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Disbelief as Aussie Paralympian stripped of medal

Australian athlete Jaryd Clifford has been disqualified and stripped of his medal after officials stepped in at the end of the mens 5000m event in Paris. The 25-year-old runner crossed the line in third place, claiming a bronze medal and was celebrating with his team when the news came in of his disqualification. Paralympic officials claim the Aussie had dropped the tether which ties him to his guide moments before he had crossed the line in the men’s T13 final. Vision-impaired runners must hold onto the tether until they’ve finished the race in its entirety. Clifford, who was the only runner in the field to use a guide, was left visibly distraught after learning he had been disqualified and stripped of his bronze medal. “I went and saw mum and dad and my girlfriend and broke down,” Clifford said. “I had my little cry on the side of the track. If you talk about reacting to results as grief, I had my grieving moment." “Out on the track, I was a little bit numb, I’m still a bit numb … I am pretty shattered, to be honest, if I’m frank about it, we went in with the aim of winning gold.” He later wrote on social media, “I’m absolutely gutted that we made such a critical mistake today. Remaining tethered is a fundamental rule of guiding and I’m shattered that I lost my mind in those final metres. I’ve got so much more to give, I promise to bring everything for the 1500m on Tuesday.” Fans watching on couldn’t believe the Aussie had been stripped of the medal in a moment that had no impact on the final outcome of the race, as one person on X wrote: “So you run 4999 metres tethered and one not? That wouldn't affect the result of the race so the race rules are s**t.” Image credits: Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

Country boycotts Paris Games after being stripped of medal

The prime minister of Romania has vowed to boycott the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics over what he described as “flagrant injustice” to two of the country’s gymnasts. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has called out the "scandalous situation" surrounding Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea, who both missed out on medals after the women's floor routines. Barbosu was initially believed to have won bronze and was beginning to celebrate the win, when the judges then adjusted the difficulty of American gymnast Jordan Chiles' routine, bumping her up into third place and sending the Romanian gymnasts into fourth and fifth position. The president of the country’s gymnastics federation Carmencita Constantin told AFP she would file two complaints to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after both Romanian gymnasts left the competition in tears. Voinea, 17, who filed an unsuccessful appeal of her own, complained she had been unfairly penalised. Fellow Romanian gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci chimed in on the controversy, urging a review of Voinea’s routine, after she claimed the athlete didn’t step outside the floor surface, an act she had been punished for. It comes as heartbreaking new footage of Barbosu’s medal being taken away emerged, after the final scores were updated and resulted in her coming in fourth place. As a result, the Romanian gymnastics team, who qualified for the first time in 12 years, left Paris without a medal after coming in seventh in the team competition. Prime Minister Ciolacu shared his upset over the loss, saying the athletes were treated "dishonourably" and would be boycotting the closing ceremony in protest. “I have decided not to attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics after the scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonourable way,” he wrote on Facebook. Romania also sent a letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation, after it was revealed that Voinea has now quit gymnastics after the dramatic Olympics loss. Image credits: Daniela Porcelli/SPP/Shutterstock Editorial <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">

Travel Trouble

“Outrageous”: Silver medal stripped after illegal act

The women's 5,000m final has ended in controversy after the second place holder was stripped of her medal and disqualified. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet took out first place in the final, while her fellow countrywoman Faith Kipyegon crossed the line second. The two Kenyan champions were seen celebrating with their country's flag after the race concluded, but their celebrations were cut short when news of Kipyegon's disqualification came through. Replays show that with two laps of the race to go, Kipyegon became entangled in a close proximity battle with Ethiopian rival Gudaf Tsegay as they raced for the first place. Kipyegon appeared to pull on the arm of Tsegay who reacted angrily by fending off the Kenyan. A Eurosport commentator was in disbelief over the display and couldn’t quite believe Kipyegon had been disqualified over the act. “That was outrageous I’m afraid. I am astonished,” he said on the global broadcast. “That was dreadful. She was not in front of her and shouldn’t have moved into her space. She wasn’t remotely far enough in front of her. There’s a rule you cannot [enter] into the space of an athlete where their feet are landing. Tsegay there was very out of order." “I think Tsegay was pushing into Kipyegon. Kipyegon just tried to protect her area, her zone so to speak." “If anything from those pictures what I’ve witnessed so far, and we need to get more information, I think Tsegay should have been disqualified. I am utterly flabbergasted. I cannot believe it. If anything they’ve got it completely wrong.” Because of the disqualification, Dutchwoman Sifansaw Hassan moved into the silver medal position, while Italy’s Nadia Battocletti took bronze. The Kenyan team officials, however, were determined to fight the disqualification, as they swiftly filed an appeal, arguing that the contact between the two athletes was incidental and did not warrant being stripped of her medal. After a thorough review of the incident, the appeal panel agreed with the Kenyan team’s assessment, concluding that the contact was part of the natural dynamics of a highly competitive race. As a result, Kipyegon's silver medal was reinstated. Image credits: Dave Shopland/Shutterstock Editorial <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">

Legal

Denmark’s Queen strips grandkids of royal titles

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has stripped four of her grandchildren of their royal titles in hopes they will be “able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent”. The Queen has two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and eight grandchildren. Her sons, their wives, and children all have the titles of count and countess of Monpezat, referring to Margrethe's husband, who was born Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. Prince Joachim’s children - Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13 and Princess Athena, 10 - will not be able to use their “prince” and “princess” titles from January 1, 2023. Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary’s children are not affected by the decision. “Her Majesty has decided that, as of 1 January 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim's descendants can only use their titles as counts and countess of Monpezat, as the titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued," the Danish royal household said in a statement. "Prince Joachim's descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future. “The Queen’s decision is in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years. “With her decision, Her Majesty The Queen wishes to create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves.” Image: Getty

News

What is laundry stripping?

