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Canadiens' Mike Matheson out against Utah with lower-body injuryStock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more recordsTweet Facebook Mail On November 8, Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi boarded a flight from Maui to New York City, with a short layover in Los Angeles. But after missing her connecting flight, Hannah vanished. There were a few brief sightings of the 31-year-old in LA and family members have received concerning, out-of-character texts from her phone, but weeks later Hannah remains missing. READ MORE: Lurking weather system could become Australia's first tropical cyclone of the season Hannah Kobayashi is missing in the USA. (Nine) Now the body of her father, Ryan Kobayashi, has been found in LA after he spent almost two weeks desperately searching for his daughter. Here's everything you need to know about Hannah's disappearance and the timeline of events since. November 8 Hannah flew from Maui to Los Angeles, landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 9.53pm local time. She was seen on surveillance footage exiting the aircraft in a black hoodie and colourful leggings but never made it onto her connecting flight to New York City. Her family said she missed it due to a tight 42-minute layover and was put on standby for a new flight. Her sister Sydni Kobayashi told CNN that Hannah had the same itinerary as an ex-boyfriend but they intended to part ways in New York City. READ MORE: Keeping cool is Cass' 'full time job' as heatwave puts the health of 122,000 Aussies at risk November 9 The following day, Hannah was seen at The Grove, a popular shopping mall in downtown LA. Her family said she spent time at a bookstore there. Hannah's aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told Fox News that her niece spent an hour and a half charging her phone at a Taschen bookstore and filled out a mailing list. "It's in her handwriting," she told the outlet on November 21. Sydni told CNN that Hannah also sent Venmo payments to two people that day. Hannah's family did not recognise the individuals' names. November 10 Hannah returned to the mall the following day and was visible in the background of footage from an event hosted at the Nike store there. She also posted a photo from the event on Instagram with a single emoji of a speech bubble showing an eye inside as the caption. The last photo Hannah Kobayashi shared to her Instagram account before her disappearance. (Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi) November 11 Three days after Hannah landed in LA, her family and friends began receiving concerning texts from her phone. In the messages, Hannah said she felt unsafe and claimed that someone was trying to steal her money and identity, according to her family. "I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds," one text to a friend read, followed by a second saying, "For someone I thought I loved." Another text sent to her aunt reportedly said: "I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening." READ MORE: Sydney man charged with running over, torturing kangaroos The texts used language that seemed out of character, according to Hannah's family, and were devoid of the emojis Hannah typically used. "It's weird to me because it doesn't sound like her, like there's just something off about it ... I don't know if it's her or if someone else was texting." Hannah Kobayashi's phone last pinged at LAX on November 11. (Courtesy Sydni Kobayashi via CNN Newsource) Hannah was reportedly seen at LAX that same day, where Pidgeon said she spoke with an American Airlines ticketing agent in the hopes of getting a direct flight to New York City. The family later shared that they also sighted surveillance footage that placed Hannah at the Pico Metro Station near the airport just after 10pm that night. She reportedly left the station with an unidentified person and the family claim she did "not appear to be in good condition". Hannah's phone last pinged at LAX on November 11 and has been turned off ever since. November 12 Four days after Hannah touched down in LA, her family filed a missing person report with the Los Angeles Police Department. A social media campaign was launched and police petitioned the public for any information about her whereabouts. A post shared online described the 31-year-old as having brown hair and hazel eyes, freckles on her face and a tattoo of a knife on her arm. She's 5'10" (177cm) and weighs 140lbs (63kg). November 24 Hannah's father was found dead on Sunday, November 24, after almost two weeks spent searching the city for his missing daughter. LAPD confirmed his body was discovered in a carpark at a business near LAX around 4am local time. The suspected cause of death was not made public. Ryan Kobayashi, centre, during an interview before his death. (CNN via CNN Newsource) "I wasn't too close with her ... growing up. We haven't had contact for a while," he had told CNN days before his death. "I'm just trying to make up. I'm trying to get her back. "That's my main focus." Pidgeon told CNN the family was devastated by Ryan's death and said: "We also want to make it clear that Ryan died of a broken heart." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .
