Search

Placeholder Content Image

"I need answers": Devastated widow vows to stage hunger strike

<p>A woman who lost her husband and son in the devastating crash at a pub in Victoria last year has vowed to stage a protest, just days after the driver of the car was dismissed of all charges. </p> <p>In November 2023, 66-year-old William Swale was behind the wheel of his BMW when he suffered a medical episode, crashing into the beer garden of The Royal Daylesford Hotel, killing five people. </p> <p>Charges against Mr Swale were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/charges-dropped-over-crash-that-killed-five-people" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped</a> on Thursday, after a magistrate ruled the evidence against him was “so weak”.</p> <p>Mr Swale's lawyers successfully argued his actions were not voluntary because he was in a state of severe hypoglycaemia, as he is an insulin-dependent diabetic. </p> <p>After hearing that the charges were dropped, Ruchi Bhatia, whose husband Vivek, their son Vihaan, 11, were killed as a result of the crash, says the ruling is as though she has lost them all over again. </p> <p>Ruchi and her nine-year-old son were also injured in the crash, but survived after spending months in hospital. </p> <p>Speaking for the first time since the deadly incident, Bhatia expressed her pain and said it feels like her life has been torn apart again, recalling the horrifying moment she woke in hospital to learn her husband and eldest son did not make it.</p> <p>“Still today I don’t believe that they are not with me,” she told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/daylesford-beer-garden-crash-victim-ruchi-bhatia-plans-protest-after-driver-charges-dismissed-c-16164598" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>.</p> <p>“We were just having fun, we were outside, we were all together and the next moment they were gone and I’m never going to see them again.”</p> <p>In court on Thursday, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin found the prosecution case was flawed and decided not to commit Swale to stand criminal trial, as all charges were dropped and Mr Swale walked out of court a free man. </p> <p>Despite the ruling, Bhatia is demanding answers and says her fight for justice is far from over.</p> <p>“He stopped the car in the middle of the road — why did he start his engine again? I need answers for that,” she said.</p> <p>Bhatia and her family are planning to protest, which will include a hunger strike. </p> <p>While Bhatia said she knew the protest wouldn't bring back her family, she said they needed justice to move on from the tragedy. </p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News </em></p>

Family & Pets

Placeholder Content Image

Billionaire tech tycoon and daughter missing after tornado strikes

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

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Bird strike: what happens when a plane collides with a bird?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p>Late last night, Virgin Australia flight VA 148 set out from Queenstown in New Zealand bound for Melbourne. Not long after takeoff, the right engine of the Boeing 737-800 jet started <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/virgin-australia-flight-makes-emergency-landing-after-engine-catches-fire/iquv5w1is">emitting loud bangs</a>, followed by flames.</p> <p>The pilot flew on with the remaining engine, bringing the plane’s 73 passengers and crew to a safe emergency landing at nearby Invercargill airport.</p> <p>Virgin Australia says the dramatic turn of events was caused by a “possible bird strike”. Queenstown Airport <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/bird-strike-blamed-for-fiery-virgin-australia-emergency-out-of-queenstown/news-story/9ef5c57829d0535baed223d2caf0b55f">played down</a> the likelihood of bird strike, saying “no birds were detected on the airfield at that time”.</p> <p>While we don’t know exactly what happened, bird strike is a common and real risk for aircraft. It can damage planes, and even lead to deaths.</p> <h2>How common are bird strikes?</h2> <p>A bird strike is a <a href="https://skyaviationholdings.com/bird-strikes-on-planes/">collision between</a> an aircraft and a bird. (Though the definition is sometimes expanded to include <a href="https://aawhg.org/">collisions on the ground</a> with land animals including deer, rabbits, dogs and alligators.)</p> <p>The <a href="https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/1459/">first bird strike</a> was recorded by Orville Wright in 1905, over a cornfield in Ohio.</p> <p>Now they happen every day, with some seasonal variability due to the <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap7_section_5.html">migratory patterns</a> of birds.</p> <p>Perhaps the most famous migratory bird strike occurred in 2009, when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549">US Airways Flight 1549</a> encountered a flock of migrating Canadian geese shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Both of the plane’s engines failed, and captain Sully Sullenberger was forced to pilot it to an unpowered landing in the Hudson River.</p> <p>Between 2008 and 2017, the Australian Transport Safety Board recorded <a href="https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2018/ar-2018-035">16,626 bird strikes</a>. In America, the Federal Aviation Administration reported <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/04/25/bird-strike-plane-american-airlines/">17,200 bird strikes</a> in 2022 alone.</p> <h2>Where do bird strikes happen, and what are the effects?</h2> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx">International Civil Aviation Organization</a>, 90% of bird strikes happen near airports. In general, this is while aircraft are taking off or landing, or flying at lower altitudes where most bird activity occurs.</p> <p>The effect of bird strike depends on many factors including the type of aircraft. Outcomes may include shutting down an engine, as may have happened with the Virgin Australia flight. This plane was a Boeing 737-800, which has the capability to fly on a single engine to an alternate airport.</p> <p>In smaller aircraft, particularly single-engine aircraft, bird strikes can be fatal. Since 1988, <a href="https://aawhg.org/#:%7E:text=The%20majority%20happen%20at%20low,billion%20in%20aircraft%20damage%20annually.">262 bird strike fatalities</a> have been reported globally, and 250 aircraft destroyed.</p> <h2>How do manufacturers and pilots defend against bird strike?</h2> <p>Most <a href="https://aawhg.org/">bird strikes</a> occur early in the morning or a sunset when birds are most active. Pilots are trained to be vigilant during these times.</p> <p>Radar can be used to <a href="https://detect-inc.com/aircraft-birdstrike-avoidance-radar/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2ullN-s0MdDfzV2Hu9fLfdr8pKQCuyZWsoJfRN2W5s-tSm6Vo0wHgwaAgBMEALw_wcB">track flocks of birds</a>. However, this technology is ground-based and not available worldwide so it can’t be used everywhere.</p> <p>The two largest manufacturers of passenger jets, Boeing and Airbus, use <a href="https://aerospaceengineeringblog.com/jet-engine-design/">turbofan engines</a>. These use a series of fan blades to compress air before adding fuel and flame to get the thrust needed to take off.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lgspIiTFWIk?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Engine manufacturers test how well they are likely to stand up to a bird strike.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Bird strike in one of these engines can cause severe damage to the fan blades, causing the engine to fail. Engine manufacturers test the safety of these engines by firing <a href="https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/engine-testing/faa-proposes-new-engine-test-for-bird-ingestion.html">a high-speed frozen chicken</a> at them while the engine is operating at full thrust.</p> <p>The Australian Government’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority <a href="https://www.casa.gov.au/wildlife-hazard-management">circular on wildlife hazard management</a> outlines what airports should do to keep birds and animals away from the vicinity of the airport. One technique is to use small gas explosions to mimic the sound of a shotgun to deter birds from loitering near the runway. In areas with high bird populations, airports may also use certain grasses and plants that do not attract the birds.<!-- 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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/232702/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: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871"><em>Doug Drury</em></a><em>, Professor/Head of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>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/bird-strike-what-happens-when-a-plane-collides-with-a-bird-232702">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Millions of Aussies set for pay rise

