mnl168 jili slot China and India Are the Biggest Tourism Market for Victoria As This Australian City Attracts International Tourists with Sports TourismMariam watches over her new born girl in the safety of her recently moved into rental home after a harrowing few years where she escaped an abusive ex-husband who beat her when she was previously pregnant and had a miscarriage. or signup to continue reading The 25-year-old Hazara Afghan woman grew up as a refugee in Pakistan and settled in Australia in 2016 as a teenager before getting married a few years later. But the relationship was marred by violence and turbulence. "When I was pregnant he started the violence again and he wanted me to have an abortion," she told AAP. She recounted how her ex-husband kicked her out of the house and she bounced around staying at her parents who were pressuring to get back with him, couch surfing with friends and even some nights sleeping in her car. "It was so hard, out of control, I didn't have any support, my relationship with my parents broke down. I was alone in this world." are a Shi'a minority in Afghanistan and have been long persecuted for their ethnicity and religion, which became even more extreme under the hardline Taliban who swept back into power in 2021 unseating the weak US-backed government after the 2001 invasion. Her ex-husband was also Hazara but he had threatened Mariam that he knew Taliban militants in Afghanistan who would kill her brother there if she did not abort the baby after she was 15 weeks pregnant. All the undue psychological pressure and physical beatings such as pushing her violently across the kitchen table took a toll on her body and she had a miscarriage in a Melbourne hospital, she said as she choked back tears. Mariam, who is providing a name she uses on social media in order not to be publicly identified for her safety, recently remarried with her husband visiting from Pakistan to be with her when she gave birth to a baby girl last month. With the help of the Melbourne-based charity Avalon Centre she was able to secure a two bedroom unit weeks ago in Dandenong, which has the highest number of homeless people of over 2300 in Victoria according to official figures. Deborah Holmes who heads the volunteer-run organisation says the grassroots provides stable furnished homes for vulnerable members of the community with ongoing casework support. "We've got a mission statement to help where we can, when we can, and in whatever way we can," she told AAP. "We're offering a hand up not a handout." The community organisation owns about 15 properties and relies entirely on donations from the public to pay off the loans. Ms Holmes said every dollar counts towards getting people off the streets and into new homes at a time when around the holidays. She and a team of volunteers worked around the clock to get the place ready for Mariam to move in with her baby earlier this month. "If that's just two cups of coffee a day and four friends then you can put a roof over somebody's head." RMIT Senior Lecturer Rojan Afrouz, who has conducted extensive research into , explains they contend with cultural barriers such as not being fluent in English as well as regressive community attitudes. "The main point that Afghan women raised was community pressure and shame and blame, and also that cultural and gender norms were stronger here (in Australia) than back in their own countries sometimes," she said. Dr Afrouz said even though domestic violence as a social phenomenon affects women of all backgrounds in Australia, it is doubly hard for refugees who carry multiple levels of trauma. "Afghan women face a lot of stigma and shame when they want to get a religious or civil divorce... sometimes it is more important than access to mainstream services. "This is because the main action that you need to do is making the decision whether you want to leave or not and the social consequences of that," the social work academic explained. She advocated for a woman-centred approach that is consultative in policymaking that ensures their agency is the prime objective. "We have to make sure that we put women's self determination experiences, not community self determination, at the forefront because sometimes minority women's voices are lost." This was Mariam's experience where she felt shunned from the tight-knit community by wanting to flee an abusive relationship. "My mental health was so bad... it was stressful and painful... everyone was blaming no matter what I said." She feels comfortable and safe in her new home with the ongoing support of her social worker and the Avalon Centre vowing to get back on her feet one day at a time. "Alhamdulillah (Thank God) everything is different now. I shut the door and feel safer than before," said Mariam. "My safety and my baby's safety is more important than anything... I don't want to lose everything again." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? 