BUSINESS

MasterCard could pay £19 billion (AU$33 billion) in damages for allegedly setting unlawfully high interchange fees for 16 years. A class action suit in the UK against the financial services giant could see millions of British consumers collecting more than £450 (AU$780) each.

Australians are among the world’s fattest, a new report has revealed. The report on Australia’s health also shows that people Down Under suffer from alarmingly high blood pressure, diabetes and are dying by suicide in record numbers.

University of Western Australia (UWA) researchers have given the Shark Shield a green signal, which comes as a relief to divers and surfers after the recent spate of shark attacks in Australia.

The United Kingdom’s Brexit can bring new opportunities for Australians, according to Alexander Downer, Australia’s high commissioner to the UK. He said the UK’s exit from the European Union shouldn’t affect Australia’s chances of entering trade deals with the UK.

Canberra scientists have developed a self-pumping straw that can propel liquid with a new material that fold into a tube when water touches it. Researchers from Australian National University have created a new paper-like material that responds to even a tiny droplet of water by folding into a tube several centimetres long. The material self-assembles itself into a tube-like straw and once assembled, the capillary delivers fluids.

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have made a breakthrough in understanding how cancer cells spread around the body and form tumours. The study says that a cancer cell’s ability to survive as it spreads may well be the weapon to fight the disease. As per the scientists, cancerous cells depend on an unusual survival mechanism to spread around the body. Thus, how cancer spreads and survives could well be the key to curing it.

As the EU referendum comes to a close, the Australian market is preparing for a possible Brexit (Britain Exit from the European Union) win, which would have implications in the local market. Many Australian stock investors are waiting for the official outcome to arrive before buying or selling stocks.

A Brisbane 7-Eleven branch has been fined more than $400,000, the largest-ever Court-imposed penalty achieved by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Businessman Sheng-Chieh Lo was penalised $68,058, while his company, Mai Pty Ltd, was fined $340,290 for “contemptuous disregard” for Australian workplace laws.

The director of the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre at UNSW, professor Jan Copeland, revealed that a recent online market survey of 4,500 Australians showed more than half of those smoking cannabis struggle to control their use. Still people continue to believe that they can never become dependent on marijuana.

Nuts such as walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews and almonds may significantly reduce prostate cancer mortality in men, a study has revealed. Prostate cancer is the second most lethal cancer and most commonly diagnosed cancer in men.

World Health Organisation’s (WHO) cancer agency, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has revealed that there is no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer. This is kind of a reversal of the agency’s previous warning, which rated coffee as “possibly carcinogenic.”

Gluten-free diets are a fad these days and they have taken hold of health fanatics worldwide. According to the reports, gluten-free diet has surpassed all other searches on Google in the US, beating Palaeolithic diets, Atkins and South Beach.

Google is said to support US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over fellow Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and Republican rival Donald Trump. The search engine giant has responded to accusations that it buries Clinton’s negative press in its autocomplete feature.

Australian hospitals may be contributing to the creation of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Results of a survey have revealed some grave figures as hospitals continue to inappropriately prescribe antibiotics to patients. The drug is being wrongly prescribed in up to 20 percent of cases, the survey revealed.

Experts are worried over the fact that use of recreational drugs during sex, particularly gay sex, can lead to HIV and hepatitis infections. Doctors have warned that new chemsex drugs such as mephedrone and GHB, methamphetamine (ice) and gamma hydroxybutyrate may lead to improper condom use, increase in promiscuity and high-risk sexual practices.

The Cambridge Weight Plan, Australia’s new fad diet, is now being investigated by a government regulator to find out if the product can be legally sold in Australia. Health experts have already warned of serious side-effects such as general feeling of coldness, rash, nausea, leg cramps, hair loss, halted periods and even unexpected pregnancy from following a diet so low on nutrients.

Melbourne researchers have developed a robotic arm that will allow users to experience the sense of touch. This breakthrough will allow amputees better control the movement of their robotic arm.

The 2017 Peugeot 3008 breaks away from the conventions of style for an SUV.

Breast Cancer Care, a British charity organisation, has warned that women aged between 50 and 70 are too reliant on mammograms for detecting breast cancer signs.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has lodged an appeal against the size of fine imposed by the Federal Court on Nurofen makers Reckitt Benckiser for breach of consumer laws.

E-cigarettes will be treated as tobacco in Victoria. The Victorian Government is extending the smoking ban to e-cigarettes too.

Google Nexus 2016 release date is now speculated to happen in August as Android N is pegged to be available by August.

Patients who had the magic mushrooms experienced a reduction in symptoms after a week. Eight of the 12 patients achieved full remission and were liberated from their depression temporarily.

Tesla may be facing some bumps ahead with dips in numbers and new competitors in the horizon.

Experts emphasised on the importance of preventive measures and the need for better weight management services. More research into alternative interventions is also crucial to take care of severe obesity.

Australians have negative stereotypes associated with strength-training. People look at these activities as super-masculine, and women believe they will put on a lot of weight.

The study should not be used as an escape route for not taking action against air pollution. If people start using “active transport” more, then pollution levels will come down automatically.

The researchers stumbled upon a vital supply route cancer cells use to obtain their nutrients. This discovery can lead to new treatments to stop tumour growth.

Scott Morrison presented his first budget plan as treasurer on Tuesday, outlining the need for a more diverse economy and announcing a ten-year enterprise plan to support jobs and growths.