Disney+ An Early Smash Success, New Estimates Show
A new report by mobile app market intelligence firm Sensor Tower seems to confirm what many in the media and entertainment worlds already anticipated – that Disney+ is an early smash success. Based on its estimates (and these are estimates rather than actual numbers, about which a top Disney exec would not comment), Sensor Tower concludes that Disney sandbagged […]
Jeff Bezos Announces Amazon Will Invest $1Bn In India
The news—which was announced during Amazon Smbhav, a two-day summit aimed at bringing business owners together to hear speeches from Amazon representatives and other major executives—was met with applause. With the world’s seventh-largest economy as measured by GDP, the goodwill from Bezos toward India is necessary. India’s antitrust watchdog just launched a probe into Amazon and Flipkart […]
Mexico Gets ‘Chapo’ Beer
Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman may be serving a life sentence in prison, but the Mexican drug kingpin can now boast to having his own beer. El Chapo Mexican Lager was launched by Guzman’s daughter Alejandrina, who runs a fashion and lifestyle company built around her father’s brand. The company, Chapo 701, unveiled the craft beer […]
Sweet! Indian Bakers Make World’s ‘Longest’ Cake
It was a record-baking effort. Hundreds of bakers and chefs in southern India came together Wednesday to create what they said is the world’s longest cake — about 6.5 kilometres (four miles). They spread chocolate ganache on the serpentine dessert stretched out on thousands of tables and desks at a festival ground and adjoining roads […]
US, China Sign ‘Momentous’ Trade Deal
The United States and China signed a truce in their trade war on Wednesday after nearly two years of tensions, bringing relief to markets but largely leaving massive tariffs in place. The “phase one” deal is also a boon for Donald Trump as he faces an impeachment trial and a tough re-election fight this year, […]
Relief As Rain Falls Over Australian Bushfires
Heavy rain fell across parts of fire-ravaged eastern Australia on Thursday and more wet weather was forecast, giving some relief following months of catastrophic blazes fuelled by climate change. The fires, unprecedented for Australia in terms of duration and intensity, have claimed 28 lives and killed an estimated billion animals. Sustained hot weather and rare […]
Ex-Pope’s Shadow Vatican Role In The Spotlight
Ex-pope Benedict XVI seems to have broken his silence recently over key Catholic issues and his comments have raised serious questions within the Church about the extent to which there are, in fact, two “men in white” at the Vatican In 2013, Benedict became the first pontiff to resign in almost 600 years. He chose […]
Russian Parliament To Review Putin PM Pick After Overhaul
Russian lawmakers will begin reviewing President Vladimir Putin’s nomination of a little-known tax chief as the new prime minister Thursday after his announcement of a sweeping constitutional shake-up fuelled speculation about his future plans. The overwhelmingly Kremlin-loyal State Duma lower parliament is likely to approve Mikhail Mishustin for the role, following the shock resignation of […]
Sexton Named Ireland Captain
Talismanic fly-half Johnny Sexton was on Wednesday named as Ireland captain for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign by new head coach Andy Farrell. The 34-year-old former world player of the year replaces hooker Rory Best, who retired after Ireland’s disappointing quarter-final exit at last year’s World Cup. There are five uncapped players in Farrell’s first […]
UN Warns Of ‘Much Extreme Weather’
The past decade has been the hottest on record, the UN said Wednesday, warning that the higher temperatures were expected to fuel numerous extreme weather events in 2020 and beyond. The World Meteorological Organization, which based its findings on analysis of leading international datasets, said it also confirmed data released by the European Union’s climate […]
Makeshift Koala Hospital Scrambles To Save Dozens
Dozens of injured koalas arrive at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park’s makeshift animal hospital each day in cat carriers, washing baskets or clinging to wildlife carers. Injured in bushfires that have ravaged the wildlife haven off the coast of South Australia state, there are so many marsupials currently requiring urgent treatment that carers don’t have […]
Man Utd Axe Training Camp Over Middle East Tensions
Manchester United have called off a winter training camp in the Middle East due to fears over tensions in the region. United have often used the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai as a warm-weather base in recent years, and the Old Trafford outfit were set to visit the venue in the upcoming first […]