Asean outlook on the indo pacific

Earthquake hazard and risk: Explanation of what it means Sign up HERE for science breakthroughs in health, business and more that matter SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicates that a strong shake was felt at the epicentre of the quake. The Bureau of Meteorology reported the shake near Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean at 8.49pm local time on Thursday.  The USGS originally registered the quake as having a magnitude of 7.3, but later revised this figure to 6.7. Related articles Germany finally vows to 'pull out all the stops' to crush Russia The NATO weapon that Putin ‘really fears’ It reportedly struck at a depth of 29.3km (18.21 miles). The Joint … [Read more...] about Australia placed on tsunami alert after huge 6.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Pacific Ocean

Rishi Sunak vows to cut business taxes How the Bank of England’s money printing spree paved the way for inflation crisis FTSE 100 drops 1.8pc after Wall Street rout Ben Marlow: Britain is drifting towards economic oblivion Sign up here for our daily business briefing newsletter ​ £40bn has been wiped off the UK's biggest listed companies as a sell-off across global markets intensified. T he FTSE 100 crashed 1.8pc, extending its losses after yesterday’s red-hot inflation figures fuelled fears the UK could be tipped into recession. The domestically-focused FTSE 250 dropped 1.3pc, taking combined market losses to £40bn. It comes after the benchmark S&P 500 plunged 4pc overnight – its biggest drop since June 2020 – after soaring costs dented profits at retail giant Target and sparked fears of a slowdown in consumer spending. The tech-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 5pc, with investors also rattled by comments from top Federal Reserve officials hinting at … [Read more...] about £40bn wiped off UK stocks as global market rout continues

Business leaders have accused Boris Johnson of squandering a post-Brexit opportunity to slash red tape and taxes as the cost of living crisis threatens to plunge the country into recession. Executives and Tory donors attacked the Prime Minister for his "awful" and "half-hearted" efforts at reform after inflation surged to a 40-year high and the Bank of England warned that the country is on the brink of a prolonged downturn. Michael Spencer, a billionaire City tycoon who has given millions of pounds to the Conservative party, said: “So far there has been no rolling back of unwanted and useless Euro regulations and restrictions. It has been an awful wasted opportunity.” It came as British consumer confidence plunged to the lowest in at least half a century, driven by the escalating cost of living crisis. GfK’s consumer confidence index, which has run since 1974, has plunged to an all-time low of -40 in a move that may presage a recession. It surpassed a previous nadir of … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson accused of squandering Brexit dividend

Building society Nationwide has warned that house prices might begin to slide later this year as budgets are put under pressure by the rising cost of living. The firm said that while house prices have been increasing at double-digit rates so far this year, they could start falling again. “Higher property prices and interest rates, together with steep increases in the cost of living, mean housing has become less affordable and we expect housing market activity to slow and the rate of house price growth to moderate in the coming quarters,” it said in an update on Friday. “There is a risk of a downward movement in house prices, given the pressure on household budgets.” Inflation reached a 40-year high in the year to April, hitting 9% as measured by the Consumer Prices Index. Recommended Boris Johnson news: Partygate probe ends with 126 fines Brexit has increased risk of danger foods reaching UK, watchdog warns Although unemployment … [Read more...] about House prices could fall as cost of living bites, Nationwide says

Consumer confidence is now weaker than at its lowest point during the global banking crisis or the Covid shutdown as cost of living pressures escalate, according to a long-running survey. GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index fell two points to minus 40 in May, its lowest score since records began in 1974. It comes as UK unemployment hits a 50-year low with vacancies outnumbering job seekers for the first time, and inflation peaking at a 40-year high driven by soaring food and fuel bills. Pessimism is starkest in relation to the general economy, with consumer confidence falling to minus 63 looking back over the past year and minus 56 for the 12 months. The major purchase index, an indicator of confidence in buying big ticket items, has now fallen for six months to minus 35, reflecting the latest “dismal” set of retail sales figures, GfK said. Recommended Boris Johnson news: Partygate probe ends with 126 fines Brexit has increased risk of danger … [Read more...] about Consumer confidence at lowest point since records began

