Adored Manhattan hawk dies after ingesting rat poison, renewing calls for city to change approach to rodent control

A beloved female hawk that was starting a family on a lower Manhattan building died after eating poisoned prey, officials said.

Laura Goggin/Laura Goggin
A beloved female hawk who was nesting with a mate on the Health Department building in lower Manhattan died last week after being poisoned.

Photographers and hawk lovers watched the tragic scene late last month as the female died slowly while her mate continued to work on their nest atop an air conditioner at the Health Department building on Worth Street.

A necropsy released by the state Department of Environmental Conservation showed the hawk died from poisoning due to an anticoagulant rodenticide.

"That was just so wrenching," said Anne Baxter, 60, a longtime neighborhood resident who had enjoyed watching the feathered family try to set down roots. "People were just delighted to see them — workers from the court buildings and everyone. It was a community experience."

The incident has sparked calls from Baxter and other animal lovers who say the city should use other methods to control the booming rat population.

The female hawk had likely eaten a rodent that ingested poison.

Alec Tabak/for New York Daily News
The red-tailed hawk apparently ingested rat bait at Columbus Park and died. Enlarge Alec Tabak/for New York Daily News
Signs in Columbus Park warned of rodent bait stations, but hawks can’t read. Enlarge

Adding to the tragedy, she had already laid one egg that rolled off the air conditioner nest. The necropsy showed she was ready to lay more eggs.

Photographer Laura Goggin captured the sad scene on March 30 as the male hawk continued to bring twigs to the nest as his mate slowly died on a tree branch. He even tried to roust her with no success.

"It was horrible," Goggin told the News. "She had been so energetic. Watching these birds was so fun."

Parks Department officials said the agency avoids using rat poison in parks where there are hawks during the February to August nesting season.

But they were not aware of the pair near Collect Pond Park and Columbus Park, where signs show rodenticide is being used.

"We were actively baiting when both agencies learned of the nesting just a few days prior to the bird's death," said a Health Department spokesman. "Baiting has been temporarily suspended as we investigate alternative methods of addressing the rodent infestation."

China may have $1.7 trillion of risky loans, IMF report says

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Why the Future Fund fears for China

David Neal manages the $118 billion Future Fund, and here's why he's worried that China's transition from an infrastructure-driven economy to one carried more by consumers.

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China may have $US1.3 trillion ($1.7 trillion) loans extended to borrowers that don't have sufficient income to cover interest payments, with potential losses equivalent to 7 per cent of the country's gross domestic product, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Loans "potentially at risk" would amount to 15.5 per cent of the country's total commercial lending, the IMF said in its latest Global Financial Stability Report. That compares with the 5.5 per cent problem loan ratio reported by China's banking regulator after including nonperforming and special-mention loans.

The true amount of bad debt sitting on the books of China's banks is at the centre of a debate about whether the country will continue as a locomotive of global growth, or sink into decades of stagnation like Japan after its credit bubble burst.

The true amount of bad debt sitting on the books of China's banks is at the centre of a debate about whether the country will continue as a locomotive of global growth. Photo: Bloomberg

Official data released on Friday showed China's economy grew at its slowest pace in seven years in the first quarter. But indicators from the country's consumer, investment and factory sectors pointed to nascent signs the slowdown in the world's second largest economy may be bottoming out.

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Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.7 per cent in the first quarter from the previous year, the data showed, in line with analyst forecasts and easing slightly from 6.8 per cent in the fourth quarter.

While it marks the weakest pace of expansion since the first quarter of 2009, other activity data reinforced previous signs that the economy may be finding traction with better-than-expected growth seen in retail sales, industrial output and fixed asset investment.

Soured loan risks

Hayman Capital Management's Kyle Bass in January flaggeda $US3.5 trillion potential loan loss for China banks, though analysts from China International Capital and Macquarie Securities have said that estimate overstates the real situation.

The IMF said loans potentially at risk aren't the same as nonperforming loans reported by banks and supervisors. Borrowers can sell assets to meet interest payments and banks can take steps to recover collateral and seize assets to avoid losses, it said.

Assuming a 60 per cent loss ratio, potential bank losses on such risky loans may amount to $US756 billion, the IMF estimated. That's manageable because the estimate is equivalent to 1.9 years of the banking system's estimated pretax profits for 2015, the IMF said, also noting that Chinese banks hold $1.7 trillion of Tier 1 capital.

Still, the organisation urged "prompt action" to address rising corporate sector vulnerabilities. Chinese firms are generating operating profits equivalent to only two times their interest expenses, down from almost six times in 2010, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Risks are concentrated in sectors such as real estate, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, mining and steel, the IMF said. Those industries have both high debt levels and a high proportion of loss-making firms, the organisation said. China's government has indicated it's drawing up plans to address high corporate leverage and nonperforming loans.

Encouraging signs

Despite the debt concerns, fresh activity indicators released Friday provided a more encouraging view on the economy.

Chinese banks extended 1,370 billion yuan ($274 billion) in net new yuan loans in March, exceeding analyst expectations and nearly double the previous month's lending of 726.6 billion yuan, suggesting renewed appetite for investment among wary Chinese corporates.

China's fixed-asset investment growth quickened to 10.7 per cent year-on-year in the Jan-March period, beating market expectations for 10.3 per cent, and industrial output growth leapt to 6.8 per cent, surprising analysts who expected it to rise 5.9 per cent.

Retail sales rose 10.5 per cent, slightly above forecasts of 10.4 per cent.

March export figures released earlier this week also staged an unexpected recovery, although some economists caution that seasonal effects from last year's late Lunar New Year holiday could be a factor.

Capital outflows, a major concern at the end of 2015, also appear to have eased in recent months along with the dollar's rise.

The tentative signs of recovery continue to face off against a wide range of risks present in both the domestic and global economies, with some economists warning it's just another unsustainable debt-fuelled uptick that might run out of gas.

"Today's released data ought not to distract from the fact that the structural issues facing China's economy remain unresolved," wrote Economist Intelligence Unit economist Tom Rafferty in a research note.

"It has taken considerable monetary and fiscal policy loosening to stabilise economic growth at this level and this effort has distracted from the reform agenda that is fundamental to long-term economic sustainability."

Bloomberg/Reuters

Inky the octopus somehow escapes from New Zealand’s National Aquarium

Inky the octopus made a run for it.

New Zealand's National Aquarium, the pen from which Inky escaped.

A clever and conniving octopus at the National Aquarium in New Zealand saw its chance for freedom and seized it — slithering out of its tank and disappearing days ago, thus far not to be seen again.

Aquarium staffers said Inky appears to have vanished in the middle of the night, taking advantage of someone accidentally leaving the lid of its tank slightly ajar.

The staff said Inky would have had to slide down a 160-foot drainpipe to break out of the aquarium. The drain pipe in the Napier aquarium leads into Hawke’s Bay, on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island, where Inky presumably is now.

With Inky missing in action, aquarium workers were left wondering where it all went wrong for the sneaky cephalopod, who had been there since 2014.

“Octopuses are famous escape artists. But Inky really tested the waters here,” the aquarium's national manager, Rob Yarrall, told The Guardian.

“I don’t think he was unhappy with us, or lonely, as octopus are solitary creatures. But he is such a curious boy. He would want to know what’s happening on the outside. That’s just his personality.”

Great escape: Inky the octopus legs it to freedom from New Zealand aquarium https://t.co/IfuZbS32NNvia @guardian pic.twitter.com/D14TaYhazd

— Oceanwire (@Oceanwire) April 13, 2016

Yarrall said the aquarium has not begun an official search for Inky, but feels confident the tentacled trickster was not stolen.

For now, the aquarium is simply left wondering what will become of the one who got away.

“You never know,” Yarrall told The Guardian.

“There’s always a chance Inky could come home to us.”

Yarrell added to New Zealand Radio: "He didn't even leave us a message."

Hillary Clinton vows to open immigration office in speech trashing Donald Trump

In a one-two punch at Republican rival Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton said she’d be so pro-immigrant if elected that she’d create a federal office just to help newcomers — and bashed the billionaire for his “bigotry.”
The “Office of Immigrant Affairs” will work with states to ensure that immigrants are fully integrated into American life, Clinton said Wednesday.

She announced plans for the new office while receiving an endorsement from the New York State Immigration Action Fund and used the opportunity to hit at Trump.

“ Basta !” she said of Trump.

“Enough with the prejudice, and the bluster and the bigotry and all of the appeals to fear and anxiety and anger.”

Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News
As commander-in-chief, Hillary Clinton says she'll open the Office of Immigrant Affairs to help immigrants become fully integrated with living in America.

CommInsure responds to scandal by appointing experts

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'Profit first, everything else is second.'

Whistleblower Ben Koh was chief medical officer at CommInsure, until he spoke out...

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The Commonwealth Bank's insurance arm CommInsure has appointed three independent members to its new claims review panel as part of its response to a scandal in its life insurance business.

The appointments follow a joint media investigation between Fairfax Media and 4 Corners into unethical practices at CommInsure which included the testimony of a whistleblower, former chief medical officer Dr Benjamin Koh, that claims managers had pressured doctors to change their medical opinion to deny claims.

