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Peanut raises £9.6 million to fund its mission to become the leading social network for women

The app now counts 1.6 million users




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You can rent Normal People's Italian villa on Airbnb

And it's just £35 per night




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What is OnlyFans? The NSFW social network shouted out by Beyoncé

OnlyFans recently received a nice bout of publicity thanks to Beyoncé




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Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special 2019 – live

Merry Christmas, glitterati! It’s a cracker of a lineup, but who will win that most sparkling of festive prizes, the Silver Star? Join us to find out

Afternoon all, hope you’re having a lovely Christmas day.

There’s no official liveblog for today’s Strictly Christmas special, but we’ve opened a blog so you can add your special brand of festive sparkle in the comments below. It’s a Christmas cracker of a lineup, featuring lots of our favourites from previous years – Chizzy Akudolu, Debbie McGee, Gemma Atkinson, Joe Sugg, Mark Wright and Richard Arnold. It’s also very much a couples’ choice – both Gemma and Joe will be dancing with their real-life partners Gorka and Dianne, which is all rather lovely.

Continue reading...




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Netflix is reducing streaming quality amid coronavirus. How will it affect viewing in Australia?

Netflix is cutting down traffic to ease internet capacity as more people work from home. Here’s what it means for Australians’ streaming experience

Netflix has agreed to reduce the data it uses to stream movies and TV shows across Australia as more and more people are working from home due to the coronavirus shutdown. But what will it mean for your viewing habits while you’re staying at home?

Related: Australian government asks Netflix and Stan to reduce data to avoid broadband overload

Related: As cinemas go dark, the film industry may go straight to Netflix

Continue reading...








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Tuesday evening news briefing: UK's official death toll becomes Europe's largest




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What essential shops are open during the coronavirus lockdown?



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Social distancing: What are the rules and how might they change?









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What essential shops are open during the coronavirus lockdown?



  • topics:organisations/retail-and-consumer-industry
  • topics:in-the-news/uk-coronavirus-lockdown
  • topics:things/social-distancing
  • topics:organisations/nhs
  • topics:people/boris-johnson
  • topics:in-the-news/coronavirus
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From Boris Johnson to Sir Kenny Dalglish, coronavirus hits celebrities, royals and politicians



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Social distancing: What are the rules and how might they change?




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Music Canada applauds Government of Canada for clarifying CERB guidelines for artists and musicians

April 16, 2020, Toronto: Music Canada welcomes the recent clarification from the Federal Government on the guidelines for eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to concerns around the preliminary rules that excluded people working reduced hours. These needed changes will help support artists and musicians who in […]

The post Music Canada applauds Government of Canada for clarifying CERB guidelines for artists and musicians appeared first on Music Canada.




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Hank Azaria had vocal cords insured after health scare

Azaria shared the realisation with comedian and former The Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien.




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Russell Crowe was told 'out of touch' Gladiator would be a flop

The actor won an Oscar for his portrayal of Roman General Maximus.




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Rupert Grint and Georgia Groome welcome first child

The new parents have been dating since 2011.




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Sebastian Stan felt 'exposed' improvising scenes for Endings, Beginnings

Sebastian Stan appears opposite Shailene Woodley and Jamie Dornan in the new film.




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Jerry Seinfeld wins court case over Netflix show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Judge Alison J. Nathan has ruled that the 66-year-old comedian is the creator of the show.




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Magician Roy Horn loses coronavirus battle

The 75-year-old passed away in Las Vegas on Friday.




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Olivia Munn thanks Sandra Oh and Lucy Liu for representing Asian women in movies

The actress also championed filmmaker Justine Bateman, who she worked with on Violet.




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The Crazy State of Australian Politics: a Primer

There is something bizarre going down in Australian politics, and its name is Clive Palmer.

In 2013, this mining billionaire formed a political party he called the Palmer United Party (PUP). Some people paid attention, most tried to look the other way.

This is because Palmer isn't your regular politician

The one and only: Palmersaurus.

Image: Bradley Kanaris, Getty Images

First, the billionaire mining magnate built Palmersaurus, a theme park on the Sunshine Coast filled with fake dinosaurs. Then he moved on to bigger things — with a plan to build the Titanic II. He is a large man with a booming laugh and a twinkle in his eye. Read more...

More about Australia, Us World, Politics, World, and Tony Abbott




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5 Outrageous Things Australian Senator Jacqui Lambie Said Out Loud

SYDNEY — Jacqui Lambie is an interesting character. On first sighting, one isn't really sure what to make of her

The tough-as-nails former Australian soldier and single mother of two boys won Tasmania's sixth and final Senate seat in last year's election as part of the Palmer United Party.