Penny Mordaunt discusses post-Brexit UK-US trade deal Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The UK has fired the starting gun on negotiations for a new, deeper agreement with the Central American country to boost British exports and take advantage of the "immense opportunities" on hand. Mexico is one of the world’s largest consumer markets, with a population projected to reach nearly 150 million by 2035. Related articles Fury as bloc threatens full-blown trade war over Brexit deal row US accused of 'BULLYING' Britain as Washington turns screw in row Negotiations were confirmed after International Trade Secretary Anne Marie Trevelyan … [Read more...] about Brexit bonanza! Talks begin on new £4BILLION Mexico trade deal set to be bigger than EU’s

The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization issued yet another grim report about the state of our planet this week. In 2021, four of the seven major climate indicators – a set of parameters that hold key information about climate change – set "alarming" new records. In what the WMO said is a "clear sign" that humans are causing "harmful and long-lasting" effects across the globe, the report found that greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, ocean heat and ocean acidification all set new records last year. The report also found that the past seven years have been the warmest seven years on record. In a press conference about the findings, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said that the records set are "alarming" and that the findings portray a "dismal litany of humanity's failure to tackle climate disruption." "I will give you the bottom line – the global energy system is broken and bringing us ever closer to climate catastrophe. Fossil fuels are a … [Read more...] about Major climate indicators set “alarming” records in 2021, the U.N. says, “bringing us ever closer to climate catastrophe”

A woman has taken to Instagram to show her followers her personal transformation and how hard work certainly pays off. Krissy Cela, who uses the handle @krissycela, on social media is a self love and fitness guru. Recently, she posted four lots of two pictures side by side to show her body before and after she got into her routine at the gym. She wrote: "My Personal Transformation and one that matters to ME. "Before sitting at 45/49kg now sitting at 61/62kg. "Some things I wish I knew before starting my fitness journey and I hope will help you on yours. "Firstly I’d like to add that a before and after are a by product of everything else you don’t see; hard work, resilience, consistency, showing up when you don’t want to and not giving up on yourself. "2. I WISH WISH WISH I followed a structured plan sooner that focused on progressive overload and foundational moves more than anything else! "3. I wish I didn’t pay so much attention on how other people looked and … [Read more...] about Fitness influencer flaunts ‘personal transformation’ as she shows off hard work

A few years ago , heart surgery forced Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the Kenyan writer and perennial Nobel shortlister , to give up driving. He misses it. He misses getting behind the wheel for a few hours with no end point in mind, randomly exploring the roads. “Like writing a story,” he said. So when I offered to visit and take him for an afternoon drive, he accepted. For reasons unknown to me, my rental car was upgraded to a white Mustang, and Ngũgĩ laughed at the sight of the big American muscle car and then quickly confronted the challenge of sinking his body, clad in a white dashiki with fire-red embroidery, down into the low-sunk seat. He’s 84 now, still flashing an outsize smile but slowed physically by various health issues. “I can’t enjoy cocktail parties with friends anymore,” he said. Our terrain was Irvine, in Southern California, where Ngũgĩ moved two decades ago, joining the faculty at UC Irvine. It’s where he’s spent the last stage of a long literary career as one of … [Read more...] about Ngũgĩ in America

The Government is actively considering whether to end pre-departure test requirements before August. Chris Hipkins says there will be an inquiry into how the pandemic played out in New Zealand. MIQ is now used mostly for refugees and people travelling to Antarctica. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says it’s likely the Government will end the requirement for pre-departure testing early. His signal that pre-departure tests were going was one in a range of points he outlined as part of the Government’s change of focus, as Covid-19 became part of “the new normal”. The Government had already announced that pre-departure tests would no longer be required from August, but Hipkins said he was “in the process of making a decision” about ending the requirement sooner. Hipkins said the pre-departure tests, for people coming into New Zealand, were “less important” and provided “a lot less value” than they once did. READ MORE: Covid-19: Ministry of Health … [Read more...] about Pre-departure Covid test rule to be removed ‘soon’, as Government plans for ‘new normal’