SINGAPORE: Festive gift-giving is getting a digital transformation in China and becoming the new battleground for Chinese social media apps as e-commerce competition heats up. Tencent’s WeChat has been testing out a new feature allowing users to browse, buy and send presents to friends and relatives, while Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, rolled out a similar gifting function back in January. WeChat, a multi-functional platform that offers services from messaging to mobile payment and gaming, has more than 1.3 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used apps in the world. Its new “Send Gift” feature, added to its app store on Dec 19, allows users to “show appreciation” for their loved ones by searching for products priced at 10,000 yuan and below. The feature is “being rolled out gradually”, WeChat said in a statement, and for now, is only available to a selected number of users in mainland China. “We are still working hard to gradually improve the relevant functions,” the company said. Those able to use the function bought gifts like cosmetics and snacks and sent them on to their friends. One user who went by the name Diana, shared her experience of sending makeup foundation worth 480 yuan to a friend, praising the “practicality” of the new service and saying it was useful for holidays like Christmas and birthdays. She recalled her friend reacting with confusion upon receiving her WeChat gift. “(She thought) she was sent a meme, but it was actually a Christmas gift,” Diana said. The novelty of the new WeChat function also sparked discussion on the Xiaohongshu social media app, with some expressing excitement of being able to send gifts to friends and relatives quickly, with others commenting that they were eager for it to be rolled out on their accounts. Some Xiaohongshu bloggers also shared step by step tutorials showing users how to send and receive gifts. One user who went by the handle Momozi, expressed doubts, saying more improvements were needed and she did not see older app users trying out the gift giving function. “Firstly, a gift should be a surprise. If not I’ll simply send a red packet,” she said. “Why not simply just send money?” Irate users also left one star reviews on WeChat shop’s customer service platform, describing unfavourable experiences they had in dealing with unresponsive sellers and merchants who did not send out orders once placed, as well as the lack of refundable options. The feature allows users to purchase products from WeChat stores and send them to other users through a virtual gift format. Gifts are capped at 10,000 yuan, excluding jewellery and tutoring classes, with the option to hide prices from the recipient. After selecting a product, users would then click on “send to friend” and complete payment. There is also no need to include a recipient’s delivery address, WeChat said and gift orders will not contain buyer information or payment details. Gifts are non-transferrable and users will not be allowed to cancel orders. But if gifts are not accepted by the recipient within 24 hours, the order would then be cancelled and the money refunded to the sender’s accounts. RESHAPING THE GIFT-GIVING CULTURE China’s e-commerce market is the largest in the world, generating billions in revenue and outpacing the United States. Giving money and gifts is a huge part of Chinese culture and in 2014, WeChat introduced virtual red packets linked to its digital payment service. The virtual red packets were a hit with users who received amounts of money in the form of transactions quickly and conveniently through their apps, and digitised a deeply-rooted Chinese tradition ahead of the new year. It also gave Tencent the edge in the digital payment battle against e-commerce rival Alibaba’s Alipay system, industry experts said. In 2017 alone, WeChat users exchanged around 46 billion digital red packets over the new year period in January. Just as WeChat changed the way people gave out traditional red packets, can it do the same with its new “gift-giving” feature? “Gifting is something deeply rooted in Chinese culture, just like red packets are,” said Li Jianggan, CEO of Singapore-based venture firm Momentum Works, adding that spending habits and gifting behaviour of younger Chinese differed substantially from elders. Analyst Dave Xie from the Oliver Wyman global management consulting firm, called the new feature “a strategic move” on Tencent’s part. “China's e-commerce landscape has undergone significant transformations in recent years, driven by emerging platforms, evolving consumer behaviors and strategic adaptations by established players,” Xie told CNA. WeChat’s “extensive” user base and established social connections could provide a unique advantage in driving e-commerce engagement, he added. With more than 1.3 billion active monthly users, WeChat is a “powerful tool” and has something “none of the Chinese e-commerce platforms have”, Li said, a huge user network and trusted social map. “As WeChat gradually gets deeper into social commerce and live commerce, there is a good possibility that the e-commerce competitive landscape (in China) will be reshaped.” But it is still “hard to predict” if the new gift-giving function will be as popular and widely used among WeChat users as digital red packets, Li said, adding that it was “safe to assume” it would have a smaller use