News

Why Aussies are turning to a TikTok comedian for Covid-19 information

Published

4 years ago

July 19, 2021

Australian TikTok comedian Jon-Bernard Kairouz has accurately guessed the number of new Covid-19 cases is New South Wales for five days straight

Jon-Bernard Kairouz is an Australian comedian who’s recently made headlines for his Covid-19 prediction skills. Kairouz has accurately guessed the number of new cases in the state of NSW for five days straight.

His record was broken today, predicting that the state would announce 109 new infections. Today, NSW announced 98 new cases in the state. He continues to deny claims that he has an inside source. Rather, he says he’s able to predict the case numbers using “simple maths”.

https://www.tiktok.com/@jonbernardk/video/6986233336112925954?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6968266470396872193

What’s his secret?

“We take into account many factors,” he explained.

“Last night we took into account how many granny flats there are in southwest Sydney, the diameter of Fairfield, the population of Sydney, the current infectious cases in the community, then we chuck it in the algorithm and see what kind of result we get.

“Another big factor for me is, when I was younger, I had a crayon lodged in my brain and once I had that removed my IQ went up 50 points, so I’m able to calculate these complex mathematical algorithms.”

Tik Tok guy says 109 tomorrow for NSW. You know he’ll be right.
Is this a fun distraction or a threat to public health and safety?
The witch hunt to find his leak & punish them is in full swing.
Tomorrow across Australia.
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) July 18, 2021

“People online have been messaging me saying ‘we know you are related to Gladys Berejiklian or have some relation to her’ and that’s just not true.”

“I know we have similar facial features but I’m not Armenian.”

Regardless, NSW health is reportedly investigating how eaxctly the TikTok star is coming up with the numbers. Kairouz says he received a phone call from NSW Health saying it was in his “best interests” to stop.

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Natasha Schapova

Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.

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SpaceX IPO could make Elon Musk’s Mars dream a trillion-dollar reality

SpaceX’s upcoming IPO could raise $25 billion and value the company over $1 trillion, igniting investor excitement for Mars missions.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

SpaceX’s upcoming IPO could raise $25 billion and value the company over $1 trillion, igniting investor excitement for Mars missions.

Investors are buzzing as SpaceX gears up for a potential IPO, aiming to raise more than $25 billion, possibly as soon as June. The offering could value the company at over $1 trillion, fueling Musk’s ambitious plans for Mars and beyond.

Despite the high-risk nature of space ventures, demand from retail investors is expected to be strong. Experts predict this IPO could become historic, with the company’s market value potentially soaring past $2 trillion once it launches.

Musk’s unconventional management style hasn’t slowed investor enthusiasm, even amidst regulatory hurdles. The funds raised could also support groundbreaking innovations, including energy-efficient space data centers.

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#SpaceX #ElonMusk #IPO #MarsMission #Investing #StockMarket #TrillionDollar #SpaceTech

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Russia shoots down 280+ Ukrainian drones as Zelenskyy pushes new peace plan

Russia claims 280 Ukrainian drones shot down; Zelenskyy finalizes a new peace proposal amid rising tensions and military clashes.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Russia claims 280 Ukrainian drones shot down; Zelenskyy finalizes a new peace proposal amid rising tensions and military clashes.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claims it has shot down over 280 Ukrainian drones, with 40 intercepted near Moscow, some targeting the city directly. Emergency services responded to debris, and temporary flight restrictions were enforced at Moscow’s airports amid the attacks.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy revealed his team is finalizing a revised 20-point peace proposal, introducing new ideas on territorial control. Ukrainian and American officials are set to consult online, focusing on security guarantees rather than the detailed points of the plan.

As tensions rise, both military clashes and diplomatic efforts continue to shape the future of the conflict. Keep up with the latest updates and expert analysis on these unfolding events.

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#UkraineConflict #RussiaUkraine #Zelenskyy #DroneAttack #PeacePlan #Moscow #WorldNews #TickerUpdates

News

Disney invests $1B in OpenAI to generate Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar videos

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI for AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters, enhancing fan interactions and launching in 2026.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI for AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters, enhancing fan interactions and launching in 2026.

Disney is taking AI to the next level, investing $1 billion in OpenAI to create a licensing deal that allows users to generate videos featuring more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. This partnership could redefine how fans interact with their favorite characters.

The deal will let users stream short AI-generated videos directly on Disney+, and ChatGPT will also produce images of Disney’s licensed characters. However, the agreement excludes talent likenesses or voices, keeping human performances separate.

Set to launch in 2026, the collaboration also gives Disney warrants to purchase additional OpenAI equity and use AI tools for product development, opening doors to new creative opportunities.

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