules include the fact that the spot is a Loading Zone between 8am and 10.30am everyday but then changes to 2 hour paid parking from 10.30am until 4pm. After that, between the hours of 4pm and 7pm it's a bus lane, but only on Monday through to Friday. From 7pm until 9pm (Monday to Friday) it once again becomes a 2 hour paid parking. On Saturdays and Sundays between 10.30am and 9pm it is also 2 hour paid parking. While some have argued 'people shouldn't be driving if they can't read that', there are many others who believe the sign is 'too complicated'. Those firmly in team 'hell no', point out that many drivers would have inevitably copped a fine by the time they'd figured out what the rules were. 'By the time you park there and decipher the sign, you'd probably have a ticket already,' one said. 'Yeah absolutely not, I'm parking somewhere else. All I'm seeing is that you're gonna cop a fine,' reasoned another. As someone else noted: 'I think I would of drive off, too scary for me.' 'The problem is my brain is doing the thing where it's like I'm going cross eyed & it's all merging together, twisting and turning, kinda unravelling and it feels like I'm trying to read scribble,' noted one very confused Aussie. But other, clearly more confident drivers, claimed the sign 'really is not that hard at all'. 'This is very easy to read though and I'm not even from Sydney,' argued one. 'Uh its pretty simple. Just start from the top sign and work your way down. Takes about a minute to understand,' mused someone else. As one bloke teased: ''Move aside' – every Melburnian.' Mars said she has been 'shocked by the number of people defending the signs', stating it is anything but 'super easy to read', as one of her commenters claimed. 'I was also shocked by the number of commenters who were bothered enough to then type out full explanations of what each and every one of the signs was saying,' she explained. 'I wrote back to a few people clarifying my position which was 'of course I could read and understand the signs, I didn't need someone to explain them to me, my point is purely that it is over complicated and for what reason?' 'People who are driving down busy Oxford Street, with loads of traffic behind them, who are going to stop traffic to park, need to be able to glance quickly and within a few seconds be able to decide if they can park there or not.' She added that she was not trying to shame the woman who was struggling in any capacity, but highlight an ongoing issue around the complicated wording of the city's road signs. It wasn't just Aussies who were confused by the road sign, with several international TikTok users trying their luck at reading it. 'I'm a Brit and I worked it out in 30 seconds, not that hard,' one bragged. 'Jeez Louise, that's a brain f**k,' mused another. As one American declared: 'Y'all, Australia is wild.' Sydney is known for its complex parking signs with local residents often complaining about the unnecessarily complicated system. The nightmare situation has been such an issue, the city trialled Smart Signage in the CBD at the end of 2022, an initiative that was introduced as part of the government's $695 million Smart Technology Corridors Program. The digital signs were created to 'improve kerbside customer information and reduce congestion in key traffic locations', according to Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) at the time.
New York Post
6 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Viral TikTok video sparks online debate over common coffee act
Few rituals are as sacred to Aussies as the coffee run. Whether you're ducking into your work's cafe before tackling the 9-5 grind or taking a quick break with colleagues for a 3 p.m. pick-me-up. Advertisement Yet, why, for something so central to our daily lives, do we never quite know how to handle that awkward little negotiation with friends about who pays? In an era where every dollar counts, how should we deal with the humble coffee buy? 6 People are weighing in on when to pay for a friend's coffee. ViDi Studio – Advertisement There are three main approaches: 1. Spot your friend and expect nothing in return. This is the classic act of generosity, and considering coffees are around $5-$6, many believe it's a small price to pay to avoid having to talk about it. 2. Take turns paying. This method depends a lot on trust and works best when you catch up regularly and know it'll balance out over time 3. Just pay for your own coffee. No fuss, no tracking, no IOUs – just pay for your own and move on. Advertisement 6 Some people pay their own way for their coffee, and other friends take turns paying. Aleksandrs Muiznieks – A recent TikTok has blown this debate wide open. The short clip, which has over 8.8 million views, shows a woman in her 20s sitting in a cafe sipping an iced latte: 'I don't know what friend gave you PTSD but you do not have to pay me back for a coffee'. Clearly striking a chord, thousands of cafe-goers commented to share their thoughts. Advertisement 6 A TikTok video sparked the debate on social media. @miminourii/TikTok 6 'I don't know what friend gave you PTSD but you do not have to pay me back for a coffee,' the clip said. @miminourii/TikTok Some believed keeping tabs was essential. 'You ALWAYS have to pay back,' insisted one. 'It's not even about friends giving you PTSD. It's financial PTSD from parents,' added another, touching on the fact that money anxiety can stem from a person's upbringing. Others agreed with the poster, but with some exceptions. 'Yes, until they start to take advantage,' said one. 'It's all fun and games until every time you go out, you're the one paying,' another commented. Many, however, echoed her selfless approach. Advertisement 'The whole point is DO NOT give with the expectation of reciprocity,' said one. 