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Helping alleviate the pain of arthritis

One in seven Australians, or 3.6 million people, are living with arthritis, a leading cause of chronic pain and the second most common cause of disability and early retirement due to ill health, according to Arthritis Australia. Mike Whitney is a big fan of Arborvitae after having spent years playing cricket for NSW and Australia resulting in many aches and pains throughout his body. The joys of sport that many people experience as they get older. Arborvitae Health and Wellbeing has spent years formulating a solution to target debilitating pain caused by arthritis and other chronic conditions. “We wanted it to be a natural product as well,” says Arborvitae Director Brendan Howell. Since it was founded in 2014, Arborvitae Health and Wellbeing, has used Pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark extract) as the main ingredient in its range of natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplements. The natural plant extract, which grows on the coast of south-west France, is used alongside aloe vera, papain enzyme and honey. “Arborvitae’s unique formulation of natural ingredients provides a potent supplement and is based on years of research into the impact of inflammation in the human body,” Howell says. The company’s main product, Arborvitae Joint Health, may help provide relief from symptoms of mild-moderate arthritis, joint pain, inflammation, soreness and stiffness. ‘‘Arborvitae does make a difference, and that has been supported by over 160 clinical trials on its main ingredient Pycnogenol across a broad range of conditions and Arborvitae’s own clinical study,” Howell says. The recent clinical study on Arborvitae Joint Health has shown some exceptional results with pain relief (66% decrease in pain test scores), a 50% increase in walking distance, a 56% decrease in inflammation in blood tests (CRP), a 78% reduction in their use of on-demand medications and a 50% improvement in quality-of-life scores. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71490" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/10/Infographic_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="899" /> “The customer feedback we receive also demonstrates the product's efficacy and enables us to provide real examples of its success when speaking with customers,” Brendan Howell said. As an example, Tracy from All Sort Cakes in Sydney is a regular Arborvitae customer and states: “Arborvitae has been a game changer for me. I’ve suffered with sore hands for years and I probably don’t have to tell all of you fellow cake makers how debilitating it can be. A friend suggested I try Arborvitae. So the first bottle I wasn’t sure but I was told to wait till I finish the second bottle to feel the full effects. And yep! Omg!!! The pain all but disappeared.” <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71488" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/10/Tracy-Wilson-May-2023_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1477" /> Whilst Gary from Kenthurst, another regular customer, states: “To be told at 50 I may need a knee operation one day was an obvious shock. I run a small Forklift Business and 19 months ago became a grandfather, so I need to be mobile. Not wanting an operation at this point I needed an alternative, and what an alternative I found. In obvious pain I started my Arborvitae Joint Health treatment and after 2 weeks my pain and swelling had reduced. Now my pain is gone. If I am going to have a big day in the yard or in the bobcat I make sure I take my Arborvitae Joint Health first. What a fabulous product this is. No one should go through life in pain and I will tell anyone that will listen - if you have early onset mild Osteo Arthritis start taking Arborvitae Joint Health it has certainly helped me, and I can keep up with my grandson Max.” <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71487" src="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Gary-copy-holding-new-blue-bottle_770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="482" /> Arborvitae’s main product is Arborvitae Joint Health, however the other stars in the range are Arborvitae Health and Wellbeing Supplement for blood glucose, cholesterol and the immune system and Arborvitae Cognitive Function, Memory and Eye Health. Mr Howell said the natural anti-inflammatory comes in an easy to take daily liquid supplement that has been designed to reset the immune system and bring down inflammation in the body quickly and efficiently. The inflammation reduction (of 56%) at the cellular level is confirmed by the CRP results in the recent clinical study. This reduction in inflammation alone is significant. Supplements are sold via Arborvitae’s website and at over 2000 chemists and health food shops Australia wide – including Chemist Warehouse, TerryWhite Chemmart and Blooms The Chemist. To find the closest store near you, visit <a href="http://www.arborvitae.com.au/pages/where-to-buy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.arborvitae.com.au/pages/where-to-buy</a> To find out more on the clinical study and Arborvitae’s health supplements you can visit the website: <a href="http://www.arborvitae.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.arborvitae.com.au</a> or call 1300 879 863. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Images: Courtesy of Arborvitae This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Arborvitae

Body

Billionaire tech tycoon and daughter missing after tornado strikes

Six people, including a billionaire tech tycoon and his daughter, have been declared missing off the coast of Sicily after a tornado struck the area, causing their luxury super yacht to capsize and sink. Four British are reportedly among six people missing at sea, including billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. At the time of the tragedy, 22 people were onboard and 15 were rescued by coastguard patrol boats and firefighters, including Mr Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares. The coast guard said that divers had been sent to inspect the wreck of the Bayesian, which was lying at a depth of 49 metres. Authorities confirmed that one body, believed to be that of the yacht's chef, has been found during their search of the vessel's hull. Charlotte Golunski, who was on board the vessel, told local news outlet La Repubblica newspaper of how she saved her daughter Sofia as the boat sank. She said, “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning." “It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.” Charlotte, her husband James and their daughter Sophia are among those onboard being treated at hospital. The captain of a nearby boat, Karsten Borner, said that when the storm hit he turned the engine on to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian. "We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone," he said, adding that the Bayesian "went flat on the water, and then down." Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, which had lifted the temperature of the Mediterranean sea to record levels, raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts said. Image credits: AFP/Alberto Lo Bianco/LaPresse/Shutterstock Editorial

