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"An absolute hero": 10-year-old boy rescues drowning swimmer

<p>Miles Babcock has been made an honorary member of Careflight after saving a woman who was drowning in Sydney Harbour. </p> <p>Miles, who is just 10 years old, was paddle boarding with his dad Graham when they spotted the woman who was struggling in the water. </p> <p>The 10-year-old remained calm and collected after spotting the woman in distress, and began directing his dad over to help the woman out of the water. </p> <p>Graham could not contain his pride for his son, telling <em>Today</em> that he did everything in his power to rush to her aid.</p> <p>"I'm just incredibly proud, it's one of those confronting situations where you never really know how you're going to react," Graham said.</p> <p>"But Miles was the one who spotted the lady in distress, he kept the board steady and told me to get in the water and go and get her, he helped get her onto the board, helped turn her onto the side and helped pat her on the back to help clear her airways."</p> <p>"And then as soon as I asked him to jump off the board because we needed to get into shore as quickly as possible, he just did exactly that." </p> <p>Another nearby paddleboarder helped get the lady onto Miles and Graham's board, while Miles stayed behind to catch a ride back to shore with another boarder.</p> <p>"He was a real, real trooper and an absolute hero on the day," Graham said.</p> <p>"And then all the people who came in and helped were just fantastic, it was one of those things where everyone came together."</p> <p>People on the shore had already called triple zero and the Careflight team worked with lifeguards and paramedics to help get the woman to hospital where she is recovering.</p> <p>In the days after the rescue, Miles was called into the Careflight base to meet with the crew who helped the drowning woman, as they made him an an honorary Air Crew Officer and praised his "heroic rescue".</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMyCareFlight%2Fvideos%2F416634217746897%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credits: Today </em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Molly the Magpie is going home!

<p>Molly the magpie, who captured the hearts of thousands with her unlikely friendship with Peggy the English Staffy, is set to be reunited with her former carers. The saga that ensued following Molly's removal from her home on the Gold Coast <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/outcry-after-authorities-seize-internet-famous-magpie-from-queensland-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sparked outrage and activism</a>, ultimately leading to this joyous moment.</p> <p>The story began when wildlife officials removed Molly from the residence of Reece Mortensen and Juliette Wells on March 1, citing complaints of illegal possession. This decision triggered a wave of support from the community, who were moved by the bond shared between Molly, Peggy, and another dog, Ruby. Videos and photos showcasing the trio's companionship had gained significant attention on social media platforms, turning Molly into an online sensation.</p> <p>Premier Steven Miles initially voiced his support for Molly's return, acknowledging the unique circumstances and the strong emotional bond between the animals. However, as Mortensen and Wells struggled to navigate bureaucratic hurdles in their quest to bring Molly home, frustration mounted. Despite assurances from the Premier, their attempts to seek further assistance <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/i-miss-my-bestie-new-appeal-after-molly-s-family-left-in-the-dark" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seemed to fall on deaf ears</a>, leaving them feeling abandoned.</p> <p>But just when hope seemed to be dwindling, a surprise announcement came from Premier Miles on Wednesday morning. He revealed that Molly would indeed be returning to her former carers, citing advice from the Department of Environment and Science and Innovation. The necessary arrangements for securing the appropriate license were underway, ensuring that Molly could come home "very soon".</p> <p>“This morning the Department has advised me that the couple can secure the appropriate licence. The team will work with them now to do that,” Miles said in a statement. “It’s good news and means Molly can come home very soon. I’d like to thank everyone who has written to me to share their concerns and advocate for Molly’s return.”</p> <p>This development marks a victory for animal advocacy and grassroots activism. Over 154,000 Australians had signed an online petition calling for Molly's reunion with Peggy, reflecting widespread concern for the emotional wellbeing of both the dog and the magpie. Many saw the situation as an example of "bureaucracy gone mad".</p> <p>As Molly prepares to spread her wings once more in the familiar company of Peggy and Ruby, we cannot wait to see and hear the footage of their upcoming reunion!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram | Wiki Commons</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Pensioner's epic 600-mile journey from England to Scotland on a pony