'If someone owes me under $10, I wouldn't ask for it,' said another. 'It doesn't even count'. The video was shared by a content creator in London, making me wonder what people think about this issue in Australia, where coffee prices have risen 37 percent from pre-pandemic levels and now average $3.63 USD. So, I conducted some very serious, peer-reviewed research by polling my Instagram followers. Advertisement 6 Coffee prices in Australia have risen 37 percent from pre-pandemic levels and now cost on average $3.63 USD. amenic181 – Out of 80 responses, 23 percent said 'I shout [buy], no need to pay back,' 61 percent said 'We take turns,' and 15 percent said 'We pay for our own'. Less than one per cent responded 'Other,' and that person explained their simple rule: 'Whoever is closest to the register pays'. To add a touch more credibility, I consulted an etiquette expert – the only one in the world with a Master's thesis on modern manners – no less. Advertisement 6 According to an Instagram poll of 80 people, 23 percent said 'I shout [buy], no need to pay back,' 61 percent said 'We take turns,' and 15 percent said 'We pay for our own.' EdNurg – Jo Hayes, founder of told that for a simple coffee, it's actually best to shout. 'As a general rule, if it's just a coffee, no extras like brunch or snacks, one of the duo should shout [pay] the other,' she said. 'This small gesture of kindness doesn't break the bank but fosters friendship, kindness, and goodwill.' Advertisement She also mentioned that if you're both ordering at the same counter, most reasonable folk agree it's 'a bit tight' for both to pay for a coffee separately. The key to pulling off this move in a classy way, as many commenters suggested, is expecting nothing in return. 'This is what gifting is,' she added. A simple, discreet 'I've got it,' with a friendly smile, is the best way to handle it. 'Don't make a big deal of it, and quickly switch the topic,' she advised. 'One doesn't want to dwell on money talk longer than necessary.' She also noted that with regular coffee catchups, you should take turns paying. 'Most of us remember who paid last time and, wanting to show mutual generosity, step up to offer the shout [buy],' she explained. If you notice you're always covering your friend's coffee and they never reciprocate, Hayes warns this is a serious breach of etiquette. 'I would reconsider that friendship,' she said. 'Such stinginess raises questions about their character and shows a lack of social courtesy'. If that feels too harsh, try subtle cues next time, like hanging back when it's time to pay or letting them order first. She reminds us that a golden rule applies here, and in all areas of life: 'We reap what we sow'. If we're generous, we'll see generosity return, if we're stingy, that's what we'll get back. Continue the conversation, follow me on Instagram @el_katelaris
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Perth Now
Millions set for weekend drenching
Millions of Aussies are set for a weekend soaking with extensive rain and wild wind forecasted as a deep cold front pushes across the nation. The Bureau of Meteorology Meteorologist Mirium Bradbury said on Thursday afternoon a 'broad reaching rain band' was moving across the country, with 'damaging winds likely for some parts of Australia over the coming days'. 'Fairly widespread moderate rainfall totals across much of Australia over the coming days as this rain system moves eastwards,' she said. 'But the area I really want to focus on is this area in the southeast, including parts of South Australia, western Victoria and inland NSW. A cold front and low pressure system is currently making its way across the country. WeatherZone Credit: Supplied 'These areas have seen significant rainfall deficits over the past six, 12, even 18 months. 'The rain that we're expecting over the coming days is not going to do too much to dent these long term deficits, but it is going to be good news for many of our communities through these very dry parts of Australia. However, it's not without its own hazards.' Ms Bradbury warned 20 to 40mm was expected for many areas through South Australia and western Victoria with roads at risk of flooding. 'This could lead to very dangerous driving conditions, as those roads grow slippery with the rain and visibility reduces as well. 'The other key impact we're expecting as this system moves across the country are the damaging winds. 'We've already issued severe weather warnings for damaging winds across four separate states of Australia. Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. Ms Bradbury said that the risk of damaging winds was mainly focused on Friday but the south coast of Western Australia could see some damaging gusts through Thursday evening. The system is expected to move across the east coast through Saturday. Weatherzone Credit: Supplied 'So what's driving all of this wet and windy weather? The answer to that is a cold front,' she said. 'It crossed the west coast yesterday, bringing some fairly significant thunderstorms to the Perth area and it's now moving across those inland parts of Western Australia, directing a broad rain band across much of WA. 'The system is attached to a low pressure system sitting to the south of the continent, and that low is going to help push this cold front and the rain band eastwards over the next few days.' Heading into Friday the cold front is predicted to pull the rain band eastwards and introduce rain across eastern parts of South Australia, Western Victoria, NSW and southern parts of Queensland. 