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"Violent threats": The Block star opens up after sudden exit

Paige and Jesse, contestants on the 2024 season of The Block, have finally addressed the intense backlash they've received following their portrayal on the popular reality show. The couple, who became social media’s latest "villains" due to multiple on-screen arguments, have opened up about the toll it has taken on their mental health. Fans of the show have accused the duo of having a "toxic relationship", and some online commentators have left harsh, often cruel comments directed at them. The 27-year-old Paige expressed her dismay at the negativity, calling it "really sad" to see so many of her fellow contestants also receiving hate. “It's just a TV show as well," she told <a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/lifestyle/what-you-dont-see-on-tv-the-block-star-on-horrific-consequence-of-being-a-reality-villian-053436673.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo Lifestyle</a>. "I don't think it's appropriate whatsoever.” The attacks have gotten so bad that Paige revealed that Jesse has taken control of her Instagram to filter hateful messages, and she has deleted her Facebook presence completely, to avoid the barrage of negativity. In her interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, Paige revealed how serious the situation has become, explaining that the constant harassment has led her to turn off comments on her social media to safeguard her “sanity”. “I've had a lot of death threats, violent threats, and nasty comments that are unimaginable. I turned the comments off for my own wellbeing,” she said, explaining that the online abuse began almost immediately after the first episode aired. While Channel Nine has provided counselling and mental health resources for them, Paige says that her biggest support has come from her family and from Jesse. Her family, who have moved in with them temporarily, have been a source of strength, with Paige explaining that her brother also experienced severe online bullying when they were younger. “I think just being around grounded people, it's a lot harder to fall into those traps,” she shared. Jesse also opened up about the difficulties of watching themselves on TV, admitting that the negative portrayal has made them question their self-identity. However, they’ve found comfort in reconnecting with their co-stars, who remind them of the fun, positive moments that weren’t aired. “You start to question yourself when you’re watching yourself on TV,” Jesse said, adding that they often reflect on the good times during filming, despite what viewers see. Despite the negative attention, Paige and Jesse have also experienced an outpouring of support. Following Paige’s <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@paigebeechey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candid three-part TikTok series</a>, where she revealed details about their experience on the show and their decision to leave on bad terms, the couple received a flood of encouraging messages. “The response that I got was pretty huge,” Paige said. “I received so many wonderful messages from women, men, current contestants, past contestants.” Jesse echoed her sentiments, sharing that for every few negative comments, there were significantly more positive ones. “It’s like, okay, there actually are people who understand and care and realise that it's more than just a show,” he said. As part of her post-exit TikTok series, Paige levelled a parting shot at the long-running renovation show itself, saying “The Block is over to me. All I want to do now is implore the network that when this show continues, there needs to be serious reform on how you prepare contestants.” Images: Channel Nine

"Words matter": Why Australia's threat level was just raised to "probable"

Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia's terror level has been raised in the wake of spy agency warnings. The Prime Minister announced the change from “possible to probable” on Monday morning at a press conference in Canberra with ASIO director-general Mike Burgess. “ASIO is raising the national terrorist and threat level from possible to probable," Mr Burgess said. “Our decision reflects that the security environment is degrading. A threat level of probable is reassessed as a greater than 50 per cent chance of attack planning in the next 12 months." “It does not mean that we have intelligence about the current attack planning or expectation of an imminent attack." The National Terrorism Threat Advisory System has a scale of five levels, beginning with Not Expected, Possible, Probable, before rising to Expected and Certain. Mr Burgess said the decision was not taken easily, as he explained, “Our decision is not a direct response to the tragic events in the Middle East. At this stage we do not believe any of the terrorist plots we have investigated in the last year have been inspired by Gaza." “Terrorist leaders offshore are not inspiring attacks onshore. This is why we did not raise the threat level in the immediate aftermath of 7 October.” Mr Albanese said the decision follows a cabinet meeting today and briefings by spy agencies. “My government’s first priority is the safety and security of Australians and this morning, I convened a national-security committee meeting to hear from the director-general," Mr Albanese said. “I want to reassure Australians that probable does not mean inevitable and it does not mean it is intelligence about an imminent threat or danger. But the advice that we have received is that more Australians are embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies and it is our responsibility to be vigilant. Mr Burgess said it did not mean there was any imminent threat of a terrorist attack in Australia, but said it was about being vigilant and prepared. “Australia’s security environment is more volatile and more unpredictable, you’ve heard me say many times of espionage and foreign interference, our principal security concerns,’’ he said. “While the threats to our way of life are elevated we are seeing an increase in extremism, more Australians are being radicalised and radicalised more quickly. More Australians are embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies and more Australians are willing to use violence to advance their cause." In response to a question from the media on the Greens, who recently accused the Labor Party of being implicit in genocide when it comes to the war in Palestine, the Prime Minister said some of the rhetoric was of concern. “Words matter and it is important that people engage in a way that is respectful, that people don’t make claims that they know are not right in order to try to secure some short-term political advantage,’’ he said. Concluding the press conference, Mr Burgess said it is up to every Australian to say vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour. He said, "This is a matter for everyone, community leaders, politicians, the media, watch your words, watch your actions. Be very careful about that because there is a direct correlation between inflamed language and inflamed tension and violence.” Image credits: LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

Bizarre reason Pink has begun to receive "many death threats"