CommInsure was also caught out using out-dated definitions of heart attacks and rheumatoid arthritis to deny claims. The definitions for those two conditions have since been updated but CommInsure is only backdating the definition to claims made after May 2014.

Michael Gill was declined cover by CommInsure which ruled his rheumatoid arthritis had an out of date definition.

CommInsure has appointed former AMP chief legal officer and former Financial Ombudsman Service board member Chris McRae to the panel.

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He will join Monash University professor Justin Malbon, a representative on the Investments, Life Insurance & Superannuation panel for FOS and a former member of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal. Dr Stan Goldstein, who was previously head of clinical advisory at Bupa Australia, has also been appointed.

A sub-committee of the CommInsure board will monitor the outcomes of the panel. The subcommittee comprises independent non-executive directors. CommInsure's independent non-executive directors include Geoff Austin, a former CBA executive who worked at the bank in the early 2000s.

Stronger decision making

CommInsure managing director Helen Troup said the appointments of the independent panellists strengthened CommInsure's "decision making process for complex claims".

Only complex claims which have been declined will be referred to the panel. Other panel members will be appointed in coming weeks.

It is not clear how CommInsure defines a complex claim and how it makes that adjudication.

Regarding the updating of decade-old definitions for heart attacks and rheumatoid arthritis, Ms Troup said, "Our product disclosure statements have been updated and we will also write to impacted policy holders by the end of June to tell them about the changes."

Ice Cube: ‘Donald Trump is what Americans love,’ but mogul wouldn’t help poor people

N.W.A.

N.W.A. rapper Ice Cube theorizes that voters have rallied around GOP front-runner Donald Trump because he symbolizes “the American dream.”

The newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer pointed to the swaggering “Apprentice” boss’ 1% status while trying to explain his aspirational appeal in a recent interview.

“Donald Trump is what Americans love. Donald Trump is what Americans aspire to be: rich, powerful, do what you wanna do, say what you wanna say, be how you wanna be,” the “Straight Outta Compton” star told Bloomberg Politics.

“That’s kind of been like the American dream. He looks like a boss to everybody, and Americans love to have a boss.”

With that said, the California-born rapper/actor said the bloviating billionaire would do little to help America’s poor — because he doesn’t understand their plight.

“Do I think he’s going to do anything to help poor people or people that’s struggling? No,” Ice Cube said. “He’s a rich white guy. How can he relate? ... Being rich don’t make you bad, I ain’t saying that, but I’m just saying, how can he relate?”

The “F--k Tha Police” rapper also weighed in on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and her recent attempts to smooth over her labeling young black criminals “super-predators” in 1996.

"Donald Trump is what Americans aspire to be," the "Are We There Yet?" star said in a recent interview.

“To call your own citizens ‘super-predators’ is pretty harsh and a pretty big indictment. It’s just like the term ‘thug’ or ‘hoodlum,’” Ice Cube said. “It’s just an easy brush to paint somebody with, and it’s really not solving the problem, it’s just making it worse.”

Former President Bill Clinton found himself defending his wife’s word choice and his own anti-crime legislation — which led to the incarceration of many young black men during the ‘90s — against vocal Black Lives Matter protesters last week in Philadelphia.

“For some reason, the Democrats feel like they’re exempt from these protests. It’s like, ‘We’re Democrats, why are you talking to us like this? Go talk to the Republicans,’” the rapper told Bloomberg. “No, no. everybody’s a little guilty of turning their back or passing bad legislation, and everybody should be called out on it.”

As for Clinton’s rival, longtime Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ice Cube seemed less than impressed.

“He’s been in there 30 years, and you know, what have you done? … What are you gonna do different from outside Congress?” he said. “All of ’em to me have work to do to get my vote.”

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Adam Nimoy, son of late 'Star Trek' star Leonard Nimoy, to guest-star on 'The Big Bang Theory'

As casting choices go, it's quite logical.

Michael Yarish/WARNER BROS.
While being interviewed by Adam Nimoy (l., as himself) for a documentary about Spock from ‘Star Trek,’ Sheldon (Jim Parsons, right) struggles to suppress his emotions about his recent break-up with Amy, on next Thursday’s episode of ‘The Big Bang Theory.’

Adam Nimoy, son of late "Star Trek" star Leonard Nimoy, will follow in his famous father's footsteps with a guest-starring turn on CBS's "Big Bang Theory."

The younger Nimoy will be playing himself, arriving to interview Sheldon (Jim Parsons) for his documentary about his dad.

His father, who died last year at the age of 83, cameoed in a classic 2012 episode of "The Big Bang Theory."

The storyline is a case of art imitating life considering Adam Nimoy is in the midst of filming the documentary, titled "For the Love of Spock," in real life. Much of the funding was raised on Kickstarter, from long-time Trekkers, with a little help from Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, who tweeted out about the campaign over the summer.

Thursday's episode of the popular sitcom -- which also guest-stars "Star Trek: The Next Generation" alum Wil Wheaton -- airs Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. on CBS.

MONTY BRINTON/CBS
Leonard Nimoy guest-starred on a 2012 episode of the CBS sitcom.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens' passes 'Avatar' as all-time box office champ in North America

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' passes 'Avatar' as all-time box office champ in North America
OK kid, now you can get cocky.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” completed the Kessel Run to become the No. 1 box office hit of all time in North America on Wednesday — taking just 20 days to pass the previous record of $760.5 million set by “Avatar.”

By comparison, it took more than 300 days for that 2009 sci-fi epic to set its record.

Exact numbers won’t be official until tomorrow, but Disney reported that director J.J. Abrams’s franchise continued to make bantha fodder out of previous records with $78.5 million.

“It’s been a perfect storm of factors, including what the ‘Star Wars’ brand represents to moviegoers,” says Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst for Rentrak. “This record, if you think about it, is not just 20 days in the making — it’s been 40 years in the making.”

The seventh installment in the franchise is already the fourth-highest grossing movie of all time worldwide with $1.5 billion ahead of Saturday’s opening in China, the second biggest film market in this galaxy.

Lucasfilm
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ is now the No. 1 box office hit of all time in North America.

But it will take a much greater hero’s journey to set the worldwide record: industry experts are predicting “Star Wars” won’t catch “Avatar’s” record $2.8 billion.

Why ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ crushed Christmas Day box office records, and how it can actually pass ‘Avatar’

Not even Yoda could have foreseen the perfect storm of factors that have led “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” into its own orbit at the box office.

The seventh installment of the sci-fi drama continues to crush box office records, earning $49.3 million on Christmas Day, double the holiday’s previous champ, 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes” ($24.6 million). The next closest film, the Will Ferrell comedy, “Daddy’s Home,” earned $15.7 million in its opening day Friday.

“It's not just a movie anymore, it's a cultural event, it's part of the zeitgeist,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior box office analyst for Rentrak.

Already having notched $890.3 million globally, the film will become the fastest film in history to cross $1 billion worldwide sometime this weekend. Once considered unthinkable, the film now has a good shot at surpassing the $2.8 billion all-time box office No. 1 “Avatar.” Consider that the Force has yet to be awakened in China, the second biggest movie market in the world, where “Star Wars” will open on Jan. 9.

That sort of money, however, doesn’t just drop out of the sky like an armada of TIE fighters. There have been a number of advantages that have benefited the film:

• Notoriously secretive director J.J. Abrams has created the impression that the movie is so full of spoilers that no one can wait for on demand or DVD viewing.

“It's been about creating a mystique and a mystery around the movie that makes audiences want to go out and see it before it's spoiled for them,” says Dergarabedian.

David James/AP
Fans have been racing to see ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ in theaters in record numbers.

• Can Jedi manipulate the weather? Because unseasonably warm temperatures in the Northeast have made it easy for movie-goers to leave their homes and head to theaters.

• Disney fanned interest in the youngest of movie-goers by releasing the movie in a holiday season where cool, brand new toys have been on the shelves of stores for weeks. By the time the movie opened, a lot of kids had already asked for remote-controlled BB-8s for Christmas.

“A whole new generation will be talking about this with the same kind of excitement, enthusiasm and nostalgia as older movie goers do about the original (1977 ‘Star Wars’),” says Dergarabedian.

Megyn Kelly, Donald Trump meet to discuss a potential interview after months of abuse from GOP front-runner

The lady and the Trump have buried the hatchet — and not in each other.

Fox News host Megyn Kelly met Wednesday with her biggest critic: Donald Trump.

The adversaries sat down for an hour meeting in the GOP front-runner’s Trump Tower office to discuss the possibility of doing an interview, according to Kelly.

“We had a chance to clear the air,” she said Wednesday night on “The Kelly File.”

Trump has targeted Kelly throughout the presidential race ever since she asked a tough question about his past comments about women at the first Republican primary debate last year.

Trump aimed his juvenile schoolyard barbs at Kelly, saying the moderator had “blood coming out of her whatever.”

“I don’t think she’s a professional. I don’t think she’s a talented person,” the former reality star told ABC’s “Good Morning America” in January after backing out of another debate Kelly was set to moderate.

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
Donald Trump launched a tirade against Fox News host Megyn Kelly since the first Republican primary debate last year, saying she "had blood coming out of her whatever," saying she's not "a professional," and more.