as compared to payment. “That said, we believe that gifting is just one of the many attempts to effectively embed social commerce into the WeChat ecosystem.” In line with government internet restrictions, app-associated services like Facebook marketplace and Instagram Shopping aren’t made available to Chinese users. WeChat's new gift-giving function is also not the first in the Chinese market. Earlier this year, Douyin released a similar gifting function called “sui xin song” or “Gift as you wish” – allowing its users to send out gift vouchers. It also ran a special Chinese New Year campaign allowing users to send gifts to their loved ones, with gifts worth over 40 million yuan sent. Social gift giving “naturally” aligns with WeChat’s social DNA, Xie said, with the potential to “create unique social shopping experiences” for users on the platform. But success will depend on being able to convert “social engagement” into sustainable sales growth. One of the biggest challenges for the new gift-giving function would be how it functions and operates, Li said. “What is the selection of products available... and how do you manage the user experiences and expectations? How (can WeChat) regulate the system so that it doesn’t get abused by illicit merchants and scammers?” “This is something that Wechat can tap into if they find the right magic formula.”Zoom Video Communications Inc. stock rises Monday, outperforms market
Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’
NoneDeal on Elgin Marbles ‘still some distance’ away, says George OsborneI refer to Maneesha Seneviratne’s excellent tribute to Senator A. Ratnayake in The Island of 25 Nov. One of the most valuable events in A. Ratnayake’s career stands as a powerful reminder for those who fervently compete for positions in governments and within political parties driven by sheer greed. This is about how he became the first Cabinet Minister of Food, Co-operatives, under D S Senenayake. Ratnayake had often been a vocal critic of D. S. Senanayake and his policies during their time in both the State Council [in 1936-47] and later in Parliament. He had, on occasion, even supported Marxists like Dr. N. M. Perera and Philip Gunawardene, representatives of Ruwanwella and Avissawella electorates, respectively. Ratnayake believed this history of dissent would make his chances of being offered a ministerial position highly unlikely. To his surprise, one evening, the phone rang. When he answered, the familiar voice of D. S. Senanayake greeted him with an unexpected question: “I say, Rat, how would you feel about joining my Cabinet?” Ratnayake was momentarily stunned into silence. Regaining his composure, he replied in Sinhala with a hint of humour, “Sir, ara ibba waturata danawa wage ne ” (It’s like asking a tortoise to willingly enter the water). Senanayake burst into hearty laughter, momentarily deafening Ratnayake. Once the laughter subsided, Ratnayake inquired about the portfolio being offered. He expressed a preference for the Education Ministry, noting his extensive experience serving on education committees in the State Council and even acting as Minister of Education. However, Senanayake was firm. “No, Rat. I want you to handle the subjects I managed during my time in the State Council. Will you honour me by accepting the position of Minister of Food and Cooperative Undertakings? The other part, Agriculture, I want Dudley to take over—he has already agreed. You are the only person I trust to carry forward the plans I initiated, even though you’ve been one of my harshest critics.” This unexpected offer left Ratnayake both surprised and deeply hounored. After the first Parliamentary election under the Soulbury Constitution in 1947, D. S. Senanayake gave Sir John Kotelawala a practical instruction. “I say, Lionel, check if we have a majority. If not, see if you can get a few chaps to join the government. The Eastern Province members are the best bet—they always come to Parliament with open minds,” he remarked, laced with humour. Reflecting on his tenure in the first Parliament, Senator A. Ratnayake once said, “After 16 years of giving the government hell, I found myself on the receiving end—and what an unrelenting opposition it was. Among them were NM and Philip, and, of course, Dr. Dahanayake. Taming that opposition was like trying to humanise hell.” Dr. Dahanayake, in particular, stood out as one of the most vocal critics of Ratnayake’s policies, challenging and dissecting his decisions with vigour. These spirited exchanges underscored the era’s vibrant democratic ethos and the intense parliamentary discourse that shaped policy and governance. KKS Perera
Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’