Pop sensation Pink, whose real name is Alecia Beth Moore, recently found herself embroiled in a controversy that led to the cancellation of two tour dates in Tacoma, Washington, and the singer addressing the "many death threats" she received from individuals who mistakenly accused her of showing support for Israel during her shows. The allegations arose amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Pink felt compelled to clarify her stance. On social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), Pink shared a statement explaining the misunderstanding. She revealed that some concertgoers had mistaken the Māori Poi flags used in her performances for Israeli flags. Pink emphasised that she was not taking a side in the conflict but rather incorporating these flags as a tribute to the Māori people of New Zealand. She stated, "I do not fly flags in my show in support of anything or anyone except the rainbow flag. That will remain my position. I am a human. I believe in peace. Equality. Love. I am deeply saddened by the state of the world. I pray for all of us." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This post will be controversial for some. At this point, breathing is controversial. I am getting many threats because people mistakenly believe I am flying Israeli flags in my show. I am not. I have been using Poi flags since the beginning of this tour. These were used many,… — P!nk (@Pink) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pink/status/1713747866777448930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2023</a></blockquote> In the face of this controversy, Pink also addressed the cancellation of two Tacoma, Washington tour dates, initially citing "family medical issues" as the reason. In an Instagram post, she expressed her apologies to ticket holders and stated that Live Nation was working to reschedule these shows. She extended her well wishes, saying, "I am sending nothing but love and health to all." Pink's commitment to her values and her desire to maintain a peaceful and inclusive message in her performances remain steadfast. This controversy came just three weeks after she ejected a concertgoer from her San Antonio show for attempting to protest circumcision. During an acoustic session, the man displayed a sign on his phone reading, "circumcision: cruel and harmful". Pink responded by asking him to remove the sign and humorously quipping, "You spent all this money to come here and do that? I'm gonna have to buy a Birkin bag with that type of money. Get that s--t out of here." Pink is not only known for her incredible musical talent but also for her strong convictions and commitment to social causes. This latest incident further highlights her dedication to promoting peace, equality and love. The singer is set to embark on a tour Down Under next year, with Tones and I joining her for this musical journey. She also recently added two extra shows to her Australian lineup to accommodate her enthusiastic fan base. Images: Instagram

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"We don't storm planes, this is not TV": Police respond to criticism of Sydney plane bomb threat

A 45-year-old man is facing charges following a prolonged standoff aboard an airplane, which culminated in an arrest at Sydney Airport. Malaysia Airlines flight MH122, carrying 199 passengers and 12 crew members, took off from Sydney Airport at 1.40pm on Monday August 14. However, the flight had to return to the airport's runway at 3.47pm, where it remained stationary for several hours as emergency vehicles stood by. The arrest followed an alleged disturbance caused by a passenger on board. Finally, at around 6.30pm, passengers were able to disembark from the aircraft. The Australian Federal Police have now revealed that the man had made claims of having explosives on the plane. The authorities charged the 45-year-old individual, a resident of Canberra, with making a false statement regarding threats to damage an aircraft of division three, and with failing to comply with safety instructions from cabin crew. Video footage captured within the plane reportedly showed the man, who was carrying a backpack, making threats towards fellow passengers and crew members. During the flight, passengers took to social media to share videos depicting the man raising his voice and displaying aggressive behaviour towards cabin crew and fellow travellers. One passenger named Velutha Parambath shared on social media that approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, the individual began behaving disruptively, even becoming physically confrontational with other passengers. Parambath noted that the man's actions escalated to include preaching about his religious beliefs. He added that the man had something in his hand, and his conversations with the crew were marked by statements like "I'm not afraid of dying" and "I've got things with me," which generated fear among those on board. In the immediate aftermath, criticism emerged from several passengers aboard MH122 regarding the duration it took for the Australian Federal Police to arrest and remove the man from the aircraft once it returned to Sydney. In response, the AFP stated that an evacuation was initiated once it was determined safe for passengers and crew, leading to the man's arrest. The Australian Federal Police took the lead in managing the situation, with the support of the New South Wales Police. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb defended the response, noting the volatile nature of the incident and the unpredictability of the situation. "Given it's a volatile situation and [it's] unpredictable we didn't know the severity of the incident and you have to deal with what we learn about the passenger," she said. "We didn't know if there was a bomb." "I praise the crew for what they did in keeping the passengers calm … to de-escalate the situation to the point that we got this matter resolved in three hours, I think three hours is pretty good. "The protocol in Australia is to negotiate, we don't storm planes, this is not TV, it's not the movies we want to protect the lives of all passengers." The incident caused significant disruptions to domestic travel at Sydney Airport, resulting in the cancellation of 32 flights and delays of up to 90 minutes. NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the concerns about the AFP response and announced a review of the situation while highlighting that the resolution was achieved peacefully. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

"Take what you need": Man's selfless act despite threat of hefty fine

A man from Sydney - who goes by Michael - has been hard at work helping his community as Australians all over struggle through the nation’s ongoing cost of living crisis. The 46-year-old hotel worker has been saving discarded food from the bins outside of his local supermarkets in the inner west, and offering the produce to people to come and pick up as much as they’re in need of. To Facebook, he shares pictures of his collection, as well as captions like his most recent, in which he wrote, “good morning neighbours, I put these out this morning before I left for work.” The photo showed a pile of bread, vegetables, and other party staples sorted in crates on his porch, ready to head home with those in need. And for his selfless deed, Michael only asked one thing, that people “please only take what you need and consider others who come after you.” As Michael told Sky News, he first came up with the idea for the venture after he was introduced to ‘dumpster diving’ in July 2022, and couldn’t believe the quantity of produce and waste that was going into the supermarket bins. “I knew about dumpster diving but I had never done it," he said. "Then one day I met a guy who showed me the supermarket bins and I went, 'oh wow'." It was only a matter of time before Michael caught the attention of a fruit and vegetable vendor, who chose to offer Michael his leftover produce. “That was when I started helping out the community,” Michael explained, “because I was then given so much." And since October of the same year, Michael has been able to provide dozens of boxes worth of fruit, vegetables, and bread to others. “The reception has been amazing,” he added. "I feel good that I can help in any way I can to reduce their grocery budget and help move short dated or excess stock, the food gets taken pretty quickly." However, while the community have heaped praise upon him for his kind ways, his local shopping centre had more in the way of threats in store rather than thanks. Instead, the security have threatened him with a “$1,000 fine and a 12-month ban” if he is caught rummaging through their bins again. As he explained it, “I and many others have now been slapped with a ban from shopping malls because management do not like the public going through their bins.” Images: Facebook

Legal

Woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann flees home country amid death threats

A Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann has fled her home country for the United States after being bombarded with death threats. Julia Faustyna left her homeland with California-based private detective and psychic medium Dr Fia Johansson, who is now working on the case and believes she could be the key to cracking it. Dr Johansson, who is renowned for working with police and private investigators to solve missing person cases around the world, said Ms Faustyna was no longer safe in Poland. She said Ms Faustyna felt “terrified” after receiving threats and vile messages from online haters, with one death threat even putting a $48,000 bounty on her head. Dr Johansson, who believes there are a lot of “unanswered questions” surrounding the mystery, flew to Poland to meet with Julia, but determined that she could not continue investigation amid the barrage of abuse online. The pair have now flown to the US, with Ms Faustyna, who has also been forced to close her viral Instagram account after claiming to be the missing British girl who disappeared at the age of three in Portugal in 2007, appearing in a post at LAX Airport. “I’m excited, thank you, Fia,” she said. “Never give up and believe in yourself dreams will come true.” Dr Johansson wrote, “Thanks for the extra protection; I love you USA. Welcome to USA Julia – the land of love and dreams.” In an interview with The Sun, Dr Johansson said her first priority was to keep Ms Faustyna safe. “The haters have been attacking Julia since she came forward,” she said. “The situation in Poland is she has nobody. Her family won’t talk to her." “Julia has never said, ‘I am Madeleine McCann.’ She has lots of questions about her past and she asked for help. We are open to all possibilities.” Image credits: Instagram

Legal

Young mum speaks after baby vape clip and ensuing death threats

The teenage mum has spoken out about the disturbing footage of her 11-month-old baby vaping that surfaced online. The 16-year-old says she regrets the incident and was unaware the incident was being filmed. She was seen laughing in the footage when her baby was forced to smoke the vape, causing him to cough severely. The video was widely condemned on social media. Officers from the NSW Mid North Coast Police District went to the house in Kempsey following a “concern-for-welfare-report” for the baby. The check was called for due to the footage online, which showed the baby’s aunty holding the vape to his mouth. In one video, a woman can be heard asking the 11-month-old, “want to try?” before putting the vape in his mouth, while in a second clip, a woman is seen laughing as the baby coughs out the toxic vapour. The Daily Telegraph reported that the child’s mother called the incident a “silly joke”. “I wish I didn’t do it, but I never meant to hurt him. I would never hurt him,” she told the outlet. “It was just a silly joke, I put the vape up near him and I never thought he would grab it, I thought he‘d push it away.” "I know I did the wrong thing, but what people are saying to me and writing is full on, I don't deserve that." NSW Police did not press charges against the mother. They said in a statement that “no further action will be taken”. A spokesperson from NSW police said, “Police have now spoken with the child’s family and – following advice provided by medical professionals and other governmental agencies – no further police action will be taken.” The decision not to press charges comes amid horrified social media users demanding that the baby be taken from his mother. “Who gives their kid a vape, grow up and be a better mother,” one user said. “How can you put the vape up to your own son’s mouth and watch him suck on it and laugh while he’s choking and coughing.” The mother commented on one of the clips, “Every c*** got the hide to sit there and talk about me and my child, take a look in yas own backyard,” “You ain’t perfect either so keep that mouth going you ain’t scary, you’re nothing but bums.” For parents who believe their child has inhaled smoke from a vape, experts recommend seeking medical advice from the poisons hotline or visiting an emergency room. Image credit: Facebook

News

"Bullet in your head": Guy Sebastian’s neighbour faces court over death threats

Phillip Hanslow, neighbour to Australian singer Guy Sebastian, faced court for the first time this morning over his alleged death threats. Phillip arrived to a media frenzy with his wife, Carol, and her oxygen tank. He became emotional as he opened up about the state of his health in the wake of the six-year feud’s climax, and drew comparisons between his fight with the singer to the 1977 film Castle. The feud between the neighbours reached breaking point on January 23 when Phillip allegedly confronted Guy outside their properties in Sydney’s eastern beaches. Guy was returning from a family holiday in Japan when Phillip is said to have kicked down his fence. Phillip is said to have told the singer that “I’ll put a bullet in your head”, supposedly with a hammer in hand. However, the 66-year-old argues that his actual words were “one day someone will put a bullet in your head.” In the days to follow the incident, Phillip was arrested and issued with an apprehended violence order. Guy was granted the order that prevented Philip from contacting him or from entering his property by Magistrate Ross Hudson. Outside of the court, Phillip spoke of his arrest, and the manner in which law enforcement officers entered his home, claiming they “broke into the back of the house, smashed down the door, and came into the house while I was on the toilet and arrested me. “And then took me off to Maroubra Police Station and I spent six-and-a-half hours in the lockup. All over just a heated argument with a neighbour which I think is clearly overboard.” Phillip’s admissions to reporters didn’t stop there, with the former builder opening up about his health, and the full-time care he provides his wife. “I’m 66 – on my way out, I suppose – my body’s worn out from years and years of working as a tradie, so it’s not easy trying to deal with what’s in front of me, but you’ve got to just move forward and do your best,” he said of his health conditions - including a herniated disk in his back, brain fog, and sciatica. “But I can’t cry about it, I’ve gotta keep moving forward.” Phillip informed the court that he had to have his infected bowel removed, and that it would mean a three-week recovery for him. He did not enter pleas during his appearance, stating that he required legal aid but had been unable to find anyone who was available. Under the circumstances, Magistrate Ross Hudson adjourned the matter, allowing Phillip until March 9 to find legal representation and to recover from his procedure. Images: Getty

Legal

WHO reveals new “imminent threat in every region of the world”