<p>Jane Dotchin has completed an epic 600-mile (1000 km) journey from England to the Scottish Highlands with her pack pony Diamond, and disabled Jack Russell terrier Dinky.</p> <p>The 82-year-old has been making this seven-week trek every year since 1972, with nothing but her trusted pony, pet dog and a few belongings including a tent, food and water which she carries in a saddlebag.</p> <p>The pensioner travels between 15 and 20 miles a day from Hexham, Northumberland to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. </p> <p>"I love camping and I love the countryside," she said, according to the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12735287/Pensioner-82-completes-600-mile-ride-England-Scotland-horse-Diamond-7-week-trip-shes-year-1972.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.</em> </p> <p>Her dog Dinky, who deformed front legs,  is just as happy to go on the adventure, sitting comfortably in the saddlebag as the world passes by her. </p> <p>She lives on porridge, oatcakes and cheese, and carries an old mobile phone in case of emergencies. </p> <p>Dotchin does not let her eye-patch stop her either, as she is determined to continue the tradition for as long as possible.</p> <p>"I know the route so well, I don’t need to read maps. I can manage if I keep to the routes I know," she told the publication. </p> <p>Dotchin first started long-distance trekking 40 years ago when she rode to Somerset, which was around 300 miles from where she lived, to visit a friend. </p> <p>She has made the journey up north every autumn since, and is an inspiration to many, with those who have spotted her sharing photos and videos of the avid horse rider. </p> <p>"A personal hero passed by just now!" wrote one person, who spotted Dotchin riding her pony back in 2021. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A personal hero passed by just now! <a href="https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI">https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaneDotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaneDotchin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCScotland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCScotland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheScotsman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheScotsman</a> <a href="https://t.co/8qegaOLA3P">pic.twitter.com/8qegaOLA3P</a></p> <p>— Robyn Woolston (@robynwoolston) <a href="https://twitter.com/robynwoolston/status/1441359649387671557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Went to watch a bike race and instead discovered an amazing, adventurous and inspirational woman," wrote another person, who spotted Dotchin in 2022. </p> <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/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Eiger X (@eiger.x)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning," wrote another, who spotted her a week later. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">When you’re struggling on a morning run and meet the incredible <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/janedotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#janedotchin</a> on the path. This 82-year-old rides 600 miles across Scotland every autumn with her horse Diamond and disabled Jack Russell Dinky in her saddle bag. What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning. <a href="https://t.co/SuAvQug6dc">pic.twitter.com/SuAvQug6dc</a></p> <p>— 📚🕷Suzy A #CrowMoon 🖤❤️📚 (@writer_suzy) <a href="https://twitter.com/writer_suzy/status/1569965657629794306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter/ Instagram</em></p>

International Travel

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When’s the best time to use frequent flyer miles to book flights? Two economists crunched the numbers on maximizing their dollar value