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GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Over the past few weeks, concerned New Jersey residents have craned their heads skyward to track the movements of what appeared to be mysterious drones overhead, formulate theories about their origins and strategize about how to get rid of them. A few thousand miles away, just west of Phoenix, Amazon is on an ambitious quest to convince people that the 80-pound drones whirring over their houses not only are harmless but also represent the exciting future of online shopping. You may have heard about Amazon’s drones before. The company first teased them more than a decade ago, when Jeff Bezos went on “60 Minutes” to declare the start of Prime Air, an experimental drone delivery service that the company hoped would one day deliver millions of packages to customers in 30 minutes or less. For Amazon addicts, the pitch was irresistible. Need a phone charger? Forgot your toothpaste on a work trip? Tap a button, Bezos said, and an autonomous drone would zoom through the sky to deliver it to you, in less time than it would take you to drive to the store. That future didn’t arrive on schedule, however, and Bezos is now more focused on sending rockets to space. But Amazon hasn’t given up on drones. This week, I was invited along with my “Hard Fork” co-host, Casey Newton, to tour the facility where Amazon just launched the newest iteration of Prime Air and see its new drones in action. Our tour was awkwardly timed — smack-dab in the middle of a national panic over the drones hovering over New Jersey. (For what it’s worth, Amazon officials say the mystery drones aren’t theirs. Federal officials said this week that most of the reported sightings had turned out to be piloted planes and hobby drones, although some remain unexplained.) But Amazon is undeterred. The company believes that the convenience of drone delivery will outweigh any concerns people have about the drones themselves. “Any form of technology needs to have utility,” said David Carbon, Amazon’s vice president and general manager of Prime Air, who served as our tour guide for the day. “If it doesn’t have utility for the general populace, it’s a nuisance.” We tested that theory by ordering a drone delivery of something called Brazilian Bum Bum Cream to a house in the Phoenix suburbs that Amazon had rented for the day. The cream is one of about 60,000 products that can be ordered for drone delivery, all of which weigh 5 pounds or less and fit into a standard-size Prime Air box. (Despite the suggestive name, Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is used on many body parts.) Our delivery went smoothly. It also inspired a visit from a neighbor, whose reaction proved that the public may not be as excited as Amazon is about a drone-filled future. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Related Articles A drone dream, deferred Back in 2013, when Bezos made his pitch on “60 Minutes,” Amazon’s drones weren’t really ready for prime time. For starters, the company had yet to receive regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate a drone delivery program. (That approval didn’t come until 2020, when the agency authorized Prime Air to operate as an airline and deliver small packages via drone. The approval was expanded to include deliveries “beyond visual line of sight” this year.) The drones themselves also had issues: They had limited range and carrying capacity, couldn’t fly in heavy rain or wind and made a ton of noise. They were also inefficient as a delivery vehicle. Unlike vans and trucks packed wall to wall with boxes, a Prime Air drone could deliver only one package at a time. There were safety concerns, too. In 2022, Bloomberg reported that an Amazon drone testing facility in Pendleton, Oregon, had recorded five drone crashes in a four-month period, including one involving a drone that burst into flames and ignited a 25-acre brush fire. (No one was hurt, and the company characterized the incidents as part of routine testing.) In 2020, Amazon hired Carbon, a longtime aviation executive, to overhaul Prime Air and turn its original vision into reality. (Carbon left Boeing, where he oversaw the company’s 787 Dreamliner factory in South Carolina, after a New York Times article detailed rushed production practices and weak oversight there.) In 2022, Prime Air started drone delivery with real customers in College Station, Texas. The program proved that the company’s drones could fly safely, but it wasn’t a hit with customers, in part because signing up for drone deliveries was so cumbersome. Before sending drones to customers’ houses, Amazon employees had to visit the houses to find a clear spot for dropping packages. Customers were given printed cards with QR codes on them, which they’d place in their yards or driveways to help guide the drones to the right spot. The