<div> <div> <div> <div> <div> Two major public health bodies have now declared measles as an “imminent threat” to the global community. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) feared that a record decline of measles vaccination rates and persistent outbreaks mean that the respiratory virus is an “imminent threat in every region of the world”. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was “absolutely critical” that immunisation programs were bought back on track to avoid what he said is a “preventable disease”. “The paradox of the pandemic is that while vaccines against Covid-19 were developed in record time and deployed in the largest vaccination campaign in history, routine immunisation programs were badly disrupted, and millions of kids missed out on lifesaving vaccinations against deadly diseases like measles,” said Dr Ghebreyesus. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses, being transmitted through water droplets released in sneezes and coughs coming from infected people. In fact, the CDC states that nine out of 10 people who are not vaccinated against the disease will become infected in the advent of exposure. Common symptoms include fever, cold-symptoms, conjunctivitis and red and blotchy rashes that first appear around the face and hairline before spreading around the body. The measles, mumps and rubella-containing vaccines administered through childhood are considered the best defence against the disease and significantly reduce outbreaks. According to the WHO, India, Somalia and Yemen are the three countries with the largest measles outbreak. As always, consult your doctor if you’re concerned about measles or vaccination updates. Image: Getty </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Body

Threats against Jacinda Ardern on the rise

The number of threats levelled against New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has surged in recent years, with those requiring police involvement nearly tripling since 2019. According to data shared with <a href="https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/threats-against-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-involving-police-almost-triple-in-three-years.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newshub</a> under the Official Information Act, police have dealt with 50 threats targeting Ms Ardern in 2021, in comparison to just 18 in 2019 and 32 in 2020. A combination of anti-COVID-19 vaccine and anti-vaccine-mandate sentiment, as well as gun reform in the wake of the 2019 Christchurfch Mosque terror attack are the main drivers, according to the data. “My job is to make tough calls that not everyone likes,” Ms Ardern told television show AM. “Now that - never ever - is a reason for anyone in a leadership position to face threats and I don’t want to trivialise it by saying it comes with the job. But unfortunately, in recent times, that’s increasingly been the case. “Does it change what I do or how I do it? No.” As a result of the threats, the PM and her office have been afforded additional protection in recent months, as reported by several New Zealand outlets. It comes after anti-vaccination groups occupied the lawns and streets outside Parliament, with a number of protestors calling for the public trial and execution of Ms Ardern and others involved in the vaccination effort. Some threats against the Prime Minister have emerged via Telegram, the encrypted social media platform frequently used by conspiracy theorists and Nazi sympathisers, including one from Richard Trevor Sivell, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/man-who-threatened-to-kill-jacinda-ardern-causes-stir-in-court">who was charged with threatening to kill</a> Ms Ardern in April. “They are going to die. We are not going to allow them to share this world with us anymore,” Mr Sivell said in an audio message posted to the Counterspin channel on Telegram. “Same as Jacinda. She is going to die. Execute these motherf***ers. I look forward to hearing their necks snap.” Image: Getty Images

Legal

“No longer unthinkable”: UK official weighs in on nuclear threat

A senior officer in the British Air Force has warned that nuclear war could be “only a few steps away” from becoming a reality, as reported by <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17953272/nuclear-war-few-steps-away-ukraine-warns-raf-chief/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>. British Air Marshal Edward Stringer appeared on the British talkback radio station <a href="https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/nuclear-war-possible-few-steps-away-raf-chief/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LBC</a> on Tuesday morning local time and spoke about how the possibility of a nuclear war would be a “weight on the minds” of world leaders. “It’s no longer unthinkable and it clearly be weighing on the minds of those who are making all the political calculations at the moment, hence the very straight and consistent line from Biden and all the other senior heads of state recently,” he said. “It is in the realm of possibility, and that is what people have to get their heads around.” Air Marshal Stringer added that it was possible to “sketch a plausible chain of events” that could see the use of nuclear weapons, and that it was “a pretty terrifying prospect for anybody sensible”. He explained that it was also the reason why world leaders have been hesitant to establish no-fly zones over Ukraine. “NATO is not constructed to go onto the offensive, if it did it would be taking on another nuclear power - Russia,” he said. As for whether nuclear war is likely, US intelligence says Russia has a theory called “escalate to de-escalate” to use if in conflict with NATO where a dramatic action of threat is used to frighten opponents and cause them to back down, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60664169" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>. James Acton, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the outlet it may be a tactic to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin gets his way. “I am legitimately worried that in that circumstance Putin might use a nuclear weapon, most likely on the ground in Ukraine to terrify everyone and get his way,” he said. “We are not at that point yet.” Image: Getty Images

