Search

New rendered image holds hope in William Tyrrell disappearance 10 years on

A new rendered image has shown what William Tyrrell would look like now on the 10-year anniversary of his disappearance. On September 12th 2014, the then three-year-old disappeared from his foster grandmother's home in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast and has not been seen since, making his disappearance one of the nation's most enduring mysteries. Now, 10 years on, Ten News have released a rendered image of what William might look like now at 13, with experts hoping it might prompt someone to come forward with information. Criminologist Xanthe Mallett said the image was a way to keep William’s face in the public eye. “An image such as this could encourage someone who knows what happen to unlock the mystery,” Dr Mallett told Ten News. A $1million reward has been offered for information to help locate William, with a coronial inquest into his disappearance to take place at the end of this year. As William's family continue to struggle with the mystery around his disappearance, Close friends of Tyrrell’s foster parents, Clare and Alice Collins, have told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/how-william-tyrells-loved-ones-are-spending-the-10-year-anniversary-of-his-disappearance-c-16030683" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> reporter Michael Usher the family was “crushed” to still have no answers on the 10-year anniversary. “They remember William every minute of every day,” Clare said. “They’re living a nightmare.” Alice added, even a decade on, they believed “hope is the key”. “You hear cases from around the world with kids who had been abducted, and they turn up 10, 20 years later,” she said. “There is still a chance that he is out there ... it’s a big reach ... but in light of the fact that there is absolutely no evidence that William is deceased there is that very, very slim chance.” The pair appealed to anyone across the country with information as to where William might be to “make the call”. “It’s as though he’s just vanished ... we need answers ... Australia needs answers. Help bring William home ... and we will do everything in our power,” Alice said. “We are never giving up.” Image credits: NSW Police / Ten News

Family & Pets

Twelve-year-old boy falls to his death on cruise

A 12-year-old boy has fallen to his death onboard the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas, as guests watched on in horror. The cruise was nearing the end of its itinerary on Sunday and was heading back to Texas after its seven-day cruise around the Western Caribbean when the incident occurred. Witnesses recalled that the boy was playing with a group of friends he had made on the ship before he tumbled over a 13-storey balcony, falling into the internal Central Park area of the ship, a plaza filled with bars, pubs and restaurants. Royal Caribbean staff attempted to resuscitate the youngster, but he died before the ship docked in Texas. The cruise company shared a statement that a death had occurred onboard but refused to share any more information as investigations into the incident began. Witnesses took to a Facebook page for passengers to share their condolences to the boy's grieving family, and share their version of event. "My daughter was friends with him and said he was upset today," posted passenger Sara Tullas. "She is so upset. I wish I would have known he was struggling today." The boy had taken part in the cruise's teen-club, and many passengers said their children had got to know the boy before his death. "The conversations I have had to have with my son really tripped me up," wrote Shannon Elizabeth on the Facebook page. "My son and him actually got really close on the cruise, and he saw too much of what happened." "My family and I saw the incident unfold right before us as we were looking down into Central Park from the pool deck," wrote Christa Schoolfield. "We did not see whether he jumped or was playing around." Another passenger wrote, "I looked over the railing after the emergency alert and wish I didn’t." "All I ask is to please hug your children tight and tell your family members you love them. Life can change in an instant. Today I was hiding ducks in Central Park and one second later a child's life was gone in front of me." Friends said the boy was on board with his family, including two sisters, for a birthday celebration. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

"Best country in the world" crowned for the third year in a row

The best countries in the world have been ranked according to a new survey, with Switzerland taking out the top spot for the third year in a row. According to new data released by <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US News & World's report</a> in its annual Best Countries rankings, the small European nation has been dubbed the "best country in the world" for 2024. Among the top 25 list, 15 European countries nabbed spots, east and southeast Asia claimed four spots, and the Middle East took two spots, with North America and Oceania taking two spots each. The ranking was made based on the views of 17,000 people, who assessed how well each nation ranked on categories including power, openness for business and cultural influence. At the top of the ranking was Switzerland, which has been at the top of the table nearly every year since 2017, with the report saying the country was "bolstered by notable performances in three of the heaviest-weighted subrankings: quality of life, entrepreneurship and social purpose." Japan claimed second spot on the list for the first time, climbing four spots from last year's ranking, for its high rankings in the entrepreneurship and movers categories. Australia came in fifth place this year (down from fourth in 2023), ranking high in quality of life and social purpose, while New Zealand came in ninth place (down from eighth in 2023). Check out the top 25 best countries list below. 1. Switzerland 2. Japan 3. United Stated of America 4. Canada 5. Australia 6. Sweden 7. Germany 8. United Kingdom 9. New Zealand 10. Denmark 11. Norway 12. France 13. The Netherlands 14. Singapore 15. Italy 16. China 17. United Arab Emirates 18. South Korea 19. Spain 20. Finland 21. Austria 22. Iceland 23. Belgium 24. Ireland 25. Qatar Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Olympian killed at just 33 years of age

Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, has tragically passed away at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, where she had been receiving treatment for severe burns sustained in an attack by her former boyfriend. A hospital spokesperson, Owen Menach, confirmed that Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries after suffering multiple organ failures. Cheptegei, who competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics just weeks ago, sustained burns to 80% of her body after her ex-partner, Dickson Ndiema, allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire during a domestic dispute. Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom revealed that Ndiema also suffered burns in the incident to 30% of his body, and that he remains in intensive care but is in a stable condition. Cheptegei's parents stated that she had recently bought land in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County to be near athletic training centres in the region. A report from the local chief indicated that Cheptegei and her former boyfriend were involved in a heated argument over the property before the attack occurred. The Uganda Athletics Federation and the Uganda Olympic Committee have expressed their grief over the loss of Cheptegei. In a statement shared on the social media platform X, the Athletics Federation wrote, "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence." They further condemned the attack, calling for justice. Uganda Olympic Committee president Donald Rukare added, “May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.” Image: Narnabi / Wikimedia Commons

