Tag Archives: oceania

headline

Google may shut off search function rather than pay for news content

Google is considering switching off its search function for Australian users if a proposed media bargaining code becomes law.

The tech giant's Australian managing editor Mel Silva said it was prepared to take the drastic action over a proposed media bargaining code.

The legislation aims to force digital platforms to pay media companies for news content, and follows a 12-month review into Google and Facebook by the competition watchdog.

"If the Code becomes law, Google would have no real choice but to stop providing Search in Australia. That's a worst-case scenario and the last thing we want to have happen — especially when there is a way forward to a workable Code that allows us to support Australian journalism without breaking Search," Ms Silva told a Senate hearing.

READ MORE: Watchdog throws spanner into Google's Fitbit plans

Google is currently profiting off Australian news outlets without paying for it.

"Now that would be a bad outcome for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day."

"It's not a threat. It's a reality."

One of the largest companies in the world, Google has an estimated value of more than a trillion dollars.

Facebook also appeared at the senate hearing, repeating its threat that having to pay for news could see the content blocked altogether for Australian users.

Simon Milner, Vice President Public Policy at APAC for Facebook, said while traditional news "enriches" the Facebook community, it provides "almost no commercial value".

READ MORE: Aussie media companies call on Google, Facebook to pay for news content

"Clearly there's a range of ways in which people find out about what's going on in the world and some of that is by what they consume on Facebook. And some of that will be from what we might think of as kind of mainstream news sources," Mr Milner said.

"We've estimated that less than 5 per cent of Facebook's newsfeed actually involves that kind of content."

News organisations in Australia have accused Google and Facebook of profiting off their content without paying anything for it.

The Senate economics committee is examining the Federal Government's proposed media bargaining code bill.

Google Australia Managing Director Mel Silva at the Google Pyrmont offices in Sydney.

Representatives from Nine, the publisher of this website, News Corp, Guardian Australia and the AAP will also give evidence.

The inquiry will also hear from Free TV Australia, the ABC and SBS, and the ACCC.

You can livestream the hearing at 9news.com.au.

Chris Janz, Chief Digital and Publishing Officer at Nine, compared Google and Facebook's net worth to being greater than that of the entire Australian stock market, and the nation's entire gross domestic product.

Mr Janz oversees the publishing of a broad range of local news, including this website alongside the Australian Financial Review, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, Brisbane Times and more.

He referred to a recent "experiment" in which Google removed local news for some Australian users to test its impact.

"Google's ability to execute the so-called experiment demonstrates the truth of the core digital media ecosystem, you either play by their rules or not at all," Mr Janz said.

"For media organisations, this means having to accept your content appearing on Google's platforms, which provides Google with significant commercial returns without paying a single cent for the creation of that journalism."

READ MORE: Australia's most Googled terms of 2020

Google said this was an 'experiment' … 'to measure the impacts of news businesses and Google search on each other'.

"They effectively wiped local news off the face of the internet with one decision made out of California. They have power and they are not afraid to use it," Mr Janz added.

Google and Facebook executive will also give evidence at the hearing, where they will argue against the code. Google claims the proposed code will "break the way Google search works".

The Federal Government is undeterred by threats from Google that it may leave Australia if it is forced to pay for news content, Mr Morrison said.

At the Senate hearing today into the planned code for digital media platforms the tech giant hinted it may leave Australia if Federal Parliament passes the legislation.

"Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That's done in our parliament. It's done by our government. And that's how things work here in Australia. And people who want to work with that, in Australia, you're very welcome. But we don't respond to threats."

Australian media executives say the code is essential for the survival of independent journalism.

Federal Parliament is expected to vote on the bill early this year after the committee delivers its report on February 12.

headline

US top doctor describes 'liberated feeling' after Trump's departure

When Dr Anthony Fauci returned to the White House briefing room on Thursday, he did so without the sour reality of a hostile president watching him from metres away in the Oval Office.

Appearing at ease and jovial with reporters, the United States' top medical advisor admitted he was looking forward to greater transparency and evidence-based policies under Joe Biden's new administration.

"It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine, that were uncomfortable because they weren't based on scientific fact," he said.

READ MORE: Dr Anthony Fauci lays out Biden's support for WHO after Trump criticism

"I can tell you, I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the President," Dr Fauci told the room, appearing nonetheless to take some pleasure in no longer having to dance around President Donald Trump's turbulent ego.

"The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is – let the science speak," he added.

"It is somewhat of a liberating feeling."

He demurred somewhat on his rocky history with the previous administration.

But he made no attempt to veil his pleasure at the changing of guard.

For the 80-year-old infectious disease specialist, it was the latest act in a long history of serving seven US presidents.

Dr Fauci, who sat on Donald Trump's coronavirus task force and endured his public scorn, emerged to tout a new administration's plans and voice support for a new President's approach.

In some ways, it was a turnabout.

READ MORE: Biden signs burst of coronavirus orders, requires masks for travel

Though he was sidelined and ignored in the end, he still helped formulate a badly flawed Trump administration policy that failed to contain the virus.

