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102 new community cases of COVID-19 today

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102 new community cases of COVID-19 today

There are 102 new community cases of COVID-19 to report today; 94 in Auckland and eight in Waikato.

As at 10am, 62 of these cases are linked – including 30 household contacts – and 40 remain unlinked, with investigations continuing to help determine their connection to the outbreak. The sharp rise in case numbers is a reminder of the infectiousness of COVID-19, and particularly the Delta variant, and the importance of vaccination as the best protection.

Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:

  • Number of new community cases: 102
  • Number of new cases identified at the border: Two (including one historical)
  • Location of new community cases: Auckland (94) Waikato (8)
  • Location of community cases (total): Auckland 2,179 (1,363 of whom have recovered); Waikato 64 (10 of whom have recovered); Wellington 17 (all of whom have recovered)
    Number of community cases (total)*: 2,260 (in current community outbreak)
  • Cases infectious in the community** 23 of 56 cases reported yesterday have exposure events
  • Cases in isolation throughout the period they were infectious ** 33 of 56 cases reported yesterday have no exposure events
  • Cases epidemiologically linked: 62 of today’s 102 cases
  • Cases to be epidemiologically linked: 40 of today’s 102 cases
  • Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 2,028 (in the current cluster) (199 unlinked from the past 14 days)
  • Cases in hospital: 46 (total): North Shore (7); Middlemore (14); Auckland (24); Waikato (1)
  • Cases in ICU or HDU: Seven
  • Confirmed cases (total)*: 4,956 since pandemic began
  • Historical cases: 172 out of 3,141 since 1 Jan 2021

‘I’m here to talk to his master’

Daily Telegraph NZ
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‘I’m here to talk to his master’

Protesters against Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special, which critics claimed was ‘transphobic,’ have faced off with the comedian’s supporters during an employee walkout at the streaming giant’s California headquarters.

Scores of Netflix employees walked out of the company’s Sunset Boulevard office on Wednesday and took to the sidewalk, where they chanted, “trans lives matter” and held up signs protesting Chappelle’s latest comedy special, ‘The Closer’.

Activist and organizer Ashlee Marie Preston said creators need to hold Netflix accountable in the way that shareholders do. She claimed, in a moment that has already earned backlash, that she was there to see Chappelle’s “masters.”

Dave Chappelle protest news

“He’s clearly sold himself,” Preston said of the African-American comedian. “Since he can’t do the right thing, I’m here to talk to his master today and those are the people who signed the paycheck.”

She vowed not to stop protesting “until justice is brought,” and dismissed the charge that the walkout was an example of “cancel culture.” She argued that the activists invited Chappelle to discuss the issue with them, but he has shown no interest in the dialogue.

The activist also slammed Chappelle as “an oppressor,” while at the same time noting that, as a black man, he was part of the “oppressed” community.

Wednesday’s gathering also saw counter protesters show up to support Chappelle. Some held signs with messages such as ‘Jokes are Funny’ and ‘We Like Dave Chappelle’.

One of the latter signs was destroyed by an anti-Chappelle protester, a moment captured on camera that has quickly gone viral.

In the clip, the man holding the ‘We Like Dave’ is confronted by a rival protester, who then takes his sign, and stomps on it, leaving him with a broken handle.

“I’m just here to say jokes are funny, and Dave Chappelle is a funny guy,” his supporter can be heard as saying.

Chappelle has faced accusations of being transphobic since his special debuted earlier in October. Trans-rights activists have been up in arms over the segments where the comedian discusses his problem with woke culture and refers to gender as a “fact”. The comedian does not express any opposition to transgenderism in general and says he supports an individual’s right to change their gender, however.

Chappelle’s supporters have called the outrage overblown, while the special has remained a popular stream on Netflix, earning high marks among audience members. Some critics believe, however, that Chappelle could cause real world harm with his words and Netlflix is providing him the platform and financial support to do so.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos initially defended the special, saying that he believes strongly that its content “doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.” Faced with a mounting backlash ahead of the walkout protest, Sarandos told Variety on Tuesday that he “screwed up the internal communication” on the special, but stressed that there are no plans to take it down.

He doubled down on his initial assessment that the show does not “fall into hate speech,” adding that not so many people actually demanded its removal.

“I don’t believe there have been many calls to remove it,” he said.

In a Wednesday statement, however, Netflix also expressed support for the protesting employees.