Caring

I’m feeling run down. Why am I more likely to get sick? And how can I boost my immune system?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sathana-dushyanthen-1169328">Sathana Dushyanthen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> It has been a long winter, filled with many viruses and cost-of-living pressures, on top of the usual mix of work, study, life admin and caring responsibilities. Stress is an inevitable part of life. In short bursts, our stress response has evolved as a survival mechanism to help us be more alert in <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-you-cant-blame-all-your-health-issues-on-high-cortisol-heres-how-the-hormone-works-203162">fight or flight situations</a>. But when stress is chronic, it weakens the immune system and makes us more vulnerable to illnesses such as the <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/can-stress-make-you-sick#:%7E:text=The%20common%20cold&text=Inflammation%20has%20been%20linked%20to,to%20the%20cold%2Dcausing%20germs.">common cold</a>, <a href="https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/abstract/1999/03000/psychological_stress,_cytokine_production,_and.9.aspx">flu</a> and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smi.3017">COVID</a>. <h2>Stress makes it harder to fight off viruses</h2> When the immune system starts to break down, a virus that would normally have been under control starts to flourish. Once you begin to feel sick, the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4465119/">stress response</a> rises, making it harder for the immune system to fight off the disease. You may be sick more often and for longer periods of time, without enough immune cells primed and ready to <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-16996-1_6">fight</a>. In the 1990s, American psychology professor Sheldon Cohen and his colleagues conducted a number of <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/common-cold-project/">studies</a> where healthy people were exposed to an upper respiratory infection, through drops of virus placed directly into their <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199108293250903">nose</a>. These participants were then quarantined in a hotel and monitored closely to determine who became <a href="https://theconversation.com/stress-less-it-might-protect-you-from-covid-153361">ill</a>. One of the most important factors predicting who got sick was prolonged psychological <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691620942516">stress</a>. <h2>Cortisol suppresses immunity</h2> “Short-term stress” is stress that lasts for a period of minutes to hours, while “chronic stress” persists for several hours per day for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5964013/#:%7E:text=Therefore%2C%20a%20major%20distinguishing%20characteristic,weeks%20or%20months%20%5B9%5D.">weeks or months</a>. When faced with a perceived threat, psychological or physical, the hypothalamus region of the brain sets off an alarm system. This signals the release of a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and <a href="https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/msb.20209510">cortisol</a>. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Human brain illustration" /><figcaption>The hypothalamus sets off an alarm system in response to a real or perceived threat. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/hypothalamus-causes-vasoconstriction-illustration-medical-brain-435142264">stefan3andrei/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> In a typical stress response, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S147149060300173X">cortisol levels</a> quickly increase when stress occurs, and then rapidly drop back to normal once the stress has subsided. In the short term, cortisol suppresses inflammation, to ensure the body has enough energy available to respond to an <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00245/full">immediate threat</a>. But in the longer term, chronic stress can be harmful. A Harvard University study <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097">from 2022</a> showed that people suffering from psychological distress in the lead up to their COVID infection had a greater chance of experiencing long COVID. They <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097">classified</a> this distress as depression, probable anxiety, perceived stress, worry about COVID and loneliness. Those suffering distress had close to a <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097">50% greater risk</a> of long COVID compared to other <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-stressed-out-before-you-get-covid-increases-your-chances-of-long-covid-heres-why-190649">participants</a>. Cortisol has been shown to be high in the most severe cases of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7102614/">COVID</a>. <h2>Stress causes inflammation</h2> <a href="https://stories.uq.edu.au/imb/the-edge/inflammation/what-is-inflammation/index.html">Inflammation</a> is a short-term reaction to an injury or infection. It is responsible for trafficking immune cells in your body so the right cells are present in the right locations at the right times and at the right <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12026-014-8517-0">levels</a>. The immune cells also store a memory of that threat to respond faster and more effectively the next <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-stressed-out-before-you-get-covid-increases-your-chances-of-long-covid-heres-why-190649">time</a>. Initially, circulating immune cells detect and flock to the site of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ni1275">infection</a>. Messenger proteins, known as pro-inflammatory cytokines, are released by immune cells, to signal the danger and recruit help, and our immune system responds to neutralise the <a href="https://stories.uq.edu.au/imb/the-edge/inflammation/what-is-inflammation/index.html">threat</a>. During this response to the infection, if the immune system produces too much of these inflammatory chemicals, it can trigger symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691620942516">nose</a>. <h2>What about chronic stress?</h2> Chronic stress causes persistently high cortisol secretion, which remains high even in the absence of an immediate <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-you-cant-blame-all-your-health-issues-on-high-cortisol-heres-how-the-hormone-works-203162">stressor</a>. The immune system becomes desensitised and unresponsive to this <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661816307435">cortisol suppression</a>, increasing low-grade “silent” inflammation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (the messenger proteins). Immune cells become exhausted and start to <a href="https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/blog-post/adrenal-immune-connection">malfunction</a>. The body loses the ability to turn down the inflammatory <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691620942516">response</a>. Over time, the immune system changes the way it responds by reprogramming to a “<a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2021/april/how-stress-can-stop-immune-cells-in-their-tracks">low surveillance mode</a>”. The immune system misses early opportunities to destroy threats, and the process of recovery can take <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-stressed-out-before-you-get-covid-increases-your-chances-of-long-covid-heres-why-190649">longer</a>. <h2>So how can you manage your stress?</h2> We can actively strengthen our immunity and natural defences by managing our <a href="https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-fight-or-flight-mode-5-ways-to-complete-the-stress-cycle-and-avoid-burnout-or-depression-218599">stress levels</a>. Rather than letting stress build up, try to address it early and frequently by: 1) Getting enough sleep Getting enough sleep reduces <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3132857/">cortisol levels</a> and inflammation. During sleep, the immune system <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4939-6578-6_12">releases</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/sleep-wont-cure-the-coronavirus-but-it-can-help-our-bodies-fight-it-134674">cytokines</a>, which help fight infections and inflammation. 2) Taking regular exercise Exercising helps the lymphatic system (which balances bodily fluids as part of the immune system) circulate and allows immune cells to monitor for threats, while sweating flushes <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/does-exercise-boost-immune-system">toxins</a>. Physical activity also lowers stress hormone levels through the release of positive brain <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7387807/">signals</a>. 3) Eating a healthy diet Ensuring your diet contains enough nutrients – such as the B vitamins, and the full breadth of minerals like magnesium, iron and zinc – during times of stress has a positive impact on overall stress <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22782571">levels</a>. Staying hydrated helps the body to flush out <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-strong-immune-system-helps-ward-off-colds-and-flus-but-its-not-the-only-factor-99512">toxins</a>. 4) Socialising and practising meditation or mindfulness These activities increase endorphins and serotonin, which improve mood and have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949834123000351">anti-inflammatory effects</a>. Breathing exercises and meditation stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms down our stress responses so we can “reset” and reduce <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4940234/">cortisol levels</a>.<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/237456/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sathana-dushyanthen-1169328">Sathana Dushyanthen</a>, Academic Specialist & Lecturer in Cancer Sciences & Digital Health| Superstar of STEM| Science Communicator, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/im-feeling-run-down-why-am-i-more-likely-to-get-sick-and-how-can-i-boost-my-immune-system-237456">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Can a 10-year-old be responsible for a crime? Here’s what brain science tells us