But when things began to get bad, Mr Trump's aides restricted how much Fauci could appear on television to offer warnings and disinvited him from briefing the President in the Oval Office.

Dr Fauci and Mr Trump disagreed on how to approach the pandemic, what the correct message was for the American people and how to balance reopening with preventing further contagion.

Through it all, the President insisted he respected Dr Fauci but disagreed with his approach.

But at their relationship's nadir, Trump suggested he was considering firing Fauci.

Attacks from Trump's allies led to death threats and enhanced security.

It was a different scene on Thursday. Fauci awoke before 4am ET to address the World Health Organisation on the administration's behalf after Biden rejoined the body.

READ MORE: Trump returns to business empire ravaged by pandemic

Coronavirus: Trump brings up Fauci's approval rating during briefing

In the State Dining Room several hours later, Biden and Fauci greeted each other warmly before Biden signed a series of executive actions meant to combat the pandemic.

He appeared for a number of television interviews. He was the first administration expert to stand in the briefing room under new management.

Dr Fauci himself said he was guaranteed a new approach.

"One of the things that was very clear as recently as about 15 minutes ago, when I was with the President, is that one of the things that we're going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest," Fauci said.

"If things go wrong, not point fingers but to correct them. And to make everything we do be based on science and evidence."

"That was literally a conversation I had 15 minutes ago with the President," he said, clearly relieved the stark warnings he's been trying to convey about the pandemic for months would now come with the imprimatur of the White House.

"We are still in a very serious situation," Fauci said as he began his remarks, calling the recently passed death toll of 400,000 "historic in a very bad sense."

He suggested that the recent seven-day average of cases "looks like it might actually be plateauing in the sense of turning around," and the public health officials "think it's real."

But, he added, he's said this before.

"I'm sort of getting a déjà vu standing up here cause I said something like this almost a little bit less than a year ago when we were talking about the acceleration of cases in the late winter, early spring of 2020, when we were having New York City metropolitan area being the epicenter of what was going on. There are always lags, so please be aware of that," he said.

Crowd chants "Fire Fauci" at Donald Trump's Florida rally

That, of course, was before then-President Trump decided Dr Fauci's urgent warnings were dampening Americans' spirits and, in turn, his political prospects.

By summer, Trump had taken to insisting the country was "rounding the corner" on the virus.

By the time another surge hit in the fall, Trump was in full denial.

Dr Fauci went for weeks without speaking with Trump.

Two days before the election, Trump suggested to a crowd in Florida he might fire him. The doctor continued to attend task force meetings with Mike Pence, and appeared at a briefing with Mr Pence in November, but his relationship had died with Trump — who'd taken to a new adviser, Dr. Scott Atlas, whose views were on the fringe.

On Thursday, Dr Fauci signaled the days of overconfidence and loose facts were over.

"One of the things new with this administration is if you don't know the answer, don't guess," he said.

"Just say you don't know the answer."

headline

Australian Open tennis player apologises after contracting virus

An Australian Open player who tested positive for COVID-19 while in hotel quarantine has apologised for earlier complaining about being forced into the system.

Rising Spanish star Paula Badosa said on Twitter she was "sorry", after announcing she had tested positive for coronavirus.

She had previously written a now-deleted tweet saying she was not told that the whole plane had to go into strict quarantine if there was a case on board – only those in the rows near them.

LIVE UPDATES: Dr Fauci 'liberated' by Trump departure

However she said today: "Please, don't get me wrong. Health will always comes first & I feel grateful for being in Australia.

"Quarantine & preventive measures are pivotal right now.

https://twitter.com/paulabadosa/status/1352387658199273481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"I talked about rules that changed overnight but I understand the sad situation we are living. Sorry guys. Stay safe."

Badosa has been moved to a 'medical hotel' in Melbourne after she reported feeling ill yesterday.

Ms Badosa arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Abu Dhabi and was one of the 72 players placed in hard lockdown because she was on a positive case.

Ms Badosa the tested positive on her seventh day of mandatory 14-day quarantine. It has not been confirmed how she contracted COVID-19.

READ MORE: Further virus testing for Australian Open players, officials

https://twitter.com/paulabadosa/status/1352235757843451905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"I have some bad news. Today I received a positive COVID-19 test result," the world No. 67 wrote on Twitter.

"I'm feeling unwell and have some symptoms, but I'll try to recover as soon as possible listening to the doctors. I've been taken to a health hotel to self-isolate and be monitored.

"Thanks for your support. We'll be back stronger."

A total of 72 competitors have been confined to their hotel rooms before the tournament that starts on February 8.

Tennis players are seen entering the Quarantine zone as they arrive to train at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.

Tennis Australia officials reported on Wednesday that 10 people who travelled to Melbourne for the grand slam tournament had tested positive.

But at least two of those were likely to be viral shedding, where someone still has the virus in their system but is no longer contagious, officials said.

There were 17 tournament charter flights that arrived in Australia over three days last week.

Players and their entourages then needed to go through a mandatory 14-day quarantine ahead of the tournament, but were going to be allowed out to train for five hours a day, which is now not allowed for those on the affected flights.

Main-draw play is supposed to begin on February 8 at Melbourne Park.