The list of compromised VCE exams has been released more than a week after it was revealed some questions for half the tests were leaked in practice material. Education Minister Ben Carroll had previously revealed that 56 VCE exams – nearly half of the total 116 exams – had been affected by a breach in which exam questions were inadvertently published online in advance by the VCE authority in a “hidden” section of sample assessments. Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll has revealed the compromised VCE exams. Credit: Joe Armao He told reporters on Wednesday that he was satisfied that the right processes were in place to ensure every single VCE student achieves their best. “That is what students deserve, and we expect, must expect, nothing less. I would like to again apologise to every single student, parent, carer that have been affected by this publication,” Carroll said. Carroll said the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s processes had improved over the years but the government had been let down because of a “publishing error”. “I’ve still got questions that I want answers to and that that is why I have ordered a full root and branch review on how did this occur,” he said. List of compromised VCE subjects Aboriginal Languages Victoria Accounting Ancient History Applied Computing Data Analytics Applied Computing Software Development Art Creative Practice Art Making and Exhibiting Australian Politics Biology Business Management Chinese First Language Chinese Second Language Classical Studies Dance Drama English as an Additional Language Economics English Environmental Science Food Studies Foundation Mathematics Geography Global Politics Health and Human Development History Revolutions Industry and Enterprise Legal Studies Mathematical Methods 1 Mathematical Methods 2 Media Music Composition Music Contemporary Performance Music Inquiry Music Repertoire Performance Outdoor and Environmental Studies Physical Education Product Design and Technology Psychology Religion and Society Specialist Mathematics 1 Specialist Mathematics 2 Systems Engineering Text and Traditions Theatre Studies VCE VET Business VCE VET Community Services VCE VET Engineering VCE VET Equine Studies VCE VET Furnishing VCE VET Health VCE VET Hospitality VCE VET Hospitality Cookery VCE VET Information and Communications Technology VCE VET Integrated Technologies VCE VET Music Sound Production VCE VET Sports and Recreation Interim VCAA boss Marcia Devlin, who was installed after former CEO Kylie White stood down amid the scandal last week, said the information contained in English exams was already in the public domain and no possible advantage could have been gained from accessing the leaked material. She said this was likely the case for other exams because their content had substantially changed or the content published provided no material benefit. The government said any advantage to students would not be clear until exams had been marked. More to come. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Education VCE Schools For subscribers Caroline Schelle is an education reporter, and joined The Age in 2022. She previously covered courts at AAP. Connect via Twitter or email . Kieran Rooney is a Victorian state political reporter at The Age. Connect via email . Most Viewed in National LoadingThere is now a new betting favorite for NFL Coach of the Year according to one sportsbook. The Detroit Lions dominated the Indianapolis Colts 24-6 in Week 12 to improve to 10-1 and 6-0 at home. The 10-1 mark matches the Kansas City Chiefs for the best record in the NFL and has boosted Lions head coach Dan Campbell into the top spot for Coach of the Year. According to BetMGM , Campbell’s odds are +155, which is the best odds for a coach. Kevin O’Connell (+450) and Mike Tomlin (+550). Jim Harbaugh (+450) and Sean Payton (+600) have the next-best odds. Tomlin had the best odds and was the favorite entering Week 12. However, his Steelers lost at the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. O’Connell has his Vikings at 9-2, which is a big surprise considering they are using Sam Darnold at quarterback. Many people feel the Vikings are outperforming their level of talent. Payton has also worked his way up the list by helping the Broncos turn things around. Denver began the season 0-2 but has gone 7-3 since. As for Campbell, his Lions host the Bears on Thanksgiving. They follow it up with home games against Green Bay and Buffalo. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Nebraska saw a football player announce a transfer for a third straight day Wednesday, this time a rotational member of the defensive line. Kai Wallin will move on after two seasons as a Husker, he announced on social media. He appeared in 11 games this fall with four tackles and recorded half a sack at Purdue. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder said he “deliberated, consulted and prayed” about his decision. “While I hope to continue to grow and evolve and make an impact on a new field, I will never forget the honor it was to wear a Nebraska jersey,” Wallin wrote in part. Wallin played a year of junior-college ball before arriving at Nebraska in 2023. The Sacramento native redshirted his first season before logging 89 snaps this year including 13 against Wisconsin. He saw single-digit snaps in five games behind a senior-heavy starting line. The defender has two years of eligibility remaining. Wallin is the 10th Husker to announce his intent to enter the transfer portal since Nov. 25. Migration among defenders has been higher as defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton both left in recent days for Florida State. NU coach Matt Rhule said earlier Wednesday the roster churn – especially attrition – will continue in earnest as the team continues to trim closer to next season’s mandated limit of 105. “There’s going to be more,” Rhule said. “Everybody’s journey is different.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Farage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbers