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‘Enshittification’ Is Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of 2024

'Enshittification' Is Macquarie Dictionary's Word of 2024
Nov 27 2024 Share

Australia’s Macquarie Dictionary has selected enshittification as its word of 2024, defining it as the gradual decline in the quality of a service or product, particularly online platforms, driven by profit-seeking.

The term reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the digital world, where services initially cater to users but later prioritise business customers, ultimately exploiting both.

Coined by Canadian-British author Cory Doctorow in a 2022 essay, enshittification describes the life cycle of digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Doctorow argues that platforms first prioritise users, then shift focus to advertisers, before finally extracting maximum value for themselves, leading to their deterioration.

The judging committee noted the term resonated with current frustrations and beat out other contenders like looksmaxxing (enhancing one’s appearance), overtourism, and sigma (a popular social archetype). Honourable mentions included right to disconnect (the legal right to ignore work communications after hours) and rawdogging (long-haul flying without entertainment).

Macquarie, regarded as a key authority on Australian English, annually selects a word that captures cultural trends. Last year’s winner was cozzie livs, a slang term for “cost of living.” Meanwhile, the UK’s Oxford Dictionary is running a public vote on its own shortlist, including brain rot and dynamic pricing.

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PN Calls For Another Protest On Monday

PN Calls For Another Protest On Monday
Nov 27 2024 Share

The Nationalist Party (PN) will stage another protest outside parliament next Monday over the Clint Camilleri-Clayton Bartolo scandal, PN leader Bernard Grech announced on Tuesday.

Grech criticised Prime Minister Robert Abela for not demanding the resignation of Clint Camilleri.

The controversy arose after a Standards Commissioner report found that Camilleri and Bartolo abused their positions by awarding consultancy jobs to Camilleri’s partner.

Bartolo resigned on Tuesday as tourism minister and Labour MP, with the prime minister attributing the decision to unrelated new claims involving Bartolo’s wife. However, Grech argued that Camilleri’s position also had become untenable.

Speaking in parliament during the budget estimates for the Ministry of Justice, Grech emphasised the power of public protests, declaring, “When people take to the streets in protest, they become unbeatable.”

He accused the government of attempting to dismiss public outrage while defending wrongdoing, stating, “This prime minister is betraying the people because he keeps defending fraud.”

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Ceasefire Deal With Hezbollah Agreed, Says Israeli PM

Ceasefire Deal With Hezbollah Agreed, Says Israeli PM
Nov 27 2024 Share

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, set to begin Wednesday at 8 a.m.

The truce will involve the withdrawal of militants and Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, but its duration depends on Hezbollah’s adherence. Netanyahu warned that any Hezbollah violations, including rearmament or attacks, would prompt Israeli retaliation.

The United States, with support from allies like France, facilitated the agreement. Netanyahu emphasised that Israel retains “full military freedom of action” and aims to isolate Hamas while addressing broader threats from Iran.

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated after Hezbollah supported Hamas following its October 7 attack on Israel.

Netanyahu stated the ceasefire allows Israel to focus on Hamas in Gaza, increasing pressure to release 97 remaining hostages from Hamas’s October attack.

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Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread? Brand Teases Holiday Special

Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread? Brand Teases Holiday Special
Nov 27 2024 Share

Pepsi is making the holidays brighter with a festive new drink, Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread Mini Cans, launching December 4.

This limited-edition flavour reportedly blends the classic Pepsi sweetness and fizz with hints of brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and molasses, ‘creating a cozy seasonal treat.’

The cans feature a cheerful gingerbread man design and are available exclusively in a zero-sugar option.

Details are quite scant about this new flavour, with Pepsi not being strangers to teasing the wildest of releases, only to reveal that they won’t actually release them – remember Pepsi Max Pumpkin Spice Flavour? We’ll have to wait and see.

However, were this to be an actual thing – and so far, it seems as though it actually might be – getting your hands on this exclusive flavour won’t be simple.

Pepsi has made it available in only two ways. First, you can claim a free gingerbread mini can through Pepsi’s TikTok Shop by purchasing two 10-packs of other Pepsi Mini Can flavours, such as Original, Zero Sugar, Wild Cherry, Diet, or Real Sugar.

Alternatively, fans can enter a giveaway on Pepsi’s official website until December 11, where lucky winners will be selected to receive the festive drink.

So we don’t think it’ll hit Maltese shelves anytime soon. Keyword – ‘think’.

Would you try this?

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