whole thing felt more like an elaborate marketing stunt than a preview of an inevitable future. (Around that time, my colleague David Streitfeld memorably described Prime Air as “a program that flies Listerine Cool Mint Breath Strips or a can of Campbell’s Chunky Minestrone With Italian Sausage — but not both at once — to customers as gifts.”) Recently, Amazon has developed a new drone — known as the MK-30 — that it claims solves many of the problems with previous models. The new drones fly twice as far, and the company says they are significantly quieter. The drones can also identify where to drop packages with the help of cameras and sensors, which means no more yard surveys or QR codes. This year, Amazon began offering drone delivery from a facility in Tolleson, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix — where, as in Texas, the skies are typically sunny and clear, making for optimal flying conditions. Its drones now deliver dozens of packages a day to real, paying customers in the West Valley Phoenix Metro area — a tiny fraction of what even one Amazon van could do, but a step toward fulfilling Bezos’ original vision. The blades of progress Once we arrived in Tolleson, Carbon gave us safety vests and took us on a tour of the Prime Air facility. The facility is housed in a back corner of an Amazon warehouse that I would be tempted to describe as “huge,” except that a company press official said it was smaller than a typical fulfillment center. Outside, in a fenced area known as the PADDC, for Prime Air Drone Delivery Center, a fleet of roughly a dozen MK-30 drones sat ready for takeoff. They were tear-shaped and gleaming white, with big blue Amazon logos and six, three-blade rotors surrounding the delivery compartment. These custom-designed drones are bigger and heavier than anything you’d see on the shelf at Best Buy; each MK-30 weighs 80 pounds and is roughly the size and shape of a Labrador retriever. And they fly at speeds of up to 73 mph. As soon as a Prime Air order comes in, a worker inside the warehouse packs it in a special, cushioned box and sends it down a conveyor belt. Another worker walks the package outside to the drone delivery area, drops it into a size checker and slides it through a chute to a worker inside the fence. That worker then loads the box into a compartment inside the drone. A 30-second countdown begins. When it reaches zero, the drone’s blades start whirring, and the drone ascends to roughly 400 feet and makes a beeline to the customer’s house. Getting these drones off the ground has required making some compromises. Today, Amazon can launch only seven drones per hour from the Tolleson facility, and each can carry only one package, with a single item inside. That will change next year, when customers will have the option of adding multiple items to a box, Carbon said. Amazon charges Prime members an extra $9.99 for a drone delivery (nonmembers pay $14.99), and the drones don’t deliver at night. The company also has had to walk back Bezos’ original promise of 30-minute deliveries; it now tells customers their Prime Air packages will arrive in an hour or less. And drone delivery, for now, appears to be deeply unprofitable. Carbon wouldn’t say how much Amazon lost on each delivery, but Business Insider reported in 2022 that the company projected that drone deliveries would cost the company $63 per package by 2025, according to internal documents. Carbon, an upbeat Australian, is optimistic that all of this will change soon as Amazon’s technology keeps improving and the service expands to more areas. His goal is to deliver 500 million packages a year in 30 minutes or less via drone by 2029 — which would still amount to a small fraction of the company’s overall package volume but would be a huge success for Prime Air. (Amazon says Prime Air has made “thousands” of deliveries in Arizona and Texas so far but declined to provide more specific numbers.) Amazon isn’t the only company betting on drones. Companies like Wing (Google’s drone delivery unit) and Zipline are teaming up with retailers like Walmart to test their own drone delivery programs. And outfits like DroneUp and Matternet are building technology that could allow for smoother operation of large, autonomous drone fleets. As for the question you may be asking about all of this — do people want drones dropping packages in their yards? — Carbon has an answer: Yes, at least some people, some of the time. He conceded that not every customer would want all purchases delivered right away. But he said there were plenty of instances when you wanted something as soon as possible. (He gave the example of a child who spills something on his or her shirt; with Prime Air, a parent could order a bar of soap and receive it from a drone in minutes, before the stain sets.) “No one can ever tell me speed doesn’t matter,” he said. It’s hard to argue with Carbon on this point: In