Ready for an oddly satisfying way to clean your laundry? Laundry stripping is a method of washing clothes, sheets, and towels that allows you to actually see all the dirt and grime that’s hanging out on your supposedly clean linens. It’s kind of gross; but also totally gratifying when you’re done, knowing your laundry is probably the cleanest it has ever been. Here’s everything you need to know about laundry stripping – and how to DIY. What is laundry stripping? Laundry stripping is essentially a soaking method meant to deep-clean your laundry. The soak is done in a borax solution that removes built-up residue from detergent, hard water, body oils and fabric softener. What makes it so satisfying (but also might leave you slightly horrified) is that often the soaking water turns brown or grey from all the gunk that is “stripped” away from your linens! How to strip your laundry What you'll need is: Borax Washing soda (sodium carbonate) Laundry detergent Bath (or large bucket) Step 1: Make the soaking bath First, you’ll need a vessel large enough to soak the linens you want to strip. We recommend using the bathtub, but you also could use a large bucket or bin. Fill the bathtub with hot water. Add one part borax, one part washing soda, and two parts laundry detergent. For a bathtub, we recommend 1/4 cup borax, 1/4 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup detergent. Gently stir the water to dissolve the powders. Step 2: Soak the linens Add clean laundry to the water, completely submerging it. Let everything soak about four to five hours, or until the water is cool. Stir the water and swish the laundry around occasionally; the movement helps to remove the dirt and grime from the fabric. Step 3: Rinse Remove the laundry from the bath and drain the water. (Don’t forget to admire the gross murky brown colour!) Now run the laundry through the washing machine, using a rinse cycle without detergent. Dry the laundry as you normally would; then enjoy your crisp, super clean linens! When you should (and should not!) use laundry stripping Laundry stripping is great for sheets and towels because those items are used frequently and can easily collect a build-up of body oils and detergents. If your towels feel less absorbent than usual, and your sheets look a little dingy, it might be time to try your hand at laundry stripping. Be careful with colourful linens, because laundry stripping can cause dyes to run. You’ll also want to avoid delicate linens like lace or embroidered pieces. Also, clothing isn’t a great candidate for stripping. Remember, laundry stripping requires hot water; so keep that in mind and check care label tags before you get started. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/what-is-laundry-stripping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

Renowned activist strips down again moments after leaving court

A vegan activist notorious for her outlandish stunts has staged another topless protest in Perth. This comes moments after being convicted for a similar stunt. A magistrate on Wednesday found her guilty of disorderly conduct, after she stormed the Perth Louis Vuitton store wearing only underwear and covered in fake blood in August of 2021. Outside the court, Peterson once again stripped down, baring her chest - with only her nipples covered - which showed the message “wear ur own skin!” Video of the Louis Vuitton stunt shows Peterson topless in her underwear, her body smeared with fake blood as she berated customers in-store. The well-known vegan activist stormed the Rain Square boutique, armed with a sign reading “rather be naked than wear someone else’s skin”. Inside the store, Peterson can be seen shouting and yelling in front of customers and their children that “there is blood on your hands if you’re not a vegan”, before she is escorted out. Her boyfriend and co-accused Jack Higgs and another protestor filmed the act for social media. The trio did not deny undertaking the protest, but argued they were not acting disorderly. “I’m just using my bodily freedom to raise awareness for those who have no bodily autonomy,” she said outside court last week. While Peterson was on Wednesday convicted of acting disorderly, magistrate Michelle Harries found Peterson’s boyfriend and the third protestor not guilty of the charges against them. Image: 7News

Legal

Royal Family strips Prince Andrew of all royal patronages and military titles

The British Royal Family has removed Prince Andrew’s military titles and royal patronages, meaning the Queen’s second son will no longer be known as ‘His Royal Highness’. The move comes as Andrew fights a lawsuit brought in US court by Virginia Giuffre, accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. Andrew was already forced to step down from public duties in 2019 because of his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and after a disastrous BBC interview failed to clear his name. Buckingham Palace said in a statement, “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the queen. The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.” On Wednesday, Andrew’s lawyers failed to persuade US District Judge Lewis Kaplan to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit, and Judge Kaplan ruled that Giuffre could pursue claims that Andrew battered her and intentionally caused her emotional distress while Epstein was trafficking her. Andrew continues to deny Giuffre’s accusations that he forced her to have sex with him. The decision means Andrew could be required to give evidence at a trial which could begin between September and December if no settlement is reached. A source close to Andrew said, “Given the robustness with which Judge Kaplan greeted our arguments, we are unsurprised by the ruling. However, it was not a judgment on the merits of Ms Giuffre’s allegations. This is a marathon not a sprint and the Duke will continue to defend himself against these claims.” As for the Royal Family’s move to distance themselves from Andrew, the BBC’s royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said, “This is now about the protection of the royal family’s reputation. This is likely to do, and is already doing, considerable reputational damage – it’s being followed around the world.” Andrew’s military affiliations and patronages will be redistributed to other members of the family. Image: Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Legal