<p>Millions of Aussies are in line for a boost on July 1, with the Fair Work Commission set to hand down their decision on minimum pay rates on Monday morning. </p> <p>The workplace umpire's annual wage review, which affects minimum and award wage earners, is expected to hand down an increase of between 3.5 per cent and 4 per cent on the pay rate of $23.23 an hour.</p> <p>These wage increases factor in economic conditions and broader goals such as closing the gender pay gap. </p> <p>A substantial boost was handed out last year - 5.75 per cent for awards and 8.6 per cent for the national minimum - with the commission basing their decision on factors like low unemployment, falling wages and high inflation.</p> <p>The Albanese government has submitted that it would prefer the “real wages of Australia’s low-paid workers do not go backwards." </p> <p>“We want to see strong and sustainable wages growth because we see this as part of the solution to the cost-of-living challenge, not part of the problem,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said ahead of the decision.</p> <p>No number was specified but they are advocating to an increase which keeps up with inflation, which was at 4.1 per cent annually in the March quarter. </p> <p>In their submission, the government also said that tax relief due to kick in mid-year should not be viewed as a replacement to a wage boost. </p> <p>Meanwhile, peak employee representative the ACTU, has advocated for an increase of 5 per cent, arguing that workers affected by the cost-of-living pressures deserve a hike to their pay. </p> <p>Australian Industry Group has proposed a wage increase of 2.8 per cent, warning that an excessive pay boost could increase the risk of job losses, as the economy is slowing and labour market is weakening. </p> <p>Economists have also warned that an increase of over 4 per cent could further complicate the Reserve Bank’s efforts in fighting inflation, which  have already slugged borrowers with 13 rate hikes in the last two years. </p> <p>But AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said that an increase of at or just below 4 per cent, could help the RBA return inflation back to its target band of two to three per cent. </p> <p>“A rise around 4 per cent would give workers a real wage rise, it’s not so high as to add to the risk of a wage price spiral, … and in line with the rough assessment that 4 per cent wages growth is consistent with 2 per cent to 3 per cent inflation.”</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