News

Rapidly increasing climate change poses a rising threat to mental health

Climate change poses serious risks to mental well-being. For the first time, a <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-ii/">new climate report</a> by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has assessed how climate change is having widespread and cumulative effects on mental health globally. Over the past decade, research and public interest on the effects of climate change on mental health have been increasing, as the number of individuals and communities exposed and vulnerable to climate change hazards grows. Weather and climate extremes such as storms, floods, droughts, heat events and wildfires can be traumatic and have immediate impacts on mental health. Slow onset events like changing seasonal and environmental norms, sea level rise and ice patterns can also affect people’s mental well-being. Growing evidence confirms that the consequences of rapid, widespread and pervasive climate events may include <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102263">anxiety</a>, <a href="https://changingclimate.ca/health-in-a-changing-climate/chapter/4-0/">PTSD</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0222-x">higher rates of suicide</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102237">a diminished sense of well-being (stress, sadness)</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30144-3">ecological grief</a>, a rise in domestic violence, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1874-3">cultural erosion</a> and diminished social capital and social relations. As scientists who contributed to the latest IPCC report <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-ii/">Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability</a>, we are pleased that this Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) assesses climate change impacts on mental health for the first time in detail, representing a major advancement and new contribution. <h2>Significant threats</h2> The Earth will <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-i/">likely reach 1.5 C of warming above pre-industrial levels by 2040</a>under intermediate and high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, bringing with it <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/">higher temperatures on land and in the ocean, declining sea ice, more heat waves, more rainfall in some regions and a greater chance of drought in others</a>. With increasing exposures to these hazards comes greater incidences of negative mental health outcomes. The findings outlined in the report confirm the depth, breadth and significance of the ways climate change impacts mental health. This synthesis of global research indicates that these negative mental health outcomes are on the rise and unequally distributed due to climate change. Here are three things that the latest IPCC report tells us about climate change and mental health in North America. 1. There is greater scientific understanding about the ways that climate change negatively impacts mental health. When the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/">IPCC Fifth Assessment Report</a> (AR5) was published in 2014, there was emerging yet limited research on mental health outcomes. The report mentioned that climate change could affect mental health, but there wasn’t enough published research available then to fully assess its impacts. As the volume of research on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111205">climate change and mental health has grown</a>, this new report is now able to assess its impact. Researchers have been able to examine how both climate and weather extremes such as storms, floods, droughts and fires and slower-onset climate changes such as warming temperatures and changing environmental norms interact with people’s vulnerabilities such as socio-economic inequities, age, gender, identity, occupation and health and lead to a diverse range of negative mental health outcomes. For example, a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119929">synthesis of global literature</a> found that those exposed to flooding events — such as the floods in southern British Columbia in 2021, in Ottawa in 2019 and Alberta in 2013 — experience PTSD, depression and anxiety in the short term and have elevated risks for these mental health outcomes in the long term. Similar mental health outcomes were found for those <a href="https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-018-0070-5">exposed to wildfires and related smoke</a>, such as the wildfires in the Northwest Territories in 2014, Fort McMurray, Alta., in 2016 and Lytton, B.C., in 2021. Our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.043">own work</a> with Inuit in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, demonstrates the ways in which slower, cumulative impacts from rising temperatures, declining sea ice and changing seasonal, animal and plant patterns disrupt land-based activities and livelihoods, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0875-4">leading to negative consequences for mental and emotional well-being</a>. This includes <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2011.08.005">strong emotional reactions</a> (stress, anger, fear and distress), <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0092-2">ecological grief</a> and loss, expressions of anxiety and depression and <a href="http://www.lamentfortheland.ca/">loss of cultural knowledge and place-based identities and connections</a>. 2. The mental health impacts of climate change are unequally distributed. Climate change works across intersecting social determinants of health — factors such as age or gender that influence health and how people live — to disproportionately affect certain groups. For example, AR6 demonstrates that some people and communities are most at risk for increasingly worsening mental health outcomes, due to their proximity to the hazard, their reliance on the environment for livelihood and culture and their socio-economic status: <ul> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.009">Agricultural communities</a> already experiencing drought or changing environmental conditions. </li> <li>People living in areas exposed to <a href="https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-018-0070-5">wildfires</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119929">floods</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab68a9">Indigenous Peoples</a> and those closely dependent on the natural environment for livelihoods and culture </li> <li><a href="https://changingclimate.ca/health-in-a-changing-climate/">Women, the elderly</a>, <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3918955">children and young people</a> and those already experiencing <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf">chronic physical and mental health issues</a>.</li> </ul> 3. It’s not too late to promote resilience. Climate change is not a distant threat. It’s a growing reality. Urgent action is needed to protect the mental health of individuals, communities and health systems under rapid climate change and support individual and community resilience and well-being. Resilience can be enhanced through climate-specific mental health outcomes training and policy action, which support health systems to enhance individual and community mental health and well-being. For example, the American Psychological Association outlines strategies to build personal resilience, including building belief in one’s own reslience, fostering optimism, cultivating coping strategies, finding sources of personal meaning, finding social support networks (family, friends, organized groups), fostering and upholding a connection to place and maintaining connections to one’s culture. Incorporating climate-specific training in education and for physicians, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and allied health professionals, is essential for building climate-literate health professionals capable of supporting individual and community resilience and for preparing health systems to better serve those experiencing climate-sensitive mental health challenges. Finally, <a href="https://changingclimate.ca/health-in-a-changing-climate/chapter/10-0/">health systems and health authorities</a> must take measures to assess and enhance health system readiness to deal with growing mental health needs and increase disaster planning and training, to further support individual and community resilience to climate change. <h2>Moving forward</h2> Based on the available evidence, the mental health impacts from climate change are already widespread and likely to worsen. Even with immediate and strong action towards mitigation and adaptation, climate change will continue to be a serious threat. It is critical that we understand the serious risks that climate change poses to mental well-being and take urgent action to support health systems and enhance individual and community mental health and resilience within a changing climate. Although more evidence is needed to determine the most effective programs and policies to reduce negative mental health outcomes from climate change, the effectiveness of individual and group therapy, place-specific and culturally responsive mental health infrastructure and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-019-0822-8">nature-based therapies</a> have been well-proven in other areas, and show promise. Protecting individual and community mental health and well-being requires action from all levels of government and health authorities and integrating a mental health lens and a “<a href="https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/3/E61">Health in All Policies</a>” approach. Major <a href="https://changingclimate.ca/health-in-a-changing-climate/chapter/10-0/">co-benefits for health and well-being </a>in general, and mental health in particular, can arise when decision-makers in all sectors consider and promote health and health equity through adaptation strategies, while taking urgent measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to 1.5 C. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/rapidly-increasing-climate-change-poses-a-rising-threat-to-mental-health-says-ipcc-177906" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Mind

5 ways climate change boosts tsunami threat, from collapsing ice shelves to sea level rise