<p>Traveling during major holidays like Thanksgiving can be expensive, since so many people want to see their friends and families, wherever they might be.</p> <p>It’s especially hard this year with <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL">inflation soaring</a> at the fastest pace since the early 1980s. Airline fares <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUSR0000SETG01#0">were up 43% in October</a> from a year earlier – only a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm">handful of categories increased by more</a>.</p> <p>One way to ease the blow to your wallet or purse is by using frequent flyer miles. While there’s <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/2733384">quite a bit</a> of research on when is the <a href="https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/215872">best time to use cash</a> to buy flights, <a href="https://www.bu.edu/questrom/profile/huseyin-karaca/">we wondered</a> – as travel lovers – if there’s an optimal time to use miles. So with the help of <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HikpvLqt_M8OfXrCXta4rm76Z_JreLJt/view">our research assistant</a>, we investigated this question, with a focus on flights over the Thanksgiving holiday.</p> <h2>Americans return to the skies</h2> <p>The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days to travel in the U.S.</p> <p>Before the COVID-19 pandemic upended travel, the Transportation Security Administration <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus/passenger-throughput">screened 2.6 million people</a> on Thanksgiving eve of 2019, just shy of the 2.9 million record. While the number plunged in 2020 as demand dropped, it picked up to 2.3 million last year and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-thanksgiving-is-expected-to-be-one-of-the-busiest-for-travel-in-decades-11668532148">is expected to return</a> to pre-COVID-19 levels this year.</p> <p>The surge in demand, along with significantly higher jet fuel costs, are key factors in leading to more expensive air fares.</p> <p>To offset these higher costs, <a href="https://newsroom.wf.com/English/news-releases/news-release-details/2022/New-Study-Americans-Lean-Into-Credit-Card-Rewards-to-Offset-Rising-Costs--Including-Travel/default.aspx">many consumers</a> may turn to frequent flyer miles – whether accumulated from other travel or from credit cards – to avoid forking over so much cash.</p> <h2>Frequent flying 101</h2> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10253866.2015.1096095">Frequent flyer mile programs started</a> in the late 1970s after the <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/history/brief_history">federal government stopped regulating</a> airfares. Before the change, fares, routes and schedules for all domestic flights were set by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board.</p> <p>Besides slashing fares, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/airline-frequent-flyer-miles-30-years/story?id=13616082">airlines reacted by creating frequent flyer programs</a>. Texas International Airlines, which ultimately merged with United, and Western Airlines, which later joined Delta, were among the first to institute frequent flyer programs.</p> <p>In a particular airline’s frequent flyer program, you earn miles when you fly with that airline. Many people get miles by using their credit cards as well. These accumulated miles can then be redeemed for free air travel.</p> <p>Frequent flyer programs were designed to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/02634509810199535">build customer loyalty</a>, as they provide a rebate to regular passengers. They are also <a href="https://hbr.org/1995/05/do-rewards-really-create-loyalty">meant to lock travelers</a> into a particular airline – since they have a strong incentive to only fly with that carrier.</p> <p>One downside is that many business flyers go out of their way to use their preferred airline, <a href="https://www.informs.org/About-INFORMS/News-Room/Press-Releases/Study-Finds-that-Frequent-Flyer-Programs-Increase-Cost-of-Business-Travel">which boosts their company’s travel costs</a>.</p> <p>And although airlines use frequent flyer programs to increase customer goodwill, they frequently <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/united-airlines-loyalty-program-status-update">change the rules and rewards</a>, which often <a href="https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/delta-just-announced-a-change-that-will-make-people-very-mad-its-actually-a-brilliant-move.html">frustrates customers</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/2733384">Researchers have looked</a> at the <a href="https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/215872">optimal time to buy</a> airplane <a href="https://doi.org/10.1057/s41272-019-00193-7">tickets</a> with cash. In general, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2022/08/31/best-time-to-book-a-cheap-flight/?sh=23fdd1e72ebc">they have found prices</a> tend to dip anywhere from two months to three weeks before the travel dates. Prices are highest for those who want to book their flights very early, to lock it in, and last-minute travelers booking just before their departure dates.</p> <h2>How frequent flyer miles compare</h2> <p>To see when’s the best time to book with miles, we looked at <a href="https://www.oag.com/busiest-routes-right-now">one of the busiest routes in the U.S.</a> – New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX). Each month, airlines have over a quarter of a million seats flying direct on that route. There are about 30 nonstop flights a day, run by <a href="https://www.aa.com/en-us/flights-from-new-york-to-los-angeles">three</a> <a href="https://www.delta.com/us/en/flight-deals/united-states-flights/flights-to-los-angeles">different</a> <a href="https://www.jetblue.com/destinations/los-angeles-california-flights">airlines</a>.</p> <p>Starting about three months before Thanksgiving, we collected weekly data from the online booking sites of these three airlines. We tracked the frequent flyer miles needed as well as the price for every coach flight scheduled to take place within one week of Thanksgiving.</p> <p>As miles are not interchangeable between airlines in general, we needed an alternative measure for more direct comparison between different airlines. So we calculated how much a frequent flyer mile is worth by dividing the number of frequent flyer miles needed by the ticket price. We then compared the dollar worth of 1,000 miles, depending on the airline, when the booking was made and the flight date.</p> <p><a href="http://businessmacroeconomics.com/">Economic theory</a> tells us that when there is lots of competition and the product is almost identical, competition should result in all businesses charging roughly the same price.</p> <p>That wasn’t what we found.</p> <p>In mid-October, Delta was asking 69,000 miles to fly the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. American Airlines was only asking 33,000 miles for roughly the same flight. This means if you have a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-travel-credit-cards/">general travel rewards credit card</a> that lets you use miles on different airlines, it pays to shop around.</p> <p>Just because an airline has a high price in miles doesn’t mean the price will not come down. At the start of November, Delta wanted 69,000 miles to fly at dinnertime on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. A week later the airline cut the price to 53,000 miles. A week after that, it was down to 36,500 miles, a price drop of almost 50% in two weeks.</p> <p>While in general the earlier you book, the better, booking too early can cost you. We found the best time to spend your frequent flyer miles for Thanksgiving travel was to book during the first week of October, which was about eight weeks out. In early October, 1,000 frequent flyer miles were worth over $14 in airfare. The last week of October, about four weeks before Thanksgiving, those same miles were only worth shy of $12.</p> <h2>The best day to fly</h2> <p>As for what is the best day on which to travel to get the most from your miles, there are two answers. On the Monday before Thanksgiving, your miles are typically worth the most, on average $15 per 1,000 miles. This is in sharp contrast to $11 for the day before Thanksgiving. However, flying Thanksgiving Day itself had required the lowest average number of miles, about 27,000 miles.</p> <p>If you haven’t booked flights yet, you may be too late to find the best value in frequent flyer miles. However, while we are still gathering and analyzing data, these tips look like they will hold up for future holidays.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/whens-the-best-time-to-use-frequent-flyer-miles-to-book-flights-two-economists-crunched-the-numbers-on-maximizing-their-dollar-value-194893" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Travel Tips

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“He can be that guy!!!”: Top Gun actor’s grandma’s sweet campaign