Money & Banking

Placeholder Content Image

Legendary Star Wars and James Bond actor passes away

<p>The galaxy far, far away has dimmed a little with the passing of Michael Culver, a distinguished British actor whose name became etched in the annals of cinematic history, particularly for his role in the iconic 1980 film <em>Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back</em>.</p> <p>Culver, who portrayed Captain Needa, the unfortunate Imperial officer, met his demise in one of the franchise's most memorable scenes at the hands of Darth Vader. However, his legacy extends far beyond the realms of science fiction, encompassing a career spanning over five decades of stage, screen and political activism.</p> <p>Born in 1938 in Hempstead, North London, to esteemed parents within the theatre industry, Culver was destined for a life under the spotlight. His father, Roland Culver, was a notable West End stage actor, while his mother, Daphne Rye, served as a casting director in London-based theatre. Following in their footsteps, Culver honed his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, laying the foundation for a prolific acting career.</p> <p>Culver's journey in the performing arts began in the late 1950s, with appearances on Broadway in Shakespearean classics such as <em>King Henry V</em>, <em>Hamlet</em>, and <em>Twelfth Night</em>. His talent soon graced the West End stage in 1962, marking the start of a distinguished theatrical career. Transitioning to the small screen, Culver made his onscreen debut in 1961, captivating audiences with his versatile performances in British television series and movies.</p> <p>However, it was Culver's portrayal of Captain Needa in <em>The Empire Strikes Back</em> that solidified his status as a cultural icon. Despite his character's brief appearance, Culver left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide, immortalised in one of cinema's most unforgettable moments. His confrontation with Vader, culminating in a chilling demise, remains etched in the memories of countless fans, a testament to Culver's ability to captivate audiences with his presence.</p> <p>Beyond his intergalactic exploits, Culver's talents graced a multitude of productions, including notable roles in <em>Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India</em>, <em>Secret Army, </em>and even appearing in two James Bond movies – <em>From Russia With Love </em>and <em>Thunderball</em> – in uncredited roles. His versatility and dedication to his craft earned him admiration and respect from peers and audiences alike. Yet, Culver's contributions extended beyond the realms of entertainment; in the early 2000s, he shifted his focus to political activism, leveraging his platform to advocate for causes close to his heart.</p> <p>Despite bidding farewell to the limelight, Culver's legacy endures through the countless lives he touched and the memories he forged on stage and screen.</p> <p>An extended message on the Alliance Agents Facebook page, who represented Culver, read as follows:</p> <p>"We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver. A career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise. Michael largely gave up acting in the early 2000's to concentrate his efforts into his political activism. It's been an honor to have represented Michael for for the last decade and to have taken him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe.  A real highlight was taking Michael to Celebration in Chicago in 2019.  He was lost for words when he saw his queue line with nearly 200 people waiting to see him. We worked with Michael just 3 weeks ago at his last home signing with our friends at Elite Signatures. Michel died on Tuesday 27th February at the age of 85."  </p> <p>"We miss him."</p> <p>His passing leaves a void in the hearts of fans and colleagues, a reminder of the fleeting nature of life's curtain call. As we reflect on his remarkable journey, let us celebrate the life and legacy of Michael Culver, an actor whose talents transcended galaxies and whose spirit will continue to inspire generations to come.</p> <p>In his memory, let us heed the timeless words of Captain Needa himself: "We shall double our efforts."</p> <p>Rest in peace, Michael Culver. The force will always be with you.</p> <p><em>Images: IMDB / Wookiepedia</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Tragedy strikes Spain's Women's World Cup star

<p>Spanish Women’s World Cup star Olga Carmona was hit with some devastating news shortly after their win against England</p> <p>The 23-year-old defender was informed that her father had passed away shortly after the final whistle and victory celebration according to the Spanish football federation (RFEF).</p> <p>“The RFEF deeply regrets having to report the death of Olga Carmona’s father,” the Spanish football federation said in a statement. </p> <p>“The footballer learned the sad news after the World Cup final.</p> <p>“We send our most sincere embraces to Olga and her family in a moment of deep pain. We love you, Olga, you are in the history of Spanish football.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">⚫️ PÉSAME | La <a href="https://twitter.com/rfef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RFEF</a> lamenta profundamente comunicar el fallecimiento del padre de Olga Carmona. La futbolista ha conocido la triste noticia una vez concluida la final de la Copa del Mundo. </p> <p>Mandamos nuestro abrazo más sincero a Olga y a su familia en un momento de profundo… <a href="https://t.co/BSe2XmUrVF">pic.twitter.com/BSe2XmUrVF</a></p> <p>— RFEF (@rfef) <a href="https://twitter.com/rfef/status/1693350809424031985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Carmona scored the only goal of the intense game, landing the Spanish team, La Roja the World Cup win for the first time. </p> <p>A few reports claimed that Carmona's father passed away on Friday, but friends and family decided to not tell her until after the finale on Sunday, so that she could focus on the game. </p> <p>Carmona, who was still unaware of the news at the time, beamed as she spoke about the team's triumph in an interview after the match. </p> <p>“I think we’re still not aware of what we’ve achieved,” she said. </p> <p>“When we land we’re going to freak out.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">🙌🏻 ¡¡Qué viva España!! ¡¡Somos <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CampeonasdelMundo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CampeonasdelMundo</a>!!</p> <p>🗣️ <a href="https://twitter.com/7olgacarmona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7olgacarmona</a> nos cuenta cómo ha marcado el gol que le ha dado el título a España.</p> <p>➡️ "Creo que todavía no somos conscientes de lo que hemos conseguido. Cuando aterricemos vamos a flipar".<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JugarLucharYGanar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JugarLucharYGanar</a> <a href="https://t.co/NjRrg4bOTx">pic.twitter.com/NjRrg4bOTx</a></p> <p>— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEFutbolFem/status/1693307827568456054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>During her goal celebration, the Spanish captain also displayed a message on her shirt that read "Merchi" which she dedicated to her best friend whose mother died recently. </p> <p>“I want to say this victory is for one of my best friend’s mother, who died recently, I celebrated the goal with that shirt,” she told Spanish broadcasters <em>La 1,</em> right after the game. </p> <p>Although the Spanish team had little time to enjoy their victory, Carmona was named player of the match for her breakthrough score in the finale. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