'The rain will be widespread, soaking and lasting for a number of hours. Unlike the patchier showers we're expecting to pull up behind that frontal system. 'The winds are also expected to really increase through the course of (Friday). 'That band of strong winds shifts into the eastern states late Friday into Saturday as the front pushes eastwards and we see those strong winds moving across the east coast through the course of Saturday, before the system gradually starts to move offshore and the winds start to ease.' Ms Bradbury advised keeping on top of all warnings and updates especially for the areas most in the firing line around eastern South Australia, Victoria and inland NSW. 'Friday and Saturday are definitely looking likely to be the wettest days as this system moves across the country.' Outside of the cold front Darwin remains clear with light winds highs of 31 and lows of 22 over the weekend. Brisbane will see some lingering showers after the weekend before dipping on Tuesday to a minimum of 9 degrees. Melbourne and Sydney will likewise experience scattered showers with temperatures expected to be within the normal range for this time of year. After the weekend soaking Adelaide is expected to remain cloudy with north-easterly winds of around 20km/h.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Columbia University to pay over $220 million to restore federal funding in historic US education settlement
Columbia University to pay $220 million in settlement restoring US federal research funding. (AP Photo) Columbia University has agreed to pay more than $220 million in a settlement with the Trump administration to restore federal research funding that was previously cancelled. The deal comes after the university faced scrutiny for alleged failures to address antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Ivy League institution will pay $200 million over three years and an additional $21 million to resolve claims of civil rights violations against Jewish employees. The White House confirmed the details of the agreement, which aims to reinstate federal support for Columbia's research programmes. Details of the settlement and reforms agreed Under the agreement, Columbia University will implement significant changes, including revising its student disciplinary procedures and applying a federally endorsed definition of antisemitism not only in teaching but also in disciplinary reviews. The administration accused the university of not adequately curbing antisemitic behaviour during the 2024 protests linked to the Israel-Hamas war. As reported by the Associated Press , acting University President Claire Shipman said, "This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty." The university has promised to preserve its autonomy while codifying reforms demanded by the federal government. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Aussies Are Raving About This Device That Cuts Heating Bills Fast BlumeHeat Learn More Undo The administration had previously threatened to cut billions of dollars in government funding, including over $400 million in grants that were withdrawn earlier this year. The funding was halted due to concerns that Columbia had allowed antisemitic incidents to occur on campus without sufficient action. Federal oversight extends to curriculum and diversity policies As part of the settlement, Columbia agreed to review its Middle East curriculum to ensure it is "comprehensive and balanced." It also committed to appointing new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. The university agreed to end programmes that promote "unlawful efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotes, diversity targets or similar efforts," according to the White House. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the deal as "a seismic shift in our nation's fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment," as quoted by the Associated Press . McMahon added that Columbia's reforms could serve as a "roadmap for elite universities" seeking to regain public trust. Columbia will also submit reports to federal monitors confirming that its programmes do not promote unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals, as required under the settlement. International students and campus discipline under scrutiny The agreement includes provisions to question prospective international students about their reasons for studying in the US, to ensure they are committed to "civil discourse." Columbia has also agreed to provide information on disciplinary actions involving student visa holders when requested by the government. This could facilitate deportation proceedings against students involved in protests, according to the Associated Press . Following the settlement, Columbia announced it would suspend, expel, or revoke degrees from over 70 students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, including protests in the main library and an encampment during alumni weekend. Background of funding cuts and federal investigations The Trump administration launched its investigation into Columbia following pro-Palestinian campus protests in 2024. Jewish students reported verbal abuse and harassment during demonstrations, according to Columbia's antisemitism task force. The university's leadership has acknowledged the need for change amid pressure from federal authorities. This case was one of several targeted by the Trump administration, which froze over $2 billion in federal research funding at institutions including Cornell, Northwestern, Brown, and Princeton universities. The administration also temporarily withheld $175 million from the University of Pennsylvania over disputes concerning women's sports policies. Federal scrutiny has extended beyond private universities, with investigations into public institutions such as the University of Virginia and George Mason University regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. President Donald Trump, on his Truth Social platform, stated that Columbia "committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based only on merit, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus," as reported by the Associated Press . He also warned that "numerous other higher education institutions" would face similar scrutiny. The settlement between Columbia University and the Trump administration represents a significant moment in US federal oversight of higher education funding and campus policies. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Sky News AU
