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Sydney – A prominent Chinese billionaire political donor has been stripped of his Australian residency and barred from returning to the country after scrutiny of his Communist Party ties, local media reported on Wednesday. Huang Xiangmo – a property developer who has donated millions to Australia's two main political parties – has been at the centre of a spate of political interference concerns. On Wednesday, he was left stranded outside the country after the Home Affairs office cancelled his permanent residency and turned down his application for Australian citizenship, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Quoting unnamed sources, the Sydney Morning Herald said Huang had his application for an Australian passport blocked for a range of reasons, including what the paper said were "character grounds" and concerns over the "reliability" of information he had supplied in interviews. The Home Office declined AFP's request for comment on the case. Australia's spy agency has long voiced concerns that China was interfering in Australian institutions and using the political donations system to gain access. Foreign influence of domestic politics It reportedly warned the country's political elite about taking donations from Huang, and a fellow billionaire property developer, Chau Chak Wing. In 2017, disgraced Australian senator – and one-time opposition Labor powerbroker – Sam Dastyari, quit politics over his links to China. The Sydney Morning Herald said Dastyari had repeatedly contacted immigration personally to check on Huang's case. Previous reports have said he also warned Huang that his telephone had been tapped by Australian intelligence. Canberra last year introduced sweeping reforms to its espionage and foreign interference laws, strengthening existing offences and introducing new ones targeting the foreign influence of domestic politics. "Foreign adversaries are actively working against Australia's interests through a variety of means, including obtaining classified information or seeking to influence the outcome of Australia's democratic processes," the government said upon passing the laws in June.

Land Rover has given the world’s most beautiful mid-size SUV more performance, luxury and exclusivity with the introduction of the limited run Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition. Designed as the pinnacle of the Velar line-up, the new model has been developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations and is powered by a 405kW 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine with a range of unique design enhancements. Adding to its exclusivity, this distinctive model will be available to purchase for one year only. Velar was named World Car Design of the Year at the 2018 World Car Awards and is the second model in the Range Rover family to wear the coveted badge, after the introduction of the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic in 2017. Super charged With a supercharged V8 engine, the most powerful Velar accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds and is capable of 274km/h, while cosseting customers with traditional Range Rover refinement and comfort. Uprated brakes and suspension components, plus bespoke settings for everything from the powertrain to the safety systems, ensure the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition mixes the personality of a performance car with the go-anywhere capability of a luxury mid-size SUV. Features The powerful new model is distinguished by a range of visual enhancements and unique trim finishes, delivering a more purposeful appearance and heightened attention to detail while maintaining Velar’s perfectly optimised proportions and distinctive silhouette. On the outside, the award-winning mid-size SUV features include a new front bumper with larger air intakes to feed the V8 Supercharged engine and cool the uprated braking system. A new grille and lower side mouldings combine with a revised rear bumper featuring integrated quad exhaust finishers. The exterior changes combine with a transmission tunnel undertray to ensure the fastest Velar in the range cuts through the air more efficiently.

A British official has signed an order that paves the way for tycoon Vijay Mallya's extradition to India to face financial fraud allegations. The government office that oversees immigration and other issues said in a statement issued on Monday that Home Secretary Sajid Javid "carefully considered all relevant matters" before signing the extradition order. Mallya has 14 days to appeal. Known for his flashy lifestyle, he was a leading figure among India's business elite. He launched Kingfisher Airlines and owned a stake in the Force India Formula One team. Mallya is accused in India of conspiracy to defraud, making false representations and money laundering offences. He has multiple medical problems, but British Judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled last month he could receive adequate medical care in prison if he were extradited.