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-m-sawyer-109573">Susan M. Sawyer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nandi-vijayakumar-1644262">Nandi Vijayakumar</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> The age a child can be arrested, charged and jailed in Australia is back in the spotlight. Last year, the Northern Territory became the first jurisdiction to raise the age of criminal responsibility from ten to 12. Now its new, tough-on-crime government has pledged to <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/incoming-chief-minister-says-age-of-criminal-responsibility-to-be-lowered-to-10-years-old/a1xm9jy9c">return it to ten</a>. It comes after Victoria <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-13/victoria-youth-justice-reform-criminal-age/104217160">walked back</a> its earlier commitment to raise the age to 14, settling instead on 12. But the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child says 14 should be the absolute <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/general-comments-and-recommendations/general-comment-no-24-2019-childrens-rights-child">minimum</a>. It raised this age from its earlier recommendation (in 2007) of 12, citing a decade of new research into child and adolescent development. So what does the science say? What happens to the brain between ten and 14? And how much can those under 14 understand the consequences of their actions? <h2>Who is an adolescent?</h2> Our research shows adolescence is a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30169257/">critical period</a> for development. It’s the time children’s experiences and explorations shape how they develop cognitive skills (including critical thinking and decision making), as well as social and emotional skills (including moral reasoning). Adolescence also lasts longer than we tend to think. Important brain development begins during late childhood, around eight to nine years. Intense changes then follow during early adolescence (ages ten to 14). But these changes continue well into the twenties, and full cognitive and emotional maturity is not usually reached until around age 24. However, everyone’s brain matures at a different rate. That means there is no definitive age we can say humans reach “adult” levels of cognitive maturity. What we do know is the period of early adolescence is critical. <h2>What does puberty do to the brain?</h2> Puberty is a defining feature of early adolescence. Most of us are familiar with the changes that occur to the body and reproductive systems. But the increase in puberty hormones, such as testosterone and oestrogen, also trigger changes to the brain. These hormones <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453017313252?via%3Dihub">increase most sharply</a> between ten and 15 years of age, although gradual changes continue into the early twenties. Puberty hormones change the structures in the brain which process emotions, including the amygdala (which encodes fear and stress) and ventral striatum (involved in reward and motivation). This makes adolescents particularly reactive to emotional rewards and threats. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2019.04.024">Our research</a> has shown the brain’s sensitivity to emotions increases throughout early adolescence until around 14 or 15 years old. At the same time, changes in puberty have <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000172">been linked</a> to increased sensation seeking and impulsive behaviours during early adolescence. This context is crucial when we discuss the behaviour of children in the ten to 14 age range. The way their brains change during this period makes them more sensitive and responsive to emotions, and more likely to be seeking experiences that are new and intense. <h2>How do adolescents make decisions?</h2> The emotional context of puberty influences how younger adolescents make decisions and understand their consequences. Decision making relies on several basic cognitive functions, including the brain’s flexibility, memory and ability to control impulses. These cognitive abilities – which together help us consider the consequences of our actions – undergo some of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1741-13.2013">steepest development</a> between ages ten and 14. By age 15, the ability to make complex decisions has usually <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000315">reached adult maturity</a>. But adolescents at this age remain highly susceptible to emotions. So while their brain may be equipped to make a complex decision, their ability to think through the consequences, weighing up costs and benefits, can be clouded by emotional situations. For example, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12085">research has shown</a> 13-14 year-olds were more distracted from completing a task and less able to control their behaviour when they viewed images that made them feel negative emotions. The social world of teenagers also has a significant impact on how they make decisions – especially in early adolescence. One study found that while older adolescents (aged 15-18) are more influenced by what adults think when weighing up risk, adolescents aged 12-14 <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956797615569578">look to other teenagers</a>. Experiments <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431616648453">have also shown</a> adolescents aged 12-15 make riskier decisions when they are with peers than by themselves. Their brain responses also suggest they experience a greater sense of reward in taking those risks <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsy071">with peers</a>. <h2>How do teens understand the consequences of their actions?</h2> The concept of <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2122/Quick_Guides/MinimumAgeCriminalResponsibility">criminal responsibility</a> is based on whether a person is able to understand their action and know whether it is wrong. Moral reasoning – how people think about right and wrong – depends on the ability to understand another person’s mental state and adopt their perspective. These skills are in development <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.012">across adolescence</a>. Research suggests it may take more effort for adolescent brains to process <a href="https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2009.21121">“social” emotions</a> such as guilt and embarrassment, compared to adults. This is similar when they make <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2014.933714">moral judgements</a>. This evidence suggests teenage brains may have to work harder when considering other people’s intentions and desires. Young adolescents have the cognitive ability to appreciate they made a bad decision, but it is more mentally demanding. And social rewards, emotions and the chance to experience something new all have a strong bearing on their decisions and actions in the moment — possibly more than whether it is right or wrong. <h2>Early adolescence is critical for the brain</h2> There are also a number of reasons adolescent brains may develop differently. This includes various forms of neurodisability such as acquired brain injury, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability, as well as exposure to trauma. Teenagers with neurodevelopmental disorders will likely cope differently with decision making, social pressure, impulse control and risk assessment, and face <a href="https://www.mcri.edu.au/images/research/strategic-collaborations/Flagships/Neurodevelopment/Neurodevelopment_Flagship_Brochure.pdf">extra difficulties</a>. Across the world, they are <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(19)30217-8/fulltext">disproportionately incarcerated</a>. In Australia, Indigenous children and adolescents are incarcerated <a href="https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/2-11-contact-with-the-criminal-justice-system#:%7E:text=On%20an%20average%20day%20in%202021%E2%80%9322%2C%20there%20were%3A,AIHW%202023d%3A%20Table%20S76a">in greater numbers</a> than their non-Indigenous peers. Each child matures differently, and some face extra challenges. But for every person, the period between ten and 14 is critical for developing the cognitive, social and emotional skills they’ll carry through the rest of their life.<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/237552/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-m-sawyer-109573">Susan M. Sawyer</a>, Professor of Adolescent Health The University of Melbourne; Director, Royal Children's Hospital Centre for Adolescent Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nandi-vijayakumar-1644262">Nandi Vijayakumar</a>, Research Fellow, School of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/can-a-10-year-old-be-responsible-for-a-crime-heres-what-brain-science-tells-us-237552">original article</a>. </div>