Woolies shelves stripped bare but not for the reason you think

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Shoppers who visited Sydney's Neutral Bay Woolworths were left in shock as many shelves were left bare. Although some thought it was due to panic buying because of the coronavirus pandemic, Woolworths has said in a statement it was for another purpose. The store's products were deliberately removed to show the significant role that bees and insects play in Australia's food supply. With the 2020 bushfires alone destroying 15.6 million hectares of forests, the food supply for bees and homes for insects is rapidly dwindling. Woolworths Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said that he hoped the stunt would show people how much their personal food supply would be impacted. “As the Fresh Food People, we’re passionate about providing millions of Australians access to the fresh food they love most," he said. "What many people don’t realise is how much of our food supply relies directly on pollinating bees." “Our goal here is to start a conversation in Australian homes about what a supermarket without bees would look like and how their impact goes far beyond just fruit and vegetables. However, if we take small actions to support bees and pollination today, we can create a better tomorrow and prevent this from becoming a reality.” </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

“Scumbag” man slammed for stripping down in Anzac Pool of Reflection

A man is yet to be identified after he stripped down to just his underwear and waded through the Pool of Reflection at Sydney’s Anzac Memorial. The internet caught wind of the man after a Reddit user shared a photo of the man online in the middle of the Memorial pool. He was spotted in his semi-nude state and posing for a photo in the Hyde Park memorial in Sydney’s CBD. Reddit user nextspedition posted the photograph for the world to see. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838544/anzac.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2a17901002444be8ab7ee7c9355ac6b2" /> “Congrats on the muscles mate, but how about not doing your photo shoot in the ANZAC pool of reflection? Ya know, like respect?” the post read. Other Reddit users were quick to slam the man for his actions, as the pool holds significant importance. It has a symbolic association with Anzac soldiers’ battles in France and Belgium. “I reckon its some scumbag influencer getting ready for November 11th” one Reddit user suggested. “Can’t even blame it on tourists because there are none,” another wrote. The Anzac Memorial pays tribute and gives honour to the service and sacrifice of servicemen, servicewomen, and their families. “The Anzac Memorial holds a significant historical collection of approximately 6000 objects that tell the personal stories of servicemen and servicewomen, and their families,” reads the Anzac Memorial website.

News

Strip search horror: Doctor onboard Qatar flight speaks out

A fellow passenger on-board the Qatar Airways flight that saw 13 Australian women subjected to “invasive” physical examination has given a “horrifying” account of exactly how the situation unfolded. Travelling to Sydney, Dr Wolfgang Babeck was on board Qatar Airways flight 908 on October 2 and had to endure lengthy delays after a premature baby was found alive in an airport bathroom. As the search for the baby’s mother commenced, 13 women were forced to disembark from the flight and undergo invasive gynaecological exams without any explanation. Appearing on The Project, Dr Babeck recounted the incident saying the plane had sat for three hours on the tarmac at Doha’s Hamad International Airport before passengers were told the airport had been closed. “About three hours in, the women were asked to disembark the plane and, in fact, I thought, ‘the vulnerable people are being taken off the plane and there is probably a security incident or something’. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The federal government is today demanding answers from Qatari authorities after as many as 13 Australian women were reportedly forced to endure a terrifying strip-search ordeal in Doha. <a href="https://t.co/BVd2Y2ToYS">pic.twitter.com/BVd2Y2ToYS</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1320631171668201475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2020</a></blockquote> “And sure enough, shortly thereafter, some security guards came on board to basically search whether another person would be hiding on the plane,” Dr Babeck told host Carrie Bickmore. He continued to say that none of the passengers had been told about the baby, and the women were not given any indication as to why they were being asked to get off the plane. “From what I understand, which is very frightening, many, if not all of them were not told prior to their inspection what the reason for it was, so it only came out at the end when they reboarded … it must have been a terrifying ordeal, not even knowing what the purpose of this is,” he said. Bickmore, who described the incident as “deeply shocking,” and “unfathomable,” asked what the women’s demeanour was like when they returned to the aircraft. “Shell-shocked. Certainly the beginning. They were in disbelief, you know? You would have imagined this would have happened 100 years ago, but not now … One lady cried, others were certainly upset, but I think becoming angry in a mood to protest or to take action? That occurred much later,” he said. Dr Babeck went through the hotel quarantine process alongside the women from his flight after disembarking, and has kept in contact with them via a WhatsApp group. He said he was “utterly impressed” by how they’ve been coping. “I have utmost admiration for them, because they have very strong personalities among them, different character, but I think united by the idea that this can never happen again, and that they would like to use their personal ordeal to make sure that people are made responsible for what has occurred, and that there is an investigation going on,” he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is waiting for a report from Qatari authorities into the incident, which Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne described as “grossly disturbing and offensive” and unlike anything she “had ever heard of”. The incident has been reported to the Australian Federal Police.