The thrill of a rumbling 197kW, turbocharged Boxer engine working in tandem with the grip of the famous Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is absolute and exciting, says Subaru. This performance is something for which the Subaru WRX is known. Born on the rally tracks of the world, the WRX name has been carved into the pages of history as a winning performer at all levels of motorsport. It’s prowess quickly found its way into Subaru road cars, the combination of its powerful Boxer® motor and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive™ ensuring a safe and controllable, yet exciting driving experience. The 2019 Subaru WRX, carries this philosophy forward in an altogether safer and smarter package. Upgrades to the comfort, technology and safety make for a more compelling and relevant sports sedan package. Next Gen Safety Subaru never stops working to improve the safety of its vehicles, even those that have already achieved 5* ratings across all ratings agencies across the world. The Subaru WRX is stronger and safer than ever before. With ever-improving production methods, the WRX front end crash structure has been improved for better safety performance in frontal collisions. New on the 2019 WRX is a rear fog lamp now for improved visibility. The WRX is also fitted with all of the active safety features that come standard on all Subaru vehicles. Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), is one such feature, a more advanced version of electronic stability control. This combination of Subaru symmetrical full-time all-wheel-drive and VDC results in increased levels of traction and safer road holding. As with most premium CVT-equipped Subaru vehicles, the Subaru WRX features the award-winning EyeSight Driver Assistance system. Premium, tech-laden cabin Subaru has gone to great lengths to build a cabin that exudes quality, durability comfort and excitement. The trim levels are high quality, with a mix of soft-touch materials, leather and carbon fibre panel inlays. The flat-bottomed sports steering wheel is tilt and reach-adjustable with switches for audio, SI-DRIVE and EyeSight. The red-on-black stitching on the leather seats and steering wheel add a sporty touch to cabin. Layers of tech and comfort features abound from the drivers 8-way electrically-adjustable seat, to the full colour high definition multi-function display on which most vehicle functions and settings can viewed. Infotainment is of the highest standard too, fully enabled for Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Auxiliary connectivity through a 7-inch screen. 7 Harmon Kardon sound speakers are fitted throughout the cabin for 440W of premium audio quality and entertainment. Specified on the 2019 Subaru WRX vehicles, the on-board equipment includes Satellite Navigation as standard.

It’s been a while since Logitech introduced a new gaming headset, but today the company is spoiling us with four new models. Starting from the high-end, the Logitech G935 features Pro-G 50mm audio drivers made of a hybrid mesh material that the company claims to deliver deeper bass and fuller sound profile. The Logitech G935 also bumps up surround sound quality up to DTS Headphone:X 2.0. Additionally, this new product is also the first headset to get Logitech’s LightSync technology, which syncs RGB lighting between all Logitech G products and can even have the headset light up to mimic on-screen content. Hopefully, Logitech has updated the accuracy of the latter mode since the feature first debuted on the Logitech G650 speaker system. The Logitech G935 looks like the spitting image of its predecessor, the Logitech 933, but it has been tweaked slightly with leatherette ear cups that will replace the fabric mesh material used last time. The Logitech G935 will retail for $169 (about £130, AU$230) and, if you don’t mind wires, the $139 (about £110, AU$190) Logitech G635 features all of the same sound quality improvements and lighting system in a wired headset. Moving down the product tree, the Logitech G432 is positioned as a mid-range 7.1 surround sound gaming headset. Like Logitech’s flagship headset, this one also gets its new Pro-G 50mm drives and a USB DAC. The only features you don’t get are RGB lighting and buttons, but that also helps make this set of cans much less bulky. The Logitech G432 cans come priced at $79 (about £60, AU$110) and, if you don’t need or want the USB DAC, the Logitech G332 comes at an even cheaper $59 (about £50, AU$80) price.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at the United States for not taking a tougher position against Saudi Arabia over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, as he demanded answers from the kingdom over the journalist's killing. "I cannot understand America's silence when such a horrific attack took place, and even after members of the CIA listened to the recordings we provided," Erdogan said in an interview aired by state broadcaster TRT on Sunday. "We want everything to be clarified because there is an atrocity, there is a murder," he added, calling the the killing "not an ordinary one". Erdogan has long insisted that the order to kill Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul four months ago came from the highest levels of the Saudi government. "What they [Saudi Arabia] say is '22 people are arrested now'. Despite this, we have some information. They might have taken some of them out. They might be victims of traffic accidents. Because the system there is working very weird," he said. Last month, a trial opened in Riyadh of 11 defendants over the killing, including five people facing the death penalty. Several rights groups and international observers, however, have said it lacks credibility. UN probe Erdogan's latest remarks came as Agnes Callamard, the UN's special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, on Sunday concluded a week-long trip to Turkey to gather information on the events surrounding Khashoggi's murder four months ago. Callamard is understood to have heard the grisly audio recordings of the Saudi journalist's last moments, which are in Turkey's possession and were previously shared with CIA Director Gina Haspel, as well as Germany, France and Britain.