Mind

38-year-old message in a bottle washes up on beach

A message in a bottle written almost 40 years ago has been discovered by a four-year-old at a beach in Perth. Meg Prideaux took her son Leo, 4, “looking for treasure” at the beach in their hometown of Lancelin, when he spotted the bottle with a rolled-up note inside. “We brought it home and we waited for my daughter and my husband to come home, but we couldn’t get it open,” she said. “There was a bit of corrosion and a few barnacles had started to grow, so it had been there for a while.” After a bit of trouble, they got the bottle open and unfurled the soggy, but still legible, letter and found it dated from 1985. The message had been written 39 years ago by then-teenagers Joanne Hunter and Louise Pocock, who were 15 when they wrote the note while on holiday. Their note came with a simple request — that anyone who finds the bottle send a return letter to the girls in suburban Perth. With the help of <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/message-in-a-bottle-thrown-into-sea-in-1985-washes-up-on-wa-beach-c-15876207" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>, Meg and Leo Prideaux were able to track down Joanne Hunter, who is now Joanne Evans and aged 54. “I was like, ‘Oh my god. Is that really that?’ I haven’t thought about that in forever,” Evans said. “We wrote it at night and sealed it with wax and then we actually swam it out into the water because, at first, we threw it from the beach and it kept washing back in, so we swam out the next morning." “My family had a beach house directly across the road and Louise came with my family for the school holidays. She was always full of excitement and had such a great imagination, it was her idea to do it.” Pocock died of leukaemia six years ago but her sister, Sarah Martin, said she would have enjoyed “such a kick” knowing the message had been found. “Oh, she’d be so happy, she really would — especially that a little boy found it as well after 39 years just sitting in the sand,” Martin said. “She was a really great, fun, happy-go-lucky sort of person and really did well in her life, very artistic and creative, and she met a wonderful man and married him and had a beautiful little girl. “As time goes on, you feel like they’re slipping further away from you and then this message is such a wonderful thing that just came out of the blue.” The Prideaux family now plan to meet Evans to return the bottle and the message to its original author some time in the near future. Image credits: 7News / Prideaux family

Family & Pets

Boy accidentally smashes 3500-year old artefact

A 3500-year old jar has been smashed to pieces after a four-year-old boy accidentally knocked it over during a trip to a museum in Israel. The Hecht Museum in Haifa told the BBC that the artefact dates back to the Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500BC - and was considered a rare find because it was so intact. It had been on display near the entrance of the museum without any protective glass around it, as the museum believes there is a “special charm” in showcasing archaeological finds “without obstructions”. The boy's father, Alex, told the publication that his son had only "pulled the jar slightly" because he was "curious about what was inside", causing it to fall. He also said that he was "in shock" to see his son next to the ruined artefact and initially thought "it wasn't my child that did it". After calming his child down, he spoke to a security guard who confirmed what happened. The museum stated they would not be charging the family and they've even invited the child back to the exhibition for an organised tour after the incident occurred a few days ago. “There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police,” Lihi Laszlo from The Hecht Museum told the BBC. “In this case, however, this was not the situation. The jar was accidentally damaged by a young child visiting the museum, and the response will be accordingly.” A conservation specialist has also been brought on board to restore the jar, which will be returned to the museum "in a short time". The boy's father said they will feel "relieved" to see the jar restored but added they are "sorry" because "it will no longer be the same item". “Despite the rare incident” the museum told the publication that they intend to continue displaying items without barriers or glass walls, where possible. The ancient jar was likely originally used to carry local supplies like wine and olive oil and predates the time of the Biblical King David and King Solomon and is distinctive of the Canaan region on the eastern Mediterranean coast. Images: Hecht Museum

Travel Trouble

"My heart is broken": Mariah Carey reveals sad double tragedy

Mariah Carey has revealed a devastating double tragedy, as both her mother and sister passed away on the same day. In a heartbreaking statement to <a href="https://people.com/mariah-carey-mom-patricia-sister-alison-both-died-same-day-exclusive-8701561" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a>, the singer announced the deaths of her mum Patricia, 87, and sister Alison, 63, who died over the weekend. Carey's statement read, "My heart is broken that I've lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day." "I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed." "I appreciate everyone's love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time." No cause of death has been revealed for either member of the family. Carey famously had a turbulent relationship with her mother and sister over the years, and was estranged from Alison for three decades before her untimely death. In 2016, Alison, who was a recovering drug addict, made a plea to her famous sister through the Daily Mail to ask for support, saying, "Mariah I love you, I desperately need your help." As well as substance abuse, Alison endured homelessness throughout her life and tested positive for the HIV virus. Mariah opened up about complicated relationships with her mom and sister in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey. "Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities. It's never been only black-and-white — it's been a whole rainbow of emotions," she explained. She said their relationship was a "prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment", however the book was still dedicated to Patricia. "And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could," the singer penned in the dedication. "I will love you the best I can, always." Image credits: Paul Archuleta/Shutterstock Editorial

Family & Pets

"You are ruining my life": Driver's plea to parking ranger

A desperate motorist has left a note for suspecting parking rangers to beg for leniency over fines. A photo of the note, that quickly went viral, shows the driver asking to not receive any more tickets after already being slapped with three in one week. The note explains the driver's difficult situation, as he asked the rangers to have mercy. "Please stop giving me tickets," the note read. "I already have three this week. I am obviously broke already." "I have ordered my new sticker. It's in the mail. I can't make it get here faster. Have some mercy, you are ruining my life." The note insinuates the other parking fines may have been written up because of an expired registration or damaged licence plate. After the photo of the note went viral, many were shocked that the parking officer wrote up several tickets in the same week. "Usually you wouldn't get the second and third as there's a grace period to go to traffic court to show you did the paperwork to drop the first ticket," one person said. Another driver revealed a similar plight, saying, "I ordered my tags in the mail and it took 34 days to get here." But others weren't as understanding, as one person sarcastically commented, "If only people had an entire year to plan ahead to know when their tags would expire ... oh, wait." Image credits: Facebook / Shutterstock

Legal

99-year-old woman declared accessory to over 10,000 murders

A court in Germany has upheld the conviction of a 99-year-old woman who, during the Second World War, was the secretary to the SS commander at a Nazi concentration camp. The Federal Justice Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of Irmgard Furchner, who was convicted of being an accessory to more than 10,000 murders and was given a two-year suspended sentence in December 2022. Furchner was accused of being a key part of the apparatus that helped the camp near Danzig, now the Polish city of Gdansk, function, and was subsequently convicted of being an accessory to murder in 10,505 cases and an accessory to attempted murder in five cases. At a federal court hearing in Leipzig in July, Furchner's lawyers cast doubt on whether she really was an accessory to crimes committed by the commander and other senior camp officials between 1943 and 1945, and on whether she had truly been aware of what was going on at Stutthof. The court said that judges were convinced that Furchner “knew and, through her work as a stenographer in the commandant’s office of the Stutthof concentration camp from June 1st 1943, to April 1st 1945, deliberately supported the fact that 10,505 prisoners were cruelly killed by gassings, by hostile conditions in the camp,” by transportation to the Auschwitz death camp and by being sent on death marches at the end of the war. Germany's main Jewish leader welcomed the ruling. “For Holocaust survivors, it is enormously important for a late form of justice to be attempted,” Josef Schuster, the head of the Central Council of Jews, said in statement. “The legal system sent an important message today: even nearly 80 years after the Holocaust, no line can be drawn under Nazi crimes,” he added. During the original court proceedings, prosecutors said that Furchner’s trial may be the last of its kind, however, a special federal prosecutors’ office in Ludwigsburg tasked with investigating Nazi-era war crimes says three more cases are pending with prosecutors or courts in various parts of Germany. With any suspects now at a very advanced age, questions increasingly arise over suspects’ fitness to stand trial. Image credits: Sky News