News

Patti Newton reveals surprising reason for stripping off on The All New Monty

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Patti Newton has surprised many when it was announced she was stripping off on The All New Monty, but Newton says that raising money for a good cause was a "necessity". Newton is taking the opportunity to increase awareness of breast cancer and urging young girls to take preventative measures. "Bert's sister Alice was diagnosed with breast cancer the year we got married and passed away the next year and it was devastating for him," she says. "So my performance is dedicated to the beautiful Alice Newton." <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEvVJt5J_g1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEvVJt5J_g1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Very excited The All New Monty , is starting September 13 at 7pm on Channel 7. It’s over three Sundays, I’m very proud to have been part of the show wonderful cast, great cause and love working with #georgieparker and #toddmckenney 😀</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/pattinewtonofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Patti Newton</a> (@pattinewtonofficial) on Sep 4, 2020 at 8:20pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Newton has said that she's not nervous at all about getting naked in front of the nation. "While everything's not like it used to be – the knees give up, the ankles give up – I'm doing OK!" she explained with a laugh. "I think I'm pretty lucky. A bulge here and a bit of a crinkle in the side of my hips I can cope with. "It's not actually who I am. I am somebody who loves life and while I may not enjoy the very last moment of getting naked, this is a good thing to do." She also has the support of her husband, Bert, who initially thought Patti wouldn't be on board. "I think when I first told [Bert] he thought I'd say no," Patti told New Idea. However, Newton has decided to take the opportunity to raise awareness of breast cancer and is urging people to get checked. </div> </div> </div>

RECALL WARNING: Popular antiseptic creams stripped from shelves

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> 13 popular first-aid creams will be taken off shelves on September 18 after it was found that the active ingredient in the creams has caused severe reactions in those who are allergic to Bufexamac. People have had severe allergic reactions and can suffer from extreme rashes and in some cases hospitalisation. Kylie Johnson from Canberra purchased a tube of Medi Quattro to treat a small patch of dry skin but ended up being in the hospital for six days. "I had like a really itchy red rash all over my neck, it was coming up my face and you could kind of see it grow," Ms Johnson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/topical-bufexamac-cream-banned-overseas-leaves-some-customers-with-severe-burns-and-blisters/852b0e16-33ff-4e69-85d3-52a68fdcefc5" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">A Current Affair</a>. "It didn't work and it just kept getting worse, the rash kept growing which is really terrifying." She was treated like a burns victim as she was placed under a space blanket and sedated as pain medication was not working. She feared the worst and at one point thought she would have to "look at my will to see if it's alright". The 13 creams with Bufexamac as an active ingredient will no longer be sold as of September 18, 2020 – so be sure to check labels carefully. "Consumers and health professionals are advised that first aid creams containing bufexamac will be removed from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) on 18 September 2020 and will no longer be sold in Australia," the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/bufexamac" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">TGA website</a> read. "TGA has determined that, based on our assessment and independent advice from the Advisory Committee on Medicines (ACM) the safety and effectiveness of bufexamac-containing products are unacceptable. "Bufexamac is associated with a risk of serious skin reactions (also known as allergic contact dermatitis). "The TGA has also determined that there is inadequate evidence that the bufexamac ingredient in these products is effective." </div> </div> </div>