The Palmer party is headed up by eccentric mining billionaire Clive Palmer, but if you think he speaks his mind, you need to check out Lambie

From saying on live radio she wants a man who is "well hung" to telling anyone who supports Sharia law to “pack up their bags and get out of here,” Lambie is causing controversy across the country with her inappropriate outbursts. Read more...

More about Australia, Us World, Politics, Australian Politics, and Clive Palmer




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Watch Australian Politicians Cut Awkwardly Into Movies and TV Shows

MELBOURNE — Australia's politicians have sure made some memorable public appearances of late.

We've had Senator Jacqui Lambie make a case for a ban on the burqa by stumbling through an explanation of sharia law on live television, federal MP and resident dinosaur enthusiast Clive Palmer's diatribe on Chinese business relations and of course, Prime Minister Tony Abbott vowing to get all up in the face of President Putin

And what better way to archive the missteps of the nation's leaders than superimposing their faces into some of film and television's most iconic scenes?

More about Australia, Us World, Tony Abbott, Australian Politics, and Clive Palmer




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4 better titles Australia could award now it got rid of knights and dames

On Monday, Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced he had removed the titles of "knights" and "dames" from the Order of Australia, a formal award system that honours those who provide a great service to Australia.

The two archaic titles were only brought back last year in a controversial move by former prime minister Tony Abbott. In a decision that made many question Abbott's leadership, the first knighthood was awarded to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh — a man who has only been to Australia a handful of times.

"“http://mashable.com/2015/10/26/drone-video-australia-travel/#Ubqu1cvD18qK"" is not a valid see-also reference Read more...

More about Australia, Funny, Us World, Lists, and Tony Abbott




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Australian politicians won't stop dropping references to Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is currently sending Australia into Tay Tay fever as she tours the country, and it seems the nation's politicians aren't immune.

Take Treasurer Scott Morrison. The minister was responding to media questions Monday regarding whether he had been offered the treasury job by current Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in February, months before the dumping of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott

We won't bore you with the details, but please note the part where the Liberal Party member told reporters to "shake it off" in regards to these events.

More about Video, Videos, Australia, Taylor Swift, and Watercooler




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Australian politician mistakenly quotes neo-Nazi, deletes all his tweets

He's one of Australia's most outspoken politicians, but conservative South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi has decided to go radio silent on social media.

On Tuesday, Bernardi mysteriously deleted all his tweets but left his profile intact

It's unclear why Bernardi bid adieu to tweets of times gone by, but on Nov. 22, he made an epic Twitter fail. Bernardi mistakenly quoted a neo-Nazi on the social media platform: "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise."

The quote — often attributed to Voltaire — is actually by American Holocaust-denier Kevin Strom, adapted from his essay titled "All America must know the terror that is upon us." Read more...

More about Twitter, Australia, Politics, Watercooler, and Australian Politics




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Australia's ex-prime minister buys second-hand fridge, turns out to be super chill

Selling a fridge would normally be a straightforward affair — money is exchanged, the other person gets the appliance.

For Emily Hastings and her husband Emmanuel it turned into a photo opportunity, when Australia's former prime minister Tony Abbott turned up to their Sydney home to buy their three-year-old Daewoo refrigerator

More about Australia, Watercooler, Tony Abbott, Australian Politics, and No Lead Image Template




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#auspol: The Twitter hashtag Australia can't live without

For Twitter users in North America, Asia or anywhere in the world, there's a little hashtag that may from time to time stray into your Twitter trends. That would be #auspol, one of Australia's most popular hashtags, which also rated third globally among trending political topics on the social media platform in 2015.

On Twitter's 10th birthday, it's time to explain this seemingly immortal, often cranky, hashtag to the rest of the globe.

What is #auspol?

Short for Australian politics, #auspol is most often used for commentary and rumour spreading about the machinations of the federal government. Read more...

More about Australian Politics, Auspol, Twitter, Australia, and Social Media




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#AskAntony trends as Australia falls into existential crisis

It has been days since Australia voted in its federal election, but still no winner has been declared. The frustration is real, so the country is doing what it does. Namely, making funny jokes on social media.

Antony Green, ABC's election analyst, is Australia's version of Paul the psychic octopusHe has a pretty good record of picking winners, and helpfully, he has a website that asks one simple question: "Has Antony Green called the election" 

The answer for days now has been an emphatic, "No."