"Deeply distressed": Tragedy strikes Robert De Niro's family

<p>Robert De Niro's grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, has tragically passed away, as confirmed by his daughter, Drena De Niro.</p> <p>Drena De Niro, who is 51 years old and Robert De Niro's daughter from his previous marriage to Diahnne Abbott, shared the devastating news of her young son's passing on Instagram.</p> <p>In a heartfelt tribute, accompanied by a photo of her late son, she expressed her deep love for him, stating: "My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been joy in my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life."</p> <p>Overwhelmed by grief and yearning to be with her son, she continued, <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don't know how to live without you but I'll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you 😞 I'm so sorry my baby, I'm so sorry @carlosmare 😢💔. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy."</span></p> <p> </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/CuOES_xN6pO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuOES_xN6pO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Drena (@drenadeniro)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Upon learning the tragic news, Robert De Niro expressed deep distress over his teenage grandson's passing.</p> <p>In a statement provided to the <em>New York Post's Page Six</em> section on Monday, Robert De Niro expressed his sorrow, saying, "I'm deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo."</p> <p>The statement was delivered through a spokesperson. He further added, "We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."</p> <p>At present, the cause of Leandro's death remains unknown, although reports suggest that drugs and drug paraphernalia were found near his body.</p> <p>Leandro was the son of Drena De Niro and graffiti artist Carlos "Mare139" Rodriguez. Carlos commented on Drena's social media post, expressing his heartfelt emotions:</p> <p>"Words aren't enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends. He is God's child now. On this full moon, his spirit illuminates what could not be seen in the dark. You can't spell LOVE without LEO."</p> <p>Several celebrities, including Lenny Kravitz, Andy Cohen, and Naomi Campbell, expressed their support and condolences in the comments section of Drena's post.</p> <p>Drena De Niro is the eldest of Robert De Niro's seven children. He adopted her in 1976 after marrying her mother, Diahnne Abbott. Robert also has a son named Raphael, 46, with Ms. Abbott, as well as twins named Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith.</p> <p>Additionally, he has a son named Elliot, 25, and a daughter named Helen, 11, with Grace Hightower. In May, Robert announced that he and his partner, Tiffany Chen, welcomed their seventh child, a daughter named Gia.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Tragedy strikes Ed Sheeran tour

<p>Ed Sheeran’s touring partner and co-writer has suffered a major loss with the news of his teenage son’s sudden death.</p> <p>Ben Kweller, who opened for Sheeran on his 2019 tour, revealed his 16-year-old son, Dorian, was killed overnight.</p> <p>"There's no way that I can be typing this but I am….," Kweller began in a heartbreaking <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNSgQ5uXzd/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tribute shared on Instagram</a>. "Our son, Dorian Zev Kweller, was killed last night. He was only 16 and he was a true legend. Kindest, gentle soul, a friend to all. If you knew him, you know.”</p> <p>Kweller did not share any more information about the circumstances surrounding his son’s death, instead, he wrote about the short but brilliant life the 16-year-old aspiring musician lived.</p> <p>"We'll never get over him as long as we're here on earth. Please keep his spirit alive with your memories and the music he made: @reallyzev," the proud dad shared.</p> <p>"Dorian Zev wrote and recorded songs every day. A true poet from the day he started speaking. Only a few of his recordings were released but he was on a path and excited about his journey. He had so many plans!!! His first gig was in two weeks, at SXSW.”</p> <p>In the post, the grieving father also shared his last text message exchange with his son.</p> <p>"We're in complete shock and don't know what the future holds. Lizzy, Judah, and I have no idea how to deal with this disaster. Thank you for your prayers and support and we apologize if we are slow to respond to messages. 💔”</p> <p>Sheeran, who is currently touring Australia, counts Kweller as one of his good friends. In 2018, when the musician married his childhood sweetheart Cherry Seaborn in a secret ceremony, Kweller was one of the few invited and also performed at their wedding ceremony. Kweller also co-wrote Sheeran’s hit song <em>Collide</em>.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Passenger killed after “rogue wave” strikes cruise ship

<p dir="ltr">An elderly woman has died and four others have been injured after a massive wave struck a cruise ship sailing towards southern Argentina at the end of its Antarctic cruise.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Viking Polaris was struck by a wave that broke cabin windows during a storm on its return to the port of Ushuaia last week, according to Argentinian authorities.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the ship suffered minimal damage, the 62-year-old US woman who was hit by broken glass died.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is with great sadness that we confirm a guest passed away following the incident,” Viking said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The cruise operator described it as a “rogue wave incident” and confirmed that four other cruise goers suffered non-life threatening injuries and received treatment from the doctor and medical staff on board the ship.</p> <p dir="ltr">With a federal court opening a case into the incident, the cruise ship has been anchored at Ushuaia.</p> <p dir="ltr">Viking has also said it would investigate the incident and “offer our support to the relevant authorities”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel,” the <a href="https://www.vikingcruises.co.uk/expeditions/my-trip/current-sailings/index.html">statement</a> from Thursday, December 1, read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The company has also cancelled its scheduled voyage to Antarctica, which was due to depart from December 5-17.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Polaris, built this year, features luxury facilities and has capacity for 378 passengers and 256 crew members.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is one of two ships Viking has for its cruises, which explore remote regions of the world.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e04ff18-7fff-c693-9593-a1335e57307f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