America, it’s never a good idea to bet against convenience. We live in a world of instant gratification: DoorDash dinners and Uber rides at the push of a button. And historically, every time Amazon has sped up its deliveries — first to two-day shipping, then to next-day, then to same-day — customers have responded by ordering more stuff and demanding that it be delivered even faster. Even so, I wondered, isn’t using state-of-the-art drones to deliver USB cables and individual bottles of Tylenol a little ... crazy? On our tour of the Prime Air facility, we saw drones being loaded with packages containing items as small as a single gift card. Even if these drones (which are all-electric) are better for the environment than a typical delivery truck, it’s an awful lot of trouble for a last-minute present. I asked Carbon if he thought that some of what customers were ordering from Prime Air was less than essential. He responded, basically, that what customers wanted was none of Amazon’s business. “The beauty of America is that people decide what they want and when they want it, not us,” he said. A smooth landing and a nosy neighbor After our tour of the facility, we drove to a house in nearby Goodyear, Arizona, that Amazon had rented for the day to show us a real drone delivery in action. When we got there, I pulled out my laptop and placed an order for Brazilian Bum Bum Cream — one of the first items that appeared on a list of Prime Air-eligible products. (Other eligible products include dog treats, dental floss and printed copies of the U.S. Constitution.) The checkout process was similar to ordering anything else from Amazon, with one extra step of selecting a spot for the drone to drop the package. Today, the drones need about 3 square meters (about 32 square feet) of open space; I chose a spot in the backyard, next to the pool. About 45 minutes after I placed my order, a drone whizzed overhead. It made a distinct humming noise — which Carbon insisted wasn’t very loud but to me sounded like an angry swarm of bees — and generated a slight breeze as it approached. Once it was over our heads, the drone descended to about 14 feet off the ground. A compartment sprang open, and the package dropped out. (The drones don’t land, Carbon said, because customers — or their dogs — might try to grab them.) Then, as speedily as it had arrived, the drone flew away. I’ll admit: It’s an impressive feat, and everything about the drone delivery was as smooth and convenient as advertised. But it also attracted some unwanted attention. Seconds after our package landed, a neighbor came over. He introduced himself as Geno and asked if we were from Amazon. He said people in the neighborhood had started to associate the whirring of drones overhead with the mystery drones in New Jersey. “You guys scared the life out of a lot of people,” he told Carbon. Changing the fear factor Today, people simply aren’t accustomed to seeing drones hovering above them, which makes them seem sinister and menacing and often leaves people grasping for paranoid explanations. (Aliens! Covert military operations! Missing radioactive material!) That may change soon. As the government pointed out during its investigation into the New Jersey drones, there are more than 1 million FAA-registered drones certified to fly in the United States today and millions more small, recreational drones that can be flown without a license. Drones are getting cheaper and more accessible, and small, lightweight quadcopters can now be purchased for under $100. In a few years, it may no longer seem notable to see a swarm of drones overhead — taking photos, dropping off packages or delivering medicine to hospitals. But technology changes faster than culture, and initial evidence suggests that drone acceptance won’t be immediate. A Florida man was arrested this year for shooting down a Walmart delivery drone that was dropping off a package in his neighborhood. (The man agreed to pay $5,000 in restitution to DroneUp, the company that owned the drone.) Referring to the recent drama of drones in New Jersey, President-elect Donald Trump suggested on social media that one solution would be to “shoot them down.” (Carbon said that none of Amazon’s drones had been shot at but that the company would prosecute anyone who tried.) Over the long term, Amazon’s job isn’t just to prove that it can deliver packages to customers in 30 minutes or less. It’s something much harder: convincing millions of Americans that when they see and hear drones overhead, their first instinct shouldn’t be to duck and cover or to reach for their guns. “Our job is to make this normal,” Carbon said. “And until it’s normal, people are always rightfully skeptical of change.” If it works, Amazon’s drone program — and others like it — will represent the biggest visible change to our skies since the advent of commercial air travel. If it doesn’t, the industry will have spent billions of dollars learning a hard lesson about our collective tolerance for flocks of flying robots. Given what’s happening in New Jersey, I’m skeptical that normalizing drones will be easy or quick, even for a company with Amazon’s resources and track record. But Carbon believes that the proof will be in the packages. “If I do my job right, no one’s going to care about the drone,” he said. “What they’re going to care about is: Did I get my package within 30 minutes?” Kevin Roose is a Times technology columnist and a host of the podcast “Hard Fork.” This article originally appeared in The New York Times .Five facts about electric vehicles in 2024