News

How the shady world of the data industry strips away our freedoms

The recent questioning of the heads of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Apple in the US Congress has highlighted the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/29/21335706/antitrust-hearing-highlights-facebook-google-amazon-apple-congress-testimony">threat</a> their practices pose to our privacy and democracy. However these big four companies are only part of a vast, sophisticated system of mass surveillance. In this network are thousands of data brokers, ad agencies and technology companies – some of them Australian. They harvest data from <a href="https://www.gdpr.associates/how-many-people-companies-data/">millions of people</a>, often without their explicit consent or knowledge. Currently, this includes data related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, data giant Palantir has provided <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2020/03/31/palantir-the-20-billion-peter-thiel-backed-big-data-giant-is-providing-a-coronavirus-monitoring-tool-to-the-cdc/#5c3df1501595">lab test results and emergency department statuses</a> to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. How much do they know? Data companies gather data about our online activity, location, <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/23andme-glaxosmithkline-pharma-deal/">DNA</a>, health and even how we <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/23andme-glaxosmithkline-pharma-deal/">use our mouse</a>. They use a range of techniques, such as: <ul> <li>web-trackers planted on <a href="http://josepmpujol.net/public/papers/pujolTrackingTheTrackers.pdf">almost every page on the internet</a>, which follow our browsing activity</li> <li>“smart” home devices <a href="https://moniotrlab.ccis.neu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ren-imc19.pdf">leaking details of our usage habits and location</a></li> <li><a href="https://published-prd.lanyonevents.com/published/rsaus18/sessionsFiles/8161/ASEC-T08-Leaking-Ads-Is-User-Data-Truly-Secure.pdf">millions of mobile apps</a> sending our data to unknown third parties, including sensitive information such as <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/period-tracker-apps-facebook-maya-mia-fem">when we last had sex</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/solutions/measurement/retail-measurement/">millions of retailers</a> tracking our purchasing habits and <a href="https://kepleranalytics.com/">in-store movements</a>.</li> </ul> This expansive tracking generates <a href="https://liveramp.com/our-platform/omnichannel-ecosystem/">billions of data points</a> that can reveal every facet of our lives including our family status, income, political affiliation, interests, friendships and sexual orientation. Data companies use this information to compile detailed individual consumer profiles. These are used for purposes such as <a href="https://www.adelphic.com/platform/planning-buying/people-based-advertising/">targeting us with ads</a>, determining our <a href="https://risk.lexisnexis.com/products/riskview">eligibility for loans</a> and assessing the <a href="https://www.idanalytics.com/">riskiness of our lives</a>. The data industry in Australia Some of the world’s largest data companies operate in Australia. Quantium is an Australian data analytics firm that acquires data from various partners including NAB, Qantas, Woolworths (which owns 50% of the company) and Foxtel. These partnerships <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OScchFWM0Go">allow Quantium to</a> “tap into the consumer data ecosystem with an unrivalled picture of the behaviours of more than 80% of Australian households, spanning banking, household and retail transactions”. A company spokesperson told The Conversation most of its work is “data science and AI (artificial intelligence) work with first-party de-identified data supplied by the client”. From this, Quantium delivers “insights and AI/decision support tools” for clients. Anonymised or “de-identified” data can still be <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6650473/">accurately re-identified</a>. Even if a person’s details are de-identified by being converted to an alphanumeric code, the conversion method is identical across most companies. Therefore, each code is unique to an individual and can be used to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-04-28/i-asked-everyone-for-data-from-facebook-to-data-brokers-to-stan/9676700">identify them</a> <a href="https://crackedlabs.org/en/corporate-surveillance">within the digital data ecosystem</a>. A lack of transparency With a revenue of more than <a href="https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.the_quantium_group_holdings_pty_limited.3916579df14e1e37a7ad82a3a823b788.html">US$110 million</a> last year, the insights from Quantium’s data seem to be proving valuable. From this revenue, more than <a href="https://www.tenders.gov.au/Search/KeywordSearch?Keyword=quantium&submitSort=Go&OrderBy=Publish+Date&sort=">A$61 million between 2012 and 2020</a> came from projects commissioned by the Australian government. This includes two 2020 engagements: <ul> <li>a “COVID-19 Data Analytics” project worth more than A$10 million with a contract period from March 17, 2020 to December 31, 2020</li> <li>a “Quantium Health Data Analytics” project valued at more than A$7.4 million with a contract period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.</li> </ul> Quantium’s spokesperson said they could not discuss the details of the contracts without government approval. In the past decade, the Australian government has commissioned dozens of projects to other data analytics firms worth more than A$200 million. These include a A$13.8 million Debt Recovery Service project with <a href="https://www.dnb.com/">Dun & Bradstreet</a> and a A$3.3 million National Police Checks project with <a href="https://www.equifax.com.au/">Equifax</a> – both started in 2016. It’s unclear what and how much data has been shared for these projects. Last year, Quantium was one of several larger companies <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Australian%20Loyalty%20Schemes%20-%20A%20Loyalty%20and%20Reward%20Co%20report%20for%20the%20ACCC.PDF">put on notice by Australia’s consumer watchdog</a> for sharing data with third parties without consumers’ knowledge or consent. How do they work? Data companies largely operate in the shadows. We rarely know who has collected information about us, how they use it, who they give it to, whether it’s correct, or how much money is being made from it. LiveRamp (formerly Acxiom) is a US-based company partnered with Australia’s Nine Entertainment Co. <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/dont-follow-market-australia-nine-adds-liveramp-data-offering-446130">This partnership</a> allows the Nine Network to give marketers access to online and offline data to target consumers across Nine’s digital network. This data may include the Australian electoral roll, to which LiveRamp <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/afterpay-accessing-electoral-roll-data-under-laws-designed-to-target-terrorism-money-laundering-20190122-p50sw4.html">gained access last year</a>. Similarly, Optum is a US-based health data company that <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-data-brokers-make-money-off-your-medical-records/">collects information</a> from hospital records, electronic health records and insurance claims. It has data on <a href="https://www.optum.com/business/solutions/data-analytics/data/real-world-data-analytics-a-cpl/claims-data.html">more than 216 million people</a> and used this to develop a predictive algorithm that was shown to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertpearl/2019/11/11/algorithm/#6786bfb37800">discriminate against black patients</a>. Compromising our democracy The prevalence, scope and stealth of the abovementioned data practices are not congruent with the basic principles of a liberal democracy. According to philosopher Isaiah Berlin, liberal democracies can only thrive if they have autonomous citizens with <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberty-positive-negative/">two types of freedoms</a>: <ol> <li>freedom to freely speak, choose and protest</li> <li>freedom from undue inspection and intervention.</li> </ol> Our data-driven world signals an extreme diminishing of both these freedoms. Our freedom of choice is harmed when our informational environments are doctored to nudge us towards <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/how-recommendation-algorithms-run-the-world/">behaviours that benefit other parties</a>. Our private space is all but gone in a digital environment where everything we do is recorded, processed and used by commercial and governmental entities. How can we protect ourselves? Although our ability to disconnect from the digital world and control our data is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/15/as-technology-advances-what-will-happen-with-online-privacy/#7061d5e1c451">eroding rapidly</a>, there are still <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/guides/privacy-project/how-to-protect-your-digital-privacy">steps we can take</a> to protect our privacy. We should focus on implementing legislation to protect our civil liberties. The Australian <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/focus-areas/consumer-data-right-cdr-0">Consumer Data Right</a> and <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/">Privacy Act</a> stop short of ensuring the appropriate data protections. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission highlighted this in its <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/holistic-dynamic-reforms-needed-to-address-dominance-of-digital-platforms">2019 report</a>. In 2014, the US Federal Trade Commission <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/data-brokers-call-transparency-accountability-report-federal-trade-commission-may-2014/140527databrokerreport.pdf">recommended</a> legislation to allow consumers to identify which brokers have data about them – and that they be able to access it. It also recommended: <ul> <li>brokers be required to reveal their data sources</li> <li>retailers disclose to consumers that they share their data with brokers</li> <li>consumers be allowed to opt out.</li> </ul> If we care about our freedoms, we should try to ensure similar legislation is introduced in Australia. Written by Uri Gal. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-shady-world-of-the-data-industry-strips-away-our-freedoms-143823">The Conversation.</a>