<p dir="ltr">One of the stars of the latest <em>Top Gun</em> movie has been put up for the role of James Bond by one of his biggest supporters: his grandmother.</p> <p dir="ltr">Miles Teller’s grandma, Leona Flowers, recently took to Twitter to campaign for him to replace Daniel Craig as the famed spy, saying her grandson had all the skills needed for the job.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’re looking for an actor to replace Daniel Craig for future 007 movies,” she tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think my grandson, Miles Teller, has proven that he has everything they’re looking for - talent, looks, strength, worldwide appeal, and oh, so cool.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b979a01e-7fff-27f3-6bee-3171f2be0b4e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“He can be that guy!! Wouldn’t that be great?”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">They’re looking for an actor to replace Daniel Craig for future 007 movies. I think my grandson, Miles Teller, has proven that he has everything they’re looking for- talent, looks, strength,worldwide appeal &amp; oh, so cool. He can be that guy!! Wouldn’t he be great?</p> <p>— Leona Flowers (@MupTheQueen) <a href="https://twitter.com/MupTheQueen/status/1542206491691737088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Teller, who plays Rooster in the latest <em>Top Gun</em> instalment, has since admitted he’d be open to the opportunity while speaking to Entertainment Tonight.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah, I mean, yeah perfect,” the 35-year-old said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think we’re actors, you know, so maybe you can mix it up a little bit.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-dbcc04ca-7fff-44cb-8668-05d34fbfdeae">Flowers added that her American grandson would be welcomed by portraying the famous Brit, having even “charmed” the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the London premiere of <em>Top Gun: Maverick</em>.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Miles charming Prince William &amp; Princess Kate in London. He sat in the Royal box &amp; watched Top Gun Maverick with them. New friends😊Folks just can’t help liking him. He’s so relatable♥️ <a href="https://t.co/RjTRcktoXs">pic.twitter.com/RjTRcktoXs</a></p> <p>— Leona Flowers (@MupTheQueen) <a href="https://twitter.com/MupTheQueen/status/1530601184490299392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I think our English friends would welcome him as 007,” she wrote in a follow-up tweet.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The folks in London loved him when he was just there with the premiere of <em>Top Gun: Maverick</em>. He even charmed William and Kate.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c0a5b50a-7fff-68e7-fe8a-51c48915ddc5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Flowers even turned to author Ian Fleming’s original concept for the martini-drinking super spy to argue her case, writing that not only does Teller serve as a good lookalike, but he shares a love of golf with Bond and Fleming.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is Ian Fleming’s original concept of James Bond. Add a beautiful head of hair and Miles closely fits that image. 007 supposedly had a scar on his cheek as well. Like Miles, Fleming and his character, James Bond, both had a love of golf😊 <a href="https://t.co/4AydjqL2Lq">pic.twitter.com/4AydjqL2Lq</a></p> <p>— Leona Flowers (@MupTheQueen) <a href="https://twitter.com/MupTheQueen/status/1543338775979462658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“This is Ian Fleming’s original concept of James Bond,” she tweeted along with a black-and-white drawing of Bond.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Add a beautiful head of hair and Miles closely fits that image. 007 supposedly had a scar on his cheek as well. Like Miles, Fleming and his character, James Bond, both had a love of golf.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Barbara Broccoli, a producer for <em>James Bond</em>, recently said the search for the next 007 is yet to begin, though the new movie will see his character reinvented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nobody’s in the running. We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There isn’t a script yet and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond. We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time. I’d say that filming is at least two years away.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With that in mind, two years feels like plenty of time for Flowers to convince Broccoli and her team that her grandson is the best choice.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-45e88cd7-7fff-82db-7049-4f708fcf6f42"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @MupTheQueen (Twitter)</em></p>

Movies

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2021 Miles Franklin Award winner announced

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tasmanian author, Amanda Lohrey, has been awarded the 2021 Miles Franklin Literary Prize for her novel </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/the-labyrinth" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Labyrinth</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, making her the second Tasmanian to win in the coveted award in its 64-year history.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Set up in 1957, the Miles Franklin award was established after the death of the author, Miles Franklin, to recognise novels of literary merit that reflect Australian life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Australia’s most significant literary prize, Lohrey has been awarded a $60,000 prize.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My husband calls it the Wimbledon of literary awards. It’s just an honour [to win],” Lohrey said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There’s something nice about being associated with Miles Franklin; she was such a larrikin, such a non-conformist.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The judges praised Lohrey’s book as a “beautifully written reflection on the conflicts between parents and children, men and women, and the value and purpose of creative work”.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Labyrinth</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> follows Erica Marsden, a hotel receptionist, as she moves from Sydney to coastal NSW to be closer to her mentally ill son in prison. While looking for a house to purchase, Erica has a dream imploring her to build a labyrinth - a mission which quickly becomes an obsession.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lohrey was shortlisted in the 1996 Miles Franklin for her novel, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Camille’s Bread</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and longlisted in 2005 for </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Philosopher’s Doll</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Text Publishing</span></em></p>

Books

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Couple caught in 'mile-high club’ after leaving plane toilet together

<p>A couple has been caught emerging from a plane toilet together as a long queue of passengers waiting to use the facility looked on.</p> <p>The two passengers reportedly spent 10 minutes in the loo on a United Airlines flight before they stepped out.</p> <p>At one point, a flight attendant with a trolley remarked to one of the women waiting in line, “You’re still right here.”</p> <p>“There’s folks in there,” the passenger said.</p> <p>The bathroom door finally opened with a man going out, followed by a woman behind.</p> <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/B2M7WUeAcOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><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/B2M7WUeAcOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Well this...was definitely a first 😳🛩 . 😂 Tag a friend who needs to see this!👀 . #thelegendsaretrue #whatamiseeing #traveldiaries . 🎥: @staffordslick</a></p> <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/staffordslick/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Stafford Slick</a> (@staffordslick) on Sep 9, 2019 at 12:46pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Passenger Stafford Slick, who recorded the scene, wrote on Instagram, “Well this… was definitely a first.</p> <p>“Couldn’t believe my eyes … I’ve heard the legends, but never thought I would see it in real life.”</p> <p>Since it was posted on Tuesday, the video has gone viral, racking up more than 5,000 views in a day.</p> <p>United Airlines has yet to comment on the incident.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Baz Luhrmann is making a biopic about Elvis Presley