Munich - The new BMW 8 Series Coupe is able in a unique way to inspire with its dynamic driving characteristics, whilst at the same time fascinating with luxurious equipment features and a sporty, elegant design. Moreover, maximum exclusiveness is also guaranteed with regard to the individual configuration of the new luxury sports car. The BMW M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition has a combined fuel consumption of 9.8 – 9.7 litrtes/100 km; and a combined CO2 emissions of 224 – 221g/km. It will be launched during the second quarter of 2019. Now, for the first time, the drive and suspension technology of the two-door model, which was developed incorporating motor racing know-how, can now be combined with exclusive BMW Individual exterior and interior equipment features. Limited number for SA The BMW M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition will be produced in a limited quantity of 400 at the BMW Dingolfing plant between April and June 2019. Only eight units will be available in South Africa from the second quarter of 2019. The exterior paint finish, light alloy wheels and interior trim will lend the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition both an individual and expressive character. The fascinating exterior appearance is above all due to the newly developed BMW Individual special paint finish Frozen Barcelona Blue metallic being applied on a BMW model for the very first time. It is combined with the upgraded BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line, which, in addition to the side window surrounds, also includes the BMW kidney grille frame and slats, the air breather applications and tailpipe trims finished in black. The dark accents featured on the special edition model are complemented by 20-inch M light alloy wheels with a Y-spoke design finished in Jet Black. Available optional features also include, inter alia, an M Carbon roof and an M Carbon exterior package. The exclusive aura inside the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition is also enhanced by specific BMW Individual design features, a fine selection of colours and materials and particularly high-quality equipment.

Now that macOS Mojave has taken the crown from macOS High Sierra, you’d be forgiven for thinking that no one cares about that old mountain-themed OS anymore. But, if you think about the fact that macOS Mojave requires more recent hardware, you’ll realize that plenty of users will be using macOS 10.13 High Sierra for a long time. And, while macOS High Sierra may have faced its own problems, like password vulnerabilities and other security issues, back at launch – those days are over. Apple has effectively fixed all those lingering problems, and macOS High Sierra grew into quite a respectable macOS release. Plus, Apple more than made up for any launch issues with that new file system – not to mention those built-in photo-editing tools. When all is said and done, macOS High Sierra faced – and still faces, to a certain extent – the same problems that Mountain Lion did, following Lion. It brings some interesting changes, but doesn’t do anything all that new and exciting. So, without further delay, let’s dive into everything there is to know about macOS High Sierra. macOS 10.13 High Sierra release date Apple revealed macOS 10.13 High Sierra at the WWDC 2017 keynote, which is no surprise, given Apple’s tradition of announcing the latest version of its Mac software at its annual developer event. Yet, it wasn’t until September 12 that Apple revealed that the full release of High Sierra would launch little more than a week later, on September 25. There was a developer version of the operating system you could enroll in leading to the final release, but luckily that’s no longer required to take advantage of the latest features found in macOS 10.13. VR finally comes to the Mac One of the biggest bits of news surrounding macOS High Sierra is that it will finally bring support for virtual reality headsets officially. Namely, the HTC Vive and Steam VR will work with Macs running the new OS this autumn. However to use such a device, you’ll need at least a 5K iMac or MacBook Pro – or, any Mac that can run the new OS with an external GPU solution. Support for such devices comes part and parcel with macOS High Sierra, but won’t be an active function until later this year. The good news is that macOS High Sierra comes with a helping of refinements to its graphics API that make up for the scarce GPU support. Metal was a step forward for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, but with Metal 2, Apple promises less strain on the CPU as well as proper machine learning and better Xcode profiling/debugging in macOS High Sierra. Perhaps more important, though, is the fact that MoltenVK was recently brought to Mac by Khronos Group. An implementation of the open-source Vulkan API, it’s said to bring frame rate gains of up to 50% in Dota 2. As it’s cross-platform, too – being supported by Windows and Linux as well as Apple’s devices – MoltenVK is likely to be more widely adopted by creators. The final build of macOS High Sierra, 10.13.6 is available right now. Beside a few bug fixes, it integrates Airplay 2 into iTunes – though you will need to update iTunes to take advantage of it. You can download the update from the Mac App Store. More importantly, this update contains the bug fix that stops the Core i9 MacBook Pro from thermal throttling.