Caring

Did you know: More than 80% of strip searches turn up nothing

It is difficult not to be cynical about the New South Wales Government’s recent <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/nsw-government-shuts-down-police-watchdogs-strip-search-inquiry/">decision to shut down the Law Enforcement Corruption Commission’s (LECC) inquiry into strip searches</a>, particularly in light of new statistics published this week that show that in an overwhelming majority of cases, strip searches turn up nothing. Figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) show that of the 211,000 personal searches conducted by New South Wales police in 2018, 88 per cent resulted in police finding nothing – not illegal drugs, not knives or other concealed weapons. In fact, nothing at all. The numbers paint a damning picture. Police targeting children and indigenous Australians More than 26,000 searches were conducted on children under the age of 18. When looked at geographically, in some areas around the state up to as many as 37 percent of strip searches involved children, with nothing found in more than 90 per cent of these. About 78 per cent were conducted on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people. Until the moment it was canned in December last year (at the same time as the New South Wales government dismissed former head of the LECC Michael Adams QC) <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/watchdog-to-investigate-strip-search-of-teen/">the inquiry into strip searches</a> was tackling an issue that has become one of great social concern – that police are increasingly using the highly invasive procedure of strip searches, and are not always following the law when doing so. Strip searches conducted illegally Mr Adams’ tenure as head of the LECC and also head of the strip search inquiry was not renewed shortly after he told an LECC hearing that he would examine whether some of the unlawful strip searches the LECC had been investigating classified as indecent assaults. If any of this had actually been proven, <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/suing-police-over-unlawful-strip-search-an-interview-with-luke-moore/">the NSW police force would be potentially liable to compensate victims</a>. Because such a significant number of searches result in nothing being found, then it stands to reason that police are either inadequately trained to appropriate conduct strip searches, <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/what-are-the-rules-for-strip-searching/">they misunderstand the governing guidelines</a>, or are potentially ignoring the regulations which stipulate that they must have need to have ‘reasonable suspicion’ in order to conduct a strip search. It is also possible that police could be simply using strip searches to threaten, intimidate and humiliate members of the general public. This accusation has been made previously, on a number of occasions. Police performance targets Also of serious concern also is the fact that police commands are given targets for the number of personal searches officers must conduct. Personal searches can involve a frisk or requiring someone to remove outer layers of clothing, but they can also include strip searches, in which all the person’s clothing may be removed. Across NSW in 2018-19 police were expected to perform 242,000 personal searches. Of the 238,923 actual searches conducted, two per cent, or 5353, were strip searches. Nothing was found in 66 per cent of these. In the same period, a total of 17,535 searches were conducted on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with nothing found in 88 per cent of these. Police have defended the targets, saying that the force is responsible for enforcing drugs and weapons laws and searches are a “vital detection tool and often necessary to find and seize these illegal items” despite the fact that looking at these figures, it is logical to conclude, because they turn up nothing in the vast majority of cases, that strip searches are largely ineffective, and a waste of police time and resources. What does the law say? The law governing the conduct of strip searches, which also outlines the rights of anyone subjected to the procedure, are outlined in the <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/what-are-the-rules-for-strip-searching/">Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW).</a> The Act contains safeguards for children and vulnerable people, with which police must comply, including the fact that minors must be accompanied by an adult ‘support person’ during the search. It also stipulates that strip searches must be conducted by an officer of the same sex as the person being searched irrespective of their age, and must <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/aboriginal-elder-strip-searched-on-busy-sydney-road/">be carried out in private</a>. But as<a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/nsw-police-are-illegally-strip-searching-children/"> last year’s public inquiry into strip searches found</a>, these safeguards are often ignored. For example, when investigating the strip searches of three boys aged 15, 16 and 17 at a music festival, none of which found any <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/driver-carrying-200-million-in-illegal-drugs-crashes-into-parked-police-cars/">illegal drugs</a>, the LECC found that police arranged for two SES volunteers to act as independent support people, instead of enabling them to have a parent, guardian or trusted adult friend present. The inquiry heard at least 25 children at one under-18s event were potentially subjected to the practice unlawfully, with volunteers from the Red Frogs charity also being used to oversee the strip-searching. There have long been concerns about the psychological impact of strip searches, particularly on young people, with some calling it <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/strip-searches-are-effectively-a-form-of-state-sanctioned-sexual-assault/">a form of state-sanctioned sexual assault.</a> And with little evidence to prove they are actually an effective policing practice, it’s time that the NSW Police force re-considered the use of these searches. It’s also time for the New South Wales government to review the laws which govern them. Written by Sonia Hickey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/more-than-80-of-strip-searches-turn-up-nothing/">Sydney Criminal Lawyers.</a>