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Baz Luhrmann has decided to create a biopic about musical legend Elvis Presley. Luhrmann is known for his stylised work on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Moulin Rouge! </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Great Gatbsy</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Five actors battled it out to get the top spot of playing Presley, with big names such as Ansel Elgort, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Miles Teller, Austin Butler and musician slash actor Harry Styles fighting for the part.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, it has recently been announced that the man who will play the King of Rock is Austin Butler. Butler announced the news on his Instagram.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <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/Bz8sg24Bw6y/" 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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><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/Bz8sg24Bw6y/" target="_blank">“You have made my life complete, and I love you so”</a></p> <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/austinbutler/" target="_blank"> Austin Butler</a> (@austinbutler) on Jul 15, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tom Hanks is already on board the project as Col. Tom Parker, who is the legendary manager who controlled every aspect of Presley’s life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The film is described as focusing on the late entertainer’s rise and fall, with a major aspect of the film focusing on his relationship with Parker.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a manager, Parker helped build Presley’s career from nothing, but was also said to be extremely controlling. It was also said by </span><a href="https://deadline.com/2019/07/elvis-presley-movie-baz-luhrmann-ansel-elgort-miles-teller-austin-butler-harry-styles-tom-hanks-1202640766/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deadline</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that he took half of Presley’s earnings home for himself. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Luhrmann has been developing this project with his wife Catherine Martin since finishing on</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The Great Gatsby</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in 2013. The pair are set to co-produce the biopic.</span></p>

Music

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Mile high club: Pilot reveals the truth about what REALLY goes on

<p>Former navy pilot Chick McElwee started a company called Air Australia International that offers chartered flights, patient transfer and repatriation, as well as flight instruction.</p> <p>However, he offers something else that has piqued people’s interest – mile-high flights, which are f<span>lights where p</span><span>assengers are encouraged to have sex in the air, and they have sent his bookings through the roof.</span></p> <p>The idea came from someone making a passing comment about what the bed was for on board the plane.</p> <p>McElwee thought on his feet and didn’t mention it was for transporting unwell passengers, and said it was for couples wishing to join the mile-high club.</p> <p>He shared with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/air-australia-international-pilot-reveals-what-really-goes-on-during-milehigh-flights/news-story/09e39f25b41104efd5444920c9e6a8d4" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>: </p> <p>“I said we’d done about 25 flights,” the pilot recounted.  </p> <p>“And then, suddenly, we started getting heaps of inquiries.”</p> <p>He’s improved the original cabin design, but the basics are still there: a double bed with fresh linen and pillows, a bottle of champagne, chocolates and the privacy curtain drawn between the cabin and the cockpit.</p> <p>For those who are worried about the pilot hearing your rendezvous, you needn’t worry.</p> <p>“You don’t really hear anything because the engines are so loud,” McElwee said about piloting the mile-high flights, “but you do feel it move because the plane is balanced. So when people move back and forward – you feel it.”</p> <p>Air Australia’s mile-high club is open to anyone over the age of 18 and who has a spare hour and $750 to spend for the flight.</p> <p>McElwee’s passengers have included celebrities, sportspeople as well as glamour models.</p> <p>“The customer base is not what you think it is,” he laughs.</p> <p>The customer base in question includes a 70-year-old woman who has flown multiple times with her much younger lovers as well as a naked man who was so desperate for another bottle of champagne, he burst into the cockpit searching for one.</p>

International Travel

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Dental tourism: Things to consider before going that extra mile for your smile