Today’s Love horoscope brings a mix of passion, deep connection, and the opportunity for growth across all zodiac signs. Whether you're in a relationship or single, the energy of the day encourages heartfelt conversations, meaningful gestures, and the chance to strengthen bonds. Some signs may experience intense emotions, while others find joy in simple, tender moments. Aries Passion runs high, but communication is crucial. Misunderstandings can arise if you rush into conclusions. Take time to express your feelings and listen to your partner. Singles may find a romantic connection through a shared interest or unexpected social setting. Taurus Patience is key this week as your partner may seem distant. Instead of pushing, offer quiet support. Singles might feel unsure about a potential connection, but trust your instincts. Love blooms when you focus on building a strong emotional foundation. Gemini Flirtation and fun are in the air. Whether single or attached, your charm is magnetic. Couples should embrace spontaneity to reignite sparks. Singles, a casual meeting could evolve into something meaningful. Stay open to surprises and let conversations flow naturally. Cancer Deep emotions surface, urging meaningful connections. Couples may have heart-to-heart conversations that strengthen bonds. Singles, a nostalgic memory might draw you to someone familiar. Let your nurturing side shine, but avoid overthinking small issues in budding relationships. Leo You crave attention and romance, but balance is vital. Couples should avoid taking their partner’s efforts for granted. Singles might attract someone who loves your confidence but craves authenticity. Embrace vulnerability to deepen emotional connections and let love flourish. Virgo Practicality blends with romance this week. Couples may discuss future plans that solidify their bond. Singles, you may meet someone through work or shared routines. Be mindful of overanalyzing new connections—sometimes, love thrives in the simplest of moments. Libra Your natural charm draws people closer, but indecision could hinder progress in love. Couples should prioritize fairness and compromise in arguments. Singles might attract multiple suitors, but clarity in your own desires is essential for building a genuine connection. Scorpio Intense emotions define your week. Couples may face power struggles, but honesty leads to healing. Singles might feel drawn to a mysterious person. Dive deep but tread carefully, ensuring your emotional needs align before committing fully. Sagittarius Freedom and connection coexist beautifully. Couples may plan an adventurous outing that revives their bond. Singles, someone with a lively spirit could captivate you. Trust your instincts, but don’t shy away from showing your softer side. Capricorn Commitment takes center stage this week. Couples may work through practical challenges together, strengthening their trust. Singles, a long-term prospect might emerge, but only if you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. Let love grow at its own pace. Aquarius Unconventional approaches to love could bring joy. Couples might experiment with new activities that reignite excitement. Singles may attract someone through intellectual or unique interests. Keep communication open to avoid misunderstandings and let relationships evolve naturally. Pisces Romantic dreams feel closer to reality. Couples may share tender moments that deepen their bond. Singles, trust your intuition—it could guide you toward a soulful connection. Be cautious of overidealizing new relationships and focus on genuine compatibility. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Astrology and around the world.When it comes to built-in TV speakers, you'll be hard-pressed to find a pair of drivers that deliver the volume, clarity, and soundstage that a more robust audio system can provide. We're talking about soundbars and full surround sound configurations. And while some of these home theater components can cost hundreds (or thousands) of dollars, every once in a while, an amazing discount creeps its way into our crosshairs. As luck would have it, we came across this doorbuster sale when looking through Best Buy deals: Right now, when you purchase the Samsung B Series 2.1ch Soundbar at Best Buy,... Michael Bizzaco

