Latest news with #Long
West Australian
19 hours ago
- West Australian
Killer arsonist in parole bid ahead of fire anniversary
A killer arsonist has applied for parole as a community prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of a horror blaze that claimed 15 lives. However those impacted by the fatal fire will have their say before officials determine Robert Paul Long's parole status. Homeless fruit picker Long was jailed for life after torching the Palace Backpackers Hostel in the small southern Queensland town of Childers in June 2000. At the time there were 88 people in the century-old building. Fifteen young travellers died in the early morning blaze including nine in a single room that had barred windows and an exit blocked by furniture. Long has applied for parole ahead of the fatal fire's 25th anniversary on Monday, to be marked by a Bundaberg Regional Council-led commemoration. However his application has been set aside while officials wait on victim submissions as they determine Long's parole status as a restricted prisoner. "Due to the magnitude of the crimes committed by prisoner Long, he is a restricted prisoner," Parole Board Queensland said in a statement. The board's president is yet to decide on whether to make a restricted prisoner declaration which would ensure Long could not apply for parole for up to 10 years. "Prisoner Long will remain in Queensland Corrective Services custody while the restricted prisoner matter is being determined," the board said. "The president has recently been informed that a number of victims wish to make submissions to the board following the 25th anniversary of Mr Long's crimes," the parole board said. "Under the restricted prisoner framework the president must take into account the submissions of an eligible person when making his decision." No timeframe has been given for when the president will determine the declaration. Long set fire to a bin inside the hostel, using cushions and paper towels to make sure it spread. He fled and was found days later by police, stabbing an officer in the jaw during his arrest. Nine women and six men died in the blaze but Long was only ever prosecuted for the murders of Australian twins Stacey and Kelly Slarke. Authorities decided not to pursue him over the other 13 deaths because they believed he'd be unlikely to serve any more time. The Childers hostel is now a memorial featuring a portrait of the 15 victims. Long was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 20 years. His parole application in 2020 was rejected after local community members, survivors and the victims' families signed a petition against his release.
Perth Now
19 hours ago
- Perth Now
Killer arsonist in parole bid ahead of fire anniversary
A killer arsonist has applied for parole as a community prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of a horror blaze that claimed 15 lives. However those impacted by the fatal fire will have their say before officials determine Robert Paul Long's parole status. Homeless fruit picker Long was jailed for life after torching the Palace Backpackers Hostel in the small southern Queensland town of Childers in June 2000. At the time there were 88 people in the century-old building. Fifteen young travellers died in the early morning blaze including nine in a single room that had barred windows and an exit blocked by furniture. Long has applied for parole ahead of the fatal fire's 25th anniversary on Monday, to be marked by a Bundaberg Regional Council-led commemoration. However his application has been set aside while officials wait on victim submissions as they determine Long's parole status as a restricted prisoner. "Due to the magnitude of the crimes committed by prisoner Long, he is a restricted prisoner," Parole Board Queensland said in a statement. The board's president is yet to decide on whether to make a restricted prisoner declaration which would ensure Long could not apply for parole for up to 10 years. "Prisoner Long will remain in Queensland Corrective Services custody while the restricted prisoner matter is being determined," the board said. "The president has recently been informed that a number of victims wish to make submissions to the board following the 25th anniversary of Mr Long's crimes," the parole board said. "Under the restricted prisoner framework the president must take into account the submissions of an eligible person when making his decision." No timeframe has been given for when the president will determine the declaration. Long set fire to a bin inside the hostel, using cushions and paper towels to make sure it spread. He fled and was found days later by police, stabbing an officer in the jaw during his arrest. Nine women and six men died in the blaze but Long was only ever prosecuted for the murders of Australian twins Stacey and Kelly Slarke. Authorities decided not to pursue him over the other 13 deaths because they believed he'd be unlikely to serve any more time. The Childers hostel is now a memorial featuring a portrait of the 15 victims. Long was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 20 years. His parole application in 2020 was rejected after local community members, survivors and the victims' families signed a petition against his release.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Justice Minister slams ‘absolute nonsense' over claims she can quickly change Ombudsman removal laws
Naomi Long said there has been 'a lot of misinformation' surrounding the issue which would require extensive public consultations to achieve. It comes after Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman, Marie Anderson, announced she was taking a temporary leave of absence on Tuesday. Her leave follows the news that police investigating an alleged domestic incident at the Ombudsman's home have sent a file of evidence to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Ms Anderson said that, despite planning to retire in December, she opted for temporary leave due to the 'current commentary' that was 'detracting from the focus' of her work with bereaved families. The probe, launched after the alleged incident at Ms Anderson's Co Down home in September 2023, was carried out by West Midlands Police at the request of the Chief Constable, and has now concluded. Think tank calls for new approach to save public services The PPS confirmed that the file reports 'one individual for potential offences of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office'. Mrs Long believes there has been 'too much speculation' regarding the alleged incident, as well as 'a lot of misinformation' in the capabilities of the Department of Justice's powers. She told the BBC's Nolan Show: 'I think that brings a legal risk. I also think that brings all sorts of damage to the individual.' Asked about the department's powers generally in relation to the Police Ombudsman, she said: 'There has been a lot of misinformation around this. First and foremost, for me, public confidence in the role of the office of the Police Ombudsman is crucial because it impacts on the confidence in policing. I want to acknowledge [her] decision to delegate her powers to the chief executive and senior staff. 