<p>Australians spend up to <a href="https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/januaryfebruary/medical-tourism/">A$300 million</a> each year on health-care costs abroad. As part of this phenomenon, each year <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/hospitals-and-medical-procedures/medical-treatments/articles/cosmetic-surgery-holidays">around 15,000 of us</a> are travelling overseas for cosmetic surgery tourism, including dental procedures.</p> <p>We don’t have firm numbers on exactly how much Australians spend on dental procedures. But we know for sure dental implants, crowns and bridges (prosthetic devices implanted to cover a damaged tooth or missing teeth), endodontics (such as root canal treatments) and other cosmetic dental procedures are becoming highly desirable.</p> <p>There has never been more pressure to have a straight, bright and white set of teeth.</p> <p><strong>The rise of dental tourism</strong></p> <p>Health-care tourism refers to people travelling overseas to undergo a medical or dental procedure. People travel for a range of dental procedures including having implants, crowns and bridges fitted, or for dentures, root canal treatment, fillings, veneers and teeth whitening.</p> <p>In Australia, <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia-2015/contents/cost-of-dental-care">three in ten people</a> have avoided visiting a dentist due to cost, while <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia-2015/contents/cost-of-dental-care">one in five</a> were unable to afford treatment recommended by a dentist. Dental care in Australia is <a href="https://chf.org.au/sites/default/files/health-voices-may12_web.pdf">not subsidised</a> for the majority of Australians, and <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/health-conditions-disability-deaths/dental-oral-health/overview">about half</a> don’t have any private dental insurance, which makes the allure of dental tourism clear.</p> <p>Some companies offer all-inclusive packages for sun, sea and smiles, meaning you can receive dental care as part of your holiday.</p> <p>Dental treatment abroad including flights and luxury hotel accommodation is often still cheaper than some dental treatments at home. For Australians, the most popular destinations are countries in Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.</p> <p>Patients who travel tend to be ordinary people with modest incomes. And, like medical tourism, a substantial part of overseas dental travel involves diaspora patients returning to their home country for more familiar (and cheaper) care.</p> <p><strong>What are the risks?</strong></p> <p>Dentistry, whether provided at home or abroad, is never risk-free. You might pay top dollar to see the best provider and still have something go wrong.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.ada.org.au/Your-Dental-Health/Younger-Adults-18-30/Dental-Tourism">Australian Dental Association</a> advocates for patients to reconsider mixing holidays abroad with their oral health care. The association says the standards of dentistry overseas aren’t as good as in Australia and there could be issues with cleanliness and infection risk.</p> <p>While there are no strong population-based studies that prove overseas dental treatment leads to poor outcomes, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1834-7819.2010.01267.x">case studies</a> do exist. These have shown lack of accountability and regulation are the main issues with dental tourism, particularly when complications arise.</p> <p>Education, training and practice philosophies of overseas-trained dentists might be different to those of Australian-trained dentists. Dental education systems in a few major tourist destinations in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent are facing several challenges in terms of rapid privatisation, quality and regulation.</p> <p>On the other side on the coin, Australia has also had <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/up-to-10000-sydney-dental-patients-are-being-urged-to-get-blood-tests-for-hiv-hepatitis/news-story/9195b8da90deda723ac9093f2b66360e">reported cases</a> of poor infection control practices.</p> <p><strong>Things to consider</strong></p> <p>Whether you choose to have dental treatment overseas or in Australia, here are some things to consider:</p> <p><strong>Have you had enough time to think about your treatment?</strong> If you have a plane to catch and a tight schedule, you need to be wary about being pressured into committing to treatments before you feel ready. Holidays come and go but the effects of dental treatment stick around for a lot longer.</p> <p><strong>Have you been able to ask questions?</strong> Most dentists are really good at telling patients about treatments and different options. If you don’t feel you can ask questions, or that you are getting answers that satisfy your needs, you should be able to have a second opinion. Don’t be afraid to ask for one.</p> <p><strong>What happens if things don’t work out?</strong> Dentistry is as much of an art as it is a science. No matter how skilled your dentist, sometimes things don’t go to plan or are more complex than first thought. It usually isn’t too much of a problem to put things right, but if you need to see a dentist again, is this going to be difficult?</p> <p><strong>From dental tourism to transnational dental care</strong></p> <p>In this era of globalisation, overseas travel for dental care seems unavoidable. On a positive note, increased international flows of patients are likely to stimulate debate and develop solutions to enable more effective and cheaper access to dental care in Australia.</p> <p>Host countries that benefit from dental tourism and have modified their clinical facilities for an international clientele may be encouraged to offer similar levels of quality care to local patients.</p> <p>Professional and patient regulation and other mechanisms (such as insurance) that are preserved for national interests will need to widen to include the concerns of overseas health-care travellers.</p> <p>Regional cooperation across countries where dental tourism occurs will need to be actively pursued. This includes streamlined support for understanding dental tourism such as the inflows and outflows of patients, types of treatments, care providers and after care. Better data on dental tourism are vital for tracing and explaining this phenomenon.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102910/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Madhan Balasubramanian, NHMRC Sidney Sax Research Fellow, University of Sydney and Alexander Holden, Lecturer in Dental Ethics, Law and Professionalism, University of Sydney</span>. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/dental-tourism-things-to-consider-before-going-that-extra-mile-for-your-smile-102910"><span>The Conversation</span></a>.</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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6 great Australian writers you should read

<p>Australia has produced some amazing authors over the years, from Miles Franklin to Tim Winton. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest Aussie writers of all time and the books you simply must read.</p> <p><strong>Tim Winton</strong></p> <p>Winton has been prolific in the Australian literature scene, producing 27 books and countless short stories. His honest and accessible writing style has made him an Australian treasure. Winton has also become quite an environmental activist, pushing for greater care of our beautiful landscape and marine life.</p> <p>Must-read: <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/cloudstreet-tim-winton/prod9780140273984.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cloudstreet</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><strong>Miles Franklin</strong></p> <p>We simply had to include Franklin on our list, as she is widely regarded as being responsible for much of what we think of today as Australian literature. Her 1901 novel My Brilliant Career established Franklin as an Aussie icon. Her legacy continues thanks to the Miles Franklin Award, a literary prize awarded every year since 1957.</p> <p>Must-read: <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/my-brilliant-career-miles-franklin/prod9780143105053.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My Brilliant Career</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><strong>Richard Flanagan</strong></p> <p>Flanagan has had an illustrious career as not only an author but as a journalist, essayist and screenwriter. He has released 6 novels, starting with his 1994 debut <em>Death of a River Guide</em> which won two awards and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Prize. Flanagan is credited as a co-writer for the 2008 film Australia as well as the 1998 film adaptation of his novel <em>The Sound of One Hand Clapping</em>.</p> <p>Must-read: <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping-richard-flanagan/prod9780857989208.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Sound of One Hand Clapping</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><strong>Christos Tsiolkas</strong></p> <p>Though he had success with early novels <em>Loaded</em> and <em>Head On</em> (which was turned into a movie starring Alex Dimitriades), Tsiolkas shot to fame in 2008 with <em>The Slap</em>, a novel about the repercussions one man experiences after publically slaps a friend’s son. The book won 4 awards and was adapted into a TV miniseries both in Australia and in the US.</p> <p>Must-read: <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/the-slap-christos-tsiolkas/prod9781741758207.html" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Slap</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><strong>Colleen McCullough</strong></p> <p>McCullough sadly passed away last year, but she has left behind a legacy of incredible work. She is well known for many individual novels as well as the <em>Masters of Romeseries</em> and the Carmine Delmonico series. Her book<em> The Thorn Birds</em> was exceptionally popular, having been adapted into a US TV miniseries featuring Barbara Stanwyck and Christopher Plummer.</p> <p>Must-read: <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/the-thorn-birds-colleen-mccullough/prod9780732282240.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Thorn Birds</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><strong>Thomas Keneally</strong></p> <p>Perhaps one of Australia’s most successful literary exports, 80-year-old Keneally famously penned <em>Schindler’s Ark</em>, which was adapted into Steven Spielberg’s Best Picture-winner <em>Schindler’s List</em>. His other works include <em>The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith</em>, <em>Confederates</em> and <em>The Playmaker</em>. He has won the Miles Franklin award twice.</p> <p>Must-read: <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/schindler-s-ark-thomas-keneally/prod9780340936290.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Schindler’s Ark</span></strong></em></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p> <p>Who’s your favourite Australian author? Tell us in the comments below!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/04/touching-lines-from-books/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>20 most touching lines in literature</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/03/best-crime-books/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 crime books you need to read</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/01/books-every-australian-should-read/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 books every Australian should read</span></em></strong></a></p>