Legal

Australia’s IV fluids shortage will likely last all year. Here’s what that means for surgeries

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stuart-marshall-1115779">Stuart Marshall</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> The current <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/about-IV-fluids-shortages">shortage of sterile intravenous (IV) fluids</a> is a serious ongoing concern for doctors across Australia. During surgery, these sterile fluids are essential to administer drugs and hydrate patients intravenously (via the veins). But supplies of two of the most common solutions are critically low. The Australian government has recently moved to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/16/australia-iv-fluid-shortage-government-distribution">coordinate supplies</a> of IV fluids to increase manufacturing and ensure distribution. Despite this, supplies are not expected to return to normal levels <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/joint-statement-on-iv-fluids-health-ministers-meeting-16-august-2024.pdf">until the end of the year</a>. So, what will this mean for surgery in Australia? And are there any alternatives? <h2>Why do we need IV fluids for surgery?</h2> IV fluids are used before, during and after surgery to maintain blood volume and the body’s normal functions. They also combat dehydration, which can happen in a number of ways. Before surgery, patients may become dehydrated from illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhoea. They are also asked to stop eating and drinking for several hours before surgery. This is to minimise the risk of stomach contents being regurgitated and inhaled into the lungs – a <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21954-aspiration-pneumonia">complication that can cause injury or death</a>. But it can also make them more dehydrated. During surgery, the body continues to lose fluid through normal processes such as sweating and making urine. But some aspects of surgery also exacerbate dehydration, for example, through blood loss or when internal organs are exposed and lose more fluid through evaporation. After the operation, IV fluids may be required for some days. Many patients may still be unable to eat and drink until the function of the gut returns to normal. Multiple research studies, including <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1801601">a trial </a>of 3,000 patients who underwent major abdominal surgery, have demonstrated the importance of adequate fluid therapy throughout all stages of surgery to avoid kidney damage. Apart from hydration, these sterile fluids – prepared under strict conditions so they contain no bacteria or viruses – are used in surgery for other reasons. Anaesthetists commonly use fluid infusions to slowly deliver medications into the bloodstream. There is some evidence this method of maintaining anaesthesia, compared to inhalation, can improve patients’ experience of “waking up” after the procedure, <a href="https://medcast.com.au/blog/total-intravenous-anaesthesia-tiva">such as being clearer headed and having less nausea and vomiting</a>. Surgeons also use sterile fluids to flush out wounds and surgical sites to prevent infection. <h2>Are there workarounds?</h2> Fluid given intravenously needs to closely resemble the salts in the blood to prevent additional problems. The safest and cheapest options are: <ul> <li>isotonic saline, a solution of water with 0.9% table salt</li> <li>Hartmann’s solution (compound sodium lactate), which combines a range of salts such as potassium and calcium.</li> </ul> Both are <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/about-IV-fluids-shortages">in short supply</a>. One way to work around the shortage is to minimise how much IV fluid is used during the procedure. This can be achieved by ensuring those admitted to surgery are as well hydrated as possible. Many people presenting for minor surgery can safely drink water up until an hour or so before their operation. A recent initiative termed “<a href="https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anae.15855">sip ‘til send</a>” has shown it is safe for patients to drink small amounts of fluid until the operating theatre team “sends” for them from the waiting room or hospital ward. However, this may not be appropriate for those at higher risk of inhaling stomach contents, or patients who take medications including <a href="https://www.journal.acorn.org.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1291&context=jpn">Ozempic</a>, which delay the stomach emptying. Patients should follow their anaesthetist’s advice about how to prepare for surgery and when to stop eating and drinking. Large research trials have also helped establish protocols called “<a href="https://www.bjanaesthesia.org/article/S0007-0912(17)53976-8/fulltext">enhanced recovery after surgery</a>”. They show that using special hydrating, carbohydrate-rich drinks before surgery can improve patients’ comfort and speed up healing. These protocols are common in <a href="https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/736617/ERAS-Key-principles-for-colorectal-surgery.pdf">major bowel surgery</a> in Australia but not used universally. Widespread adoption of these processes may reduce the amount of IV fluids needed during and after large operations, and help patients return to normal eating and drinking earlier. Medications reducing nausea and vomiting are now also routinely administered after surgery to help with this. <h2>What will the shortage mean for surgeries?</h2> The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists <a href="https://www.anzca.edu.au/news/guidance-on-sparing-of-intravenous-fluid-use">has advised anaesthetists</a> to reduce the consumption of fluid during operations where there might be limited or minimal benefit. This means that the fluid will only be used for people who need it, without a change to the quality and safety of anaesthetic care for any patient. Even with these actions, there is still a chance that some planned surgeries may <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-15/iv-fluid-shortage-elective-urgery-delays/104225280">need to be postponed</a> in the coming months. If needed, these cancelled operations will likely be ones requiring large volumes of fluid and ones that would not cause unacceptable risks if delayed. Similar to cancellations during the height of the COVID pandemic, emergency operations and surgery for cancers are unlikely to be affected. Monitoring of the supplies and ongoing honest and open dialogue between senior health managers and clinicians will be crucial in minimising the disruption to surgical services.<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/237009/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stuart-marshall-1115779">Stuart Marshall</a>, Associate Professor, Department of Critical Care, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/australias-iv-fluids-shortage-will-likely-last-all-year-heres-what-that-means-for-surgeries-237009">original article</a>. </div>

