A painting by Korean minimalist painter and sculptor Lee Ufan said to be worth $856,000 has been discovered in an attic in Cognac, France, by an art expert who visited the property to appraise wine. The French artist who owned the rural farmhouse had known Ufan 45 years earlier, and the pair had swapped some of their work. French auctioneer Emmanuel Layan, who discovered the painting, said the property owner’s son mentioned his father was a retired painter with an impressive collection. They went to the attic where the paintings were stored. Close-up of “From Point (in Paris)” by Korean…
Author: zenger.news
SYDNEY — The financial, mental, and physical scars of the Covid-19 pandemic on Australia’s athletes have been laid bare in a new report and might linger long after the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. The Australian Sports Foundation report, released on May 25 and based on an anonymous survey, found athletes’ ability to perform on the national and international stage to have worsened amid the global health crisis. “The results of our survey show that most of the representative athletes who responded earn less than the national minimum wage of AUD 39,000 ($30,204),” notes the report. “While Covid-19 has worsened the financial situation of Australian…
KINGSTON, Australia — Australia’s automotive industry is at a “revolutionary turning point” amid the transition to zero-emission vehicles, a report has found. But the developing shift towards electric cars will also bring structural change and pose significant challenges to the sector, the Motor Trades Association of Australia says. “All automotive businesses will need to obtain as much information as possible to make an informed decision on the future opportunities and risks of participating in the ensuing electric vehicle ecosystem,” the Motor Trades Association of Australia said in its Directions in Australia’s Automotive Industry report. Prepared by Victorian Automotive Chamber of commerce’s…
CANBERRA, Australia — Claims of suspicious betting placed on the 2021 Australian of the Year awards have been referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The National Australia Day Council initially referred betting on the awards to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission on Jan. 25. Council chief executive Karlie Brand claims in a Senate estimates hearing on May 24 that the matter had now been passed on to the Australian Federal Police. Tasmanian sexual assault survivor Grace Tame was named 2021 Australian of the Year, but betting outlets had her listed as a favorite before the announcement, with odds as low as AU$1.36 ($1.06). Claims of suspicious betting placed…
BRISBANE, Australia — Australian researchers have created two new drugs that could protect unvaccinated people from Covid-19 and prevent symptoms in those who already have the virus. A team from Brisbane’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, led by Professor Subha Rao, has developed the two peptide-based drugs. The first drug cloaks the ACE2 receptor protein on human cells, which the virus binds to before penetrating cells. The second drug blocks the virus from hijacking that receptor from the inside and using it to replicate. Rao says the two drugs are rapidly acting and could provide people with a layer of protection…
CANBERRA, Australia — Top-ranking Australian Federal Police commanders are expected to face more questions about the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins. Commissioner Reece Kershaw and senior officers will appear before a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on May 25. While top brass are expected to remain tight-lipped about the details of an ongoing investigation, Labor is set to pursue the issue after a separate inquiry restarted. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Phil Gaetjens is investigating who in Scott Morrison’s office knew about the allegation and when. Gaetjens paused his inquiry after speaking with Kershaw about the…
BRISBANE, Australia — A man from Gold Coast in the Australian state of Queensland has denied masterminding an interstate gun-running operation to amass and sell an arsenal of almost 100 powerful firearms — most of which have never been found. Wayne John Yanko, 59, of Tamborine, pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane District Court on May 24 to four charges of cross-border disposal and acquisition of firearms. Yanko is one of three men accused of legally purchasing dozens of 9-millimeter handguns — including Glock, Beretta, and Sig Sauer models — from Brisbane and Sydney in a buying spree through Western Australia company…
CANBERRA, Australia — A record eight million kilograms of old paint and paint packaging was diverted from Australian landfills and waterways last year as part of a national recovery scheme. But Paintback, which collects waste paint from 160 permanent locations across the country, says many people still do not know what to do with their leftover and waste products. It says one in three Australians have paint stored away, and more than half are unaware of how to dispose of it properly. Through the Paintback process, unwanted paint is converted into an alternative fuel source replacing coal, or its water is extracted and used by…
ADELAIDE, Australia — South Australians fourth round of travel vouchers to help businesses hit by the Covid-19 pandemic will come up for grabs later this week. The ballot for 50,000 vouchers’ Great State Vouchers” will open on May 28, providing AU$100 ($77.6) for accommodation in the Adelaide Central Business District and AU$50 ($38.8) for regional stays. Special deals will also be offered for mid-week trips, from Sunday(s) to Thursday(s). As per officials, the new ”mid-week stays” will attract visitors into the city from Sunday to Thursday, helping inject spending where it is needed most, and the new booking portal will mean consumers…
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s energy minister has again flagged a plan to incentivize coal-fired power stations to remain open for “as long as needed”. Angus Taylor, who is also the federal minister responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, will use a speech on May 25 to spruik changes he says are needed to the energy system. The minister says a mix of technologies is needed to ensure power is affordable and reliable. “This requires strong market signals that both encourage investment in a new dispatchable generation to replace our aging thermal generator fleet, and incentivize our existing thermal generators to remain…