Travel Trouble

Sports journalist dies during Australian Open broadcast

Renowned sports journalist Mike Dickson has passed away while reporting on the Australian Open. The father-of-three was just 10 days away from celebrating his 60th birthday when he collapsed on Wednesday, with his heartbroken family confirming the news of his passing. “We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and Dad, Mike, has collapsed and died while in Melbourne for the Aus Open,” his wife Lucy wrote, also attributing the statement to their children Sam, Lucy and Joe. “For 38 years he lived his dream covering sport all over the world. He was a truly great man and we will miss him terribly.” Australian Open organisers said tournament officials were shocked by the news of the popular journalist. "We are shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Mike, our long-standing colleague and friend. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family," the organisation said on X. The UK Daily Mail reporter’s passing has led to scores of tributes including from tennis greats such as Tim Henman and the organisers of the US Open and Wimbledon. The organisers of Wimbledon said it was “deeply saddened” by Mr Dickson’s death. “Mike covered so many of our Championships during his remarkable career in journalism and brought so many stories to so many sports fans around the world.” The US Open said he was “one of the most well respected journalists in the industry,” while the World Tennis Association said Mr Dickson was a “highly respected figure on Tour among players, coaches, staff and everyone connected with tennis”. British tennis player Tim Henman held back tears on TV when discussing Mr Dickson, saying, “It’s incredibly sad that he passed away in Melbourne. He was a great friend of the tennis community”. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Back on course: overcoming low back pain for senior golfers

As a retiree and avid golfer, I experienced the debilitating pain of a herniated disc in my lower back. I never thought golf could cause such agony, but I was determined to overcome it and return to the game I love. Low back pain is a common condition among senior-aged golfers, with reported prevalence rates of up to 50%. Which means if you're playing in a foursome with fellow seniors it's likely two of you have low back pain. Why? Because we are more prone to back pain due to age-related changes in the spine, such as disc degeneration, and arthritis. Additionally, poor swing mechanics, lack of flexibility, or poor physical conditioning increase the risk. The golf swing involves a complex sequence of movements that can sometimes place significant stress on the lower back, particularly the lumbar spine. The repetitive twisting, bending, and rotational forces can lead to various types of back injuries, including herniated discs, muscle strains, and degenerative disc disease. After being diagnosed with a herniated disc six weeks ago, my doctor recommended physical therapy treatments with a chiropractor and physiotherapist. I also found relief through regular massage and daily use of a TENS machine. Stretching and strengthening exercises can improve flexibility and core stability. I found simple Qi Gong exercises easy. Qi Gong has been described as like high-powered Tai Chi. The standing exercises appealed to me as I'm stubbornly averse to any exercise requiring laying on the floor. Within weeks of therapy and home exercises, the pain had subsided enough for me to consider a gentle swing in the backyard. A few easy swings with the 7-iron and all felt good. No added discomfort. To prepare for a game, I enrolled in an online course called 'Pain Free Golf' by Croker Golf System. The course helped me adjust my swing to avoid re-injury. To further protect my lower back, I purchased two helpful devices. A ball pick-up device which attaches to the handle end of the putter ($10 approx. from the local pro shop) to enable retrieving my ball from the cup without bending forward. A second device I found was the 'easy tee-up' ($130 approx. - search “Easy Tee Up” online) which helps me tee up the ball without bending down to the ground. Now, six weeks after my herniated disc incident, I'm playing almost painless golf again, and my game has even improved. I never would have thought that a herniated disc would ultimately improve my golf game, but the experience taught me the importance of taking better care of my body and using the right resources to get back in the swing. To all fellow golfers, take care of yourselves and don't give up hope if you ever find yourself in the same situation. There are plenty of people and resources available to help you get back to playing the game you love - with no or low back pain. About the writer: Mike Searles is a Melbourne retiree who loves playing golf. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Junior staff are finding better contracts, senior staff are burning out: the arts are losing the war for talent