Recently, Trump has called Kelly “crazy” on numerous occasions and questioned her professionalism because, in his opinion, she uses her show to do “hit pieces” on him.

Kelly, who has said she has received death threats for standing up to Trump, has said in the past that she would welcome the sophomoric tycoon on the program despite the pair’s heated past.

Fox News released a statement earlier in the day.

“Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes has spoken to Donald Trump a few times over the past three months about appearing on a Fox Broadcasting special with Megyn Kelly airing on May 23,” the statement said. “Kelly has acknowledged in recent interviews that Trump is a fascinating person to cover and has electrified the Republican base.”

Adam Nimoy, son of late 'Star Trek' star Leonard Nimoy, to guest-star on 'The Big Bang Theory'

As casting choices go, it's quite logical.

Michael Yarish/WARNER BROS.
While being interviewed by Adam Nimoy (l., as himself) for a documentary about Spock from ‘Star Trek,’ Sheldon (Jim Parsons, right) struggles to suppress his emotions about his recent break-up with Amy, on next Thursday’s episode of ‘The Big Bang Theory.’

Adam Nimoy, son of late "Star Trek" star Leonard Nimoy, will follow in his famous father's footsteps with a guest-starring turn on CBS's "Big Bang Theory."

The younger Nimoy will be playing himself, arriving to interview Sheldon (Jim Parsons) for his documentary about his dad.

His father, who died last year at the age of 83, cameoed in a classic 2012 episode of "The Big Bang Theory."

The storyline is a case of art imitating life considering Adam Nimoy is in the midst of filming the documentary, titled "For the Love of Spock," in real life. Much of the funding was raised on Kickstarter, from long-time Trekkers, with a little help from Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, who tweeted out about the campaign over the summer.

Thursday's episode of the popular sitcom -- which also guest-stars "Star Trek: The Next Generation" alum Wil Wheaton -- airs Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. on CBS.

MONTY BRINTON/CBS
Leonard Nimoy guest-starred on a 2012 episode of the CBS sitcom.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ is a pretty dull trip: 1979 review

‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ is a pretty dull trip: 1979 review
(Originally published by the Daily News on December 8, 1979.

New York Daily News
New York Daily News published this article on December 8, 1979.

(Originally published by the Daily News on December 8, 1979. This story was written by Kathleen Carroll.)

“Star Trek,” that futuristic TV series that captivated millions of earthlings in the ’60’s, has, thanks to popular demand, been converted into a monster of a movie. On second thought, this long-awaited science-fiction adventure saga is not so much a movie as it is a sort of giant display case, designed exclusively to show off the latest space gimmickry and photographic tricks invented by Hollywood’s most creative special effects artists, Douglas Trumball and John Dykstra.

Under the listless direction of Robert Wise, “Star Trek” continuously grinds to a complete halt as the camera lovingly scans some expensive piece of equipment - like the massive-looking replica of the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise, and the sound level of composer Jimmy Goldsmith’s ponderous music rises accordingly.

“Star Trek” fans (who are known as Trekkies although it is said that some prefer the more formal Trekkers) will be pleased to note the return of their favorite stars, all of whom look a little older, if not wiser.

William Shatner (who remains teary-eyed throughout the movie apparently to show that he is quite overcome by this reunion with his spacecraft), as Admiral James Kirk, has used his forceful personality to regain command of his old ship, the Enterprise. He is reluctantly joined by the ship’s one-time resident physician and self-appointed psychiatrist, the gruff Dr. McCoy (De Forest Kelley, who looks much the worst for the wear and tear of the last ten years, but who also supplies some welcome humor.).

As the re-designed Enterprise heads out into space on the now standard mission of having to intercept a mysterious planetary intruder that is presently on a collision course with the planet, Earth, another familiar face materializes. With his slanted eyebrows and pointed ears, he could only be the all-knowing Vulcan, Mr. Spock, and he could only be played by the impeccably straight-faced Leonard Nimoy.

There are newcomers aboard the Enterprise, among them a bald-headed, but still striking-looking navigator (Persis Khambatta) who quickly reassures her fellow passengers that “my oath of celibacy is on record,” and the newly replaced captain of the Enterprise (Stephen Collins) who exchanges meaningful looks with the Deltan navigator throughout the voyage.

Spock, after he first makes contact with the intruder (which is later discovered to be a “living machine” in search of its “Creator”) reports that it is “cold” and it lacks “mystery.” The same could be said for “Star Trek.” It is a purely mechanical movie that is no more dazzling to the eye than a nighttime landing at Kennedy airport.

McGrath shares in trading halt as it reviews its forecasts

Real estate company McGrath has requested a trading halt while it assesses its earnings forecast amid a slowing real estate market.

John McGrath on the company's listing day in December. Photo: Edwina Pickles

McGrath, which only listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in December, says it will make an announcement prior to the start of trade on Tuesday.

The company floated in December and has never risen above its IPO price of $2.10. It closed on Thursday at $1.30.

"The trading halt is requested pending an announcement in relation to an update of how McGrath is progressing against the prospectus forecast," the company said in a statement to the ASX.

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Real estate guru John McGrath is the company's main shareholder.

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BP shareholders revolt over CEO Bob Dudley's $25m pay cheque in oil crisis

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BP investors oppose CEO pay

Shareholders in the oil giant are unhappy at a hike in the company boss' pay.

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BP shareholders have voted in protest at the company's decision to award Chief Executive Officer Bob Dudley a 20 per cent pay increase after the company reported a record net lossand announced thousands of job cuts.

Some 60 per cent of shareholders rejected BP's remuneration report, according to an announcement at its annual general meeting in London. The vote was only a recommendation, although the company pledged to respond with changes to the way it pays executives.

"The real concern among shareholders about remuneration this year is clearly demonstrated by this vote," Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said at the meeting. "We have already spoken to a number of shareholders and they are seeking changes to our remuneration policy for the future. We will continue this engagement and bring a revised policy to our next AGM."

"Unreasonable and insensitive": BP chief Bob Dudley's pay went up 20 per cent as the oil giant reported a record loss and slashed thousands of jobs. Photo: Bloomberg

Shareholder Royal London Asset Management said last week it would vote against the package, calling it "unreasonable and insensitive" at a time when oil's crash has driven down earnings. The pay increase would send the "wrong message" to investors and other companies, the UK Institute of Directors said Wednesday.

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Investor anger

BP isn't the first European oil company to anger investors by giving executives generous pay packages in the middle of an industry downturn. In May 2009, 59 per cent of shareholders in Royal Dutch Shell rejected the remuneration report after the board awarded bonuses in shares even after the company came fourth in its peer group, based on total shareholder returns.

BP posted a record loss of $US6.5 billion last year, reflecting oil's biggest slump in a generation as well as a $US10 billion provision for the legal settlement relating to its Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. Photo: AP

Chief executives in other industries have also faced investor dismay over multimillion-dollar pay deals. Burberry Group shareholders in July 2014 rejected the £10.3 million-pound ($18.9 million) package awarded to CEO Christopher Bailey. At advertising company WPP last year, head Martin Sorrell's £43 million deal was criticised as "wholly excessive" by shareholder advisory group Glass Lewis & Co.

Legal & General Group, BP's second-biggest holder, voted against the pay increase "as we felt there was poor alignment between long-term shareholder returns and executive remuneration," Sacha Sadan, Director of Corporate Governance, said in an e-mailed statement. The fund-management company thinks "the remuneration committee should have used discretion to scale back bonus payments."

Dudley's total compensation, including salary, bonus, shares and pension, increased to $US19.6 million ($25.4 million) in 2015, 20 per cent higher than the previous year, according to BP's annual report. While his salary rose just 1.5 per cent to $US1.85 million, the bonus jumped 38 per cent to $US1.39 million and the contribution to pension and retirement benefits more than doubled to $US6.52 million, the report showed. The company plans no salary increases for senior leadership in 2016.

'Very embarrassing'

"Even though the vote is only an advisory, it's very embarrassing for the company," said Ahmed Ben Salem, an oil and gas analyst at Oddo & Cie in Paris. "It's a very sensitive time for shareholders with this oil-price environment and lower profits."

BP will review its pay policies in the coming months, considering whether to take account of oil-price changes, Remuneration Committee Chairwoman Ann Dowling said at the AGM.

The company posted a record net loss of $US6.5 billion last year, reflecting oil's biggest slump in a generation as well as a $US10 billion provision for the legal settlement relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Adjusted for one-time items, profit slid 51 per cent to $US5.9 billion.

BP plans to cut 4000 jobs in oil and gas exploration and production this year, and 3000 in downstream businesses by 2017. The company said last year it would freeze employee salaries amid a "harsh trading environment."

More than 99 per cent of proxy shareholders voted in favour of renewing Dudley's appointment as CEO, according to an announcement at Thursday's meeting.

Bloomberg

Tom Hiddleston relives the 'terror' of performing Hank Williams live for the first time to prepare for 'I Saw The Light'

Coaxed into stepping up to the microphone and cradling a guitar in front of thousands of country fans, Tom Hiddleston finally saw the light on Sept.