The enormous eruption of the underwater volcano in Tonga, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, triggered a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/tonga-volcano-generates-tsunami-us-tsunami-monitor-said-2022-01-15/">tsunami</a> that reached countries all around the Pacific rim, even causing a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-tonga-peru-trending-news-3a92a17e2101945afcb22f5eb5bfb2ad?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP">disastrous oil spill</a> along 21 beaches in Peru. In Tonga, waves about 2 metres high were recorded before the sea level gauge failed, <a href="https://twitter.com/ConsulateKoT/status/1483384039826464768/photo/1">and waves of up to 15m</a> hit the west coasts of Tongatapu Islands, ‘Eua, and Ha’apai Islands. Volcanic activity could continue for weeks or months, but it’s hard to predict if or when there’ll be another such powerful eruption. Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes, but a <a href="http://tsunami.org/what-causes-a-tsunami/">significant percentage</a> (about 15%) are caused by landslides or volcanoes. Some of these may be interlinked – for example, landslide tsunamis are often triggered by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. But does <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change">climate change</a> also play a role? As the planet warms, we’re seeing more <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-can-climate-change-affect-natural-disasters">frequent and intense</a> storms and cyclones, the melting of glaciers and ice caps, and sea levels rising. Climate change, however, doesn’t just affect the atmosphere and oceans, it affects the Earth’s crust as well. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-geology-idUSTRE58F62I20090916">Climate-linked</a> geological changes can increase the incidence of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions which, in turn, can exacerbate the threat of tsunamis. Here are five ways this can happen. <h2>1. Sea level rise</h2> If greenhouse gas emissions remain at high rates, the average global sea level is <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-4-sea-level-rise-and-implications-for-low-lying-islands-coasts-and-communities">projected to rise</a> between 60 centimetres and 1.1m. <a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Ocean-fact-sheet-package.pdf">Almost two thirds</a> of the world’s cities with populations over five million are at risk. Rising sea levels not only make coastal communities more vulnerable to flooding from storms, but also tsunamis. Even modest rises in sea level will dramatically increase the frequency and intensity of flooding when a tsunami occurs, as the tsunami can travel further inland. For example, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aat1180">a 2018 study</a> showed only a 50 centimetre rise would double the frequency of tsunami-induced flooding in Macau, China. This means in future, smaller tsunamis could have the same impact as larger tsunamis would today. <h2>2. Landslides</h2> A warming climate can increase the risk of both submarine (underwater) and aerial (above ground) landslides, thereby increasing the risk of local tsunamis. The <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/permafrost-everything-you-need-know">melting of permafrost</a> (frozen soil) at high latitudes decreases soil stability, making it more susceptible to erosion and landslides. More <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2951/climate-change-could-trigger-more-landslides-in-high-mountain-asia/">intense rainfall</a> can trigger landslides, too, as storms become more frequent under climate change. <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-do-landslides-cause-tsunamis#:%7E:text=Tsunamis%20are%20large%2C%20potentially%20deadly,a%20result%20of%20submarine%20earthquakes.&text=Tsunamis%20can%20be%20generated%20on,a%20rapidly%20moving%20underwater%20landslide.">Tsunamis can be generated</a> on impact as a landslide enters the water, or as water is moved by a rapid underwater landslide. In general, tsunami waves generated from landslides or rock falls dissipate quickly and don’t travel as far as tsunamis generated from earthquakes, but they can still lead to huge waves locally. In Alaska, US, glacial retreat and melting permafrost has exposed unstable slopes. In 2015, this melting caused a landslide that sent 180 million tonnes of rock into a narrow fjord, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-30475-w">generating a tsunami reaching 193m high</a> – one of the highest ever recorded worldwide. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441884/original/file-20220121-8856-1regaso.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441884/original/file-20220121-8856-1regaso.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Scientists survey damage from a megatsunami in Taan Fiord that had occurred in October, 2015 after a massive landslide. Peter Haeussler, United States Geological Survey Alaska Science Center/Wikimedia Other areas at risk include <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921818121000849">northwest British Columbia</a> in Canada, and the Barry Arm in Alaska, where an <a href="https://dggs.alaska.gov/hazards/barry-arm-landslide.html">unstable mountain slope</a> at the toe of the Barry Glacier has the potential to fail and <a href="https://www.woodwellclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Letter-to-Stakeholders_-Barry-Arm-Landslide-Final.pdf">generate a severe tsunami</a> in the next 20 years. <h2>3. Iceberg calving and collapsing ice shelves</h2> Global warming is accelerating the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/chasing-ice-glacier-calving-climate-change-2014-10?r=US&IR=T">rate of iceberg calving</a> – when chunks of ice fall into the ocean. Studies predict large ice shelves, such as the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, will <a href="https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/12/17/crucial-antarctic-glacier-likely-to-collapse-much-earlier-than-expected/">likely collapse</a> in the next five to ten years. Likewise, the Greenland ice sheet is <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3062/warming-seas-are-accelerating-greenlands-glacier-retreat/">thinning and retreating</a> at an alarming rate. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441878/original/file-20220121-8497-jjkh3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441878/original/file-20220121-8497-jjkh3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Iceberg near ship" /></a> Icebergs colliding with the seafloor can trigger underwater landslides. Shutterstock While much of the current research focus is on the sea level risk associated with melting and collapse of glaciers and ice sheets, there’s also a <a href="https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/12/415/2012/">tsunami risk</a> from the calving and breakup process. Wandering icebergs can trigger <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00767-4">submarine landslides and tsunamis</a> thousands of kilometres from the iceberg’s original source, as they hit unstable sediments on the seafloor. <h2>4. Volcanic activity from ice melting</h2> About 12,000 years ago, the last glacial period (“ice age”) ended and the melting ice triggered a dramatic <a href="https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/32995/2/Tuffen_PTRSL.pdf">increase in volcanic activity</a>. The correlation between climate warming and more volcanic eruptions isn’t yet well constrained or understood. But it may be related to <a href="https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70182772">changes in</a> stress to the Earth’s crust as the weight of ice is removed, and a phenomenon called “<a href="http://people.rses.anu.edu.au/lambeck_k/pdf/152.pdf">isostatic rebound</a>” – the long-term uplift of land in response to the removal of ice sheets. If this correlation holds for the current period of climate warming and melting of ice in high latitudes, there’ll be an increased risk of volcanic eruptions and associated hazards, including tsunamis. <h2>5. Increased earthquakes</h2> There are a number ways climate change can increase the frequency of earthquakes, and so increase tsunami risk. First, the weight of ice sheets may be <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2010.0031">suppressing fault movement and earthquakes</a>. When the ice melts, the isostatic rebound (land uplift) is accompanied by an increase in earthquakes and fault movement as the crust adjusts to the loss of weight. We may have seen this already in <a href="http://www.geotimes.org/oct04/NN_glacier.html">Alaska</a>, where melting glaciers reduced the stability of faults, inducing many small earthquakes and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921818104000487?casa_token=BGo_KzIOuJkAAAAA:UHyQvV-tvVulwAfvOFPJILcG2206iyZhOM9TCVS_VAh0UdLimWrfu_NJRTHJVtwlKBL0cfA">possibly the magnitude 7.2 St Elias earthquake</a> in 1979. Another factor is low air pressure associated with storms and typhoons, which studies have also shown can trigger earthquakes in areas where the Earth’s crust is already under stress. Even relatively small changes in air pressure can trigger fault movements, as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature08042">an analysis</a> of earthquakes between 2002 and 2007 in eastern Taiwan identified. <h2>So how can we prepare?</h2> Many mitigation strategies for climate change should also include elements to improve tsunami preparedness. This could include incorporating projected sea level rise into tsunami prediction models, and in building codes for infrastructure along vulnerable coastlines. Researchers can also ensure scientific models of climate impacts include the projected increase in earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity, and the increased tsunami risk this will bring.<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/175247/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jane-cunneen-290217">Jane Cunneen</a>, Adjunct Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/5-ways-climate-change-increases-the-threat-of-tsunamis-from-collapsing-ice-shelves-to-sea-level-rise-175247">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