Bill Belichick reportedly hires son Steve as UNC defensive coordinator

Achieving a salon-worthy blow-dry doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Investing in a high-quality all-in-one hair device, will ensure that you constantly have luxurious looking hair. And the latest innovation in hair styling has arrived with the Shark FlexStyle which is an all-in-one device that combines the power of a hair dryer with the versatility of a multi-styler. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today It’s quickly becoming the go-to choice for hair enthusiasts everywhere and it’s currently on sale for $295, normally $449 on Amazon Australia. The Shark FlexStyle is truly a game-changer, offering the performance of a professional-grade hair dryer with the added bonus of multiple styling attachments to suit every hair type. This ultra-versatile styling system allows you to curl, smooth, volumise, or dry your hair — all with just one tool. Whether your hair is straight, wavy or curly, the FlexStyle has a solution to suit your needs, making it perfect for anyone looking to simplify their routine. The innovative styling tool includes interchangeable attachments giving you the freedom to create a variety of styles. Need bouncy curls or beachy waves? Simply attach the curling barrels to the styling wand. Looking to smooth out frizz and add volume? Use the round brush or smoothing brush to style while you dry. The powerful airflow ensures fast drying, while the precision attachments allow you to experiment with different looks — from sleek, polished styles to voluminous, textured hair. One of the best features of the Shark FlexStyle is its no-heat-damage technology. Unlike traditional dryers that can get unbearably hot, this styling system uses intelligent heat regulation to maintain a safe, low temperature. This means you can style your hair without damaging it or experiencing breakage. Amazon Australia shoppers can’t stop raving about the results of the Shark FlexStyle. “This curls beautifully,” one shopper said. “So worth it,” another person added. “I love it, my hair dries quickly, and the attachments are super easy to use,” a third shopper commented. To shop the Shark FlexStyle, head to Amazon Australia’s website here.

Freshman Nawel Ibazatene Lefebvre showed off her tremendous talent with 36 points for Morristown in its 54-31 win over Columbia in Maplewood. It his a career-high in her young career with her previous high coming on Dec. 19 against Montville with 28 points. The 36 points Ibazatene Lefebvre scored in this game is tied for the most in a game by any player in the state this season along with Makayla David of Kearny and Macie McCracken of Wildwood. 12/23 - 1:00 PM Girls Basketball Final Morristown 54 Columbia 31Yes, you can buy a kids tablet for only $40 at Walmart right now

Two MIT professors, an alumnus, and a former postdoc are among the winners of 2024’s Nobel Prizes. Professors Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson, PhD ’89, shared the prize in economics with political scientist James Robinson of the University of Chicago, with whom they have long collaborated. Using evidence from the last 500 years, their work has empirically demonstrated that “inclusive” governments such as democracies, which extend individual rights and political liberties while upholding the rule of law, have generated greater economic activity than “extractive” political systems, where power is wielded by a small elite. Partly because economic growth depends on technological innovation, it is best sustained when countries protect property rights, giving more people the incentive to invent things. Acemoglu, an Institute Professor, has been a member of the MIT faculty since 1993. Johnson, the Ronald A. Kurtz Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan, was chief economist of the International Monetary Fund from 2007 to 2008. Meanwhile, Victor Ambros ’75, PhD ’79, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and Gary Ruvkun, a professor at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, shared the prize in medicine for their discovery of microRNA, a class of tiny RNA molecules that help govern gene regulation. This crucial mechanism allows cells with the same chromosomes to develop into cell types with different characteristics and functions. The foundation for their discoveries was laid by their work on mutant forms of the roundworm as MIT postdocs in the of Professor H. Robert Horvitz (who would win a Nobel in 2002). Later, working independently, they showed that a certain roundworm gene produces a very short RNA molecule that binds to messenger RNA encoding a different gene and blocks it from being translated into protein. Since then, more than 1,000 microRNA genes have been found in humans. In an , Ambros also credited the contributions of collaborators including his wife, , and postdoc Rhonda Feinbaum.