In 1997, consulting firm McKinsey & Company coined the term “<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/34512/war-talent">the war for talent</a>” to define increasing labour shortages that had significant potential to impact organisational performance. The war for talent significantly impacted corporations at the time, creating a scarcity mindset and encouraging a wave of employee-focussed initiatives designed to attract and retain staff. For the most part, the arts and cultural sector have been sheltered from the war for talent over past decades. Global growth in creative oriented higher education coupled with the “<a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2016/04/26/book-review-be-creative-making-a-living-in-the-new-culture-industries-by-angela-mcrobbie/">romance of being creative</a>” has led to a steady stream of workers willing to enter the sector on low pay. However, in 2022 things have changed. Faced with labour shortages, arts and cultural organisations increasingly find it challenging to operate. In 2021, it was reported screen productions in Australia were <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-24/high-demand-creates-film-skill-shortage/100479392">being jeopardised</a> due to lack of technical skills. Now, summer festivals are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/07/will-australias-festivals-survive-a-wet-chaotic-expensive-summer">struggling to find</a> frontline workers, including security, stage crew, ticketing and transport. It’s not just entry-level positions that remain empty. After <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/may/11/australias-culture-of-ideas-suffers-when-we-starve-our-creative-institutions-of-funding">a decade</a> of funding cuts and policy neglect, followed by the stresses induced by COVID-19, I am observing arts leaders leaving to find secure, better paid and sustainable work elsewhere. In Australia’s increasingly tight labour market, the arts are finally facing a war for talent. <h2>A culture of burnout</h2> If we consider the role of the “arts manager”, it becomes easy to recognise why arts leaders are abandoning the industry. Arts leaders do not just support the creation of art. They are marketers, customer service specialists, supply chain and logistics experts, grant writers, human resources managers and – increasingly – risk managers. They are trying to bring back audiences post-COVID while juggling a contentious funding landscape that balances the need for revenue with audience, staff and artist <a href="https://overland.org.au/2021/09/the-arts-in-australia-need-to-break-up-with-fossil-fuels/">expectations</a> arts organisations do not partner with corporations that fail to align with organisational values. I am increasingly seeing young people leaving arts jobs for opportunities that recognise their skills and provide secure, better paid work. Art workers are highly valuable in today’s economy where creativity and innovation are seen as <a href="https://australiacouncil.gov.au/news/speeches-and-opinions/creative-skills-in-times-of-crisis-how-the-arts-can-help/">keys to success</a>. This lack of younger workers increases the workloads of senior staff, causing them to be burnt out and leave the sector, too. Staff shortages jeopardise the sector’s ability to get back on its feet after the brutal impact of COVID-19. Those that remain in our arts companies are exhausted, left trying to rebuild programs and audiences with fewer resources. While “<a href="https://theconversation.com/quiet-quitting-why-doing-less-at-work-could-be-good-for-you-and-your-employer-188617">quiet quitting</a>” gets media airtime, others in the sector are asking arts workers to embrace the mantra of “<a href="https://larsenkeys.com.au/2022/09/26/post-covid-or-post-burnout-less-is-necessary/">less is necessary</a>”. Individuals need to take action to address their wellbeing. Still, it is also necessary to consider the systems and structures that underpin our arts organisations and how they impact workers. <h2>Structural issues</h2> One way to address the war for talent is to increase the labour supply. Higher education providers who develop creative talent are lobbying for more resources to expand programs and are pushing for changes to the Job Ready graduate scheme that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-inequity-of-job-ready-graduates-for-students-must-be-brought-to-a-quick-end-heres-how-183808">imposes higher costs</a> on arts and humanities graduates. The latest <a href="https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=14754">Graduate Outcome Survey</a> shows that the employment outcomes of creative arts and arts and humanities graduates have increased over 20% since 2019. The high rates of graduate employability aligns with Australia’s historically low unemployment rate, but also demonstrates the value creative skills now hold in the broader economy. What these positive statistics do not tell us, however, is the working conditions of those employed. The arts are the original gig economy. Of the over 80% of arts and humanities graduates employed six months after graduation, how many earn a living wage? How many work in the arts? How many recent creative arts graduates are juggling multiple short-term contracts simultaneously to build skills, grow networks and cope with cost of living increases? As Australia’s labour market tightens, arts workers are realising they can take their skills to better paid jobs with secure contracts, in fields such as health, technology and management consulting. Unless arts organisations respond by providing similar security and career paths, the departure of talented workers will only continue. This loss of staff will not only impact the ability of organisations to operate today, but will also influence the make-up of arts organisations in the future. When only those who can afford to work under precarious conditions remain, the ability of the sector to attract and retain leaders from diverse communities <a href="https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/how-do-we-stop-losing-artists-from-the-sector-2578669/">decreases</a>. <h2>Decent work</h2> Arts leaders eagerly await the launch of a new <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-new-national-cultural-policy-is-an-opportunity-for-a-radical-rethinking-of-the-importance-of-culture-in-australia-188720">National Cultural Policy</a>, hoping for significant change in how the arts are valued. Yet arts organisations need to also get their own house in order. Sustainable arts careers mean <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-crisis-of-a-career-in-culture-why-sustaining-a-livelihood-in-the-arts-is-so-hard-171732">decent work</a>. This means structural changes in how arts workers are employed, a shift away from the reliance on volunteers and <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/why-is-a-major-sydney-arts-festival-working-with-google-to-offer-an-unpaid-internship-20220516-p5als1.html">incorrect appointment of unpaid interns</a>, low-wage casual or fixed-term roles to more secure and fairly paid employment. Many in the sector are championing change. The National Association for the Visual Arts is campaigning to <a href="https://visualarts.net.au/news-opinion/2022/recognise-artists-workers/">recognise artists as workers</a>, highlighting the need for an award to support this group that often falls under the industrial relations radar. The music sector has made similar calls for minimum wages for artists, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/paying-musicians-a-minimum-wage-would-kill-live-music-tote-owner-20220923-p5bkgw.html">yet face critics</a>. The pandemic showed us how important the arts are to our lives. For the arts to continue to play a vital role in our national identity and represent our diverse communities, the sector must be funded appropriately. It is also essential organisations create safe, secure and viable jobs for arts workers. If the industry can only exist by systematically exploiting workers, then the war for talent will be lost. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/junior-staff-are-finding-better-contracts-senior-staff-are-burning-out-the-arts-are-losing-the-war-for-talent-194174" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

Mike Tindall's mortifying moment

Mike Tindall, the husband of the late Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, has shared the deeply embarrassing mistake he made at wife Zara's 30th birthday party. Tindall who is currently appearing on the popular British TV show I’m a celebrity …. Get Me Out of Here!, recalled the infamous blunder where he “slut dropped” at his wife’s 30th birthday party,. The birthday bash was ‘70s-themed, he recalled: “I was dancing on the dance floor, I had like flares on, full outfit but it was quite tight, nothing ever fits – rugby player’s bum and legs – so I was dancing with my mother-in-law and I did a sl*t drop in front of my mother-in-law,” he said. “Ripped my trousers, straight in front of her. It happened to be that the boxers that I had on at that time said ‘nibble my nuts’.” “As I’ve turned round, she’s gone, ‘I’d rather not.’ I’ve gone, ‘I’m going,’ and walked off,” he added. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dnx-fDxStI0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Mike married Zara in 2011 and the couple have three children together. Zara is 20th in line for the British throne, being the only daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. Image: YouTube

Family & Pets

“It’s a massive coup”: Royal’s new TV role

Mike Tindall is reported to be taking part in the new season of Australia’s I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/20077486/im-a-celebrity-first-royal-family-member/?utm_source=sharebar_app&utm_medium=sharebar_app&utm_campaign=sharebar_app_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a> reported that the husband of Princess Anne’s daughter Zara, will be heading to Australia to appear on the show. "It's a massive coup. Mike has had a box seat for some of the most important moments in royal history for generations,” a source told the publication. "He is sure to be discreet, but his sheer presence means this series will be an absolute must-watch." I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Is due to hit the screens in November and the lineup will be announced closer to the launch date. If rumours are true that Mike will be appearing on the show, it will make him the first royal to sign up for the long-running programme. Others however have compared Mike’s move to Meghan Markle’s previous role in the huge Netflix series Suits. This prompted a response from renowned UK journalist Piers Morgan who pointed out that the Tindall’s were never working royals. "There will be some who sneer today that Tindall shouldn’t be degrading himself by taking part in a TV reality show and comparing him to royal renegades Meghan and Harry, who quit Britain and royal duty to ruthlessly exploit their titles for massive commercial gain in America,” Piers wrote. "But here's the difference: the Tindalls have never been working royals, had any royal titles, or received any public money. They are self-sufficient financially, trading off their mutual huge success in the sporting arena." Mike and Zara married in 2011 and have three children, Mia, eight, Lena, four, and Lucas, one. Image: Getty