Body

11-year-old Australian girl identified as London stabbing victim

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has confirmed that the 11-year-old girl stabbed in Leicester Square in London on Monday is Australian. “Owing to our privacy obligations we cannot provide further comment,” a DFAT spokesperson said. The girl's mother, 34, was initially believed to have also been hurt, but UK police have confirmed that blood from her daughter's injuries had been mistaken for injuries of her own. The young girl was taken to hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries to the face, shoulder, wrist and neck area, and will require plastic surgery for the injuries she sustained. The DFAT are providing consular assistance to the pair reportedly from NSW, according to the ABC. A 32-year-old man, Ioan Pintaru, was arrested and appeared in court on Tuesday charged with the attempted murder. The girl and her mother were visiting the busy tourist area at the time of the random attack. Pintaru is a Romanian citizen with no fixed address, and spoke through a translator during the court hearing. Prosecutor David Burns told the court: "the defendant has approached the 11-year-old girl, placed her into a headlock and he has then stabbed her eight times to the body." Pintaru was detained by members of the public and allegedly found with a steak knife. Abdullah, a security who was working nearby during the random attack said he “heard a scream” before tackling the alleged offender to the ground. “I just saw a kid getting stabbed and I just tried to save her. It’s my duty to just save them,” he told the Press Association. “I jumped on him, held the hand in which he was [carrying] a knife, and just put him down on the floor and just held him and took the knife away from him.” He performed CPR on the child before emergency services arrived at the scene. Police have said that Pintaru did not know the girl or her mother and do not believe the stabbing was terror-related. Pintaru was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court again on September 10. Images: 9News

Caring

"My daughter was right": Gracious grandma praised for humble act

Watching your parents become grandparents is a beautiful experience, but it often comes with disagreements or differences in opinion in terms of how you are raising your kids. One grandma has gone viral for her wise words when it comes to navigating these differences. "If I don't agree with every little decision that my daughter makes for the baby, I usually don't say anything," TikTok user @mommom.maria, who frequently posts about being a grandma, shared recalled her most recent babysitting experience. "Sometimes I can't help myself, and when it came to this I couldn't help myself, I had to say something." She explained that her 13-month-old granddaughter has two bottles a day, one in the morning and one at night. "My husband and I were babysitting the other night and my daughter said to put her milk before bed in this," she said, holding up a sippy cup with a straw. The grandmother didn't think it was okay that her granddaughter was drinking out of a sippy cup that young, but admitted that it's not her decision to make. "I'm not the decision maker. I'm not the mum: I'm the Mum-Mum, the privileged Mum-Mum that gets to babysit her," she explained. She decided to respect her daughter's choices, and said that her granddaughter drank her milk with no issues. "So I guess my daughter was right, and that's really what I wanted to say to the other grandmothers: You don't have to agree, but you have to do it," she finished. Many have praised the grandmother for respecting her daughter's wishes, with the video gaining over 100k views. "Protect this sweet woman at all costs," commented one person. "Oh how I wish my MIL (mother in law) was like you," another added. "You are so emotionally mature about it. I'm so proud of you showing what respecting your children's right to parent looks like!" wrote a third. One woman also shared the way she approached parenting differences and replied, "I told my Mom and MIL this 'I'm not saying you're wrong with how you chose to do things with your kids. I just do things differently.' Helped a lot!" Images: TikTok

Family & Pets

My Kitchen Rules star dies at just 46

My Kitchen Rules New Zealand contestant Michael Murray has passed away at just 46. An extended family member, who asked not to be named, has confirmed his death on Monday afternoon. “It’s a shock to all those who know him,” the relative told Daily Mail Australia. No cause of death has yet been released. Murray, of Ngāti Maniapoto heritage, competed in the 2024 season of the popular cooking show with his cousin Piki Knap. According to their biography for the series, the pair grew up together in Te Kūiti, south of Auckland, and developed their love of cooking from entertaining family guests. Murray was a huge Jamie Oliver fan, and was comfortable in front of the camera, after spending 12 years in Mexico where he worked on telenovela soap operas and did small stints on other shows. He returned to New Zealand after the pandemic. “My background is modelling and acting,” he told The New Zealand Herald. “I was Mr New Zealand back in 2005, and that’s what took me overseas and eventually to Mexico. Obviously, I’m not Mexican, but they thought I was Latino! "I did some great work there, then to come home and be a part of this whole journey with MKR is a blessing in disguise. I’ve always put my hand up to opportunity.” Murray's family are now dealing with the devastation of losing another loved one after Murray's aunt passed away from terminal cancer a few months after the duo started filming for MKR. Images: My Kitchen Rules NZ

Caring

Carrie Bickmore reveals secret 20-year health battle

Carrie Bickmore has broken down on-air as she candidly spoke about her 20-year battle with anxiety. The TV and radio host revealed she has secretly battled anxiety for the past two decades years, which often prompted panic attacks throughout her career while co-hosting Rove Live, The Project, and her current radio gig on the Hit Network’s Carrie & Tommy show. For the first time ever, Bickmore revealed the extent of her mental health battle in an emotional on-air discussion with co-host Tommy Little on Monday afternoon. “I’ve suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since I was about 20,” the 43-year-old began in the segment. “It’s hard, actually, to describe what I felt. It was like shame, I think, [also] embarrassment. I don’t think I really fully understood what was going on in my own head. I think talking about it almost made me feel more anxious, so I just kept it in my own head.” She admitted that while reflecting on her time on Rove Live between the years of 2006 and 2009, she realised she felt anxious most of the time. <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-UlCAmPSap/?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/C-UlCAmPSap/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Carrie and Tommy (@carrietommyshow)</a> </div> </blockquote> “I just saw in the vision of me on Rove Live and all I could see was anxiety and I was just permanently in a state of panic on that show,” she told Little. “I saw that girl in the vision, and I just wanted to reach through the phone and hug her because I was like, oh my God, that was terrifying.” Bickmore said every time she did her regular segment on the show, she was on “the verge of a panic attack”, which became the norm “every single time I went on air in any capacity on TV and radio for a good decade”. “Sometimes, I’d have the panic attacks while I was on air reading the news and I would disguise it as shortness of breath or my quavering voice with coughs or laughs or technical difficulties,” she admitted. “I kind of never know when they were going to come, so I was constantly on alert – hyper vigilant, I guess – in case one was around the corner, so it’s just like all I could think about.” Bickmore revealed that her very first panic attack hit her when she was just 20 years old and was in the middle of a live radio bulletin n Perth radio station 92.9. “I had to stop reading the bulletin part the way through. I just pretended that I was having an asthma attack because I didn’t really know what to say. I didn’t really understand what had actually happened at that moment,” she recalled. Her private battle also got in the way of her career choices, with Bickmore initially wanting to turn down the hosting gig on The Project because she was “so scared of doing something new”. “There were so many jobs over the time that I’ve said no to and I look back and I think, ‘Oh my God, where could that have taken me?’ Incredible opportunities because I was worried that something would set me off and that I’d be humiliated forever,” she confessed. “But then I also look back and I think for some reason, sometimes I’d want to like lean into the challenge and, and my brain would say, ‘No, don’t let the anxiety win, like you can do this.’ And that’s why I said yes to The Project and ended up doing it for 14 years.” Carrie's honest admission was flooded with comments of support form her famous friends and colleagues, with Dannii Minogue writing, "Wow this has just blown my mind. I have been in your presence many times during live broadcast and you absolutely rule. Your laughs and stops draw us all in. What a brave conversation and it will help so many people. Well done." Image credits: Instagram / HIT FM