Books

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Penguin swims 5,000 miles every year to reunite with 71-year-old man

<p>When Joao Pereira de Souza, a 71-year-old part time fisherman, happened across a tiny penguin on his local beach just outside Rio de Janeiro Brazil, he thought all was lost.</p> <p>The penguin was covered in oil, and by all accounts close to death.</p> <p>But Joao was undeterred and over the course of a week diligently cleaned the oil off the penguin’s feathers. Joao also fed the bird fish to build strength, naming him Dindim.</p> <p>After Dindim seemed to improve Joao tried to release him back into sea, but the penguin wouldn’t leave. For 11 months the two lived together, thick as thieves.</p> <p>“He stayed with me for 11 months and then, just after he changed his coat with new feathers, he disappeared,” Joao told Globo TV.</p> <p>Then suddenly, after a few months away Dindim returned, amazingly spotting Joao on the beach. Dindim now spends around eight months a year with Joao and the remaining time breeding off the coast of Argentina and Chile, a distance of 5,000 miles!</p> <p>"I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me," Joao told Globo TV. "No one is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. He lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and to pick him up."</p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / Globo TV</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/couple-give-60-million-lottery-away/"><strong>Couple gives $60 million lottery win away</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/find-letter-t-image-puzzle/"><strong>Can you find the letter “T” in this image?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/stunning-images-antarctica-remote-beauty/"><strong>Stunning images of Antarctica’s remote beauty</strong></a></em></span></p>

News

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Penguin swims 5,000 miles every year to reunite with 71-year-old man

<p>When Joao Pereira de Souza, a 71-year-old part time fisherman, happened across a tiny penguin on his local beach just outside Rio de Janeiro Brazil, he thought all was lost.</p> <p>The penguin was covered in oil, and by all accounts close to death.</p> <p>But Joao was undeterred and over the course of a week diligently cleaned the oil off the penguin’s feathers. Joao also fed the bird fish to build strength, naming him Dindim.</p> <p>After Dindim seemed to improve Joao tried to release him back into sea, but the penguin wouldn’t leave. For 11 months the two lived together, thick as thieves.</p> <p>“He stayed with me for 11 months and then, just after he changed his coat with new feathers, he disappeared,” Joao told Globo TV.</p> <p>Then suddenly, after a few months away Dindim returned, amazingly spotting Joao on the beach. Dindim now spends around eight months a year with Joao and the remaining time breeding off the coast of Argentina and Chile, a distance of 5,000 miles!</p> <p>"I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me," Joao told Globo TV. "No one is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. He lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and to pick him up."</p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / Globo TV</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/couple-give-60-million-lottery-away/"><strong>Couple gives $60 million lottery win away</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/find-letter-t-image-puzzle/"><strong>Can you find the letter “T” in this image?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/stunning-images-antarctica-remote-beauty/"><strong>Stunning images of Antarctica’s remote beauty</strong></a></em></span></p>

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Army dad watches his quadruplets born from 6,000 miles away over FaceTime

<p>Army captain, Anthony Burch, had been deployed with the U.S. Army in South Korea while his wife, Mary Pat, was due to give birth to quadruplets.</p> <p>Now it’s not every day you see a mobile phone present while someone is in labour, but this was a time of despair for the father to be, who called up the hospital his wife was at to use an app called FaceTime, which enables you to look at the person you’re calling. In this case, Captain Burch was able to see not only his wife, but the birth of his three boys and one daughter who entered the world, healthy happy and safely.</p> <p>Captain Burch is set to return home to Illinois for good during the summer to be with his wife, the babies, and their other two-year-old daughter.</p> <p>In case you were wondering, the pair had always wanted a big family but were extremely shocked when they found out they were having quadruplets, who could ask for a better surprise!</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/life-lessons-from-grandparents/">Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/5-types-of-grandparents/">There are 5 different types of grandparents – which one are you?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/parents-and-kids-who-look-identical/">10 pics of parents and kids who look identical</a></em></strong></span></p>

