Australia
Sydney is Hosting the “World’s Biggest Bingo Rave”
Bingo Loco, one of the world’s leading bingo party organizers, is set to host an event in Sydney that promises to be the “World’s Biggest Bingo Rave.” If you’re wondering how it’s not the world’s only Bingo Rave, then you’re in for a surprise. Bingo Raves have been around for years—and they’re only getting bigger. The trend found its first great success in the United Kingdom, where Bingo Raves have become increasingly popular. Each event is filled with fun and games in a nightlife atmosphere, complete with music, dance contests, comedians, live production elements, and of course, the classic game of bingo. Now, Bingo Raves have seen some major international success and Bingo Loco is ready to present the trend’s biggest...
There’s a Daft Punk Tribute and Beer Festival Going Down in Australia
Draughts and Discovery are set to collide in an awesome beer festival dedicated to Daft Punk. Draught Punk Beer Fest is a magical place where brokenhearted Daft Punk fans can rejoice and drink away the pain of the robots’ shocking split after 28 years. The unique festival is scheduled to hit Melbourne’s Colonial Brewing Co. on Saturday, May 15th. The fest will offer walkthroughs of the brewery, where attendees will meet the brewers and drink special unreleased and limited run beers. There will also be a golf simulator wherein Draught Punks can wind up Happy Gilmore-style and guess their drives to win prizes. $5 for every 10 drives will be directed to Sustainable Table, an environmental nonprofit that provides Australians with the tools and inf...
US hails Nigerian women for advancing global development
In commemoration of the 2021 Women’s History Month, the U.S. Embassy’s public affairs chief Aruna Amirthanayagam has acknowledged the importance of women in the leadership and economic growth of every country. Women’s History Month is celebrated during March in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Australia, to mark the contributions of women to society. Mr. Amirthanayagam, in his opening remark at an event with the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Stephen Okodudu, and the Rivers State chapter of the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association (USGEAA), said the non-inclusion of women in science advancements would lead to an unsustainable economy, a statement seen by newsmen read. “The U.S. Mission in Nigeria recognises the importance of women’s inclusion fo...
Tame Impala Play Sold-Out Concert in Australia
In Australia, the weekly average of COVID-19 cases has been in the single digits since January. As such, pre-pandemic normalcy has all but returned to the country — and that includes packed, maskless concerts. On Friday night, Tame Impala returned to the stage for the first of two Tame Impala Sound System sets in Perth. Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker conceived Tame Impala Sound System back when Australia was in quarantine, and subsequently debuted the project with a series of television performance and an appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk. These performance saw Parker and co. reimagine tracks from the band’s discography with synths, sequencers, and samplers. Or, as Parker himself describes it: “Wielding their overflowing arsenal of synths, sequencers and samplers to rework and reimagine trac...
WHO: End to pandemic not likely in 2021
The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes it is unlikely the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19）will come to an end by the end of 2021. “I think it will be very premature and unrealistic to think that we are going to finish with this virus by the end of the year,” Michael Ryan, director of the WHO’s health emergencies programme, said at a briefing on Tuesday. “What we can, if we are smart, finish with is the hospitalisations and the deaths and the tragedy associated with this pandemic,” Ryan added. The WHO’s focus at present was to keep transmissions as low as possible and vaccinate more and more people. The situation regarding the delivery of vaccine doses had already improved compared to 10 weeks ago, Ryan said, although there were “huge challenges” in distributing them and the virus stil...
Australia’s competition chief claims victory after Facebook standoff
The architect of Australian media reforms being watched around the world claimed victory on Wednesday, even as critics said concessions to the laws forcing Big Tech to pay for news content have given Facebook and Google a get-out clause. The Australian government made late changes to the laws after Facebook last week blocked news content in Australia, escalating a dispute over the proposed legislation and catching international attention. The amended legislation is expected to pass the Senate this week, despite opposition from some minor opposition parties and independent politicians who argue it disadvantages smaller news companies. Rod Sims, the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), told Reuters the bargaining power imbalance he was tasked with correcting...
Australia premier vaccinated as rollout begins
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has received the coronavirus vaccine as the country prepares to start inoculations this week. His jab was televised on Sunday in order to help boost confidence in the vaccine rollout across Australia. Vaccinations officially begin on Monday and at least 60,000 doses are expected to be administered next week. On Saturday, small crowds of anti-vaccination demonstrators gathered to protest against the launch. Mr Morrison was part of a small group of people vaccinated on Sunday along with some frontline health workers and care home residents. Australia’s chief nurse Professor Alison McMillan and Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly were also immunised. Speaking at ahead of his vaccination, Mr Morrison said: “Tomorrow our vaccination programme star...
FIFA announces appointment of chief operating officers for Women’s World Cup 2023
On Tuesday, world football governing body, FIFA, announced the appointment of two Chief Operating Officers (COOs) in Australia and New Zealand respectively for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 that will be jointly hosted by both countries. Last year, the pair took up the initial appointment to lead the FIFA Women’s World Cup office in their respective host countries. Now, Jane Fernandez has officially been named as the COO for Australia, with the New Zealand COO position going to Jane Patterson, officially too. The Australian Fernandez led Football Australia’s successful joint bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Upon a successful bidding, she was appointed Head of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Office for Australia. Her vast background in organising successful competitions include...
Tokyo 2021: Japan, medical experts disagree over safe Olympics
Japanese infectious disease specialist Atsuo Hamada wants to see the Olympics happen in Tokyo this summer, but admits if they were being held anywhere else, he’d probably support a cancellation. “Even without the coronavirus pandemic, the Olympics as a mass gathering fosters all sorts of infectious diseases,” Hamada, a professor at Tokyo Medical University, told AFP. With less than six months until the pandemic-postponed Games, organisers say they’re confident the event will be safe. But some medical experts aren’t so sure, and think cancellation is safer. “I do understand the athletes’ sentiments,” said Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at Britain’s University of Southampton. “But I think from… the global public health point of view, there’s nothing about the Olympic...
U.S. threatens to take action against detainers of Myanmar’s president, others
The U.S. has threatened to take action against those responsible for the detention of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as President Win Myint in Myanmar. “The United States is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition, including the arrest of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials in Burma (Myanmar). “President (Joe) Biden has been briefed by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan,” White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement. Earlier, Western media reported that Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained along with other members of Myanmar’s ruling party in an early morning military raid on Monday. “We continue to affirm our strong support for Burma’s democratic ins...
Abuja chamber welcomes FCT tax harmonisation
Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has welcomed the plan by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello to harmonise tax policies within the territory in order end multiple taxations on by businesses in the territory. The President of ACCI, Alhaji Abubakar, in a statement yesterday, commended the minister for acknowledging the challenges faced by businesses within the territory due to series of levies, charges and taxes from Federal, FCTA and Area Councils. “Multiple taxations within the FCT and the larger national economy has imposed crippling consequences on businesses. “The fallout has been many failed businesses, the rising level of inflation, the non-thriving of existing ones and the lack of capacity to engage many unemployed youths. “We want ...
Anti-coup protests ring out in Myanmar’s main city
The din of banging pots and honking car horns reverberated through Myanmar’s biggest city of Yangon late on Tuesday in the first widespread protest against the military coup that overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The party of the detained Nobel Peace laureate called for her release by the junta that seized power on Monday and is keeping her at an undisclosed location. It also demanded recognition of her victory in a November election. A senior official from her National League for Democracy (NLD) said he had learned she was in good health a day after her arrest in a military takeover that derailed Myanmar’s tentative progress towards full democracy. The U.N. Security Council was due to meet later on Tuesday amid calls for a strong global response to the military’s latest seizure o...