Sam Emerson/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams in "I Saw the Light."

Coaxed into stepping up to the microphone and cradling a guitar in front of thousands of country fans, Tom Hiddleston finally saw the light on Sept. 6, 2014.

It’s easy for the British actor to remember the date: Five weeks before filming, he was unsure he could nail Hank Williams’ distinct warble for the biopic, “I Saw the Light,” which opens Friday.

But his country music coach, Rodney Crowell, got Hiddleston to join him on the stage at Michigan’s Wheatland Music Festival to perform the Williams toe-tapper “Movin’ On Over.” Being recognized as Loki from the Marvel movies wasn’t going to help him win over that audience.

“Pure white terror, it was just insane,” Hiddleston recalled to the Daily News, on the phone from a remote jungle in Vietnam where he had just wrapped his latest film, “Kong: Skull Island.”

“I was playing rhythm guitar so I was able to let the guitar play out and look at the audience and they seemed to be clapping and whooping and enjoying themselves.”

The Cambridge-educated Londoner realized then he might pull off playing the country legend whose womanizing and boozing led to 11 No. 1 singles — and his premature death at 29. Elizabeth Olsen co-stars as Williams’s long-suffering first wife.

AP
Country singer Hank Williams.

Hiddleston wasn’t his only doubter going into director Marc Abraham’s project: Hank Williams III publicly lobbied instead for American actor Matthew McConaughey.

“I completely understand the initial skepticism,” admits Hiddleston. “Hank is part of the fabric of America.”

So he hunkered down for four months, studying tapes and archival footage, training himself to not just yodel songs like “Lovesick Blues” but to genuinely feel lovesick when he did it. The results not only drew rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival, but won the endorsement of Hank’s granddaughter, Holly Williams.

The movie is one of three high-profile projects out in the next few weeks for Hiddleston.

The six-episode miniseries “The Night Manager,” based on the John le Carré spy novel, bows on April 19 on AMC. Hiddleston plays Jonathan Pine, a reluctant spy infiltrating an arms dealer’s inner circle.

Contactless payments: The real cost of carrying cash

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Contactless travel: the Oyster and the Opal

London has implemented a contactless "tap and go" ticketing scheme allowing commuters to use credit cards and Apple Pay as an alternative to the Oyster card. So how easily could this come to NSW?

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��� ���

Contactless payments could soon usurp cash as merchants weigh up its true cost.

More of us are tapping to pay and for much smaller amounts, according to a new paper published by the University of Canberra's Centre for Internet Safety.

Kingston's TwoforJoy staff member Luka Markulin and a customer using a contactless payment option. Photo: Jamila Toderas

Cybersecurity expert Nigel Phair said the number of contactless card accounts in Australia grew 42 per cent between 2014 and 2015.

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He found just under a third (31 per cent) of tapped transactions were below $10, while more than two-thirds (67 per cent) were for under $25.

Contactless payments were found to cost nine cents less per transaction than contact payments ��� and that's without factoring in the time saved.

A contactless payment takes on average about 20 seconds whereas a contact payment takes 38 seconds, which Mr Phair said can add up.

"As a two-second change in tender time implies a $0.01 change in merchant costs, small efficiency gains or delays can make a large difference to the total resource cost of the transaction and to a merchant's bottom line," he said.

In some instances, contactless payments can even be cheaper for businesses than accepting cash.

"On a per transaction basis, cash appears relatively inexpensive compared to other payment methods and this may explain why some merchants promote the use of cash," Mr Phair said.

"However, the cost of cash is not trivial; measured as a proportion of the sales value at the average transaction size, the cost of a cash transaction is around 2.5 per cent.

There are other costs associated too, he said ��� particularly for small businesses.

"The time associated for consumers with using cash is difficult to measure, but can include, for example, the time taken to obtain cash from an ATM or branch  ��� and often not knowing how much to withdraw, leading to over compensating, which may result in over-spending ��� before making a cash payment to a merchant," he said.

"Due to the extraneous time costs involved, it costs small business around four times as much per transaction to accept payments than big business.There are also hygiene factors for the food industry when preparing food then dealing with notes and coins."

For now, Canberra businesses still accept cash although more and more customers are choosing to tap and pay.

"We probably see 80 per cent card sales and 20 per cent cash sales. The transaction is super quick although the banks charge us for it which is why we charge a fee [for contactless payments]," Penny University part-owner Ellie Raymond said.

"We still see a lot of cash, usually we get a lot of $50 notes which we have to find change for," TwoForJoy supervisor Courtney Kane said.

TwoForJoy barista Luka Markulin said the convenience for their customers outweighed any additional costs.

"It's why I've got it. You don't have to sort out change, the most difficult part is splitting tables," he said.

���The report also found fears of electronic pick-pocketing were largely unfounded and the rate of fraud was actually decreasing when compared to the growing number of contactless transactions.

"For every transaction made with a contactless card, there is a discreet authentication code that changes after each transaction. Without the proper code the transaction will not be authorised," Mr Phair said.

Even if a fraudulent transaction occurs, Mr Phair said many banks and card providers offer zero liability for cards reported stolen.

But although the banks provide a safety net, he stressed the need for personal responsibility.

"People need to treat their cards like cash when they're out and about shopping," he said.

First teaser trailer for Marvel's ‘Dr. Strange’ airs during 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

By the ruby rings of Raggadorr, does that look good.

The first teaser trailer for "Dr. Strange" materialized Tuesday night on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

The minute and a half of footage gave fans the first full look at the origins of Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme played by Benedict Cumberbatch — from the near fatal car accident that ruined his surgical career to his training in the mystical arts under the Ancient One (played by a bald Tilda Swinton).

"You're a man looking at the world through a keyhole," she tells her pupil. "You spent your life trying to widen it."

Little imagery, however, has been conjured up showing the plot of the movie opening Nov. 4, except for some tantalizing "Inception" - like scene of a New York skyline folding into itself.

Directed by horror movie veteran Scott Derrickson, "Dr. Strange" co-stars Rachel McAdams and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Dr. Strange.

Marvel has high hopes for its Sorcerer Supreme, who was first name-checked in the 2014 flick "Captain America: Winter Soldier."

"I very much love Doctor Strange," studio chief Kevin Feige told the Daily News last year.

"The way that 'Thor,' 'Avengers' and now certainly 'Guardians of the Galaxy' tap into that cosmic side, it will be great to go into the world of Doctor Strange and the supernatural realm," Feige added.

Jetstar works to boost number of women in engineering

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Australia lagging behind in STEM gender equality

The organisational culture of scientific research 'resembles a feudal monastery' says leading Australian Mathematician Nalini Joshi. Vision courtesy ABC TV.

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Taylah Smith, 20, doesn't fit the stereotypical image of an avionics engineer. But the second-year apprentice at Jetstar's Newcastle engineering facility says she loves her job.

"It is such a unique and specialised field," she says. "Most people, when I tell them what I do, they have no idea and their jaw drops."

Ms Smith, who has been interested in engineering since she was at school, is one of four female apprentices at the low-cost airline's engineering facility in Newcastle. She works 11-hour day or night shifts on a four day on/four day off basis to ensure the aircraft keep flying safely.

Taylah Smith (right) with fellow Jetstar engineering apprentices Maddy Candy and Ashley Crequer. Photo: Brock Perks

Jetstar, which unusually for the aviation industry has a female chief executive, Jayne Hrdlicka, and a female chief pilot, Captain Georgina Sutton, has been working hard to recruit more women in traditionally male-dominated fields.

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���For the past year, it has had a policy in place to aim for an even split between male and female candidates for interviews and shortlisted for jobs. If that cannot be achieved in the event nobody from a specific gender applied or met critical technical and safety qualifications, an explanation must be provided.

Jetstar's efforts to increase gender diversity were recognised on Thursday evening, when industry group Aviation/Aerospace Australia named it as the award winner in the Outstanding Strategy for Diversity Category at its 2016 Airspace Awards.

Aviation/Aerospace Australia chief executive Ken McLean said progressive airlines around the world had abandoned the position of having women in the cabin and men in the cockpit.

"Incentives and quotas have helped reverse this situation," he said. "The challenge now is to ensure women are well represented in the technical aspects of aviation, such as maintenance, dispatch and piloting."

In NSW, less than 1 per cent of aircraft maintenance engineers are female, making them even rarer than female pilots. In Australia, women comprise around 5 to 10 per cent of pilots at the major airlines, varying by carrier.

Ms Hrdlicka said that, from Jetstar's point of view, striving for better diversity in its pilot and engineering ranks was a "no-brainer".

"I've never understood why an airline would overlook half the population when searching for the very best talent to fly, service and maintain their aircraft," she said.

The Newcastle facility remains male-dominated, with the female apprentices comprising only 5 per cent of the workforce. But Ms Smith said she had not had problems integrating into a male-dominated environment and hoped more women would follow in her footsteps.

When she completes her four-year apprenticeship she will be qualified as an aircraft maintenance engineer. Once that is complete, she could choose to pursue the qualification of becoming a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer.

"There are plenty of options," she said. "You can just keep going and go further up the ladder."

