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Monopoly Showcases Aussie Towns on New Game Board

Brexit Deal ‘Down to Political Will’ From UK, Says Irish PM

The prime minister of Ireland—where the impact of a Brexit deal will be felt most keenly within the European Union—says he hopes the outline of a free-trade deal between the UK and the EU will emerge by the end of the week. The fate of the deal rests on UK political will, he said. Talks started up again on Monday, albeit online, with the EU’s chief negotiator saying that “fundamental divergences remain.” In just six weeks the UK will sever ties with the trading bloc, regardless of whether a deal has been struck or not. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he had received a sense of progress from both negotiating teams. “I would be hopeful that, by the end of this week, that we could see the outlines of a…

Monopoly Showcases Aussie Towns on New Game Board

Monopoly will now feature the Blue Mountains, Bundaberg, Broken Hill and 19 other Aussie locales in their new special edition聽which is set to raise relief funds for those聽impacted by bushfires, flood and the聽CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus聽(novel coronavirus).

Released on Nov. 25, the community relief version of the board game shines a light on towns that have done it tough in 2020, and highlights the community spirit and strength of the locations.

“We wanted to provide Australians with something positive in the challenging year that is 2020,” said Charlotte Waalkens from Winning Moves Australia, the game’s maker.

“The communities chosen have all gone through a tough time for one reason or another, as everyone has. We thought they deserved something special to remind everyone how incredible they are,” Waalkens said.

The locations chosen include:

  • Batemans Bay and Broken Hill, Queanbeyan from New South Wales
  • Bundaberg, and Noosa from Queensland
  • Mildura and Gippsland from Victoria
  • Mount Gambier and Port Augusta from South Australia
  • Kalgoorlie, Busselton, and Karratha from Western Australia
  • Katherine and Tennant Creek from the Northern Territory
  • Port Arther and Devonport from Tasmania
  • Belconnen from the Australian Capital Territory

“Choosing which locations to put on the board was unbelievably difficult,” Waalkens said.聽“We wanted to showcase places above and beyond the usual cities or hotspots.”

Mayor Darriea Turley of Broken Hill said聽in a media release that the special edition is a great exposure for the far west NSW town.

“A picture of our iconic Living Desert sculptures takes pride of place right in the middle of the board,” Turley said.

“Broken Hill basically has been in drought since the early 2000s. People will remember the great dust storms coming through our town,” Turley said.

Waalkens hopes it will bring a bit of joy to Australian families as Christmas approaches.

“We feel that the Australian Community Relief Monopoly board and puzzle shine a positive light on regions that otherwise may not normally receive such exposure. We hope it will also bring a bit of much-needed joy to Australian families over the holidays.”

Focus News: Monopoly Showcases Aussie Towns on New Game Board

Kirkup to Step up as the Youngest Leader of WA Liberals

The 33-year-old Member of Parliament Zak Kirkup will become the youngest West Australian Liberal leader in 20 years as his rival pulled out shortly before the party room meeting. Kirkup’s opponent, former cabinet minister Dean Nalder, announced his withdrawal in a statement released on Tuesday, saying it was clear that the numbers were not on his side, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. “It has become apparent that I don’t have the majority support of my parliamentary colleagues and therefore will clear a path for the new leader,” Nalder told AAP. “I have been humbled at the level of support from my electorate and the wider community.” Kirkup’s victory means the Liberal party would welcome its youngest leader since Matt Birney’s short-lived reign in the mid-2000s. “I think anyone should judge a…