Retirement Life

Kmart strips "offensive" child costume from shelves after mum launches damaging petition

Kmart has stripped a children’s bride costume from its shelves after a Melbourne mother launched a scathing petition, calling the item “beyond inappropriate”. The costume could have been purchased for $6 and included a white wedding gown and headband with a veil for children between the ages of 4 and 6 - before it was pulled from sale on Tuesday afternoon. The move came two days after Melbourne mum, Shannon B launched the petition on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.change.org/" target="_blank">Change.org. </a> “Kmart Australia regrets the decision to range the bride costume,” a Kmart spokesperson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/business/retail/kmart-stops-selling-childrens-bride-costumes-after-mums-petition-c-517062" target="_blank">7 News</a>. “It was not intended to cause offence and we sincerely apologise. We have made the decision to withdraw this product.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7831965/kmart-bride.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/dae2d4cd79fa44babf7389a58308b6e5" /> The petition, which had 124 signatures, labelled the costume “offensive” and asked supporters to remind Kmart it had a “social responsibility” to uphold. “Each year, 12 million children (girls as young as 6 years old — the same size as this ‘costume’) are sold or married off by their family without their consent. That’s one million child marriages per month!” Shannon wrote. “That equates to 23 children every minute or 1 child every 2 minutes. If this continues, 150 million more children will be married by the year 2030. “Child marriage means child abuse and torture in its worst forms — paedophilia, child rape, child slavery, child sex trafficking. “Tell Kmart this is beyond inappropriate and offensive and that they have a social responsibility to pull this item off their shelves immediately.” World Vision Australia confirmed the statistics shared were indeed correct. “Anything that trivialises child marriage is disturbing” child rights campaigner Mercy Chipo Jumo said. The big decision comes a week before Halloween, where children’s costumes will be sure to fly off department store racks.

News

King Carl of Sweden strips five grandchildren of royal status

The King of Sweden has stripped five of his grandchildren of their royal status as the monarchy faces increasing amounts of pressure to cut back on annual bills. The children, aged between one and five, are the offspring of two of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s younger children – Prince Carl and his wife Sofia, and US-based Princess Madeleine and her husband Christopher O’Neill. The children will still be a part of the royal family, but will be forced to drop their titles of His and Her Royal Highness. They will also not be able to use taxpayer’s money. Princess Madeleine said that the change “has been planned for a long time” and it would allow her three children a “greater opportunity to shape their own lives”. Carl and Sofia were also thrilled with the decision, saying: “We see this as positive as Alexander and Gabriel will have freer choices in life”. The family has come under fire as of late after their expenditure was reaching enormous amounts. Currently, taxpayers are forking out $21 million annually to help the monarchy fund their lifestyles. According to the Swedish royal court’s top official, Frederik Wersall, the royal family understood and had accepted the need for change. “We have a large royal family. If you include the next generation, there are currently 10 people in the line of succession,” he told Swedish media. Scroll through the gallery above to see Sweden’s royal family.

Relationships

56 and still got it! Demi Moore strips down for stunning photoshoot

Actress Demi Moore has posed nude for the US October issue of Harper’s Bazaar, only wearing a diamond bracelet and an oversized pink hat. “Baring all for the October issue of @harpersbazaarus,” Moore, 56, captioned the cover photo. In the magazine, Moore opens up to interviewer Lena Dunham about her mother and father’s addiction issues, as well as her own. “The next thing I remember is using my fingers, the small fingers of a child, to dig the pills my mother had tried to swallow out of her mouth while my father held it open and told me what to do,” Moore recalled, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/demi-moore-reveals-she-suffered-a-miscarriage-at-42/news-story/a7130debe338a1ff3ab8b9cbd1f2389d" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “Something very deep inside me shifted then, and it never shifted back. My childhood was over.” Moore also reflected over her time of being a mother-of-three and revealed that she suffered a miscarriage in 2004 whilst being married to Ashton Kutcher. The pair were married in 2005, and the couple had planned to call their baby Chaplin Rose. After the miscarriage, Moore started drinking again and blamed herself. “In retrospect, what I realised is that when I opened the door [again], it was just giving my power away,” she admitted. “I guess I would think of it like this: It was really important to me to have natural childbirth because I didn’t want to miss a moment. And with that I experienced pain. So part of being sober is, I don’t want to miss a moment of life, of that texture, even if that means being in — some pain.” Scroll through the gallery to see Demi Moore's stunning photoshoot with Harper's Bazaar.

Retirement Life

"You're wrong": Angry Pauline Hanson storms off after fiery clash over strip club scandal