“​​We respect the decision of any employee who chooses to walk out, and recognize we have much more work to do both within Netflix and in our content,” the company said.

 

All the money in America won’t bring children back

Daily Telegraph NZ
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All the money in America won’t bring children back

The US is admitting error by offering compensation for the lives of innocent children killed by a drone strike in Kabul, but no amount of money will ease their family’s pain, the aggrieved brother of one of the victims told RT.

Not a single terrorist was hit, but seven children – some as young as two – as well as three adults, perished in the charred ruins of their own family’s backyard. In a cruel twist of fate, Zemari Ahmadi, the man whom the US intelligence somehow took for a terrorist preparing an attack, turned out to be a long-time employee of a California-based NGO that distributed food to malnourished Afghans, while another victim was later reported to have worked as a translator with US forces. RT interviewed some of the surviving family members in wake of the strike.

Faced with mounting questions about the glaring mismatch of the Pentagon’s narrative with the reality, the US military was forced to admit the operation’s failure. Eventually, an unspecified financial compensation was offered to the victims’ relatives. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made a “commitment” to the Ahmadi family for compensation, including “ex gratia condolence payments” and State Department assistance in relocating family members to the US, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby revealed last week.

However, the offer of payment was apparently the closest Washington got to a personal apology, which Ahmadi’s relatives say they are yet to receive.

“We would accept [an apology] in case they contact us, apologize and admit that our family is innocent,” the brother of the murdered aid worker, Emal Ahmadi, told RT on Wednesday.

Yet no amount of aid could rectify the tragic events, which have turned the surviving family’s life into misery. “Each day and each moment after that attack, we are constantly feeling pain when we think of those elder or a minor who was killed,” Ahmadi said. He did not directly confirm or deny whether he would accept the American compensation.

Apart from Zemari, the strike also claimed the life of Emal’s own daughter, Malika, who was just two years old. She died alongside another toddler, Sumaya Yousoufi, who was also two.

“Each day after that attack, our life is getting more and more miserable. Day and night, we recall our memories with our brother and our children, we miss them a lot, the life is hell without them,” Emal said in emotional interview, adding that no compensation could ever change that.

“Compensation is not a remedy to the pain inflicted to us; it is a known fact. It can’t replace the loss of my family, my brother, my own daughter and nephews, who have lost their lives, compensation will not bring them back to life.”

Even if the US decided to pay the family “the whole of their wealth” it would still change nothing, the aggrieved father said. He added that his family does not ask anything of the US other than “to investigate thoroughly before such drone attacks in the future.”

America should just leave Afghanistan alone and let its people live in peace, Emal says, adding that one could not find “a single family” in the country that did not have a family member killed during the 20 years of the US war on terror. No humanitarian aid could “compensate the loss you inflicted to this nation,” he adds, addressing Washington.

How [will] you address the miseries and agony of war of the father, a brother, a child or a family? You can feel this pain everywhere, it can’t be dealt with humanitarian aid

Emal says he and his family have no other choice but to leave Afghanistan because it is just to painful for them to continue living in Kabul “without those loving kids” around.

The surviving family members were “happy” to know that the Americans have at least admitted to their mistake publicly, he said.

Emal’s brother Zemari was employed by the American NGO Nutrition & Education International, and the Kabul compound the US insisted was associated with ISIS was actually a building used by the aid organization. The jugs of water Zemari loaded into his vehicle were apparently mistaken for explosives.

The offer of the compensation to Ahmadi’s relatives was reportedly raised during a virtual meeting between Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl and Dr. Steven Kwon, who employed Zemari. The Afghan had reportedly been working for the NGO for 14 years at the time of his untimely death.

SpaceX will launch Elon Musk to become world’s first Trillionaire

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SpaceX will launch Elon Musk to become world’s first Trillionaire

Elon Musk could soon become the world’s first trillionaire, as the projects led by the businessman, such as Tesla and SpaceX, are experiencing rapid growth, Morgan Stanley says.

Though Tesla cars, produced at Musk’s electric-vehicle venture, have been gaining unprecedented popularity, it will be SpaceX that will earn him trillionaire status, according to the Wall Street investment bank.

SpaceX to make Elon Musk first trillionaire news

SpaceX’s success is attributed to ongoing projects involving NASA. The company’s mission to colonize Mars is still in place, as it continues to send rovers for data collection. Earlier, Musk announced plans to send a million people to Mars by 2050 in the eventual hope of establishing a “self-sustaining city” there, if Earth becomes unsalvageable. His company is also trying to figure out if the Martian sand is strong enough to be used as construction material.