View from the hot seat: Mike Tindall's insight into Prince Louis' antics

Going down as one of the most memorable moments from The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Mike Tindall has revealed the reason behind young Prince Louis' cheeky behaviour. Tindall says the four-year-old prince had "complete sugar highs" during the Jubilee Pageant on Sunday after consuming handfuls of sweets behind the scenes. In full view of the world's media, Prince Louis was seen putting his hand across his mum's mouth, trying to shush her as she attempted to tell him to sit still, making a funny face and blowing a raspberry in her direction. Kate swiftly put Louis' hand down, before he did it again with his left hand. The little prince was excited throughout the parade, running up and down the seats, pulling his cousin's hair and eventually jumping onto his grandfather Prince Charles' lap, for a quick break. Tindall was photographed jokingly warning Louis that he was watching him from the seats above. Two days earlier Prince Louis stole the show during Trooping the Colour, pulling a series of funny faces as the rest of the royals watched a flypast of aircraft from the palace balcony. Tindall, also revealed the Queen's grandchildren and their families enjoyed a private lunch after Trooping, describing it was one of his highlights from the four-day celebrations. He spoke about the Jubilee and Louis' mischievous antics on his podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Rugby. "Louis, he was just wanting to have fun, and my two [daughters] are always mischievous, so it was trying to keep a lid on," Tindall said. "There was a lot of sweets out back, though, so they had complete sugar highs. It's tough for them. They're all young, so asking them to sit, because it was two 'til five or whatever, it's a long time. As any parent knows, you just do whatever needs to be done." Tindall was seated directly behind the Cambridges at the Pageant with his wife Zara and their children Mia, eight, Lena, three and Lucas, one. Prince William and Kate later joked about their youngest child's actions, writing on social media, "We all had an incredible time, especially Louis". Image: Getty

Family & Pets

Friends star's cause of death revealed

Friends star Mike Hagerty allegedly died from having an adverse reaction to a medication that sent him into a coma, it has been revealed. Sources close to the actor have reported that Hagerty’s energy was still low after a leg infection in April. The 67-year-old was set to begin filming season two of the HBO comedy Somebody Somewhere, so a doctor sent him to the hospital for a check-up. it was there that Hagerty was reportedly given a new antibiotic that caused him to have a seizure and go into a coma. Somebody Somewhere co-star Bridget Everett shared the news of his death on Instagram on the 7th of May. <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdOPArTLce6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <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 style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdOPArTLce6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bridget Everett (@bridgeteverett)</a> </div> </blockquote> “With great sadness, the family of Michael G. Hagerty announced his death yesterday in Los Angeles,” Everett wrote. “We are very saddened to hear about the sudden passing of Mike Hagerty,” HBO said in a statement. “A member of the HBO family for many years, his most recent role as Bridget Everett’s father in ‘Somebody Somewhere’ showed his special talent for bringing heart to a performance. Mike was a joy to work with and brought warmth and kindness to all who knew him. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.” Hagerty was best known for playing building superintendent Mr Treeger on the long-running sitcom Friends. He appeared in a plethora of TV series over the course of his career, including guest spots on Boston Legal, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Cheers, Community, CSI, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, Happy Endings, Shameless, Seinfeld and many more. Image: Instagram

Caring

Source of nasty Novak leak revealed!

Just one day after video footage was leaked of two Seven newsreaders slamming Novak Djokovic, an investigation by the television network <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/channel-7-identify-caption-company-aimedia-as-behind-rebecca-maddern-and-mike-amor-leak/news-story/e8dbb4eac4bd14079d3ea6baa8e3f3df" target="_blank">has identified the culprit</a>. All Channel 7 employees have been cleared of leaking the brutal footage, as reported by The Australian, with one key detail identifying the external company who was responsible. The footage emerged on Wednesday of Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern calling the tennis star an “a**hole” before the airing of the 6pm bulletin, prompting the pair to <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/caught-out-leaked-audio-as-channel-7-stars-slam-novak" target="_blank">make headlines</a> around the country. “Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky a**hole,” Maddern said in the clip. “That’s it, I mean he’s an areshole. He got a bulls*** f***ing excuse and then fell over his own f***ing lies. It’s just what happens, right, that’s what happened,” Amor said. Rumours began to swirl as some attempted to identify the source of the leak, with some speculating it was a disgruntled colleague, mischievous audio director, or even a PR ploy. However, a timestamp visible in the top corner of the footage led Seven’s internal investigators to caption company Ai-Media, which provides captions for the hard of hearing. The Australian reported that high-level discussions between Seven and Ai-Media have occurred after the discovery of the timestamp - which doesn’t appear on internal Seven video outputs - led bosses to the company. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846787/novak-news2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d4dc1b4344a340598b9f19cbf15bb8a9" /> A timestamp in the top, right corner of the footage led investigators to identify who was responsible. Image: Twitter Staff interviews and thorough IT network tracing are currently underway to determine who recorded and distributed the footage, according to the publication. Tony Abrahams, the chief executive of Ai-Media, is reportedly leading the investigation. Seven Network Director of News and Public Affairs, Craig McPherson, said in a statement that the act of leaking the footage was “underhanded” and “cowardly”. “The illegal recording was of a private conversation between two colleagues,” Mr McPherson said on Wednesday morning. “It was an underhanded, cowardly act in breach of the Victorian Listening Devices legislation the perpetrator of which will be accordingly dealt with when found.” Channel 7 managing director Lewis Martin followed up with reassurance while appearing on 3AW radio, saying the incident was “being looked at thoroughly”. “We are going to have an outcome. What has happened here is illegal,” he said. It is understood that the investigation will be finalised on Thursday. While Maddern herself has apologised for the rant, a number of viewers have seemingly <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/viewers-rally-around-rebecca-maddern-for-calling-novak-djokovic-an-ahole/news-story/9d6711693a0f61d7cf6f2c8a1dbb5a63" target="_blank">deemed it unnecessary</a>. It fact, some have claimed it was the best news segment they’d seen in a long time given it reflected the mood of a number of frustrated Aussies. “Every Australian needs to stand by Rebecca Maddern & Mike Amor. They are only saying what we – & the rest of the world is thinking,” one wrote. “Great watch. Just saying what 90% of Australians think,” another agreed. “Now this is news I’d watch. Rebecca Maddern has certainly made a strong return to Channel 7 hey,” was another response. “I hope Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern are promoted on the basis of that leaked video,” added another. Image: Twitter