Mind

What if I discover mould after I move into a rental property? What are my rights?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-bentley-173502">Rebecca Bentley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-law-1438482">Tim Law</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a> A startling number of Australian rental homes come with an unwanted housemate: mould. If you discover mould in a rented home, who is responsible and what can you do if the landlord seems unwilling to fix it? <h2>Find the cause</h2> The landlord is responsible if the mould is caused by the structural condition of the property. This can include things like leaking pipes, gutters, roofs or windows. Tenants are responsible for mould remediation if the way they occupy a home has promoted mould growth. For example, if they have not been using exhaust fans in bathrooms, have been failing to ventilate their home or have been storing wet clothes in a cupboard. This means establishing the cause of the mould is crucial to working out who’s responsible for repairs. <h2>Why are so many rentals mouldy?</h2> Australia has a rental home mould problem chiefly because much of our housing hasn’t been built to suit our climate. Houses tend not to be built with sufficient consideration of: <ul> <li> efficient energy consumption to regulate indoor temperature </li> <li> the orientation of homes </li> <li> the use of double glazing and insulation to regulate temperature and humidity. </li> </ul> It is estimated that nearly 17% of privately rented homes and 22% of social housing dwelling require <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/housing-mobility-and-conditions/2019-20">major repairs</a>. This includes structural defects, such as large cracks in walls or leaking gutters, that can generate mould growth. Tenant representatives have said in the past there is also a problem of weak enforcement of laws concerning the <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022-11/AHURI-Final-Report-391-Regulation-of-residential-tenancies-and-impacts-on-investment.pdf">condition of rental homes</a>. <h2>4 ways to cut mould risk</h2> To reduce your mould risk, you need to manage indoor moisture and temperature. Try to: <ul> <li> keep the home well ventilated </li> <li> open windows and use exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen </li> <li> in humid climates, use air conditioning or a dehumidifier </li> <li> in cold climate, use a dehumidifier (desiccant dehumidifiers might more appropriate in very cold places) </li> <li> reduce moisture in the home by wiping up spills and condensation on surfaces </li> <li> dry washing outside </li> <li> if buying a dryer, opt for a condensing dryer instead of a conventional dryer (condensing driers put out much less vapour) </li> <li> report any structural issues (such as leaking pipes or windows that don’t close properly) to the agent or landlord as soon as you notice them. </li> </ul> <h2>Rental minimum standards differ by state or territory</h2> In New South Wales, adequate ventilation is one of the <a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting/new-residential-tenancy-laws">minimum standards</a> properties must meet to be considered fit to live in. If the rental provider has been notified about mould problems in the house but has failed to act, you might consider getting advice from the <a href="https://www.tenants.org.au/?gclid=CjwKCAiAjfyqBhAsEiwA-UdzJEj1YE27QhWKv2W5hPiiFTXMeX5Yqe61X4WlsHwRcq5kh5qDnU-MEBoC2LgQAvD_BwE">Tenants’ Union of NSW</a>. Its <a href="https://www.tenants.org.au/factsheet-24-mould">fact sheet on mould</a> also explains what to do if you’d like to contact the <a href="https://www.ncat.nsw.gov.au">NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal</a> to apply for repairs, rent reduction or compensation. In Victoria, <a href="https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/repairs-alterations-safety-and-pets/minimum-standards/minimum-standards-for-rental-properties">rental minimum standards</a> say “all rooms must be free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure.” The <a href="https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/common-problems/mould-and-damp/">Tenants Victoria</a> website has information on how to ask a landlord to fix a mould problem or structural problems leading to mould and how to apply to the <a href="https://www.vcat.vic.gov.au">Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal</a> if the landlord fails to act. In Queensland, it depends on when you signed the lease. If you signed after September 1 this year (after new <a href="https://www.housing.qld.gov.au/about/initiatives/rental-law-reform">standards</a> were introduced) tenants should notify the landlords of <a href="https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/during-a-tenancy/maintenance-and-repairs/mould">mould as soon as they discover it</a>. If mould is a result of problems with the property and the landlord doesn’t undertake repairs, tenants can contact the <a href="https://www.qcat.qld.gov.au">Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal</a>. The guidelines in <a href="https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_821_homepage.html">Western Australia</a> say the landlord must ensure the premises is “in a reasonable state of cleanliness and a reasonable state of repair […] and must conduct any repairs within a reasonable period after the need for the repair arises.” And in <a href="https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/maintenance-your-rental-property-who-responsible-landlord-bulletin-issue-12-september">Western Australia</a>, mould caused by faults in gutters or other fixtures is the responsibility of the rental provider. Further information on <a href="https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection/resolving-rental-property-issues">what to do</a> if a dispute over the premises can’t be resolved amicably is available on the state government website. In <a href="https://www.housingsafetyauthority.sa.gov.au/minimum-housing-standards/whole-property">South Australia</a> rental properties must be “reasonably free from mould or other irritants [and] reasonably free from the adverse effects of moisture or damp.” If a landlord refuses to fix something after being asked, the tenant can <a href="https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/housing/renting-and-letting/renting-privately/during-a-tenancy/Repairs-and-maintenance">apply to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal</a>. In <a href="https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/housing/renting/rental-maintenance-repairs-changes/requesting-repairs">Tasmania</a>, rental properties must be clean and in good repair when leased out. <a href="https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/housing/renting/beginning-tenancy/minimum-standards/types">According to</a> the Tasmanian government website on the issue, <blockquote> ‘Clean’ includes having no […] serious mould/rising damp issues. </blockquote> If the tenant requests repairs and the landlord doesn’t act, the tenant can lodge a repair order with the <a href="https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/housing/renting/rental-maintenance-repairs-changes/requesting-repairs">Commisioner’s office</a>. In the Australian Capital Territory, the Tenants’ Union ACT has guidance on what to do if you discover <a href="https://www.tenantsact.org.au/what-can-i-do-about-mould/">mould</a> in a property you rent. In the Northern Territory, tenants may wish to seek advice from the <a href="https://www.dcls.org.au/tenants-advice/">Tenants’ Advice Service</a> if there is a mould problem in a property they rent. <h2>What policy change could help?</h2> If the cause of indoor mould is related to the design and construction of the house, rental providers should act. But tenants may not have the information they need to determine and substantiate this claim and can’t do much to get rental providers to act on mould if it’s not clear what’s causing it. Also, renters often worry asking for repairs could lead to a rent increase or eviction. Solutions include strengthening tenants rights to compel landlords to investigate the cause of mould in a house (given that knowing the cause is essential to assign responsibility for repairs). There should also be more stringent enforcement of current minimum standards relating to mould in rental properties. Given the scale of problems like mould in Australian homes, policymakers may wish to consider whether a parliamentary inquiry on home environments and health is needed. This would give Australians a chance to speak about their experiences – something that could help policy makers improve regulation in the rental sector. <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/215146/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-bentley-173502">Rebecca Bentley</a>, Professor of Social Epidemiology and Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-law-1438482">Tim Law</a>, Adjunct lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/what-if-i-discover-mould-after-i-move-into-a-rental-property-what-are-my-rights-215146">original article</a>. </div>