Placeholder Content Image

UK couple strike gold under their kitchen floor

<p dir="ltr">A UK couple have made a surprising discovery while renovating their home, with their find selling for £754,000 ($AU 1.3 million) at auction.</p> <p dir="ltr">After ripping up the existing floorboards and jackhammering through the concrete in the kitchen of their East Yorkshire home, the couple uncovered a small urn containing 260 ancient coins.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>BBC </em>reported that the coins dated from 1610 to 1727 and belonged to the Fernley-Maisters, a family who traded through the Baltic region. </p> <p dir="ltr">Auction house Spink &amp; Son said Joseph Fernley and Sarah Maister were married in 1694 and lived in Ellerby.</p> <p dir="ltr">Joseph died in 1796 aged 76, and Sarah died aged 80 in 1745, with the family line “dying out soon after” according to the auction house.</p> <p dir="ltr">Auctioneer Gregory Edmund told the outlet that the sale sum was an “absolutely extraordinary” result and said the costly urn was no larger than a can of soft drink.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Picture the scene – you’re choosing to re-lay your uneven kitchen floor, you put a pick-axe through the concrete and just beneath you see a tiny sliver of gold,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the time, you think it must just be a bit of electrical cable, but you find it’s a gold round disc and beneath it there are hundreds more.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-29911120-7fff-2ab8-6964-7eedba22d546"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I will never see an auction like this again.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/coins-find.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The coins were found during renovation works in an East Yorkshire home (left) before being sold at auction. Images: Spink &amp; Son</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Though the couple made the discovery in 2019, they have only just sent the coins to auction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Spink &amp; Son said the collecction was “one of the largest hoards of 18th Century English gold coins ever found in Britain”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The coins are only represent about £100,000 in today’s currency, but they attracted such a high price due to their rarity, which only skyrocketed after the find gained global attention and became the subject of media coverage.</p> <p dir="ltr">Selling in lots, the highest individual price for one of the coins was a hefty £62,400 ($AU 108,000), paid for a 1720 coin described by the auction house as “imperfect”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Edmund described the bidding as “electrifying”, with the auction attracting the interest of collectors around the world.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-946d24fb-7fff-52fe-56f6-1d2bba9289ea"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Spink &amp; Son</em></p>

Real Estate

Placeholder Content Image

Petition to strike Amber Heard’s character from new flick

<p dir="ltr">A petition calling for Amber Heard’s character to be removed from the <em>Aquaman</em> sequel has hit a massive three million signatures.</p> <p dir="ltr">Heard is currently being sued by Johnny Depp for $50 million for defamation over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she describes herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The publicly reported case has seen fans from all over the world call for Heard’s character to be removed from <em>Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom</em>, in which she plays Princess Mera.</p> <p dir="ltr">At the time of publication, the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/dc-entertainment-remove-amber-heard-from-aquaman-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">change.org</a> petition had clocked a whopping 2,948,764 signatures.</p> <p dir="ltr">Questions are not being raised on whether or not Warner Bros. will remove Heard’s character from the sequel, which is currently in post-production. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, it has also been revealed by journalist Grace Randolph that Heard has “less than 10 minutes screen time” in <em>Aquaman 2</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The trial between Heard and Depp began on April 11 and is set to last about six weeks.  </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Movies

Placeholder Content Image

Mid-flight singalong strikes the wrong chord

<p dir="ltr">A man who sang a Christian worship song while strumming his guitar on board a plane has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jonathan Neo was on an easyJet flight when he started to sing to his fellow passengers mid-flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">Footage of the singing was shared online by the pastor of the group Jack Jensz Jr who captioned it: “Worshipping our King Jesus 30,000 feet in the air!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video, which received a whopping 31 million views in just two days, showed a few of the passengers singing along with Jonathan while others looked on angrily. </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/reel/CcIbSzRD7dm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcIbSzRD7dm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jack Jensz Jr. (@jackjenszjr_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Many people in the comments section slammed the group for inconveniencing passengers and for their lack of respect.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No self awareness here at all. I'll be praying for you guys to actually learn some,” one wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would rather go to Jesus right NOW than endure that nightmare of a flight,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Do you feel good about holding people hostage? Did Jesus say to force feed His word against people's will? Disgraceful,” another person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What a self-righteous, presumptuous, and annoying thing to inflict on a plane full of strangers,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Boss threatens to sue employees over wage talk

<p dir="ltr">An employee has called out her manager after he threatened to fire staff for talking about their wages. </p> <p dir="ltr">The business owner of Planet Fitness gym in Kentucky, US, hung a poster on the wall informing staff not to talk about their wages because it is illegal. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, under the National Labor Relations Act, employees are entitled to speak about their wages freely. </p> <p dir="ltr">“ATTENTION ALL SUBORDINATES,” the letter, which was shared to Reddit began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Effective immediately, conversing about wages (both on duty and off duty) is strictly forbidden,</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is considered proprietary information and as such, it is protected legally.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you are overheard speaking (OR LISTENING TO!!) a conversation in which wages are discussed, you will receive disciplinary action up to and including termination.”</p> <p dir="ltr">One of the gym’s employees, Shelly, did not accept her boss's premise and decided to get back at him.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another photo shared to the post shows multiple hammers and sickles drawn on it - representative of the communist party.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Seeing as you’re a manager in the great illustrious word (sic) of Planet Fitness gym franchises, it may behoove (sic) you to become familiar with the laws pertaining to it,” Shelly wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sprinkling legalese and word-salad across an 8.5x11 paper you printed does not make a legal doc.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Needless to say, you can’t legally tell us not to discuss wages in the good ol’ U.S. of A. We will continue to do so.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She ended the note with “Love, $10.50 an hour Shelly” which then saw her colleagues write their own wages. </p> <p dir="ltr">Viewers commended Shelly for the move which showed a united front against the boss who was very much in the wrong.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I LOVE $10.50 an hour Shelly!" someone wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Long Live Shelly. I hope she is $25.00 an hour Shelly very very soon,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of SHELLY SHELLY!" another joked.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Reddit</em></p>