Tributes pour in for Mike Nesmith, who has passed away at 78

Michael Nesmith, best known for his work as part of beloved 60s pop group The Monkees, has passed away at the age of 78 from heart failure. Tributes have poured in for the songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor, from fellow musicians and fans alike. Fellow Monkee, and now the last surviving member of the group, Micky Dolenz, posted a touching tribute to his friend on Twitter, writing, “I’m heartbroken. I’ve lost a dear friend and partner. I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick. I’ll miss it all so much. Especially the shtick.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I’m heartbroken. I’ve lost a dear friend and partner. I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick. I’ll miss it all so much. Especially the shtick. Rest in peace, Nez. All my love, Micky <a href="https://t.co/xe8i5jmNgL">pic.twitter.com/xe8i5jmNgL</a> — Micky Dolenz (@TheMickyDolenz1) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMickyDolenz1/status/1469379165908516870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote> Nesmith had undergone <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/monkees-michael-nesmith-recovering-from-quadruple-bypass-heart-surgery-703665/" target="_blank">quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2018</a>, and remained hospitalised for a month following the surgery. As a result, he was forced to cancel several tour dates with Dolenz, but the pair were able to perform together on several tour dates this year instead. The pair had wrapped up their farewell tour with a performance at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre on November 14, and fans who were there were quick to express their gratitude for being able to see Nesmith perform one last time. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I will forever be thankful to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelNesmith?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelNesmith</a> & ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/TheMickyDolenz1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheMickyDolenz1</a>⁩ for giving ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/TheMonkees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheMonkees</a>⁩ such a beautiful and loving farewell until just days ago. There was nothing prefab about the love they shared with all of us daydream believers <a href="https://t.co/mpcsOP24hB">pic.twitter.com/mpcsOP24hB</a> — David Wild (@Wildaboutmusic) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic/status/1469365923509243907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote> Micky spoke to Rolling Stone soon after the news broke, saying, “I found out a couple days ago that he was going into hospice. I knew what that meant. I had my moment then and I let go. I let go a couple days ago. It’s just good to know that he passed peacefully.” Micky said of their farewell tour, “I’m so glad that we did that tour. He was so looking forward to that, and such a trooper through the whole thing. A tour is tough if you’re in the best of health. He just really loved it. He really loved doing it.” For the Monkees, Nesmith wrote songs such as ‘Sunny Girlfriend’, ‘Mary, Mary’, and ‘Listen to the Band’, but perhaps one of his most successful songwriting efforts was ‘Different Drum’, which The Stone Poneys took to the top 20 of the Billboard charts in 1967. Many fellow musicians paid tribute to Nesmith, including Ringo Starr, who wrote, “God bless Mike Nesmith peace and love to all his family. 😎✌️🌟❤️🎵🎶🌈☮️” alongside a photo of the two in their heyday. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> God bless Mike Nesmith peace and love to all his family. 😎✌️🌟❤️🎵🎶🌈☮️ <a href="https://t.co/GYnokygcHG">pic.twitter.com/GYnokygcHG</a> — #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) <a href="https://twitter.com/ringostarrmusic/status/1469562394032558085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote> Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys also paid tribute, tweeting, “I’m sorry to hear about Mike Nesmith. The Monkees had some great songs, those were fun days. Love & Mercy to Mike’s family and friends, Brian”. Stevie van Zandt, guitarist for Bruce Springsteen and Silvio Dante on The Sopranos, <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/StevieVanZandt/status/1469403835709992961" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, “RIP Mike Nesmith. He lives forever in the Underground Garage.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I’m sorry to hear about Mike Nesmith. The Monkees had some great songs, those were fun days. Love & Mercy to Mike’s family and friends, Brian <a href="https://t.co/bqJHBpb7il">pic.twitter.com/bqJHBpb7il</a> — Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianWilsonLive/status/1469396129204875270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote> Songwriter and lead singer of Death Cab For Cutie, Ben Gibbard, who wrote the song 'Me & Magdalena' that served as the third single off The Monkee's first album in 20 years, Good Times!, performed covers of his favourite Nesmith songs for his fans, including 'Joanne', 'Different Drum', and 'Me & Magdalena'. <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/tv/CXUxglDJ4JQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <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 style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXUxglDJ4JQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Death Cab for Cutie (@deathcabforcutie)</a> </div> </blockquote> Andrew Sandoval, who has managed Nesmith and The Monkees for the past decade, told <a rel="noopener" href="https://variety.com/2021/music/news/michael-nesmith-last-days-monkees-manager-final-tour-1235131225/" target="_blank">Variety</a>, that after The Monkees had been “lambasted for decades”, “he died knowing that they were beloved, and he finally embraced what they meant to so many other people. I think he finally got it.” Following the dissolution of The Monkees in 1970, Nesmith made waves with The First National Band, prompting <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/michael-nesmith-appreciation/2021/12/11/8c6af646-5a97-11ec-9a18-a506cf3aa31d_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a> to write that Nesmith “invented country rock, or maybe something even better.” Nesmith also performed as a solo artist, and worked as an executive producer in Hollywood, most notably for the 1984 cult classic Repo Man. Image: Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer

