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By Luana Ferreira Published 25 July Share close Share page Copy link About sharing For an estimated one billion people around the world drinking coffee is a daily regime. Yet what many coffee lovers might not know is that they are often drinking a brew made, at least in part, from Brazilian beans. "Brazilian beans have popular characteristics, and are known for their body and sweetness," says Christiano Borges, boss of the country's largest grower, Ipanema Coffees. "Therefore, many coffee blends in the world use our coffee as a base." Brazil is far and away the world's largest grower of coffee beans. It accounts for more than one third of all global supplies, or 37% in 2020, to be exact. In second place is Vietnam with 17% of supplies. Some 70% of Brazil's coffee plants are the highly-priced arabica species, used in fresh coffee. The remaining 30% are robusta, which is … [Read more...] about The tech helping to bring you your morning coffee

By Annabelle Liang Published 2 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Chinese internet giants including Alibaba, Tiktok-owner ByteDance and Tencent have shared details of their algorithms with China's regulators for the first time. Algorithms decide what users see and the order they see it in - and are critical to driving the growth of social media platforms. They are closely guarded by companies. In the US Meta and Alphabet have successfully argued they are trade secrets amid calls for more disclosure. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has published a list with the descriptions of 30 algorithms. In a statement it said that its algorithm list would be routinely updated in a bid to curb data abuse. Among the listed algorithms is one belonging to e-commerce website Taobao, owned by Alibaba. The Mandarin document said Taobao's … [Read more...] about Chinese internet giants hand algorithm data to government

A grant of £400 will help struggling households cope with the energy bills crisis. Previously, a £200 loan in place for UK families was expected to be paid back. Rishi Sunak announced today this would no longer be the case, and increased its sum to £400. All households with a domestic electricity connection will be automatically eligible for the grant. Mr Sunak said: ‘The outlook for energy prices has changed. I’ve decided those repayments will be cancelled. So, for the avoidance of doubt, this support is now unambiguously a grant. ‘Furthermore, we have decided that the £200 of support for household energy bills will be doubled to £400 for everyone.’ He told the Commons: ‘We are on the side of hard working families with £6 billion of financial support.’ The grant comes in the form of a council tax rebate to households. Energy suppliers will deliver the discount to households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. Direct debit and … [Read more...] about Every household in UK to receive £400 grant to help with rising energy bills

The UK Government has finally approved the sale of Chelsea with the Todd Boehly /Clearlake consortium now set to buy the Premier League club from Roman Abramovich. Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis Privacy Policy The £4.25 billion takeover bid was held up earlier this month after the government raised concerns that Abramovich would renege on his pledge to waive a £1. 6 bn loan . Abramovich, who bought Chelsea for £140 million in 2003, is unable to receive a single penny from the sale of the club after he was sanctioned by the government in March . The Russian oligarch had insisted that all net proceeds, believed to be the money from the sale minus legal fees, would be used ‘for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine’. Abramovich has now legally agreed for his £1.6bn loan to Chelsea to be placed in a frozen account under government control. A government spokesperson said: ‘Late last night the UK Government reached a position … [Read more...] about Government approves Chelsea sale with Todd Boehly consortium set to buy club from Roman Abramovich

David White Once a successful real estate agent, Aaron Drever's fall from grace reached its nadir when he was sentenced to two years, two months imprisonment for obtaining by deception, forgery and dishonestly using a document. Aaron Drever was a star of the real estate industry before he accumulated the most censures of any agent on record . A series of brazen – and ultimately failed – business deals followed. His chequered story left many victims, and ended in a prison sentence on Friday. National Correspondent Steve Kilgallon reports. When the Auckland District Court convened to pass sentence on Aaron Drever on July 15, he wasn’t there. Drever’s date with justice had already been deferred eight times. Now, it was nine, with his lawyer, Ron Mansfield QC, left to explain that Drever had apparently caught Covid ... again. The judge, Evangelos Thomas, observed wearily: “Not many people get it for a third time.” He demanded Drever turn up with a PCR test next time he was … [Read more...] about A life of lurks and lies: the strange world of bankrupt, banned, jailed real estate agent Aaron Drever