12 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
ATO reveals why now is ideal for Aussies to lodge their tax returns, as fresh warning issued to businesses over GST fraud
The Australian Taxation Office has revealed millions of Aussies will now notice their personal information filled out for them when they go to lodge their tax returns, while a new warning is issued to businesses over GST fraud. While taxpayers were able to start sending off their returns on July 1, the tax office advised Aussies against completing their lodgments until their personal data had been pre-filled by the ATO. This was to help individuals avoid making errors during the submission process and needing to lodge an amendment, which can sometimes delay the progress of a tax refund. The ATO has confirmed most taxpayers with "simple affairs" will now notice their information has been filled into their accounts to make completing their tax returns easier. Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson delivered the update to Australians on Thursday, saying they are now "good to go" with lodging their returns. "'Whether you lodge using a registered tax agent or lodge yourself through myTax, pre-fill information will now be available," Mr Thomson said in a statement. Australians have been encouraged to still double check their pre-filled data to make sure there are no mistakes, and no data is missing. "Don't forget that you need to include all sources of income in your tax return," Mr Thomson said. "This includes side-hustles, linked income from providing ride sourcing services or selling services via an app. "Remember, the ATO has 40 industry and occupation specific guides to assist you in what you can claim and what records are required to prove it." Taxpayers should also include any deductions they are entitled to claim, the ATO said. Mr Thomson reminded Aussies to remain vigilant to fraudsters and online scammers, adding the ATO's app now has more safety features to help keep personal data protected. "Fraudsters are getting smarter, but so are the protective features in the app. The ATO app will send you real-time messages when changes are made to your ATO record, and you can quickly lock your account to prevent unauthorised access or fraudulent refunds," he said. "These features provide peace of mind knowing your account is protected and you remain in control of your tax affairs anytime, anywhere." Mr Thomson said most tax return refunds are generally completed within two weeks, with the progress of a return able to be monitored through the ATO's app or myGov services. Australians have until October 31 to send off their returns. Meanwhile, a fresh warning has been issued to Australian businesses contemplating committing acts of GST fraud, falsifying invoices or making dishonest claims. Assistant Commissioner Adam O'Grady revealed disingenuous claims involving false invoicing are on the rise, with the fraud currently prevalent within the property and construction industry. However, Mr O'Grady said there are already signs of this type of tax fraud spreading in other industries, particularly "privately owned and wealthy groups". "Despite warnings from the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce late last year, recent observations show dishonest claims involving false invoicing are growing," he said in a statement. Last year, the ATO revealed its Serious Financial Crimes Taskforce had reported a surge in fraudulent claims for large GST refunds across a number of industries. The ATO said the current trend is not related to a GST fraud scheme previously seen driven through social media, but rather concerns "real businesses creating disingenuous invoices" to obtain higher GST refunds. "While the numbers of businesses involved are relatively small, some are attempting to claim tens of millions of dollars in GST refunds they're not entitled to," Mr O'Grady said. Mr O'Grady said while "most businesses do the right thing", others are making "deliberate attempts to cheat the tax system". "We will not tolerate this fraudulent behaviour deliberately undermining the system or providing an unfair advantage over honest businesses," he said. "Those involved will face consequences, including interest charges, penalties, fines, and where appropriate, prosecution, or referral to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution." GST is a tax calculated at a standard rate of 10 per cent on most goods, services and other items sold and consumed in Australia. The tax is paid by the consumer, with the sum then passed on to the government from the business. "GST revenue is vital to Australia's economy, funding essential services delivered by states and territories," Mr O'Grady said, urging businesses and the broader community to help the ATO "stamp out" the illegal behaviour. "Those involved are abusing the system, tarnishing the reputation of the property and construction industry and making it harder for compliant businesses to operate."