Legal

“Wedding Of The Year!": Channel 10 presenter's intimate wedding

Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs has officially tied the knot with Karina Natt. The presenter, who hosts the network's midday bulletin 10 News First married her partner in a star-studded ceremony in Sydney over the weekend. “Wives,” Jacobs announced their marriage with a black and white photo of them on Instagram. Jacobs and Natt said "I do" in front of a floral arch, with the pair rocking gowns from Aussie luxury label Zhivago. The pair both wore form-fitting gowns, with Jacobs adding fur accents to her gown, while Natt made statement with high shoulder pads on her dress. The lovebirds later on changed into matching sparkly dresses for the reception and kicked off their heels for dancing shoes. The romantic indoor ceremony held on Saturday was attended by the couple's family and famous friends including fellow presenter Angela Bishop, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong, former MasterChef Australia host Melissa Leong and comedian Luke McGregor. Their friends also took to Instagram to share footage from the fun-filled night. “One of the best things in life is bearing witness to this level of joy, love, and celebration. The biggest and most heartfelt congratulations to these two incandescent humans, @narelda_jacobs @karinaalyce,” Leong wrote on Instagram alongside a series of pics. “It filled my heart to celebrate your union, alongside the most extra and extraordinary gathering of friends and loved ones!” she added. “My feet are sore, and my heart is full. How good is love! I’m not crying, you are!” Jacobs was touched by the tribute, replying: “We’ve been in one big beautiful love bubble! Thank you for helping make our special day even more special Mel. Love you!!” <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/C-hwa8fMkIb/?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/C-hwa8fMkIb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jeremy Fernandez (@jeznews)</a> </div> </blockquote> ABC journalist Jeremy Fernandez shared a video montage of the celebrations on Instagram with the caption: “Wedding Of The Year! - Congratulations Narelda & Karina." The wedding comes 18 months after Jacobs made their relationship Instagram-official with a sweet photo of them kissing during the World Pride celebrations in Sydney. Images: Instagram

Relationships

"I think I knew for years": Andy Lee spills on proposal

In their first photoshoot and interview as an engaged couple, Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding have revealed how the sweet proposal unfolded. The couple are the cover stars on this week's Stellar magazine and featured as guests on the Something To Talk About podcast. In the interview, Andy explained that he'd known "for a long time" that he wanted to marry his girlfriend of 10 years. “I think six, maybe to eight months [beforehand] was when I really started thinking about it. I think I knew for years. Then getting the ring, and hoping Bec liked it – that would have been the most nerve-racking part. And getting her there on time to the actual proposal,” he said. Andy popped the question in May, and proposed at the couple's home in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. He recalled how Rebecca was running late on the day and kept him anxiously waiting for more than an hour before she showed up. “It doesn’t matter. The important thing is, we went home together,” she told the publication. While their proposal was nothing glamorous, it had sentimental value, as he handed her a napkin asking for her hand in marriage, a callback to their first meeting when she was working as a waitress at a Melbourne cafe and he wrote his number on a napkin for her. “It was just happiness,” Rebecca said of the proposal. “It’s such a nice feeling to know someone has gone and put all of this effort into something, to ask you to spend the rest of your life with them. I mean, we’d been dating for 10 years, so I kind of was like, maybe getting married is not for us. There was enough in our life that I knew he was serious about me.” She also shared the external pressure she felt over the years for the couple to get engaged, and explained why it took them so long. “Andy doesn’t like being told what to do. So in my mind, I was like, can everyone please stop pressuring him to propose? Because he’s not going to do it,” she said. Images: Instagram

Relationships

Cause of death revealed after eight-year-old dies mid-flight

The cause of death of an eight-year-old girl who died suddenly mid-flight has been revealed. Sydney Weston was travelling with her family from their home state of Missouri to Chicago on June 13th when she suddenly fell ill on the flight and died. Now, according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood, Sydney was suffering from at least five different illnesses at the time of her death. The eight-year-old reportedly died from complications of chronic primary adrenalitis coupled with several infections, including enterovirus and strep, as well as inflammation of the small intestines known as duodenitis and the thyroid gland inflammation commonly known as thyroiditis. Harwood found that the long list of conditions suggests Sydney may have suffered from an autoimmune disorder which left her body attacking its own healthy cells and harming organ operation. Sydney suffered a medical emergency onboard the flight, causing the plane to divert to Peoria, Illinois, for an emergency landing, but Sydney died after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Results from a previously released preliminary autopsy were inconclusive but found that her body showed no signs of abuse, neglect or foul play. At the time of her sudden and tragic death, Sydney was just a week away from celebrating her ninth birthday. “She will forever be remembered for the happiness she brought to every single person she encountered. Our hearts are heavy. She was our baby girl and we celebrate her beautiful life,” her obituary read. Image credits: Instagram

Caring

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

New rendered image holds hope in William Tyrrell disappearance 10 years on

Twelve-year-old boy falls to his death on cruise

"Best country in the world" crowned for the third year in a row

Olympian killed at just 33 years of age

I’m feeling run down. Why am I more likely to get sick? And how can I boost my immune system?

Can a 10-year-old be responsible for a crime? Here’s what brain science tells us

38-year-old message in a bottle washes up on beach

Boy accidentally smashes 3500-year old artefact

"My heart is broken": Mariah Carey reveals sad double tragedy

"You are ruining my life": Driver's plea to parking ranger

99-year-old woman declared accessory to over 10,000 murders

Australia’s IV fluids shortage will likely last all year. Here’s what that means for surgeries

11-year-old Australian girl identified as London stabbing victim

"My daughter was right": Gracious grandma praised for humble act

My Kitchen Rules star dies at just 46

Carrie Bickmore reveals secret 20-year health battle

What if I discover mould after I move into a rental property? What are my rights?

“Wedding Of The Year!": Channel 10 presenter's intimate wedding

"I think I knew for years": Andy Lee spills on proposal

Cause of death revealed after eight-year-old dies mid-flight

Our Partners