Adam LaRoche traveled to Asia to rescue underage sex slaves before walking away from baseball

Former White Sox slugger Adam LaRoche, who retired last month after the team asked him to dial back the time his son, Drake, spent in the clubhouse and on the field, says his decision was motivated in part by his efforts to rescue underage sex slaves in Southeast Asia.

LaRoche and friend Blaine Boyer of the Milwaukee Brewers spent 10 days in November conducting surveillance in brothels through the organization the Exodus Road, he told ESPN's Tim Keown.

“What are we doing? We’re going back to play a game for the next eight months?” LaRoche asked Boyer when it was time to leave.

Boyer believes something bigger was at work during the trip.

“You can’t explain it. Can’t put your finger on it. If you make a wrong move, you’re getting tossed off a building. We were in deep, man, but that’s the way it needed to be done,” Boyer told ESPN. “Adam and I truly believe God brought us there and said, ‘This is what I have for you boys.’ ”

LaRoche, 36, who played in the majors for 12 years, was named as a board member for the organization months before he announced his retirement.

LUPICA: ADAM LAROCHE IS NO VICTIM IN RIFT WITH WHITE SOX

Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images
Adam LaRoche said his son Drake “was the exception to the rule,” and a special presence in the clubhouse.

During the past few years, his son, 14, was a consistent presence around the clubhouse.

“I always knew it could get shut down at any point. You could have a manager who just flat doesn’t like it. You can have players complain — Hey, we’re tired of having a kid around,” he told ESPN. “There’s a chance we could have other guys see Drake and think, ‘I’ll bring my kid, too.' Obviously we can’t turn this into a daycare. I get it.”

But LaRoche thought his son was different: “the exception to the rule,” he said.

MCCARRON: LAROCHE, WHITE SOX COULD'VE FOUND MIDDLE GROUND

Red Sox bench Pablo Sandoval for former ninth-round draft pick Travis Shaw

Red Sox manager John Farrell announced Thursday that the team's starting third baseman will be Travis Shaw, a former ninth-round draft pick, when the Red Sox face the Indians at Progressive Field to begin the season on Monday.

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Pablo Sandoval's big contract doesn't determine his starting status this season.

Pablo Sandoval strolled into spring training appearing overweight,and now he can keep on walking to the bench.

The skipper has said he'd determine playing time based on performance — not on the five-year, $95 million contract that Sandoval signed before last season.

"For right now to start the season, I feel this is the best for our team to go with this alignment," Farrell told reporters. "My focus is on the guys that are in uniform, not what's attached to them or what their contract states."

Shaw hit 13 home runs in 226 at-bats during his rookie season, but Farrell said it was defense that "became really a decision factor."

"There's better overall range, and Pablo's well aware of this," Farrell said.

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Sandoval struggled last season, and the media speculated about his weight after he arrived at spring training looking out-of-shape.

Before heading to the team's final Grapefruit League game, Sandoval told WEEI.comthat he was "happy" with the decision.

“They made the decision. It’s the right decision to help the team win," Sandoval said. "I’m going to be happy. I’m going to be ready on the bench, get ready for anything. I’m going to get ready during the season to do my job.”

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R. Kelly watched Kobe Bryant’s final game on small television and the internet had a field day

It's the remix to bad vision.

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Musical artist R. Kelly watched Kobe Bryant's final game on an absurdly small television.

Like most people with a shred of interest in basketball, R. Kelly tuned in to Kobe Bryant's final NBA gameWednesday night. Unlike some of his celebrity counterparts who took in the game courtside, though, the R&B singer had to squint to make out number 24.

The "Ignition remix" singer posted a photo to Twitter of himself watching the historic moment on an absurdly small television. Though the post was meant to show respect for an NBA legend, all Internet commenters saw was a teeny tiny opportunity to further torture the much maligned singer.

And they were trying to be rude. It started with the seemingly innocent, "is that an iPad on your wall?" followed by a slew of other jokes. At a certain point, Kelly even tried to weakly defend himself.

"Ya'll are trippin'! I wasn't watching the game at my place," he wrote.

But that didn't stop the cruel Internet from tearing him apart, and eventually he just sat back in front of his miniature TV and let it happen. If he missed anything, he could always Bump n' Rewind.

Give it up for the man @kobebryant!! Whose talents on the court have always inspired me in my own craft. #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/f83ItJbdiP

— R. Kelly (@rkelly) April 14, 2016

Seeing Kelly holed up alone watching the Bryant show makes it safe to assume he wasn't privy to the after party info this time.

Here are some of the best burns from the brutal Twitter exchange:

Trump calls Cruz a 'guy who hates New York' while preparing for state's GOP primary, as his donations are questioned

Heading into the home stretch before his home state's April 19 Republican primary, GOP front-runner Donald Trump on Sunday laid into rival Ted Cruz as a "guy who hates New York."
"He hates New Yorkers, and he's trying to put a different spin on it," Trump said of the Texas senator on "The Cats Roundtable" radio show on AM 970, before ripping Cruz for his 2013 vote against federal relief funding for Hurricane Sandy victims.

Jim Mone/AP
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is leading the polls before the April 19 Republican primary.

"He's a very anti-New York guy, and I guarantee if he ever made it to president, New York could forget about the federal government," Trump said.

"He voted against appropriations for New York … for Sandy, for other things, voted against them. Now he's trying to pretend like all of this stuff never happened," Trump added.

Cruz, in 2013 voted against a federal bill — that eventually passed — that was designed to provide much needed relief to Sandy victims.

Trump's Empire State strike on his rival for the nomination comes just a week after Cruz was crucified during a campaign stop in the Bronx, where residents and elected leaders blasted him for insulting the city and the borough.

In January, Cruz attracted statewide venom for his callous and condescending comments about "New York values."

Trump has been campaigning hard in New York, ahead of the state's GOP primary next week. A slew of polls shows the brash billionaire leading Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Cruz by a substantial margin.

During a rally Sunday in Rochester, Trump, who leads Cruz in the total delegate count 743 to 545, criticized a "corrupt'' election system for complicating his path to the Republican nomination. Despite his lead, Trump may fall short of the 1,237 delegates he must win to formally secure the Republican nomination.

Last week, Trump hired a new convention manager, Paul Manafort, to craft a more effective strategy to reach the magic number.

On Sunday, Manafort suggested his boss would begin running "a more traditional campaign," but also himself took shots at Cruz, whose team he accused of employing "Gestapo tactics" to rack up delegates at state and county GOP conventions across the U.S.

As his campaign continues to surge forward in New York, a Washington Post analysis found that Trump is not as charitable as he claims to be, with the report finding his so-called philanthropy boiled down to little more than free rounds of golf on his courses.

LOVETT: Hillary Clinton won’t commit to reappointing U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara

Crusading Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara likes his job but has no guarantee he'll keep it even if Democrat Hillary Clinton is elected President in November.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has no guarantee that he will keep his job if Hillary Clinton in elected President.

Clinton during an appearance before the Daily News Editorial Board on Saturday would not commit to re-appointing Bharara should she win.

"I will take all that into account if I'm lucky enough to be elected President," Clinton said when asked about Bharara's performance in cracking down on government corruption.

"I obviously want the very best people to be U.S. attorneys," she said. "I want them to give no favor to anybody. If there are cases to be investigated and made, they should do it."

But she quickly added that "I'm not going to comment on any particular personnel decision."

Robert Sabo/New York Daily News
Clinton said she would take Bharara’s performance in cracking down on government corruption into account if she was elected President.

Since being appointed U.S. attorney by President Obama in 2009, Bharara has won a string of government corruption convictions, most notably against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and ex-Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

Though he's been discussed as having a political future, Bharara has insisted he has no interest in running for elected office.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was quick out of the gate to endorse Clinton, but has been a no-show when it comes to the campaign trail.

Gov. Cuomo has held several events with the Democratic presidential front-runner and has attacked her primary opponent Bernie Sanders on the issue of guns. Controller Thomas DiNapoli has also campaigned for her.

But Schneiderman has been invisible.

Bill Clinton urges police reform while referencing Eric Garner's NYPD chokehold death during speech at Harlem church

Bill Clinton invoked Eric Garner to Harlem churchgoers Sunday, telling them that police reform was needed so that more people aren’t “strangled on the street” for selling illegal cigarettes.

The reference to the 2014 police killing came as the former President seeks to recover from his controversial comments to Black Lives Matter protesters defending his administration’s tough laws against drug offenders.

“You don’t want to see any more kids shot on the street or in the case of New York City, being strangled on the street for selling three illegal cigarettes. It’s not a capital offense,” Clinton said while stumping for his wife, Hillary Clinton, at Antioch Baptist Church on Sunday.

LUPICA: OBAMA VS TRUMP, CRUZ IS THE BATTLE WE WANT TO SEE

The comment didn’t go over well with Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, who said Clinton owed the NYPD an apology.

“His facts are once again as wrong as the fantasy video story that was fabricated to the American people about the embassy attack in Benghazi, where four brave Americans were left behind and murdered. His comments are not only wrong but divisive,” Mullins said.