'To be clear, the Ombudsman herself is not appointed by the Department of Justice or employed by the Department of Justice. She is a corporation sole, which means that the powers of the Ombudsman are vested in the individual, not in the office. 'It's not her office that has the powers, the office is there to facilitate her powers.' Mrs Long explained that the nature of accountability in the Ombudsman role was set up to ensure control was not 'abused' for political means. She added: 'It's something I am very conscious of and have been conscious of for some time. It would require a period of significant public consultation to ensure that any power to suspend or remove the Ombudsman could not be abused for political ends. 'That is the reason why when this office was set up originally there was no power of suspension or removal from office. The fear was that if politicians had the power to suspend the Ombudsman, they would use that power if they disagreed with their findings or their interventions.' The Justice Minister admitted there is 'a conversation to be had' surrounding the high thresholds, but slammed the notion that any action from her office could be taken swiftly. 'There are very clear rules set down in law about when the Ombudsman should be removed from office, in terms of when someone should retire, and those thresholds are high – there's no question about that.' 'There is a conversation to be had around this, but the idea that a piece of legislation, that either I or the Executive Office could bring at the drop of a hat without thorough consultation and legal advice is absolute nonsense. 'Some commentators have been suggesting we should just change the law, it is not that simple.'
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Tinder bets on group dating feature to win back Gen Z
Tired of navigating the online dating landscape alone? Now you can swipe right along with friends. Tinder launched a double-dating feature on June 17, allowing users to create joint profiles with friends to match with other pairs. Double Date, as the feature is called, is the refined version of the failed 2016 product Tinder Social, which was discontinued in 2017 over privacy concerns and user confusion about its purpose. To activate Double Date, users select up to three friends to create a pair with. Then they can browse and like other paired users. When both pairs like each other, a group chat opens between all four people to coordinate plans. The feature also allows users to message individuals within a matched pair privately if they want to transition to a one-on-one conversation. Users can maintain multiple pairings with different friends while keeping their individual dating profile separate. The feature was popular with young users when it was tested in Europe and Latin America. Cleo Long, Tinder's head of product marketing, said the feature is meant to help relieve dating stress for younger users. 'This is a social-first experience that's really meant to help relieve some of the pressure that we know a lot of Gen Z experiences with dating by making it more social, more fun, and bringing your friends in to help reinforce that comfort piece,' Long said. Tinder said nearly 90% of people who tried Double Date were under 29, aligning with the company's push to retain Gen Z. The group dynamic appears to resonate with women, who were three times more likely to show interest in paired profiles compared to individual ones during testing. Users in group chats also sent significantly more messages – about 35% more than typical one-on-one conversations. The company said the feature helped bring users to the platform. About 15% of people who accepted Double Date invitations were either completely new to Tinder or returning after a period of inactivity. The positive testing results prompted Tinder to accelerate its US launch ahead of schedule. Tinder is owned by Match Group Inc, the company behind Hinge and OkCupid. It is facing mounting pressure on its business. In the first quarter of 2025, Match Group reported a 5% decline in paying subscribers across all its apps, while Tinder saw a 7% decrease in subscriptions. In response to these shifts, Match made the decision to lay off approximately 325 employees, or 13% of its workforce. These recent losses are part of a broader pattern. Tinder's paying user base has slipped from more than 11 million subscribers in late 2022 to roughly 9.1 million today. The consistent decline has caught the attention of activist investors, including Elliott Investment Management. The mounting pressure led to significant leadership changes within the company. In May, Tinder chief executive Faye Iosotaluno announced she would step down in July after less than two years in the role. Spencer Rascoff, who was appointed Match chief executive in February to tackle the slowdown in user engagement, stepped in to lead Tinder directly. Rascoff has outlined an ambitious technology-focused turnaround plan. In an internal memo viewed by the Wall Street Journal , he called on staff to speed up product changes and use artificial intelligence, emphasising that employees should prioritise user experience over short-term revenue. The company has rolled out AI features that help users create better profiles and prompt them to reconsider potentially inappropriate messages before sending them. Tinder has also launched 'The Game Game', which uses OpenAI's speech-to-speech technology to let users practice flirting with AI-generated personas in over-the-top scenarios designed to reduce dating anxiety through humour. During the company's first quarter earnings call, Rascoff