A liquid natural gas center of excellence proposed for southwestern Louisiana and involving the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will get a boost from U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s office. Kennedy talked about the concept along with other topics during a luncheon event with the Broussard Chamber of Commerce and One Acadiana on Thursday. It would be a joint partnership between McNeese State University and UL, he said, at a site to be determined as Louisiana has emerged as a major player in exporting LNG. McNeese officials announced a plan to house a center on its campus last spring after submitting a proposal to the U.S. Economic Development Administration for a $2.75 million grant. Their plans called for it to include classroom instruction as well as industrial grade facilities where both McNeese students and LNG employees can operate process equipment in a safe, controlled environment, university officials said. McNeese has already named a director . “Our plans is to have … [Read more...] about UL, McNeese could be partners in proposed LNG Center of Excellence, Kennedy says

Labour is calling for parliament to be recalled ahead of the energy price cap rise. The opposition party has written to Boris Johnson, as well as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, to ask for MPs to return to Westminster on Monday in a bid to propose their plan to freeze the cap. The price cap is set to go up at the end of this month, while parliament does not return from its summer break until 5 September. An estimate from Cornwall Insight predicts the price cap will rise to more than £3,500, from just under £2,000, and will likely stay that way for a year . Inflation rose to 10.1% this week. The letter, written by shadow leader of the House Thangam Debbonaire, says the country faces an "urgent choice". Ms Debbonaire said: "Across Britain, people are having to make unthinkable choices about how to pay their bills, causing endless worry for households and businesses. "That is why I am writing to you to urge you to bring parliament back early on Monday 22 August so … [Read more...] about Labour calls for return of parliament on Monday ahead of energy price cap rise

Published 8 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic A man has been sentenced for stealing empty Covid-19 vaccine vials to sell on eBay while he worked as a security guard at three vaccination sites. Steven Flint, 34, carried out the thefts at the peak of the national vaccination rollout in January and February last year. He was caught by investigators who used Post Office CCTV and eBay account details to link him to his crimes. Flint was sentenced to a year's jail, suspended for 18 months. He was arrested at one of the vaccination sites in February last year, having completed a total of 13 shifts, a spokesperson for Surrey Police said. 'Utmost seriousness' Investigators found Flint, of Bidhams Crescent, Tadworth, Surrey, used details of an acquaintance fraudulently when setting up new eBay accounts. … [Read more...] about Covid-19: Security guard stole empty vaccine vials to sell on eBay

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia plans to introduce legislation to federally ban gender-affirming care for transgender children. Greene announced the bill during a Thursday appearance on Fox News ' Tucker Carlson Tonight . The Georgia Republican argued that gender-affirming care—which is backed by most in the medical establishment, including by major mainstream organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)—is "disgusting and appalling" and "child abuse" when minors are involved. "I find this absolutely appalling, Tucker," Greene said. "When it comes to gender-affirming care, which is really child abuse, this is actually an assault and it's child abuse. And this practice should never happen, it's so disgusting and appalling... gender-affirming care is... genital mutilation." "This needs to be illegal and I'm introducing a bill called Protect Children's Innocence Act," she added. "It … [Read more...] about Marjorie Taylor Greene seeks to criminalize gender-affirming care for kids

A TERRIFYING video has captured an alligator carrying out a deadly attack on a rival beast. The footage - thought to have been taken in Silver Springs Shores, Florida - zooms in on the monster while it throws its prey around like a rag doll. Massive alligator jaws clamp down hard on a smaller gator, while the water is heard making a piercing splash in the video. The beast-turned-prey is shown laying limp in its predator's mouth, arms dragging at its side. "Big Head Fred is at it again eating another alligator," the caption of the video by Kayla Jane's Crystal Kayaks reads. The company is located in Silver Springs Shores, Florida, and offers both canoe rentals and tours "exploring Florida's beautiful springs," their Facebook states. READ MORE GATORS HEROIC EFFORT Heartbreaking 911 call reveals terror after woman killed by two alligators Their social media account showcases the colorful wildlife observable on the tours, … [Read more...] about Horrifying moment cannibal alligator grips another beast in its jaws and death rolls rival in gruesome footage