However, the ambitious plan to land on Mars is not the only project developed by SpaceX. The company “is challenging any preconceived notion of what is possible and in the time frame possible, in terms of rockets, launch vehicles and supporting infrastructure”, Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the space exploration corporation makes up just 17% of Musk’s net worth of over $240 billion. Earlier this month, the company was valued at $100 billion as part of a secondary share sale.

The major reason for Musk’s soaring net worth is Tesla, which accounts for 74% of his enterprise value, which totals $1.14 trillion.

Watch: Kelly and Al are faking it! Married with Children

Daily Telegraph NZ
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Watch: Kelly and Al are faking it! Married with Children

In order to get out of visiting Peg’s Mom, Al and Kelly pretend to be sick so they can stay home.

 

Watch: Benny Hill – moments of horrible televsion

Daily Telegraph NZ
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Watch: Benny Hill – moments of horrible televsion

Classic moments from the beloved British comedian Benny Hill.

Sri Lanka thump Ireland to progress in T20 World Cup

Daily Telegraph NZ
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Sri Lanka thump Ireland to progress in T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka are through to the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 after a thumping 70-run win over Ireland.

Hasaranga, Nissanka, Theekshana down Ireland to seal Sri Lanka’s Super 12s spot.

A full match report is available here.

United States launches campaign to host men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup

Daily Telegraph NZ
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United States launches campaign to host men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup

Today marks the public launch of the United States’ bid to host the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 or 2031 and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029.

This is the first time a nation has bid on both the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups together and if the bid is successful, will mark the first time a Men’s Rugby World Cup has been held in North or South America. The team behind the bid has been hard at work since the United States announced it had been formally accepted as a bid candidate in June of 2021 following a robust and successful feasibility study.

Progress made to date includes finalizing the bid campaign’s branding, solidifying and surveying fan and public backing for the bid, closely coordinating with federal, state and local government officials, securing the interest of major metropolitan areas from coast to coast and putting in place an experienced team to drive ongoing progress.

USA Rugby bids for Rugby World Cups news

“This is a proud moment as we introduce our vision for a Rugby World Cup on American soil,” said USA Rugby World Cup Bid Chair Jim Brown. “After working on this for a year now, we are confident in the strength of this bid, the support around us, the cities and stadiums interested in hosting, our country’s top-level infrastructure for large-scale sports events and the opportunity the U.S. population of sports fans presents for rugby’s growth, both domestically and globally.”

These updates come as the United States’ rugby community gathers in Washington, D.C. ahead of the USA Eagles match with the All Blacks in the inaugural 1874 Cup on Saturday, Oct. 23 at FedEx Field.

Public support, fan excitement and potential

New research conducted by the bid team and shared publicly for the first time today revealed that when asked, 80 percent of sports fans and 93 percent of rugby fans said they support the United States hosting the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups in the near future.

Additionally, 78 percent of sports fans and 90 percent of rugby fans believe the United States is well-equipped to host. Research also found strong interest in attending Rugby World Cup matches among rugby fans, with 91 percent saying they’d be interested in watching or attending a Men’s Rugby World Cup hosted by the U.S., and 82 percent saying the same for a Women’s Rugby World Cup. Overall, 66 percent of sports fans and 88 percent of rugby fans believe it would be beneficial for the U.S. to host.

“After my experiences as a player with the USA National Team, I cannot imagine anything that would mean more to rugby players, fans and supporters than hosting a Rugby World Cup in the United States,” said World Rugby Hall of Fame Inductee and Women’s Sports Foundation President, Phaidra Knight. “It’s clear that current U.S. rugby fans are excited about the potential of hosting Rugby World Cup events, and that fans of other sports are interested in learning more about rugby. These are two phenomenal groups we’re excited to bring together through this experience. Additionally, the United States boasts strong women’s sports infrastructure and interest, two things that are lacking globally, making us uniquely suited to host the 2029 Rugby World Cup.”

World-class stadiums and cities ready to host

With metropolitan areas from coast to coast ready to welcome global rugby fans, NFL-caliber stadiums around the country interested in hosting Rugby World Cup games and an incredible national infrastructure for coordinating large-scale events, the United States is extremely prepared and well-suited to unite fans old and new through rugby.