Caring

Willy Wonka star reveals Gene Wilder’s “favourite brat”

A child star who had the opportunity to work alongside the infamous Gene Wilder has spoken out on the experience, 50 years since its first premier date. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory hit movie screens 50 years ago on June 30, 1971 and achieved rapid success almost overnight. The film went on to become a phenomenon that was registered in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”. The child actors Peter Ostrum, Julie Dawn Cole, Michael Bollner, Paris Themmen and Denise Nickerson – who played Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee and Violet Beauregarde – all came together for a virtual reunion in honour of the film’s anniversary. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842239/willy-wonka.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b9da36eca8c24fbeb170655d6cf92150" /> Image: Yahoo The actors all had the opportunity to co-star together, and even got to explore the imagined Wonka Chocolate Factory. The cast recounted such fond memories of exploring the film sets in Bavarian Germany and working with Gene Wilder. Themmen admitted that he was indeed a “notorious troublemaker on the set.” So much so that even Wilder called him “a handful”. “I can corroborate that,” the actor, who played the television-obsessed rascal Mike Teavee, admitted. “I was younger than the others. I was 11, they were 13 and was naturally just sort of more high-spirited and rambunctious.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842237/willy-wonka-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a8d501bcedd64f7b97dd573169a7717a" /> Image: Yahoo The now-62-year-old opened up about one brief moment he shared with Wilder, in 1976 during a fundraiser screening for the film Silver Streak at the Avon Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut. “I sat at the back of the room and he gave his commentary and then I went up to the front of the room afterwards with my poster in hand,” Themmen relived with a smile. “I said, ‘Hi, Gene, how you doing? I’m Paris Themmen, I was Mike Teavee in Willy Wonka.” “And he said, ‘Oh you were a brat!’ And I flashed all the way back 50 years, or 40 years at that time, and said, ‘Well, I’m 50-something now and maybe not as much of a brat.’ And he signed my poster, ‘To my favourite brat.’” Wilder died in 2016 at the age of 83 after a long vibrant career. Cole, who played Veruca Salt, said: “I think people kind of want us to tell you that he was like Willy Wonka offset, but he wasn’t. “He was such a lovely, kind man, very unassuming,” she said. “He was just down to earth, not pretentious, he was just a wonderful person to be around and to work with,” said Ostrum, who played Charlie Bucket.

Movies

Community rocked by death of teenager killed in bin

A community in South Australia has been left devastated following news of a 13-year-old boy being killed after a bin he and his two mates were sleeping in was picked up by a garbage truck. New information regarding why the boys came to be inside the bin has just shown how tragic the circumstances were. Spencer Benbolt Junior, 13, was asleep in an industrial bin in Port Lincoln early on Tuesday with two other boys – aged 11 and 12. It began being emptied due to a scheduled collection. One boy managed to escape injury by jumping out, but the other two children became trapped. The 12-year-old boy who escaped immediately began to bang on the driver’s door to alert him of the tragedy, and emergency services were called to the Reoco car park just after 5.20am. Spencer suffered serious injuries and sadly died at the scene. The other boy was unharmed despite also being thrown into the truck. The group of boys had been wandering around their town for hours in an effort to escape the rain and cold, the Daily Mail reports. The trio stopped off at the nearby Grand Tasma Hotel to ask for water at about 12.30am. The boys reportedly made it clear to the local pub goers that they had no intention on going home that night. The group wandered to Port Lincoln’s industrial area where they reportedly tried to seek shelter at a McDonald. They would then decide to crawl into the industrial bin for the night. South Coast Local Service Area officer in charge Paul Bahr told reporters on Tuesday that the boys were not classified as homeless and had “places to stay … with beds they could sleep in”. “We’re not aware of any reports of children sleeping in bins in Port Lincoln. This is the first time we’ve become aware of it,” he said. “Port Lincoln has an issue with homelessness like every community and from time to time we do get rough sleepers (but) I’m not aware of children sleeping rough.” The Department of Child Protection said the boy was not in state care. On Tuesday Spencer’s aunty released a statement to Nine News on behalf of the family. “Spencer always had a close relationship with his parents, brothers and grandmothers, who he loved and adored,” she read. “He loved hunting, fishing, camping, was a cheeky boy who had a big imagination.” It is believed Spencer, known as Budda to his friends and family, had been staying with friends recently. Holly Puckridge, who was a friend of Spencer’s told 7News he had asked to “stay with us for a couple of days and we let him sleep over”. Mother Jess Bettoncelli said her 12-year-old son often hung out with the group and would join them in sleeping outside services stations and at local sporting grounds. “He’s very shaken up, he’s I think confused,” she told the outlet. “He’s I guess wondering and suspecting that that could have been him last night.” <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841164/bear.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/34bbb4ff971c4ba188867ad3396efe70" /> Superintendent Bahr said the two other boys involved in the incident have been left “traumatised” by what happened. “The background as to how they’ve ended up in this industrial bin is something that’s really going to take some time to understand,” he said. “It will be a strong part of the coronial investigation that we’ve begun.” The truck driver was not aware the boys were inside the bin when he picked it up, and has been reportedly left “extremely shaken” by the incident. Superintendent Bahr also said it was a “terrible event”. “Dealing with a young child who is suffering significant trauma and not being able to save their life after a lot of effort has gone into attempting to revive him is going to be very difficult to them,” he said. images: Supplied