Money & Banking

Placeholder Content Image

“My name is Tom Hanks!”: The A-list photo bomber strikes again

<p dir="ltr">Photobomber Tom Hanks has struck again and has prompted a bride-to-be to cry tears of joy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 65-year-old actor posed alongside bride Grace Gwaltney for some photos while she was having her pre-ceremony photo shoot with her two bridesmaids outside their hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the newlywed, she was leaving the hotel when Hanks approached her and asked if he could take a photo with her. Grace said she was amazed to see him, and admitted that the bridal party “all started screaming” when they realised who he was.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So we were all walking from the hotel to the limo, and out of nowhere, he pops up and just says, ‘My name is Tom Hanks! Can I take a photo with the bride?” she told the <em><a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2022/03/21/tom-hanks-movie-a-man-called-otto-ambridge-pittsburgh-wedding-bridal-party/stories/202203210021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Grace also confirmed that the <em>Forrest Gump</em> actor was “just as wonderful and charming” as you’d expect, and said that even his wife, actress Rita Wilson, got in on the photos. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We all started screaming and were pretty much in shock … He was just as wonderful and charming as you’d assume,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“His wife, Rita [Wilson], was there and got in some photos, too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to photographer Rachel Rowland, who was the one behind the camera on the day, even Hanks’ celebrity status didn’t steal the spotlight from Grace and her husband, Luke.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-85d3c86e-7fff-ea03-7909-6783173611ca"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I’d like to say a photo bomb from Tom Hanks was the best part of yesterday but honestly I’d be lying. (No offence to the GOAT),” she wrote in the Instagram post where she shared the photos.</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/CbU9os_rjPa/?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/CbU9os_rjPa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rachel Rowland (@rachelrowland)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Yesterday was filled with joy, and laughter and fun and love and family and hugs and I just can’t get enough of Grace and Luke.”</p> <p dir="ltr">This isn’t the first time the A-list celebrity has photo bombed someone’s wedding photos, after he crashed the wedding of two brides on a Santa Monica beach.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-05d286ac-7fff-059b-c230-4d2fa3d522d7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @rachelrowland (Instagram)</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

Queen's "World War III" speech strikes a haunting note

<p dir="ltr">Though it’s almost 40 years old, Queen Elizabeth II’s pre-prepared speech in the event of World War III is feeling quite pertinent lately.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sombre message, first penned in 1983 at the height of the Cold War and publicly released in 2013, is a script for a hypothetical broadcast the monarch would read if British citizens faced a threat of nuclear war or World War III.</p> <p dir="ltr">Devised by Whitehall officials, the speech was created as part of a war-gaming exercise that worked through potential scenarios and was written as if broadcast on Friday, March 4 at midday - almost 39 years ago to the day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth,” the script begins, as shared by the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-23518587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now, this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen also recalls the moment World War II broke out and her own experience of sadness and pride upon hearing her father make the announcement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father’s [George VI’s] inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939,” it reads.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all, the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Unsurprisingly, the address <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-secret-speech-in-case-of-world-war-iii/eb18bc06-e53c-4fa8-baab-549476b59370" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contains</a> some outdated aspects, including a mention of her “beloved” son Andrew - who was in the Royal Navy at the time - and references to her now-late husband Prince Philip.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also spoke of the power of the bond families share and how it “must be our greatest defence against the unknown”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country’s will to survive cannot be broken.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The war-gaming exercise it was devised for has become increasingly relevant as well, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues amid the threat of nuclear strikes from Moscow and ongoing peace talks between the two countries.</p> <p dir="ltr">In it, Orange bloc forces representing the Soviet Union and its allies launched a chemical weapon attack on the UK.</p> <p dir="ltr">NATO, represented by Blue forces, retaliates with a “limited-yield” nuclear strike that forces Orange to initiate a peace process.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-74b0ef2d-7fff-7430-7c16-31b0387424ac"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

