Author: 5hspx
US NavyHMNZS Manawanui capsized after running aground off SamoaThe Royal New Zealand Navy has lost its first ship at sea since World War II, after one of its ships ran aground off the coast of Samoa.The HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist diving and ocean imaging vessel, encountered problems about a nautical mile from Upolu Island on Saturday evening local time while carrying out a survey of a reef.It then caught fire before capsizing.All 75 people on board were evacuated to lifeboats and rescued early Sunday, the New Zealand Defense Force said in a statement.Officials said the cause of the stranding was…
EPATwenty schoolchildren died on board the bus, as well as three teachersThailand is a country in shock: three days ago, 20 children and three teachers were killed when their bus was engulfed in flames.It was one of the worst road accidents in the Southeast Asian country, and investigators discovered a series of safety flaws that some say effectively turned the vehicle into a “bomb on wheels.He left the country – still mourning the loss of the 23 people on the bus – wondering how this could have happened and could it happen again?Video taken from the bus, after the driver…
Getty ImagesStefan Norblin stayed in India for six years, during which time he painted several muralsIn 1939, as German tanks and soldiers invaded Poland, a famous Polish artist and his film star wife pawned their jewelry and fled the country.Stefan Norblin and Lena left behind their dream house, which they were building, and their entire artistic heritage in exchange for security.The couple aimed to seek refuge in America and traveled through Romania, Turkey and Iraq, eventually arriving in colonial India, where they spent six years.Their long stopover resulted in an unlikely collaboration between the artist and Indian maharajas (rulers) and…
Getty ImagesIt's the end of a meal at a restaurant and you're presented with the bill. Suddenly, the enjoyment of the food you just ate is replaced by a slight wave of anxiety as you realize you have to figure out how much to tip.If you tip too little, will you face the wrath of the waiters? Do you end up tipping too much? What if the service was bad, should you tip?The debate is not limited to restaurants: tips can be offered to many workers, including hairdressers, taxi drivers and hotel porters.A new law requires workers to receive their…
As the conflict in the Middle East spreads, rising oil prices are closely watched.The cost of oil affects everything from the price of food at the supermarket to the price of filling up your car.The price of crude oil rose nearly 10% this week to around $78 per barrel due to the intensifying conflict. That may seem like a big jump, but the price of crude oil tends to be volatile, and following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a barrel of benchmark Brent crude reached nearly $130.The rise comes as many countries, including the UK, are just beginning to recover from…
With a backdrop of cliffside mansions, tanned bodies and expansive ocean views, Bondi is the go-to suburb for international brands looking to launch in the United States.So when news broke on TikTok that a Crumbl Cookie pop-up was coming to Sydney's iconic beach hub, few people raised questions.With many famous fans, the US-based bakery chain – which only sells domestically and in Canada – has secured a near-cult following.But when Australian foodies began to bite into the treats, outrage spread like wildfire when it became clear they were eating days-old produce, sold by a few enterprising locals – without link…
Getty ImagesFinding the Best Airplane Boarding Gate Is a Surprisingly Difficult TaskThe next time you're racing to your airport gate, think about the airline staff who made sure that gate was actually available.Assigning gates is a surprisingly complex task. “With 15 gates and 10 planes, there are more than 570 billion possibilities,” says Dr. Joseph Doetsch, who worked on the gate assignment problem as head of quantum computing at Lufthansa Industry Solutions.Choosing the best gate for each flight can help reduce aircraft taxi times and reduce congestion, meaning travelers spend less time waiting on the tarmac.This also reduces the amount…
Getty ImagesThe stimulus has sparked a stock market rally, but economists aren't sure it can solve deeper problems.As China prepares to celebrate Golden Week and mark the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic, the ruling Communist Party has rolled out a series of measures aimed at reviving its ailing economy.The plans included aid to the crisis-hit country's real estate sector, support for the stock market, cash distributions to the poor and increased government spending.Stocks in mainland China and Hong Kong posted record gains following the announcements.But economists warn that these policies may not be enough to solve China's economic problems.Some…
FacebookThe F1 star grew up in a motorsport-loving familyAs always, the 2006 Australian Grand Prix was an eclectic buffet of fame and power – with everyone from actress Amanda Bynes to the Dutch Prime Minister, a 70s pop star and the original Blue Wiggle, in the pit lane. Unnoticed around a corner, chatting with Italian driver Jarno Trulli and former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, was none other than 16-year-old Daniel Ricciardo.The Perth boy had won a pass to the race – having been crowned Australian karting champion the year before – and that April day his world was turned upside…
For several years, Masato Kanda barely slept.“Three hours a night is overkill,” he laughs, speaking to the BBC from Tokyo.“I slept for three hours straight before I woke up but then went back to bed, so if you add them up I had a bit more.”So why was this 59-year-old bureaucrat's schedule so arduous?Until the end of July, he was Japan's deputy finance minister for international affairs, the country's top currency diplomat or yen tsar.Key to that role was fending off foreign exchange market speculators who could spark unrest in one of the world's largest economies.Historically, authorities have intervened to…