News

Bathroom floor for royal baby number three

Zara and Mike Tindall have welcomed another child together, a little boy named Lucas Philip Tindall. The Queen and Prince Philip are "delighted" Buckingham Palace has said. The proud new father confirmed the details in his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, announcing his wife gave birth at home on Sunday, March 21 at 6pm. "Arrived very quickly - didn't make it to hospital - on the bathroom floor," he said, in the first podcast announcement of a royal baby. "Crazy weekend, wasn't it? Saturday, lovelocks all the rugby. Obviously Scotland, absolutely, actually I was genuinely angry after the England game. "And then Sunday got even better because a little baby boy arrived at my house." A spokesperson for the couple also confirmed the news, saying, "Zara and Mike Tindall are happy to announce the birth of their third child, Lucas Philip Tindall." The name is a nod to Mike's father Philip and Zara's grandfather, Prince Philip. This is the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's tenth great-grandchild. Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the Queen and the Duke, saying they are "delighted" by the news. They "look forward to meeting their 10th great-grandchild when circumstances allow", a spokesman added. Mike told his podcast co-hosts a friend helped them welcome the 8lbs 4oz (3.74kg) tot at their home on the royal Gatcombe estate in Gloucestershire. "Zara's friend Dolly is, she's actually more important than I am at making sure she's been at every three of my children's births — she was there and recognised that we wouldn't have got to the hospital in time, so it was run into the gym, get a mat, get into the bathroom, get the mat on the floor, get the towels down, brace brace brace!" he said "Fortunately the midwife that was going to meet us at the hospital wasn't that far away so she drove up, got there just as we'd assumed the position, and then the second midwife arrived just after the head had arrived!" This is the third child for the couple, who are already parents to Mia, born 2014, and Lena, born 2018.

Family & Pets

Royal baby: Zara Tindall expecting third child!

In happy news, Zara Tindall is pregnant with her third child. The royal’s husband Mike Tindall, 42, announced the wonderful news on a podcast he hosts, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby. Her Majesty and Prince Philip are both “delighted” by the announcement. Mike said: “It’s been a good week for me, had a little scan last week. Third Tindall on its way.” He revealed that while he is thankful for his two gorgeous girls, Mia Grace, 6, and Lena Elizabeth, 2 – he would love nothing more than to welcome a baby boy into the world. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839160/zara-tindall-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2bef1ba258544fac8d50458d1300ebd0" /> Mia Tindall, 6 He said: “I’d like a boy this time, I’ve got two girls, I would like a boy. “I’ll love it whether a boy or a girl, but please be a boy.” The former rugby star also joked he is keen to name his next child after COVID-19: “We’re not sure what to do … Covi or Covina … I don’t know where to go with names.” The couple have previously opened up about their torment at suffering two miscarriages. Mike said: “Z is very good, always careful because of things that have happened in the past, and really looking forward to it.” The baby is the second royal tot due to make an appearance in 2021. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839161/zara-tindall-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ba0aac3508a04199921bf1e698118189" /> Lena Tindall, 2 The Queen and Prince Philip currently have seven great-grandkids. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh are aware and delighted.” Zara spoke about her miscarriage in the past, admitting: “you don’t talk about it because it’s too raw”. She added: “But as with everything, time’s a great healer.” Zara and Mike lost a baby in December 2016 after announcing the pregnancy just a month before. She later suffered another miscarriage before her daughter Lena was born in June 2018. “I had to go through having the baby because it was so far along. I then had another miscarriage really early on,” she said in an interview in The Sunday Times.

Family & Pets

Australia warned US could “disconnect” from nation over Victoria’s Belt and Road deal

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that his country could “simply disconnect” from Australia if Victoria’s trade deal with Beijing threatened its telecommunication security. On Sunday morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the state government should never have signed up to China’s trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The scheme is a global infrastructure push aimed to recreate the Silk Road for the 21st century, involving new ports, highways and railways across the globe. In an interview with Sky News on the same day, Pompeo said the agreement could impact his nation’s Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership with Australia. “I don’t know the nature of those projects precisely,” Pompeo said. “To the extent they have an adverse impact on our ability to protect telecommunications from our private citizens or security networks for our defence and intelligence communities we will simply disconnect, we will simply separate. “I suppose Victoria has some rights that it can undertake but every citizen of Australia should know that every one of those Belt and Road projects needs to be looked at incredibly closely.” Several hours later US ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse issued a damage control statement saying he wanted to “set the record straight”. Culvahouse said Pompeo was asked to address a “very remote hypothetical” and was unfamiliar with the details of the BRI agreement. “The United States has absolute confidence in the Australian Government's ability to protect the security of its telecommunications networks and those of its Five Eyes partners,” Culvahouse said. “We are not aware that Victoria has engaged in any concrete projects under BRI, let alone projects impinging on telecommunications networks, which we understand are a federal matter.” The Victorian Government spokesperson said the BRI was about creating opportunities for businesses and local jobs “that will be more important than ever as we rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic”. “Telecommunications regulation is the responsibility of the Commonwealth government,” she said. “Victoria has not, and will not in the future, agree to telecommunications projects under the BRI.”

News

“We’ll hold those responsible accountable”: US claims virus came from Wuhan lab

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed there was “enormous evidence” the new coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory, but did not provide any of the alleged evidence. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said on Sunday there was “enormous” and “significant” evidence that the coronavirus outbreak began in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. “I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories,” Pompeo told ABC’s This Week. “President Trump is very clear: we’ll hold those responsible accountable.” At first, Pompeo said he believed “the best experts so far seem to think it was man-made”. But he later said he agreed with the “wide scientific consensus” from the US intelligence community that “the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified”. Pompeo’s statement indicated an escalation in rhetoric amid the country’s tensions with China. US President Donald Trump made a similar unsupported claim on Thursday, saying that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/30/donald-trump-coronavirus-chinese-lab-claim">he had proof the pandemic started in a Chinese laboratory</a>. On the same day, Pompeo said in an interview: “We don’t know if it came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. We don’t know if it emanated from the wet market or yet some other place. We don’t know those answers.” Most epidemiologists believe the virus was likely introduced from bats to humans through an intermediary animal. The US had confirmed more than 1.15 million coronavirus cases and 67,000 deaths as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre. Trump has faced widespread criticism for having overseen a “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-who-funding.html">slow and ineffective</a>“ response to the pandemic as states and cities continue to appeal for more federal help in <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/5/3/21245815/larry-kudlow-cnn-jake-tapper-state-of-the-union-coronavirus-stimulus">increasing testing capacity and propping up the economy</a>.