Garner died on July 17, 2014, after he was put in a police chokehold by Officer Daniel Pantaleo in Staten Island. He had been stopped for selling illegal “loosie” cigarettes. A grand jury chose not to indict Pantaleo.

James Keivom/New York Daily News
Former President Bill Clinton speaks to the congregation at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem while campaigning for his wife, Hillary.

Clinton, who on Sunday spoke at three Harlem churches and led rallies in Manhattan and Queens ahead of New York’s April 19 presidential primary, said the tragedy reflected a chasm between police and the community they’ve sworn to protect.

“They may not have intended to kill that man. They violated procedural rules with a chokehold with a very heavy guy who clearly had cardiovascular issues. But people do stuff like that when they’re scared, when they’re alienated, when they feel like there's this vast divide,” Clinton said.

The comments were part of the campaign’s efforts to show the Clintons have changed since Bill Clinton signed legislation in 1994 that led to the mass incarceration predominately of minorities. Many in both parties now regard the law as a mistake.

“We overdid it in putting too many young nonviolent offenders in jail for too long,” Bill Clinton said. “Let these people out of jail. Give them education, training.”

The former President got into a high-profile spat with protesters last week in Philadelphia, defending Hillary Clinton's description of some criminals as “super-predators” in a confrontation he later said he regrets.

President Obama ‘can guarantee’ his administration will not protect Hillary Clinton in FBI email server probe

President Obama emphatically vowed in an interview Sunday that his administration would not “in any way” protect Hillary Clinton over the course of the FBI investigation into the former secretary of state’s use of a private email server.

“I can guarantee that,” Obama said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” — his first ever as president on the program — after host Chris Wallace asked if he could pledge that Clinton “will not be in any way protected.”

“And not because I give Attorney General (Loretta) Lynch a directive; that is institutionally how we have always operated. I do not talk to the Attorney General about pending investigations. I do not talk to FBI directors about pending investigations. We have a strict line, and always have maintained it,” Obama added. “I guarantee that there is no political influence in any investigation conducted by the Justice Department, or the FBI, not just in this case, but in any case.”

“Full stop. Period,” he added, when asked whether that position could change even if Clinton secured the Democratic presidential nomination. “Nobody gets treated differently when it comes to the Justice Department. Because nobody is above the law.”

Clinton is currently the subject of an FBI investigation over her use of a private email server for official emails during her tenure at the State Department. The inspector generals for the State Department and U.S. intelligence agencies are separately investigating whether rules or laws were broken.

Fox News
President Obama said in an interview on Sunday that his administration will not protect Hillary Clinton ‘in any way’ in the FBI probe into her use of a private email server.

Obama went on to say that he believes Clinton did not put U.S. national security at risk by using her private email server, but should have been more careful.

“I continue to believe that she has not jeopardized America’s national security. Now what I’ve also said is that — and she has acknowledged — that there’s a carelessness, in terms of managing e-mails, that she has owned, and she recognizes,” Obama said. “But I also think it is important to keep this in perspective. This is somebody who has served her country for four years as secretary of state, and did an outstanding job. And no one has suggested that in some ways, as a consequence of how she’s handled e-mails ... that detracted from her excellent ability to carry out her duties.”

With News Wire Services

Finance: Own airline shares? Sell them, tips Motley Fool investment advisor

Motorised air travel is now over a century old.

Airlines: Fly 'em, but don't buy 'em, advises the Motley Fool. Photo: Brendon Thorne

Motorised air travel is now over a century old. It was in 1903 that the Wright Brothers, widely credited with the first powered flight, took humanity into the skies.

And impressively, only 17 years later, the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services took flight, starting Australia's love affair with both air travel and our national airline. Well into the 21st century, we still retain some of the old-world romance and wonder of flying. Maybe it's the storied history of Qantas, perhaps it's the fact we still marvel at our ability to get a huge, very heavy metal tube into the air so gracefully. Or, it could be the envied safety record of the Flying Kangaroo.

Whatever the reason, and even in this economically rational age, most Australians would admit a good degree of pride in our national carrier. Me too, but you won't catch me owning shares in the company ��� or in Virgin Australia or any other airline, for that matter.

Whoa��� what about the share price?

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That probably seems like a rash comment. After all, hasn't the Qantas share price risen from under $1 to over $4 in the past couple of years? What do I have against making money?

But that's the thing about historical numbers ��� you can choose whatever time period suits your case. Indeed, if you'd bought Qantas shares at the end of 2007, you'd still be down around 35 per cent on your investment.

Long term results are far more useful than short term numbers. More useful again, though, is a decent understanding of an industry, itself.

So let's look at the airlines. Despite the best efforts of management (and Australia's airline managers are among the best in the world), and the undoubted technical wizardry that goes into the miracle of flight, it's an awful industry. The inputs are almost identical ��� fuel, leased planes, pilots, cabin crew and support staff. The outputs are even more identical ��� they get you from point A to point B in an uncomfortable seat with unspectacular food.

In the investment lingo, we tend to save the word "commodity" for something like iron, gold or copper, where the product in question is, for all intents and purposes, indistinguishable from that made by another company ��� an ounce of pure gold is the same no matter who produces it, and from where.

And, despite what otherwise seems a complex and expensive product, air travel can essentially be lumped into the same category. Sure, you mightn't choose to fly Aeroflot or Scott's Discount Air, but when you're weighing up the choice of Western airlines, you know you'll be flying in similar aircraft, to identical destinations, with similar food and entertainment.

And so something that at first blush appears to be anything but a commodity ends up being just that.

Airline profits have surged recently, thanks to falling oil prices that have delivered strong profit margins. But, sure as night follows day, excess capacity (more seats than passengers) will see prices fall (you can fly to the US return for under $1000 from the east coast at the moment). And when they do, profit margins will go with them.

How do I know? Because that's always been the case with commodity industries in general (hello, iron ore) and airlines in particular.

Foolish takeaway

No less than Warren Buffett has said "Indeed, if a farsighted capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have done his successors a huge favour by shooting Orville down."

Australia's airlines? Fly 'em, but please, don't buy 'em. And if you own 'em, I'd suggest it's time to sell.

New report: Forget BHP and Woolworths. These three "new breed" top blue chips for 2016 pay fully franked dividends and offer the very real prospect of significant capital appreciation. Click here to learn more.

Scott Phillips is a Motley Foolinvestment advisor. You can follow Scott on Twitter @TMFScottPor email him at ScottTheFool@gmail.com. The Motley Fool's purpose is to educate, amuse and enrich investors. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691).

Students in Indiana, Iowa taunt Latinos with Trump-themed insults during basketball games — including 'Build a wall!' chant

Donald Trump's name is the new slur.

Students at two Midwest high schools recently hurled Trump-themed insults at Latino students, using the presidential candidate's anti-immigration rhetoric as inspiration for repulsive basketball game chants.

Fans at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Ind. Friday held a cutout showing Trump's face and chanted "Build a wall! Build a wall!" during a basketball game against Bishop Noll Institute, which has many Latino students — highlighting Trump's pledge to erect a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Four days earlier, students at the predominantly-white Dallas Center-Grimes High School in Iowa chanted "Trump! Trump!" during a basketball game against Perry High School, which has a more diverse student population.

Latino activists believe the real-estate mogul's name — which has been affixed to casinos, clothing labels, golf courses, high-rise buildings and wine bottles — now represents hate speech.

"People who have racist viewpoints have been able to successfully use 'Trump' as a code-phrase for derogatory, racist statements," said Joe Enriquez Henry, the National Vice President of the Midwest Region for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest and largest Hispanic organization.

Ashley Howard via Facebook
Students an Andrean High School in Indiana taunted their rivals with a Donald Trump cutout and mock ESPN Deportes set.

"Somebody who's angry and wants to say something in a negative way to Latinos at a demonstration or when their team is losing can say 'Trump' or 'USA,'" Henry added.

Andrean’s student section settled on a patriotic theme for Friday's game, donning items such as flag bandanas and Captain America T-shirts. Some students dressed as TV anchors on a mock TV set for "ESPN Deportes," the Spanish-language channel.

One student held an oversized Fathead cutout showing Trump's face. After the students chanted "Build a wall! Build a wall!" the rival fans responded, "You're a racist!"

Andrean administrators and the Diocese of Gary, which operates the schools, are investigating the shameful situation.

"Any actions or words that can be perceived as racist or derogatory to others are antithetical to the Christian faith and will not be tolerated in any of our institutions," Bishop Donald J. Hying said in a statement released by the diocese. "It was the furthest thing from anyone's mind that such actions would be happening at a gathering of two of our Catholic high schools. This is not what we teach our students."

Students for Trump' group posts photo of Martin Luther King statue wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hat on University of South Florida campus

'Students for Trump' group posts photo of Martin Luther King statue wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hat on University of South Florida campus
We have a nightmare: A Martin Luther King Jr.

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
That hat: Bad on Trump, worse on MLK.

We have a nightmare: A Martin Luther King Jr. statue sullied with one of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign hats.

And thanks to a pro-Trump student group, we now have a picture showing exactly that — timed right for the anniversary of King’s death.

The “students4trump” Instagram account posted a pic last Tuesday showing the defiled statue, which sits on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, according to WPTV.