noted that Match's apps have fallen out of favour with younger daters because many saw using them as a 'numbers game'. He believes Double Date can help shift perceptions, calling it less 'hook-uppy' and more about having 'a good time as friends'. Tinder's struggles reflect broader trends in the dating app industry. Dating apps have been losing their appeal amongst singles in recent years, especially Gen Z, the generation born between 1997 and 2012. Only 26% of online dating services users in the US are 18 to 29 years old, while 30 to 49-year-olds comprise 61% of that same user base. Gen Z increasingly prefers meeting potential partners through mutual friends and real-world gatherings. Los Angeles has become a testing ground for dating alternatives that skip swiping entirely. Start-ups like El Segundo-based First Round's on Me encourage immediate in-person meetups, while Venice's Lox Club hosts weekly community events for singles to mingle. Whether Double Date can reverse Tinder's fortunes remains to be seen, but Rascoff is betting that the future of dating lies not in perfecting the swipe, but in reimagining how people connect. Gen Z is 'not a hookup generation', he said. 'They don't drink as much alcohol, they don't have as much sex. We need to adapt our products to accept that reality.' – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Tinder bets on group dating feature to win back Gen Z
Tired of navigating the online dating landscape alone? Now you can swipe right along with friends. Tinder launched a double-dating feature Tuesday, allowing users to create joint profiles with friends to match with other pairs. Double Date, as the feature is called, is the refined version of the failed 2016 product Tinder Social, which was discontinued in 2017 over privacy concerns and user confusion about its purpose. To activate Double Date, users select up to three friends to create a pair with. Then they can browse and like other paired users. When both pairs like each other, a group chat opens between all four people to coordinate plans. The feature also allows users to message individuals within a matched pair privately if they want to transition to a one-on-one conversation. Users can maintain multiple pairings with different friends while keeping their individual dating profile separate. The feature was popular with young users when it was tested in Europe and Latin America. Cleo Long, Tinder's head of product marketing, said the feature is meant to help relieve dating stress for younger users. 'This is a social-first experience that's really meant to help relieve some of the pressure that we know a lot of Gen Z experiences with dating by making it more social, more fun, and bringing your friends in to help reinforce that comfort piece,' Long said. Tinder said nearly 90% of people who tried Double Date were under 29, aligning with the company's push to retain Gen Z. The group dynamic appears to resonate with women, who were three times more likely to show interest in paired profiles compared to individual ones during testing. Users in group chats also sent significantly more messages – about 35% more than typical one-on-one conversations. The company said the feature helped bring users to the platform. About 15% of people who accepted Double Date invitations were either completely new to Tinder or returning after a period of inactivity. The positive testing results prompted Tinder to accelerate its U.S. launch ahead of schedule. Tinder is owned by Match Group Inc., the company behind Hinge and OkCupid. It is facing mounting pressure on its business. In the first quarter of 2025, Match Group reported a 5% decline in paying subscribers across all its apps, while Tinder saw a 7% decrease in subscriptions. In response to these shifts, Match made the decision to lay off approximately 325 employees or 13% of its workforce. These recent losses are part of a broader pattern. Tinder's paying user base has slipped from more than 11 million subscribers in late 2022 to roughly 9.1 million today. The consistent decline has caught the attention of activist investors, including Elliott Investment Management. The mounting pressure led to significant leadership changes within the company. In May, Tinder CEO Faye Iosotaluno announced she would step down in July after less than two years in the role. Spencer Rascoff, who was appointed Match CEO in February to tackle the slowdown in user engagement, stepped in to lead Tinder directly. Rascoff has outlined an ambitious technology-focused turnaround plan. In an internal memo viewed by the Wall Street Journal, he called on staff to speed up product changes and use artificial intelligence, emphasizing that employees should prioritize user-experience over short-term revenue. The company has rolled out AI features that help users create better profiles and prompt them to reconsider potentially inappropriate messages before sending them. Tinder has also launched 'The Game Game,' which uses OpenAIs speech-to-speech technology to let users practice flirting with AI-generated personas in over-the-top scenarios designed to reduce dating anxiety through humor. During the company's first quarter earnings call, Rascoff noted that Match's apps have fallen out of favor with younger daters because many saw using them as a 'numbers game.' He believes Double Date can help shift perceptions, calling it less 'hook-uppy' and more about having 'a good time as friends.' Tinder's struggles reflect broader trends in the dating app industry. Dating apps have been losing their appeal amongst singles in recent years, especially Gen Z, the generation born between 1997 and 2012. Only 26% of online dating services users in the U.S. are 18 to 29 years old, while 30 to 49-year-olds comprise 61% of that same user base. Gen Z increasingly prefers meeting potential partners through mutual friends and real-world gatherings. Los Angeles has become a testing ground for dating alternatives that skip swiping entirely. Startups like El Segundo-based First Round's on Me encourage immediate in-person meetups, while Venice's Lox Club hosts weekly community events for singles to mingle. Whether Double Date can reverse Tinder's fortunes remains to be seen, but Rascoff is betting that the future of dating lies not in perfecting the swipe, but in reimagining how people connect. 'At the end of the day, dating should feel less like work and more like play,' he said.