News

Did Prince Charles just snub US Vice President Mike Pence?

Prince Charles appeared to have “snubbed” Mike Pence as a video shows the royal walking past the US vice president without shaking his hand. The Prince of Wales was attending the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem on Thursday when he made his way down the line of dignitaries. The prince reached Pence and his wife Karen but did not shake hands with them, and continued on to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I’m sure Prince Charles just snubbed Mike Pence. Titter <a href="https://t.co/M9Hur6jXEs">pic.twitter.com/M9Hur6jXEs</a> — Darren Lethem (@DarrenLethem) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenLethem/status/1220327690563194880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote> Some observers believed the Duke of Cornwall had ignored or “shunned” the vice president by not shaking hands with him. However, the representatives of both the Buckingham Palace and the White House have denied the claim, noting that Charles had already greeted Pence and his wife earlier in the event. “Vice President Pence and the Second Lady spoke with Prince Charles for five minutes in the pre-program before they entered the hall. Also, they shook hands at the end of his remarks,” said the vice president’s press secretary Katie Waldman. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Video of <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mike_Pence</a> and Prince Charles backstage in Jerusalem. <a href="https://t.co/PWOypUaUs3">pic.twitter.com/PWOypUaUs3</a> — Katie Waldman (@VPPressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/VPPressSec/status/1220370576293998592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote> A royal spokesperson told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-51227444/palace-denies-prince-charles-snubbed-mike-pence">BBC</a> the prince and the vice president had a “long and warm conversation” before the start of the ceremony. In <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/prince-charles-snub-mike-pence/">the video posted by Israel’s official Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem</a>, the prince could also be heard greeting the vice president, saying “Mr Pence”.

Travel Trouble

Zara and Mike Tindall's act of kindness amid bushfire disaster

Mike and Zara Tindall have taken time out of their Queensland holiday to attend a fundraiser for bushfire victims. The couple have been in Australia since December as they celebrated the New Year with a few celebrity friends. On Sunday, the Tindall’s attended the Magic Millions Polo tournament, which was helping raise money for the firefighter’s fund. <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/B67pLjiA3Uz/?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/B67pLjiA3Uz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Awesome way to kick off @magicmillions week with the @magicmillionspolo . Such a good laugh and a great start to fundraising for the firefighters fund! #magicmillionsfamily @countryroadman @pacificfair</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/mike_tindall12/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> mike_tindall12</a> on Jan 5, 2020 at 12:52am PST </div> </blockquote> Zara opted for a chic red printed dress with a black trilby hat and red gold chain bag. Mike wore a navy shirt with a light blue blazer, chinos and trainers, carrying a white hat. Taking to Instagram to share a series of photos from the event, Mike wrote: “Awesome way to kick off @magicmillions week with @magicmillionspolo. Such a good laugh and a great start to fundraising for the firefighter fund!” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> Awesome way to kick off magicmillions week with the magicmillionspolo . Such a good laugh and a great start to fundraising for the firefighters fund! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/magicmillionsfamily?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#magicmillionsfamily</a> countryroadman <a href="https://twitter.com/pacificfairGC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pacificfairGC</a> @ Gold Coast,… <a href="https://t.co/ufb8B9Yr84">https://t.co/ufb8B9Yr84</a> — mike tindall (@miketindall13) <a href="https://twitter.com/miketindall13/status/1213745009180069888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">5 January 2020</a></blockquote> He also shared news of the event on Twitter. Zara is an equestrian, Olympian and the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. She is first cousin to Prince William and Prince Harry. Mike is a former rugby player. OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw" target="_blank">Vinnie's website</a> to donate!

Domestic Travel

“I hope they don’t get to us!”: Zara and Mike Tindall admit to watching The Crown

Fans of the Netflix British drama The Crown have always wondered whether or not any of the British Royal family have been watching it. After all, the show chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s up until modern times. With only two seasons behind the show, it has captured hearts due to the way the British Royal family have been portrayed. Princess Eugenie told HELLO! she'd seen a couple of episodes, and was reportedly overheard at a party saying her "granny" (the Queen) "really likes" the show. However, in a new interview with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/parenting/zara-tindall-going-back-work-8-weeks-has-made-better-happier/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a>, Princess Anne’s daughter Zara has confirmed that her and her husband Mike are fans of the show, but are a bit apprehensive if the show gets to the current members of the royal family. <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/BdS0CGGlAlA/?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/BdS0CGGlAlA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Always remember you have a family. #TheCrown</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/thecrownnetflix/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> The Crown</a> (@thecrownnetflix) on Dec 29, 2017 at 9:07am PST </div> </blockquote> "I hope they don't get to us," Zara explained to interviewer Elizabeth Day. "It would be mortifying to think how people perceive you." However, Mike Tindall is a huge fan of Claire Foy’s portrayal of Her Majesty. "She's brilliant, the one who plays the Queen. I think it's a great show in terms of how they delivered it," the former England footballer said. There’s no word yet on whether or not the show will get to the current members of the royal family just yet, but with season three quickly approaching, it’s looking more and more likely by the day.

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Zara and Mike Tindall's act of kindness amid bushfire disaster

“I hope they don’t get to us!”: Zara and Mike Tindall admit to watching The Crown

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