The picture shows a Snapchat caption declaring: “MLK KNOWS #Trump2016.” On Instagram, the group wrote in its caption: “Pretty self explanatory. #StudentsForTrump #TrumpTrain #Trump #TrumpTeam #MakeAmericaGreatAgain #Trump2016.”

Apparently there wasn’t room for “#shameful.”

The photo went online the day after the 48th anniversary of King’s assassination. Since then, it has scored more than 2,500 likes.

School spokesman Adam Freeman said administrators do not know who pulled off the tasteless Trump troll.

A photo posted by Students For Trump (@students4trump) on Apr 4, 2016 at 6:10pm PDT

"The hat is not currently there," he told the Daily News.

The Florida chapter rep for the Students for Trump group didn’t answer emails from the News.

Trump won the Florida primary and lured about 10,000 followers to a rallyat the University of South Florida's Sun Dome facility, where the flock chanted: “Build the wall!”

Donald Trump’s claim of corrupted GOP nominating process draws attack from top Republican

Republican Party bigwigs fought back at Donald Trump Wednesday following the GOP presidential front-runner’s latest onslaught over his party’s nominating process being “crooked” and rigged.”
"Nomination process known for a year + beyond.

Mike Groll/AP
A top Republican fired back at The Donald for his scathing criticism of the GOP's nominating process.

"Nomination process known for a year + beyond. It's the responsibility of the campaigns to understand it. Complaints now? Give us all a break," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted early Wednesday. “The rules were set last year. Nothing mysterious — nothing new. The rules have not changed. The rules are the same. Nothing different.”

His rebuttal comes after days of scathing criticism from Trump, who has repeatedly alleged that the GOP's “very unfair” process is stripping him of the nomination he says he is on track to win.

"I know the rules very well, but I know it's stacked against me by the establishment," Trump during a CNN town hall Tuesday night.

Trump has attacked the party as he’s struggled to keep pace with rival Ted Cruz's delegate operation. Cruz made gains in Colorado, North Dakota, Louisiana and elsewhere by mastering the complicated state-by-state delegate selection process.

In recent days, Trump has taken particular aim at the way Cruz swept all of Colorado’s 34 delegates at state and congressional district GOP conventions. Colorado residents voted last year to implement the new vote-free procedures.

Trump still leads Cruz in the overall delegate count 743-545, but his path to secure the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination outright before the Republican National Convention in July grows more fraught with each individual delegate he loses to Cruz.

The close race is likely to result in a contested convention — a controversial outcome that a number of high-profile Republicans have said would cause them to skip the event altogether.

Citing fears over a possible chaos at the Cleveland gathering, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte and others have all suggested they’d skip the event and campaign in their home states instead, CNN reported.

With News Wire Services

Students for Trump' group posts photo of Martin Luther King statue wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hat on University of South Florida campus

'Students for Trump' group posts photo of Martin Luther King statue wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hat on University of South Florida campus
We have a nightmare: A Martin Luther King Jr.

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
That hat: Bad on Trump, worse on MLK.

We have a nightmare: A Martin Luther King Jr. statue sullied with one of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign hats.

And thanks to a pro-Trump student group, we now have a picture showing exactly that — timed right for the anniversary of King’s death.

The “students4trump” Instagram account posted a pic last Tuesday showing the defiled statue, which sits on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, according to WPTV.

The picture shows a Snapchat caption declaring: “MLK KNOWS #Trump2016.” On Instagram, the group wrote in its caption: “Pretty self explanatory. #StudentsForTrump #TrumpTrain #Trump #TrumpTeam #MakeAmericaGreatAgain #Trump2016.”

Apparently there wasn’t room for “#shameful.”

The photo went online the day after the 48th anniversary of King’s assassination. Since then, it has scored more than 2,500 likes.

School spokesman Adam Freeman said administrators do not know who pulled off the tasteless Trump troll.

A photo posted by Students For Trump (@students4trump) on Apr 4, 2016 at 6:10pm PDT

"The hat is not currently there," he told the Daily News.

The Florida chapter rep for the Students for Trump group didn’t answer emails from the News.

Trump won the Florida primary and lured about 10,000 followers to a rallyat the University of South Florida's Sun Dome facility, where the flock chanted: “Build the wall!”

King: Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is latest setback for humanity in long list that includes the Holocaust, Rwandan genocide and 9/11

Nearly 175 years ago, the German historian Leopold Von Ranke, thought of as the “father of history” by many in the field today, did something amazing.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images
German historian Leopold Von Ranke began to lay out all of human history in chronological order nearly 175 years ago.

Nearly 175 years ago, the German historian Leopold Von Ranke, thought of as the “father of history” by many in the field today, did something amazing. He decided, the best he could, to lay out all of human history in chronological order — the major events, the significant personalities, the wars, the innovations, the highs, the lows, and everything in between — he decided to lay it all out to see if he could discover any consistent themes or trends.

While this may sound incredibly simple today, in an age where information is easily accessible and international communication is a tweet or text or Skype away, in the 1800s it was a mammoth undertaking.

Von Ranke, of course, found many trends, but one trend he discovered is deeply relevant for where we are as a society today.

Human beings, he found, generally believed that they were steadily evolving and improving creatures. Indeed, the technology produced by human beings is a steady improvement. Transportation systems, from the 1700s, to the 1800s, to today, have improved drastically. In that period we literally went from relying on animals to pull carts, to extracting fuels from the earth to power us on the ground, to making air transportation the safest means of travel in the world. A flight from New York to Los Angeles can be had in a few hours. Two centuries ago, it could take months and have a high probability of costing your life.

Those are improvements.

anonymous/AP
A group of Jews are escorted from the Warsaw Ghetto by German soldiers in April of 1943 — the Holocaust is an example of a dip in humanity.

The field of medicine has improved. The ease and reach of our communications systems have improved. The notion that I have a device in my pocket that allows me to broadcast a video to the world, send an encrypted text message to London, have a video interview with someone in South Africa, while sending photos to my entire family — would’ve seemed like science fiction a few generations ago. Today, if it doesn’t work and work well, we’re frustrated.

Those are improvements.

However, this was not quite what Leopold Von Ranke was trying to determine. He wanted to see if the quality of our humanity, the ways that we treat one another, the depth of our human interactions, were those things actually on a steady path to progress alongside technology?

His answer, which is the centerpiece of a presentation I’ve been giving at colleges and universities all over the country, was no — not at all — human beings are not always getting better.

The quality of our humanity, instead of looking like a steady growth chart, looks more like a roller coaster. Sometimes we, as a people, treat one another in beautiful ways. We address our core problems, we avoid war, and act like generally civilized creatures. At other points in human history, we appear to abandon all principle, and devolve into something altogether ugly.

King: Donald Trump’s bigotry spreads to new generation, visible as white HS basketball team chant his name after loss to Hispanic players

Former KKK leader David Duke endorsed Trump and said anyone who doesn’t vote for him is betraying their white heritage.

White supremacists and racists love the guy and say he has caused a resurgence in their ranks.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: CELEBRATING THE UNSUNG HEROES OF CIVIL RIGHTS

Now, in Iowa, we see that Trump’s bigotry is spreading to high school basketball games. It’s ugly and infuriating.

Dallas Center-Grimes High School in Des Moines is predominantly white. After their basketball team, which appeared also to be predominantly white, lost to Perry High School, fans began chanting “Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump” at the opposing players — many of who were Latino.

The coach confirmed that almost all of his Latino players were actually born right there in Iowa.

John Bazemore/AP
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands in front of his airplane as he speaks during a rally in Arkansas on Saturday.

Of course, the students were disturbed by it. Staff from Perry High School said the chants, which have actually happened before, were demoralizing.

Players from Perry said they regularly are forced to endure bigotry from opposing teams before, during and after the games.

What’s wild is that to the white students from Dallas Center-Grimes High School even chanting the name, the single word “Trump,” was an intimidating insult. They knew exactly how simply the word “Trump” would make other kids feel.

KING: TRUMP HAS ALREADY AWAKENED THE WHITE SUPREMACIST BEAST IN AMERICA

This is not 1936 or 1966, but here we are, in 2016, with a leading Republican candidate so closely identified with bigotry that kids know saying his name will unsettle students of color.

This is what happened to Jackie Robinson as he broke the color line. Now, the color lines are fully broken, but the same old ugliness is filling sports arenas and white children feel fully empowered to be public bigots.

Guy Ritchie visits Madonna's London home with son Rocco as couple seek to 'heal wounds' in custody battle

Their bitter row over the future of their 15-year-old son has resulted in a very public trans-Atlantic custody battle.

Guy Richie and Madonna attend the world premiere of RocknRolla at Odeon West End on September 1, 2008 in London, England. Photo: Getty

But it seems that Madonna and Guy Ritchie are working to build bridges following a series of court hearings about the future of their sonRocco.

In a signal the bitter custody wrangle is being smoothed over, film director Ritchie has been pictured visiting his ex-wife's London home.

Guy Ritchie and Rocco Ritchie attend The Man From U.N.C.L.E. New York Premiere - Inside Arrivals at Ziegfeld Theater on August 10, 2015 in New York City. Photo: Getty

A Hight Court judge had previously warned the former celebrity couple that they risk "ruining" Rocco's childhood with their ongoing feud.