They tried to make me go to rehab. What should I say? #AskAntony pic.twitter.com/xBvcEnrSUR

— Andrew Sholl (@andrewsholl) July 6, 2016 Read more...

More about Twitter, Australia, Australian Politics, Australian Prime Minister, and Australian Election




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Terrorists may soon be detained indefinitely in Australia

The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has proposed legislation that would allow for convicted terrorists to be held indefinitely in prison if considered a threat.

The proposed changes to legislation would allow convicted terrorists to be detained in jails for an infinite amount of time, regardless of their sentence length. While Turnbull said the changes were about promoting and ensuring community safety in a time of heightened uncertainty, the proposal has been criticised on the basis of civil rights.

Australia has no Charter of Human Rights which would require the Parliament or the courts to consider whether counter-terrorism laws comply with human rights principles. Without this charter, the Australian Government can operate in a legal grey area. Read more...

More about Australia, Terrorism, Australian Politics, Terrorist Threats, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull




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Great Barrier Reef brought to politicians' doorstep in artful protest

If you can't beat 'em, erect a coral reef on their doorstep. That's what Greenpeace activists in Australia did overnight in a bid to confront politicians with the realities of climate change. 

The protest held at Parliament House (Australia's Whitehouse) depicted a faux-coral reef in neon white, representing the coral bleaching occurring on the Great Barrier Reef; the only coral reef in the world to be granted World Heritage status.

"Almost a quarter of the reef's coral died this year," Greenpeace Australia Pacific campaigner Nikola Casule told Fairfax Media. "Australia can't have both a healthy Great Barrier Reef and a coal industry." Read more...

More about Australia, Protest, Great Barrier Reef, Coral Bleaching, and Australian Politics




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Bow down to the politician who's the Queen of verbal smackdowns

Australia's political landscape has long been tumultuous and rough around the edges. But amoung the rough, there is a diamond. Enter ex-prime minister, sharp shooter and straight talker, Paul Keating. He's sassy AF.

Keating made headlines again Wednesday by implying the country's foreign policy was suffering because governmental powers are too concerned with appeasing the U.S. 

It's just the latest public comment in the long line of brutal honesty and cynical realism that is Paul Keating's autobiography. Need hard evidence? Watch and learn children. The shade. Read more...

More about Australian Politics, Australia, Paul Keating, World, and Australia




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Lebanese Muslim spokesperson blasts politician for inciting 'bigotry'

A note to politicians: Stop blaming an entire race, creed, religion or any other social group for the actions of the radicalised. 

Australia's Lebanese Muslim Association President, Samier Dandan, said as much Tuesday when he responded to claims by Australia's own Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. 

The minister called out Lebanese Australians during parliament on Monday, responding to the wry question "Which group of people, from which country, does the minister believe should not have been allowed into Australia?"

His response was unbelievable. "The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second and third generation Lebanese-Muslim background." Read more...

More about Racism, Muslims, Australian Politics, Lma, and Lebanese Australians




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Despite backlash, loot boxes could be essential to gaming’s future

Analysis sees loot box spending ballooning 62 percent, to $47 billion, by 2022.




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Google Stadia will support “a variety of business models”

But the streaming gaming revolution "is not going to happen overnight."




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Liverpool youngster Neco Williams singles out Adam Lallana as key influence at Melwood

Neco Williams has revealed how Adam Lallana has played a major role in helping him adapt to the demands of training regularly with Liverpool's first team.




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Bruno Fernandes: Cristiano Ronaldo changed my perception of Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes has revealed his perception of Manchester United changed when Cristiano Ronaldo joined the club.




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Mario Gotze announces he will leave Borussia Dortmund

Mario Gotze has confirmed he is to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season when his contract expires.




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Valencia could sell Geoffrey Kondogbia for just €30m with Tottenham linked

Valencia midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia could be available for around €30 million this summer amid reported interest from Tottenham.




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Pogba, Bellerin, Martial, Beckham and more footballers sporting buzzcuts during coronavirus lockdown

If there is one thing footballers have in common with fans during the coronavirus pandemic, it is that when it comes to hairstyles, they are all very much in the same boat.




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Chelsea told they are making a big mistake allowing Willian to leave: 'He could play for Man City tomorrow'

Paul Merson believes Chelsea midfielder Willian will have clubs queueing up for him and 'could play for Manchester City' when he leaves Stamford Bridge.




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Cristiano Ronaldo warned he has 'no privileges' during lockdown after training session at Madeira Stadium

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has been warned he has no special "privilege" after he was pictured training at a local stadium in his native Madeira.