"Rot in hell": Charlise Mutten's alleged killer attacked online

A Facebook post from 2020 announcing the engagement of Charlise Mutten's alleged killer, Justin Stein, and her mother, Kallista Mutten, has been inundated with death threats and violent messages. After a five-day search for nine-year-old Charlise, NSW Police confirmed the worst when her body was found in a barrel in bushland near the Blue Mountains where she went missing. Shortly after her body was found, Justin Stein was arrested for murder, but major questions still linger about the case. Police have been unable to interview Charlise's mother Kallista, who remains under medical supervision and remains "difficult to approach", according to police. As news of Justin Stein's arrest broke, a Facebook post from December 2020 sharing news of Justin and Kallista's engagement has been flooded with hateful messages, with many telling the 31-year-old man to "rot in hell". The post has attracted over 2,000 comments with people sending death threats and photos of nooses, all while seeking vengeance for the slain nine-year-old girl. One person wrote, “I hope you only know pure hell for the rest of your days!”, while another said, “Monster! Hope you rot in jail.” Others shared their sadness and disbelief over Charlise's death, with one person saying, “What a broken world! That poor precious girl deserved so much better in this world! Rest easy little one, no one will ever hurt you again.” A milestone post announcing the couple's new relationship, which began just one month before their engagement, has attracted a slew of similar comments. Charlise usually lives with her grandmother in the Queensland town of Coolangatta, but was spending time with her mother and step-father over the school holidays. Image credits: Facebook

News

Prized Victorian beach boxes under threat

The popular yet pricey bathing boxes in Melbourne’s southeast are facing threats of erosion and choppy water - which could see them become inaccessible. With water lapping at the edges of the colourful Brighton beach boxes, many appear to be sandbagged and some appear to be totally inaccessible. Despite that, and concerns of erosion in the area, <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/melbourne/brighton-beach-boxes-in-melbourne-under-threat-due-to-tide-and-erosion-issues-c-4572768" target="_blank">locals claim</a> that several of the 82 boxes on the foreshore have been built and sold by Bayside Council. One box was recently snapped up for a whopping $650,000, despite it being unlivable. “Well that’s the price of a house, isn’t it?” one shocked local <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/melbourne/tiny-beach-box-in-mount-martha-on-melbournes-mornington-peninsula-sells-for-650k-c-4485584" target="_blank">told </a><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/melbourne/tiny-beach-box-in-mount-martha-on-melbournes-mornington-peninsula-sells-for-650k-c-4485584" target="_blank">7NEWS</a>. At just 25 square metres in size, the tiny beach box would have cost $26,000 per square metre. At the same cost rate, an average-sized house would cost around $6 million. With only 120 of the colourful boxes between Mount Eliza and Portsea, the rare occasions where one hits the market sees them sell for more than $300,000. Though anyone who can afford it can purchase a bathing box in Mount Martha, the Mornington Peninsula Shire only wants local ratepayers to be able to own them. But by spending a similar amount, people can purchase a full-sized home in suburbs including Craigieburn, Deer Park, Werribee and Pakenham. “Quite often boxes along the peninsula have notes put under their doors asking if they’re for sale,” said Mark Davis from the Mornington Peninsula Beach Box Association. “There’s only so many of them and they aren’t being built anymore.” Images: 7NEWS

Real Estate

Cafe plastered with hand-written death threats

A popular cafe in Melbourne has been targeted with death threats on Sunday night, as vandals destroyed the property in a statement against Covid restrictions. Briki Cafe, in Melbourne's inner north, had its front window smashed with a brick as threatening letters were stuck over Covid safety signs on the door. The terrifying hand-written letter to the owner read, "Do what Daniel Andrews says and we will burn your shop down and kill you motherf****r.” The owner of the cafe, Simos Kandias, was very distressed by the vandals' message, and said his business has already gone through tough times during the pandemic. “We’ve had it pretty tough,” Mr Kandias told <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/coronavirus-vic/vandals-attack-melbourne-caf-and-leave-death-threats-over-covid-regulations-c-4746132" target="_blank">7NEWS</a>. “At times it’s been hard to find the funds to pay our rent.” Locals and frequent customers at Briki Cafe has shared their support for the cafe after the brutal attack. MP Ged Kearny shared a post on Facebook condemning the senseless act of violence, as she supported "one of her favourite cafes". She wrote, "This is not okay. Whatever your opinions may be on mandatory vaccinations, everyone should feel safe at work." "I look forward to returning to Briki Cafe. With the community's help and support, I know they'll bounce back in no time." Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta variant, Melbourne has seen countless protests against lockdown restrictions and mandatory vaccines, with many of these protests ending in violent acts. Image credits: 7News / Instagram @BundjalungBud