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Ritchie, the 47-year-old producer, was photographed arriving at the pop star's home in the capital on Wednesday night.

He is believed to have been accompanied by Rocco as he arrived on his bicycle, before emerging from the property some time later.

The visit came days after Rocco was finally reunited with his mother after the singer flew to London.

The teenager's arrival at the weekend indicated Madonna was attempting to fulfil a pledge made in court last month to "heal the wounds" in her family.

The teenager was dropped off by Mr Ritchie, driving a Land Rover Discovery 4x4, alongside his new wife Jacqui Ainsley at Madonna's imposing residence in west London.

Madonna and Mr Ritchie were urged by a High Court judge last month to avoid taking up any more of the "fast receding days" of their son's childhood with legal action, as he pleaded with them to settle their battle out of court.

At the weekend, Rocco, arrived carrying a skateboard and spent two hours at the property. He left with a group of skateboarding friends.

Madonna - dressed in a black bomber jacket and trousers, black baseball cap and Aviator-style sunglasses - later emerged on a silver mountain bike.

Appearing in good spirits, the singer went cycling with two men thought to be her personal security guards.

Judges heard that Rocco had remained in London with his father since last autumn following a visit.

Madonna - one of the world's most influential pop stars since the early 1980s - wanted the teenager to return to live with her in the US.

Mr Justice MacDonald last month said the pop star and her former husband should attempt to find an "amicable resolution" to the dispute, which had seen legal action on both sides of the Atlantic.

The London ruling meant the dispute over Rocco's future would be resolved either in the New York court or by family conciliation.

The singer was listed under her full name - Madonna Louise Ciccone - on court papers in London.

At the hearing in London in March, Mr Justice MacDonald said: "I renew, one final time, my plea for both parents to seek and to find an amicable resolution to the dispute between them.

"As I observed during the course of the hearing, summer does not last forever. The boy very quickly becomes the man.

"It would be a very great tragedy for Rocco if any more of the previous and fast receding days of his childhood were to be taken up by this dispute."

In a 22-page written ruling, the judge added: "Far better for each of his parents to spend that time enjoying, in turn, the company of the mature, articulate and reflective young man who is their son and who is a very great credit to them both."

Madonna lodged a claim under child abduction laws against Mr Ritchie, the British film director, in December last year.

Earlier this month, it emerged she had applied to withdraw that legal action - but Mr Ritchie's legal team opposed the move, indicating the film director wished to see the matter resolved in Britain rather than America.

Mr Justice MacDonald said the "root of these proceedings" was a "temporary breakdown in trust" between the parents.

"For all the media coverage, comment and analysis, this is a case born out of circumstances that arise for countless separated parents the world over," the ruling said.

"The court should always be the option of last resort when parents cannot agree matters in respect of their children."

He added that both he and Manhattan judge Deborah Kaplan had "repeatedly urged the parties to adopt a consensual approach to resolving these matters of dispute between them for the benefit of Rocco".

Rocco and Mr Ritchie attended hearings in London, but Madonna was not present. The singer's lawyers told the judge she wanted to attend but was on tour in Australia.

Revealing the 57-year-old pop star's hopes for the future at a private hearing in the Family Division, David Williams QC said his client wanted to "heal the wounds".

"She doesn't wish for these proceedings in England to continue any longer than necessary," the QC said.

"What she has always sought to date is to find a way in which this family can come together to heal the wounds which have been inflicted on the family in the past four months or so.

"She wants to chart a course for Rocco and the family to help put this behind them and restore peace to the family."

Mr Ritchie, who is currently directing Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur , starring Jude Law, married Ms Ainsley, a model, last summer.

The Telegraph, London

Tulane University Kappa Alpha builds Donald Trump-themed wall around frat house; activists tear it down

Frat boys, tear down this wall.

A Louisiana fraternity erected a giant Donald Trump-themed wall around its off-campus house — but dismantlers swiftly deconstructed the bizarre barricade.

Tulane University’s Kappa Alpha Order painted “Make America Great Again” and “Trump” on the sandbag fence after the brothers set it up last week. The fraternity puts up the wall every year for an annual game of capture the flag, but the addition of the anti-immigration presidential candidate’s name and slogan were new this year.

Other students quickly criticized the group for its apparent support of the raving Republican who has advocated building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Days later, someone dismantled the 5-foot barrier, the Times-Picayune reported.

Video posted to YouTube showed a group of men hurling the wall’s sandbags into the street as a man on the frat house’s front porch ordered the brothers to “get inside” the house. The de-construction workers have not been identified.

Tulane's Latino student group, GENTE, began an online petitionsupporting the dismantlers.

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Members of Kappa Alpha at Tulane University in New Orleans put up a "Make American Great Again" around their frat house. Enlarge Facebook
The sandbag wall was torn down shortly after the brothers put it up. Enlarge

Members of Kappa Alpha at Tulane University in New Orleans put up a "Make American Great Again" around their frat house last week.

“They are sending a clear message to students of color, especially Latino and Muslim students, that they are not welcome here,” the petition read. “The wall is a tangible embodiment of the daily aggressions that Latino and Muslim students face at this school.”

National and campus Kappa Alpha leaders claimed the wall was a work of satire, not an endorsement of Trump and his xenophobic ideologies.

"The comment was written on a makeshift wall on our private property, normally used for a game of capture the flag, to mock the ideologies of a political candidate. This had a unintended negative effect and as such it has been dismantled,” Jesse Lyons, a representative from the national fraternity, told the newspaper in a statement.

Dusty Porter, Tulane’s vice president of student affairs, said the campus’ Greek life and Multicultural Affairs departments are both investigating the incident.

Trump started making anti-immigration policy promises the day he announced his presidential candidacy, and has long used Anti-Mexican rhetoric in his campaign. He has vowed to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to keep out undocumented immigrants — and swears he’ll make Mexico pay for it.

Lupita Nyong'o’s ‘mom squad’

Lupita Nyong'o doesn't own a television.

Credit: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

Lupita Nyongo. Picture: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

The 'Jungle Book' actress relies on her friends to keep her up to date on news and current affairs.

She said: "I don't own a TV, but I do get my news in other ways.

"I have friends who are avid news readers, they give me the summary.

"They're like human news apps, they're the best kind."

Friends play an important part in the 33-year-old star's life and she loves to "gather" them together for evenings of food and music.

She told Stylist magazine: "You spend so much of your life travelling. You pick people up as you go along.

"My parents have friends who they've had since before we were born and those friends have now become my parents when I travel.

"I have adopted their friends and they have adopted me so now I wish that for myself.

"My mother has this group they call the 'mom squad' and all the women who bring me up and share news about what's going on in my life together were a support group for her when everything [winning an Oscar] was happening.

"I think I've inherited that, you hold on to people for a long time. I like to gather my friends together. I have them all over for dinner. I'd cook a whole fish with kale and rice. There'd be a lot of talking with good music."

Bang Showbiz

Taylor Swift rocks a platinum-blonde bob on the cover of Vogue

Taylor Swift is on the cover of US Vogue , rocking a platinum-blonde bob and talking about Calvin Harris and her "squad".

Taylor Swift on the cover of May's US Vogue . Photo: Vogue.com

The Out of the Woods singer was interviewed at her best friend's wedding in her hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania earlier this year (yes, while everyone was remarking on how down-to-earth she was for returning to her hometown to be a maid of honour, Tay was definitely giving a Vogue interview) for the magazine's May issue.

The resulting article follows Swift as she revisits the town she left aged 14 to pursue a career in music, including a drive out to her old house on a Christmas tree farm.

After the nostalgic road trip, Swift, 26, took time out during the wedding's cocktail evening to speak on her own love life.

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"I'm just taking things as they come," Swift told the magazine of her relationship with British DJ Calvin Harris.

"I'm in a magical relationship right now. And of course I want it to be ours, and low-key ... this is the one thing that's been mine about my personal life."

Reflecting on her love life pre-Harris, Swift said there was a period of time in which media coverage of her romantic life could be described as "incredibly sexist Men���of���Taylor Swift slideshows".

"You know, I went out on a normal amount of dates in my early 20s, and I got absolutely slaughtered for it," she said. "And it took a lot of hard work and altering my decision-making. I didn't date for two-and-a-half years. Should I have had to do that? No."

Swift's former boyfriends are said to include John Mayer, Harry Styles, Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner and Jake Gyllenhaal.

However, nowadays Swift is more likely to be name-checked against her list of famous, platonic, female friends: Karlie Kloss, Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, Lorde and Gigi Hadid, just to name a few.

To critics who say their "squad" friendship is little more than an Instagram-like-grabbing ruse, Swift told Vogue there was always an easy way to dispel rumours - by proving they are false.

"If they say you are pregnant, all you have to do is continue to not be pregnant and not have a baby. If the rumour is that you have fake friendships, all you have to do is continue to be there for each other. And when we're all friends in fifteen years and raising our kids together, maybe somebody will look back and go, 'That was kind of ridiculous what we said about Taylor and her friends.'"

Fairfax Media