“The status quo can’t continue”: Nurses striking for first time in a decade

<p dir="ltr">Thousands of nurses in NSW public hospitals will <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw-nurses-vote-statewide-strike-221536766.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">go on strike</a>, as frustrations over understaffing, pay and working conditions prompt the first industrial action in almost a decade.</p><p dir="ltr">Though votes are still underway in some branches, the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) says a majority have endorsed the industrial action.</p><p dir="ltr">The union, which represents 48,000 nurses across the state’s public hospitals, says nurses will take part in a statewide strike for up to 24 hours on Tuesday, while skeleton staff will remain to care for the critically ill and preserve life.</p><p dir="ltr">“We don’t recommend industrial action lightly, especially when a pandemic is still underway, but the status quo can’t continue,” NSWNMA General Secretary Brett Holmes said on Wednesday.</p><p dir="ltr">“We can’t return to pre-COVID-19 staffing levels when we were already in crisis.”</p><p dir="ltr">Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is considering a full-day strike, while nurses at Westmead and Cumberland hospitals will likely strike for 12 hours.</p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/nurse-strike.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p dir="ltr"><em>ICU nurses from Westmead Hospital protest, demanding the government address staffing levels. Image: NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association</em></p><p dir="ltr">The strike on February 15 will also coincide with widespread rallies across the state, with locations including Newcastle, Tamworth, Bathurst, Bega and Lismore.</p><p dir="ltr">It is the first statewide protest since 2013, as hospitals remain on high alert during the pandemic and face staff furloughs as their COVID-19 patient load stays high.</p><p dir="ltr">The union is primarily asking that the government follow in the steps of Queensland and Victoria by implementing nursing and midwifing staffing ratios.</p><p dir="ltr">“If the premier wants a well-staffed, well trained and resilient nursing and midwifery workforce in the public health system, then he must act now and implement shift by shift ratios across NSW,” Mr Holmes said.</p><p dir="ltr">The union is also asking for a fair pay rise, higher than the 2.5 percent offered by the government, as well as for COVID-19 workers’ compensation to remain unchanged.</p><p dir="ltr">The latter demand comes as the government seeks to scrap an automatic presumption under workers’ compensation rules that essential workers were infected with the virus at work.</p><p dir="ltr">If the assumption is successfully removed, doctors, nurses, paramedics, teachers, supermarket workers and other essential workers will need to prove they caught COVID-19 at work, which unions say is virtually impossible.</p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Man turns himself in after striking elderly man in hit-and-run

<p dir="ltr">A manhunt to find the driver of a truck that struck an elderly man in an alleged hit-and-run in Sydney’s west has concluded, after he was arrested and his truck seized.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 89-year-old man was struck by a truck on Wednesday morning in South Granville.</p> <p dir="ltr">Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after.</p> <p dir="ltr">NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the victim before he was taken to Westmead Hospital in a serious condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man remains at the hospital in critical condition, a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news_article?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGOTkwOTAuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">statement</a><span> </span>from NSW Police said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Paramedics said he suffered internal injuries, as well as “a significant number of large fractures”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846388/hit-run1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bf7a85291cfe4315ab310653fe17b182" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>An 89-year-old man was struck by a truck in South Granville on Wednesday. Image: 7NEWS</em></p> <p dir="ltr">A witness speaking to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-police-hunt-truck-driver-after-elderly-pedestrian-injured-in-alleged-hit-and-run-c-4963868" target="_blank"><em>7NEWS</em></a><span> </span>said the truck driver got out of his vehicle after allegedly hitting the elderly man, before driving away.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s got back in the truck and I thought he was going to move it further up to come back to see what happened but he kept going,” the woman, who wished to be anonymous, said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police confirmed the witness’ account, with Detective Acting Inspector Robert Burlin adding that, “the driver of the vehicle has got out on a number of occasions to have a look”.</p> <p dir="ltr">After police established a crime scene and began investigating the incident, images were released of the man believed to be the driver.</p> <p dir="ltr">At about 7.30 pm that evening, the man attended Granville Police Station and was arrested.</p> <p dir="ltr">His unattended truck was later located in Chester Hill, and has been seized for forensic examination.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 54-year-old has been charged with fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm.</p> <p dir="ltr">After being granted conditional bail, he is due to appear in court in January 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7NEWS</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

George Calombaris admits to “crying a lot" during wage theft scandal

<p dir="ltr">Former<span> </span><em>MasterChef<span> </span></em>judge and restaurateur George Calombaris has opened up about his wage theft scandal in 2019, admitting that he “cried a lot” as it unfolded.</p> <p dir="ltr">Talking to Sam Newman and Don Scott for their<span> </span><em>You Cannot Be Serious<span> </span></em>podcast, Calombaris said of the scandal, “It was brutal and I cried a lot.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2019, the Fair Work Ombudsman ordered his hospitality group, Made Establishment, to pay back $7.8 million to workers after failing to pay them penalty rates for several years. Calombaris was also personally penalised $200,000 for the underpayments. His decade-long stint as a judge on<span> </span><em>MasterChef<span> </span></em>was brought to an end that year, after contract negotiations between judges Calombaris, Matt Preston, and Gary Meighan, and Network Ten, broke down.</p> <p dir="ltr">Throughout the scandal, he maintained that it was a mistake caused by inexperience. In addition, as the scandal was unfolding, Calombaris was charged with assault after shoving a 19-year-old at the 2017 A-League grand final for heckling him about the controversy.</p> <p dir="ltr">Early last year, it was announced that Made Establishment had entered voluntary administration. Calombaris admitted on the podcast that he drank during this time, and was an “emotional wreck”. He said, “I drank a lot, I really did. When I drink, I don’t get aggressive, but when I drink excessively like I did in that period, I’m an emotional wreck.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I probably should have opened up more. I was trying to fix it all behind a closed door and I was literally fist-punching myself internally and emotionally.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2017, Made Establishment calculated that its current workforce had been underpaid $2.6 million and publicly disclosed the issue, immediately repaying 162 people and committing to working with Fair Work Australia to ensure the matter was finalised.</p> <p dir="ltr">It eventually came out that the problem was much worse than that, however, with the company being informed in 2019 that they had underpaid staff by $7.8 million, affecting 515 employees over a six-year period. Of the revelation, Calombaris said, “We went to Fair Work and said, ‘Guys we found these issues, we’re paying up, every cent, but we also want to give it to a journalist to talk the story.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"Hopefully that will get everyone else in an industry that is rife with payments under tables and stuff like that, for everyone to pull their socks up. That turned. That became, ‘George Calombaris the wage thief’, ‘George Calombaris in his Toorak mansion living the big life’, blah blah. It went disgustingly bad.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Unfortunately, the name George Calombaris, when it was high, everyone was flying and loved it, everyone wanted to be around it. But when they did that list I became this poster boy as the wage thief. It punched us right in the face.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Daniel Munoz/WireImage</em></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Film and TV union could strike for first time in history