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has stormed off from a press conference after answering questions about her Queensland leader being forced to resign over leaked strip club footage. Steve Dickson, One Nation’s Queensland leader, handed in his resignation late last night after he was caught on camera in a strip club in the US appearing to make racist remarks and grope exotic dancers. In the footage that was aired by A Current Affair last night, the married 56-year-old can be heard saying, “I’ve done more Asian than I know what to do with.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> It’s less than three weeks until election day, but one senior politician has given his leader a huge headache. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9ACA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9ACA</a> | <a href="https://t.co/JqzwiGTmru">https://t.co/JqzwiGTmru</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zex4ocD575">pic.twitter.com/Zex4ocD575</a> — A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9/status/1122788674083495936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">29 April 2019</a></blockquote> Hanson spoke to reporters from her home, saying that she was “both shocked and disappointed at the vision I was forced to watch”. Hanson also said that Al Jazeera had “conveniently” given the footage to, but she was unable to “ignore or condone” the footage that was shown. “I am both a mother of three boys and the only female leader of a political party in this country. I wouldn’t tolerate my own children behaving this way towards women,” Ms Hanson said. The conference quickly turned heated when Hanson was asked about the footage that Dickson was seen in a month ago, where he was caught on camera trying to get funds from the NRA. Dickson and Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby were exposed in a three-year Al Jazeera investigation by an undercover journalist who was posing as an NRA lobbyist. Hanson wasn’t having a bar of it. “Sorry. They were not talking to the NRA. That was to the Al Jazeera journalist. Sorry. You’re wrong,” Ms Hanson said. After the reporter kept trying to get Hanson to answer the question and said that Hanson “couldn’t argue” that her candidate tried to get funding from the NRA for her party, she stormed off. Mark Latham, One Nation’s NSW leader briefly addressed Dickson’s resignation on Sunrise this morning. “He has no future in politics anymore and Pauline Hanson has made that crystal clear. There is not much more you can say about it, is there? It is pretty clear cut,” he said.

News

“How can this happen in broad daylight?”: Car flips over highway median strip

A dashcam has captured the shocking moment a car flipped over a Perth highway median strip. The incident has left many bewildered as to what caused the car to flip on such a straight stretch of road. In the footage, a blue sedan can be seen flying through the air after flipping from the right side of Perth’s Roe Freeway. The car then bounces a number of times as it lands on the other side of the median strip, narrowly avoiding incoming traffic. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDashCamOwnersAustralia%2Fvideos%2F1794092833983682%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> On Tuesday, the footage was shared to the Dash Cam Owner Australia Facebook page, where it was revealed that miraculously there were no major injuries. “Very fortunate that there was no trees or lamp posts where they crashed. It would have been a whole lot worse for those involved if they’re had been,” one viewer commented. Many viewers were divided as to how the incident was caused. One viewer suggested a tyre blow out could have been responsible to making the car flip, while others thought that the driver may have lost control of the car after clipping another vehicle during a lane change. What do you think is the cause of the incident? Let us know in the comments below.

Legal

Stripped of gold: Utter “disbelief” after insane finish to race

The 200m sprint is always one of the blue ribbon events of the Commonwealth Games, but this year’s final ended in controversy which saw England’s Zharnel Hughes stripped of his gold medal for impeding runner-up Jereem Richards. <a href="http://www.news.com.au/sport/commonwealth-games/live-commonwealth-games-day-eight-on-the-gold-coast/news-story/bf56edeb78b6e5507e349de437780b13" target="_blank">News.com.au reports</a> both men clocked 20.12 seconds for the race, but Hughes was declared the winner in a photo finish. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCeylonAthletics%2Fvideos%2F510399466022172%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> However, officials disqualified the Englishman soon after, ruling that he had impeded the path of Richards in the home straight and made contact in the sprint for the line. Some commenters noted Hughes slowing considerably as he approached the final metres, noting the arm contact between the two as Richards made a desperate late lunge. “It’s unbelievably close, it is just crazy what happened in the last 10 meters,” Bruce McAvaney told Seven. “Not sure exactly how it played out, how does it finish? Wow, what a race. “It was almost like they were going to fall over. “I would be fascinated to see the front angle and I can only conclude they just collided. Actually when he crossed the line, Hughes grabbed his hand.” Thinking he had won the event, Hughes did a lap of honour before officials told him he was disqualified. “Hughes didn’t know and that is remarkable,” McAvaney said. “On the board, he has done a lap of honour and now there is disbelief for the young man. I am sure England will do everything they can do to get him reinstated.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Drama in the Men's 200m Final. Photo finish but there appeared to be contact late on between Hughes (ENG), who has been awarded the win and Richards (TTO). Both same time 20.12 (0.9). <a href="https://t.co/gWTLpgqfWu">pic.twitter.com/gWTLpgqfWu</a> — Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) <a href="https://twitter.com/AthsAust/status/984401985980923909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2018</a></blockquote> While England saw their initial appeal rejected late Thursday night, athletics champion Lord Sebastian Coe said he wouldn’t be surprised if there was further protest. “I would be surprised if they did not appeal this,” he said. “I am not on the jury. I have sat on juries of appeal for many years, but you are right, you can run on the line and you could be 3m ahead and run on the line and there is no material advantage, but if you do happen to impede or clash that will be the argument. “The jury of appeal however has a problem because two or three of those members are actually conflicted because the places and the decisions are concerning their own athletes. It may well be that they will have to chase them around at the moment.” What are your thoughts? Do you think the officials made the right call? Hero image credit: Twitter / #Atinka FM #DiAsa Atinka 104.7fm‏<a href="https://twitter.com/Atinka1047" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"></a>

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Did you know: More than 80% of strip searches turn up nothing

Kmart strips "offensive" child costume from shelves after mum launches damaging petition

King Carl of Sweden strips five grandchildren of royal status

56 and still got it! Demi Moore strips down for stunning photoshoot

"You're wrong": Angry Pauline Hanson storms off after fiery clash over strip club scandal

“How can this happen in broad daylight?”: Car flips over highway median strip

Stripped of gold: Utter “disbelief” after insane finish to race

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