The following cities have shown interest in and are currently being considered for participation in the United States’ bid for upcoming Rugby World Cups: Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Birmingham, Ala.; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Cincinnati; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Minneapolis; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; New York/New Jersey; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Pittsburgh; San Diego; San Francisco Bay Area; Seattle; Vancouver, B.C. and Washington, D.C.

The bid includes some of the most state-of-art, massive, technologically advanced and luxurious sporting venues in the world – from iconic venues like the Rose Bowl to recent Super Bowl host venues like Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area. A projected 3.1 million fans could attend Men’s Rugby World Cup events in the U.S. across 48 matches.

United by Rugby

The team today unveiled the bid’s tagline, website and social media channels. The tagline – “United by Rugby” – harkens to the host nation while speaking to rugby’s ability to unite all generations, and the Rugby World Cup’s unique role in bringing nations together.
The logo and brand identity are driven by history, nostalgia and unity, creating a distinctly American view of rugby, which has been largely missing from the global rugby scene until recently.

Today also marked the launch of usabid.rugby – the website that will house updates and information about the bid as the process continues. Additionally, more information about the bid can be found via new social media channels: @USRugbyWC (Twitter), @USRugbyWC (Instagram), United States Rugby – World Cup Bid (Facebook) and United States Rugby – World Cup Bid (LinkedIn).

A Men’s Rugby World Cup in the United States in 2027 or 2031 would mark the first time the event has been held in North or South America, which hosts 15 World Rugby unions. This event has the potential to expand interest and participation the sport for generations to come.

“A Rugby World Cup in the United States is a turning point for the game,” said USA Rugby Chief Executive Officer Ross Young. “An exciting, unique, global sporting event of this scale on American soil for the first time has the potential to bring tried and true rugby fans, new supporters of the sport, U.S. fans and fans from around the world together through our great game.
The Rugby World Cup also presents incredible opportunity to unite our rugby communities and truly grow the sport from youth programs to our senior national teams – injecting fan support and financial interest and creating a new generation of American rugby players.”

Growing government support

This week in Washington, D.C., the bid’s leadership team is connecting with White House officials and leaders of the Congressional Rugby Caucus to discuss the growing popularity of rugby in the United States and the commercial and cultural value of bringing one of the world’s largest sporting events to U.S. soil for the first time.

Coordination with local and state governments of potential host sites has also been ongoing and positive. Sports commissions, convention and visitors bureaus and stadium operators across the country have shown great support for and interest in hosting Rugby World Cup games. The USA Rugby community of players, coaches and administrators remain galvanized by the opportunity to host a Rugby World Cup, as the event can create new awareness, infrastructure and resources to drive growth within grassroots rugby.

Next steps

The bid campaign will continue to be funded and resourced by investments from rugby stakeholders and supporters across the U.S. as the planning and preparation phase continues ahead of World Rugby’s January 2022 proposal deadline.

One lucky player wins $42 million

Daily Telegraph NZ
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One lucky player wins $42 million

One lucky player has won Lotto Powerball, netting a massive $42 million.

The prize is the second biggest in Lotto history and was won by a player from the North Waikato town of Pokeno.

The winning numbers were:

  • 2, 3, 4, 7, 19, 31.
  • The bonus ball was 8 and the Powerball 9.

As news of the massive win spread, the Lotto app and web site were overwhelmed with users desperate to check if they had the winning ticket, causing the services to be down at times.

‘Harry’s on the chopping block next’ – Meghan’s brother

Daily Telegraph NZ
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‘Harry’s on the chopping block next’ – Meghan’s brother

Thomas Markle Jr, the half-brother of Meghan Markle, is set to drop some bombshells when he appears on Australian Big Brother VIP next month.

In a trailer for the upcoming series, the 55 year old window fitter from Oregon says:

‘The guy that she was married to the first time, she just walked all over him and dumped him.’

Prince Harry to suffer same fate as Engelson news

‘The guy’ Markle Jr is referring to is Trevor Engelson, the Hollywood film producer and first husband of Meghan. It’s only a matter of time before Prince Harry meets the same fate, believes Markle Jr.

‘Harry’s on the chopping block next,’ he is reported to have said.

It’s been 10 years since the half-siblings had any contact.

Australia Big Brother VIP air is set to air in November 2021 on the 7Plus network.

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