Legal

Death and rape threats": Sam Armytage opens up on career low point

Image: Channel 7 Sam Armytage has opened up about one of her most memorable moments as a co-host of Sunrise: the widely panned Sexy and the City skit featuring Kristin Davis that left viewers cringing in 2016. Reflecting on the moment she was pushed by producers to a don a Carrie Bradshaw wig on live television, Sam said the swift fallout included “rape and death threats” that left her terrified in her own home. At the time, Davis, who plays Charlotte in SATC, was in Sydney as an ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and looked visibly taken aback when Sam tossed her a script to re-enact a scene with Edwina Bartholomew as Samantha and Nat Barr as Miranda. Muttering, “I don’t know if this is a great idea, frankly”, Davis later tweeted in response to a Sydney Morning Herald opinion piece which called the segment “gender-cringe TV at its worst”. As a result, Sam was dropped as the MC for a UNCHR event. Speaking on Chris Walker’s Brains Trust podcast this week, Sam opened up about the fallout of the failed comedy segment, revealing that she didn’t want to do the skit to begin with. She began discussing her life in the spotlight as a Sunrise host, which she hosted opposite David Koch for eight years, before leaving the role in March. In the interview, she said many days she’d find herself worrying about the day ahead from the moment she woke up. "There were quite a few days in there where you’d wake up, and that split second when your eyes open and you think, ‘What giant sh*t storm is going to hit today?’” Using Kristin Davis situation as an example, she went on to describe her confusion over being the one to bear the brunt of the backlash, despite the skit also involving Nat Barr and Edwina Bartholomew. Calling the skit “dumb” she said, “Guess who got blamed for it? Me. I just sort of sat there and thought, why is all this stuff only happening to me?” she said, going on to explain how hesitant she was to go ahead in the first place. “The day before that upstairs in the office when the producers were like ‘We’re gonna do this tomorrow,’ I just thought, ‘Really? That’s so lame.’" “I’d have days where I was like….I’ve got a journalism degree, do I really have to do this stuff?’ But you do it because it's your job." “It’s not the 7:30 report, I wasn’t under the illusion we had to be totally serious all the time. It but was the reaction to it that got me … it was very wearing, I had many moments where I was deeply upset and I had many, many times where I would call my mum in tears,” she explained. When pressed for details on the extent of the backlash, Sam admitted it was “stuff you couldn’t even write”, including “death and rape threats”. “It actually shocks me and saddens me that I became immune to that. Other people would be horrified whereas I had to go … ‘This is part of my life’. “There were many times we had to have police outside my house, my house in the country was vandalised six times. “You get to a point where you don’t feel safe (in your own home) which is part of the reason why I sold it in the end. “(I was) living on my own with the dog and it was very, very unsafe at times. I’m not a Kardashian, I didn’t go into this to be famous … I’m a journalist by trade, so I just decided to step back and reset my life,” she concluded as the reason she resigned. The 44-year-old left her role on the Channel 7 breakfast program in March after eight years at the helm, with Nat Barr taking on her role.

Legal threats from Prince Harry over Lilibet's name

Prince Harry has threatened legal action against the BBC over claims he didn't ask the Queen to name his daughter Lilibet. The Duke of Sussex released a statement on Wednesday after the broadcaster reported that a royal source had said he "never asked" Her Majesty about using her childhood nickname. Harry immediately retaliated after the claim went to air, saying his grandmother was aware of the choice of name and he and wife Meghan Markle wouldn't have used it had the monarch not liked the idea. “The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement. In fact, his grandmother was the first family member he called,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes said. “During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. “Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the names.” The couple have now threatened the BBC with legal action, according to The Sun. Buckingham Palace has said it will not be making an official statement on the matter. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced on Sunday that they had named their newborn daughter Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

Legal

Outrage over French Open chief's threat of expelling Naomi Osaka

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Naomi Osaka's decision to withdraw from the French Open has drawn criticism from the boss of the French Open who threatened her with expulsion. However, he did not take any questions from the media after making this statement. Osaka, 23, opened up about her mental health struggles and announced she would be pulling out of the grand slam due to the media frenzy surrounding her boycott of media duties. “Hey everyone, this isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago,” she wrote on Twitter. “I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.” Osaka made the decision after a $20,000 fine from French Open organisers and threats of expulsion in a signed statement by the chairs of all four grand slams. “First and foremost, we are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka,” Moretton said. “The outcome of Naomi withdrawing from Roland Garros is unfortunate. We wish her the best and the quickest possible recovery and we look forward to having her at our tournament next year.” Serena Williams has commented on the decision, saying that she did "many" press conferences and that "it made me stronger". “The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi,” Williams said of Osaka’s boycott and subsequent reveal. “I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it’s like. Like I said, I’ve been in those positions. “We have different personalities, and people are different. Not everyone is the same. I’m thick. Other people are thin. Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently. “You just have to let her handle it the way she wants to, in the best way she thinks she can, and that’s the only thing I can say. i think she’s doing the best that she can.” </div> </div> </div> </div>

News

Close up: World War Z frames the terror of ‘loss of self’ and the threat of a mass pandemic

How do filmmakers communicate big ideas on screen? In this video series, film scholar Bruce Isaacs analyses pivotal film scenes in detail. (Warning: this video contains violence and may be upsetting for some viewers.) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rTkFBg2gSRQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> There is perhaps no better time than now to appreciate the unique and subversive genre of <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-obsessed-with-zombies-which-says-a-lot-about-today-37552">zombie movies</a>. These films have always been great socio-cultural lenses. Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead were two classics of the genre. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816711/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt">World War Z</a> (2013), an adaptation of Max Brook’s 2006 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8908.World_War_Z">apocalyptic zombie novel</a> continues this tradition. In a pivotal scene set in Jerusalem, director <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0286975/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Marc Foster</a> encapsulates the greatest threat posed by zombies: the end of our individuality and loss of uniqueness. The casting of Hollywood star <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm">Brad Pitt</a> is crucial, as are the cuts between him as a figure and the invading mass. Written by Bruce Isaacs. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/close-up-world-war-z-frames-the-terror-of-loss-of-self-and-the-threat-of-a-mass-pandemic-145090">The Conversation.</a>

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