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The union representing behind-the-scenes workers in film and television has overwhelmingly </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-05/film-television-workers-strike-netflix-apple-amazon-disney/100514468" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">voted to strike</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for the first time in 128 years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) said nearly 99 percent of its registered members - totalling 52,706 people - voted in support of a strike over the weekend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The strike comes as the union calls for improved conditions for craftspeople, technicians, and labourers who work for Netflix, Apple and Amazon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Better pay, reasonable rest periods, safer hours, and guaranteed meal breaks are among some of the requests made of the streaming giants.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I hope the studios will see and understand the resolve of our members,” Matthew Loeb, the alliance’s president, said in a statement.</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/CUadI10vvOI/?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> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUadI10vvOI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by IATSE (@iatse)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The ball is in their court. If they want to avoid a strike, they will return to the bargaining table and make us a reasonable offer.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Negotiations began between the IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) - which represents studios and streamers - after the most recent three-year contract expired in July.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But conversations stopped on September 20, the day after shows that are popular on the streaming services like </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Crown</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ted Lasso</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Queen’s Gambit</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> took out the top prizes at the Emmy Awards.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the goal of reaching an agreement rather than having “a dispute”, Mr Loeb said the union’s vote was about the “quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The IATSE said it was “incomprehensible that the AMPTP, an ensemble that includes media mega-corporations worth trillions of dollars, claims it cannot provide behind-the-scenes crews with basic human necessities like adequate sleep, meal breaks, and living wages”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a statement, the AMPTP said it would seek an agreement that would keep the industry working, particularly following the economic fallout due to the pandemic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A deal can be made at the bargaining table, but it will require both parties working together in good faith with a willingness to compromise and to explore new solutions to resolve the open issues,” it said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If the negotiations result in a strike, it would be the first nationwide movement in the history of the theatrical stage worker group.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several big names in the industry have thrown their weight behind the movement, including actor and producer Octavia Spencer, Jeffrey Wright, and Frances Fisher.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">By a Nearly Unanimous Margin, <a href="https://twitter.com/IATSE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IATSE</a> Members in TV and Film Production Vote to Authorize a Nationwide <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Strike?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Strike</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IATSE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IATSE</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iasolidarity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iasolidarity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IATSEsolidarity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IATSEsolidarity</a> <br />⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/IA_Stories?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IA_Stories</a>⁩ <br />Congratulations!!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrikeAuthorization?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrikeAuthorization</a> <a href="https://t.co/W9sN66nGFX">https://t.co/W9sN66nGFX</a></p> — Frances Fisher (@Frances_Fisher) <a href="https://twitter.com/Frances_Fisher/status/1445090340810145803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our #IATSE brothers and sisters have spoken. They will #strike for better work conditions. I hope #AMPTP does the right thing and sits down again,” Spencer wrote on Twitter.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They’re not asking for anything unreasonable.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @iatse / Instagram</span></em></p>

Movies

Placeholder Content Image

Man strikes gold 1500 years old

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One lucky man in the town of Vindelev, Denmark, has stumbled upon a once in a lifetime discovery. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Using a metal detector, the man discovered a cache of 1,500-year-old gold objects, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">according to the Vejlemuseerne, the museum consortium in Vejle, Denmark.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The treasure trove was found in a small town 240km from the capital of Copenhagen, and offered up more than two pounds of gold. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It includes coins from the Roman Empire as well as medallions known as bracteates, which would have been sewn onto clothing and worn as ornamentation</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These newly discovered objects are expected to go on view at the Vejlemuseerne in February 2022.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the bracteates discovered in one inscribed with unique text that translates to “the High”, which may be a reference to a ruler at the time, or to the Norse god Odin. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That medallion, along with all the other objects found, dates back to the 6th century C.E.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s suspected that these pre-Viking objects may have been buried amid the ongoing threat of ecological devastation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the year 536, a volcano erupted in Denmark, creating a giant ash cloud and a subsequent famine in the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Experts believe that, amid the chaos, the inhabitants of modern-day Denmark rejected their rulers and parted ways with gold objects bearing these leaders’ images, either as a way of hiding the medallions from enemies or as a means of placating angry gods.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Archaeologists at the Vejlemuseerne are calculating the possibility that the town of Vindelev was the epicentre of a powerful empire during the Iron Age. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before the discovery of the artifacts, “there was nothing that could make us predict that an unprecedented warlord or great man lived here, long before the kingdom of Denmark arose in the following centuries,” said Mads Ravn, a research director at the Vejlemuseerne, in a statement.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Vejlemuseerne</span></em></p>

Art

Our Partners

Over 60

© Copyright 2024 OverSixty.All Rights Reserved.