A new version of the Lexus RC luxury sports coupe has made its debut in South Africa in exclusive F Sport guise. Since its local introduction in 2015, the RC has spearheaded Lexus’ commitment to delivering a more emotional quality in the driving experience provided by its vehicles, with its sporty appearance and versatile driving character. New found elegance The car retains all the virtues of what RC is renowned for but takes them to a higher level by adopting the latest evolution of Lexus’ signature design language and sharpened driving dynamics inspired by the brand’s flagship luxury coupe, the LC. The exterior styling remains as sporty as the preceding model, but subtle changes in the details, inspired by Lexus LC design cues, imbue it with a new-found elegance. Inside the cabin, everything from the high-quality materials to the precise layout of controls and gauges has been crafted to maximise driving pleasure. A design language Lexus designers sought to maintain the RC’s dynamic coupe proportions while adding a high level of elegance to the exterior. Key to achieving this was the addition of distinctive design elements, such as a new front bumper design – the accentuated corners flow down from the headlamps. There is also a new grille mesh pattern comprising shapes which gradually transform from top to bottom, creating intriguing visual tension. The vertical arrangement of the 'micro' triple LED headlamps and new L-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights add to the car’s more distinguished appearance. Moving to the rear, air ducts have been added to the corners of the rear bumper, resulting in better handling stability and enhanced overall driving response. Engine specs The 3.5-litre Lexus dual-injection 2GR-FKS V6 in the Lexus RC 350 F Sport delivers a rare, charismatic concoction of power, torque and responsiveness for a thoroughly engaging driving experience. This engine has been proven in Lexus models around the world and meets driver expectations for responsive acceleration.

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Facebook says it has removed 783 Iran-linked pages, accounts and groups from its service for what it calls "coordinated inauthentic behaviour". That's the social network's term for fake accounts run with the intent of disrupting politics and elections. Facebook has been disclosing such purges more regularly in recent months, including ones linked to groups in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Russia. Twitter also said on Thursday that it "found limited operations" that may have been connected to sources in Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. It did not give further details and said it suspended the suspicious accounts before the 2018 US midterm elections. The accounts on Facebook and Instagram typically misrepresented themselves as locals in more than two dozen countries, ranging from Afghanistan, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia and the US, often using fake accounts and posting news stories on current events. This included using stories from Iranian state media about conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Facebook said on Thursday the accounts spent about $30 000 on advertisements, paid for in US dollars, British pounds, Canadian dollars and euros. The company said Twitter helped its investigation by sharing information about suspicious activity it found on its own service. The companies, along with others in the tech industry, have been cooperating more when it comes to such account takedowns by sharing information. Such cooperation can help the companies avoid regulatory scrutiny by showing critics and lawmakers that they can set aside differences when it comes to battling outside threats that affect their users.

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After talking about its 28-core processor for what we feel like was forever, Intel is finally releasing the Xeon W-3175X. The new workstation processor packs 28-cores, 56-threads and a whopping $2,999 (about £2,280, AU$4,120) price tag. That’s quite the cost even compared to the most expensive HEDT chips, including the $1,979 (£1,919, AU$2,999) Intel Core i9-9980XE and $1,799 (£1,639, AU$2,679) AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Of course, this is a much hardier enterprise-level CPU designed to take on the biggest workloads, such as creating and rendering media, film editing and 3D graphics rendering. Not only will the Intel Xeon W-3175X do the work, it’ll work faster than other chips, thanks to its 3.1GHz base frequency, 4.3GHz single-core Turbo clock and 38.5MB of L3 cache. Likewise, this chip's supporting Intel C621 chipset is meant for production system builds. The chipset brings support for up to 68 PCIe lanes (44 PCie 3.0) and six-channel DDR4-2666 memory, which will allow users to pair this processor with up to a gargantuan 512GB of RAM.