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5 ways to get more out of your frequent flyer miles

<p>Frequent flyer mile programs can potentially open the door to a range of bargains. But there’s a way to get more value out of these miles that should be considered by everyone signing up. We’ve put together five useful tips for using your frequent flyer miles more effectively.</p> <p><strong>1. Avoid the airline’s frequent flyer stores</strong></p> <p>While it may seem like the obvious place to go, particularly if you’re sitting on a stack of points, heading to the airline frequent flyer store doesn’t really represent a good investment. This is because while frequent flyer points are set to the value of a currency, the amount they’re worth varies greatly depending on the actual product you’re buying. At the very least, make sure you do a little bit of window shopping before making a purchase as it might represent terrible value.</p> <p><strong>2. Use only one frequent flyer program</strong></p> <p>If you’re after the big rewards at the end of the journey the only way you’re going to get there is by sticking with a single program (which is exactly the sort of behaviour these programs were set up to encourage). If you’re just about to choose a frequent flyer program to go with, make sure you do some shopping around and not just by looking at the typical rewards they offer, but also examining the routes they generally service and whether this will fit into your business and pleasure trips.</p> <p><strong>3. Think twice about “free” flights</strong></p> <p>Always consider what the best fare is going to be, before you use all your points. Competition in the airline industry is rife and the more you save up the closer you may be to that flight deal to end all flight deals. Using your points on a flight that’s already very cheap gives your points an exchange rate that’s effectively well below their actual worth, so it’s worthwhile considering this sort of thing.</p> <p><strong>4. Apply for an upgrade</strong></p> <p>If those points are burning a hole in your pocket however, a useful way to get rid of them is by purchasing a ticket that’s upgradable (these systems vary from airline to airline) an applying for an upgrade. These upgrades are available right up to the departure gate with some airlines and can also cater for one leg of a two-flight trip so there’s potentially a lot of flexibility to explore there.</p> <p><strong>5. Useful Online Resources</strong></p> <p>The point systems are generally geared to help the airlines make more money, so it’s not like you’re ever going to be able to get something for nothing. But there are variety of online resources to help travellers figure out which the best point system is for them. A good example is <a href="http://pointspros.com/" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Points Pros</span></strong></em></a> which is an online resource that really simplifies the point accrual process and helps you figure out how to get the best points deal for your particular situation. To visit the <a href="http://pointspros.com/" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Points Pro website click here</span>.</strong></em></a></p> <p><em><strong>No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card­.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au" target="_blank"> To find out how you can apply for a card today, click here.</a></span></strong></em></p>

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Massive 6-metre shark caught off 7 Mile Beach is unbelievable

<p>Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water: a six-metre tiger shark has been found off the shores of 7 Mile Beach.</p> <p>Geoff Brooks posted a photo of the gigantic fish on Tuesday, stating that it was caught near Lennox Head, in northern NSW. The massive shark had its jaw removed to keep as a trophy, though the kill was said to be an alleged effort to ward off future attacks:</p> <p>“As far as I'm aware, it was a kill order on a shark here on the far north coast that was identified as being responsible for a local attack,” Brooks said. “And yes - it's real.”</p> <p>A fisherman named Matthew claims to be responsible for the catch, telling the Northern Star, “'I was the one that took that photo and I was the one that caught that fish.”</p> <p>The unidentified fisherman claimed to have caught the shark 14 miles off Tweed Heads three weeks prior. Allegedly, he spotted a six-foot hammerhead when the massive tiger shark came into view.</p> <p>“I was fighting the hammerhead shark and [the tiger shark] came up and swallowed it,” he said.</p> <p>This catch occurred amidst rumours that citizens have intended to take shark culling into their own hands after a decline in tourism. A conservationalist with Positive Change for Marine Life disagrees with phenomenon, warning that shark culling will have little to no effect on future human attacks:</p> <p>“Eliminating individual species that are slow to reach sexual maturation and whose numbers are already under extreme pressure from human activities is not only influencing the balance of our oceans, but it is proven to not make any difference on shark/human interactions in all areas where culls have been carried out.”</p> <p>Either way, this is one six-metre shark that we no longer have to worry about.</p> <p><img width="500" height="583" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/8180/2b4a1a8900000578-3194557-_as_far_as_i_m_aware_it_was_a_kill_order_on_a_shark_here_on_the_-a-3_1439348428947_500x583.jpg" alt="2B4A1A8900000578-3194557-_As _far _as _I_m _aware _It _was _a _kill _order _on _a _shark _here _on _the _-a -3_1439348428947"/></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2015/08/junk-food-walk-off-time-labels/">New labels on junk food tell how long they take to exercise off</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2015/08/small-fridge-tips/">Clever space-saving tricks to keep a small fridge organised</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2015/08/photo-baby-bunnies-growing/">Photos chart baby bunnies growing over 30 days</a></span></em></strong></p> <p> </p>

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