Volkswagen is bringing a legend back to life! At the beginning of March, the Wolfsburg-based Group will reveal the first fully electric version of a new buggy. Taking its cues from po[CENSORED]r American dune buggies, the concept vehicle is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), demonstrating how multifaceted the new platform truly is. 'An emotional bond' "A buggy is more than a car. It is vibrancy and energy on four wheels. These attributes are embodied by the new e-buggy, which demonstrates how a modern, non-retro interpretation of a classic can look and, more than anything else, the emotional bond that electric mobility can create," states Klaus Bischoff, Head Designer at Volkswagen.The concept of the fully electric buggy is based on the historical predecessors that found their home in California. Back then, the chassis of the Beetle served as the basis; now, the MEB is proving to be just as flexible. True to the original style, this reinterpretation of a proper buggy has no fixed roof or conventional doors, while the free-standing wheels fitted with off-road tyres and open side sills dominate the overall look. Reminiscent of the Beetle The new MEB concept vehicle shows that this fully electric platform can be used for more than just large-scale series production models. Like the Beetle chassis of yesteryear, the modular electric drive matrix has the potential to facilitate the development of low-volume niche series. The history of recreational vehicles and Volkswagen technology is a long one: from the Beetle convertible and special bodies produced by companies such as Hebmüller and Rometsch to fully open designs of the kind embraced by the Meyers Manx buggy, the Beetle chassis allowed for creative – and sometimes exclusive – custom solutions for decades. Globally, around 250 000 individual vehicles were built as one-offs or at low volumes through to the 1980s.

President Donald Trump apparently loves giving visitors extended tours of the White House - and drops a few outlandish claims during them from time to time. Two White House officials and other visitors told The Washington Post that Trump has claimed that Barack Obama would spend the day in the private dining room off the Oval Office watching television on a small screen that has since been upgraded to a flat screen. "He just sat in here and watched basketball all day," Trump reportedly said, adding that when he got to the White House the dining room was in "rough shape" and had a hole in the wall. An Obama White House official told The Post that none of those claims were true. Trump loves to give tours of the White House, apparently more so than most of his predecessors. Citing "nearly a dozen visitors and current and former White House aides," The Post reported that the president has invited acquaintances and strangers alike to show them around and brag about the different improvements he's made, pointing out new chandeliers and artwork he brought in. Trump's love of tours is in line with his host-like persona. According to The Post, Trump showed off celebrity relics to guests when he lived in Trump Tower in New York. And in his golf clubs, Trump shows off the conditions of the property and the luxury of the food served to guests. The White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, told The Post that "the president is proud of the White House and its rich history." According to The Post, Trump has often invited members of Congress to see the Lincoln Bedroom after dinners. A guest who once went on one of these tours told the newspaper that Trump pointed out Abraham Lincoln's desk and bed and said, "I don't know how he slept there," as Lincoln "was a really tall guy!" Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian, told The Post that most presidents have wanted to "keep parts of the White House private for their families and themselves." But Trump, he said, is "very restless and doesn't like desk work."

A new robotic tank with a disastrous performance history has reportedly entered service with the Russian army, according to multiple reports citing Russian state media. Armed with anti-tank missiles, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and a 30 mm automatic cannon, the Uran-9 unmanned ground combat vehicle was designed for advanced fire support and reconnaissance missions over a 2-mile range. But as of last summer, the revolutionary new weapon was still a very long way from being combat ready, according to Defence Blog, an online military magazine. BUSINESS INSIDER | TRENDING The Russian army has a cool new robot tank, but there's a really good chance it doesn't work Ryan Pickrell , Business Insider US Jan 29, 2019, 10:19 AM Uran-9 robot tank (Getty) The Uran-9 unmanned combat ground vehicle has reportedly entered service with the Russian military. The revolutionary robotic tank built for fire support and reconnaissance missions performed horribly in combat tests in Syria. Leaked Russian reports on the testing prompted estimates that it could be more than 10 years before the technology would be ready. The US military has been researching this technology for more than a decade. A new robotic tank with a disastrous performance history has reportedly entered service with the Russian army, according to multiple reports citing Russian state media. Armed with anti-tank missiles, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and a 30 mm automatic cannon, the Uran-9 unmanned ground combat vehicle was designed for advanced fire support and reconnaissance missions over a 2-mile range. But as of last summer, the revolutionary new weapon was still a very long way from being combat ready, according to Defence Blog, an online military magazine. In June 2018, a leaked internal report from a senior researcher with the 3rd Central Research Institute of the Russian Defense Ministry surfaced online, revealing that the elite new unmanned system had performed poorly during combat trials in Syria. The actual operational range is estimated to be closer to 300 to 500 meters, a fraction of what was initially promised. Furthermore, operators lost control of the vehicles repeatedly, 17 times for up to a minute and twice for 1 1/2 hours. Control problems tended to become more severe in urban environments where buildings interfered with the signal, potentially undermining a key practical purpose. The main cannon experienced firing failures and delays. The internal targeting systems were unstable, and the machine components tended to break down, according to Task & Purpose.