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Albanese weighs in after Canada demands Vegemite shipment be destroyed

<p>Canada has issued an edict that could force an Australian café owner to destroy $8000 worth of Vegemite – the black gold of breakfast, that savoury smear of Southern Hemisphere superiority.</p> <p>Leighton Walters, a dual Australian-Canadian citizen and the proud owner of award-winning <a href="https://www.found.coffee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Found Coffee in Toronto</a>, is now caught in an international standoff that involves Canadian regulators, vitamin-enriched condiments, and a surprisingly fired-up Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.</p> <p>“I grew up as a Vegemite kid eating it for breakfast every second day,” Walters told <em>CBC Toronto</em>, establishing himself as both nostalgic and aggressively Australian. His café has been serving Aussies, Canadians and confused tourists with Vegemite-laden toast for years – until Canadian authorities dropped the boom.</p> <p>The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), armed with clipboards and presumably zero joy, determined that Walters' most recent Vegemite shipment was laced with contraband – namely, vitamins.</p> <p>“The Vegemite product being sold was found to have added vitamins which are not permitted in this product as per the Food and Drug Regulations,” a CFIA spokesperson wrote, as though vitamins were some sort of dangerous street drug. In fairness, B vitamins do increase energy levels; maybe they’re worried people will start jogging in the snow.</p> <p>The ruling has left Walters devastated and Canada’s expat population dangerously low on yeasty nostalgia.</p> <p>“Pulling Vegemite off our shelves hits at the core and the heart of our brand,” said Walters, noting the café's identity revolves around this brown, bitter beacon of Aussie pride. To drive the point home, he offered a metaphor that can only be described as delightfully unhinged.</p> <p>“It would be similar to a Canadian entrepreneur moving to Australia, starting an amazing poutine shop and then bringing in this beautiful, sort of high quality, unique maple syrup from Canada, and then the Australian government turning around and saying, ‘No you can’t serve that maple syrup because the trees weren’t in a controlled environment when they were tapped’ or ‘They’re too sweet.’”</p> <p>The café owner’s impassioned defence continued with a dramatic flair usually reserved for courtroom dramas and soap operas: “As an Australian-Canadian citizen, I am torn and shocked to have awoken from surgery to receive a demand for destruction of our entire supply of our iconic Aussie Vegemite claiming ‘non-compliance’ citing concerns due to added B Vitamins.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Australia himself has weighed in. Anthony Albanese, known for dropping carbs and the occasional quote, took a strong diplomatic stance during a recent election campaign pit stop.</p> <p>“I stand with the Aussie cafe owner …!” he declared. “I can confirm here today that I am pro-Vegemite. And, indeed, I actually put a lot of Vegemite on my toast when I ate bread.”</p> <p>He continued: “It’s rather odd that they’re letting Marmite in – which is rubbish, frankly. Let’s be clear here. Pro-Vegemite, anti-Marmite. That’s my position.”</p> <p>With the prime minister now onboard and Australia’s diplomatic energy levels artificially boosted by illegal B vitamins, it remains unclear how this savoury standoff will end. As Walters puts it: “Even if we are unsuccessful and we can’t get Vegemite back, at least we went down trying.”</p> <p><em>Images: ABC News, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Leighton Walters</span></em></p>

Food & Wine

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To tip or not to tip? Kyle weighs in on the great debate

<p>In a country where tipping is about as popular as warm beer, Kyle Sandilands has somehow managed to ignite a national debate with his bold approach after revealing his personal tipping policy: doubling the bill.</p> <p>While everyday Australians are grumbling about feeling "under surveillance" by watchful waitstaff, Sandilands has effectively turned the concept of tipping on its head by making it rain on every meal.</p> <p>“Whatever the bill is, I’ll pay that again,” he declared on air, leaving co-host Jackie O and newsreader Brooklyn Ross stunned.</p> <p>The revelation has sparked a flurry of reactions, ranging from admiration to outright panic. Many hospitality workers have suddenly discovered a newfound appreciation for Sandilands, with one Sydney waiter reportedly seen frantically Googling his favourite restaurants in hopes of securing a booking.</p> <p>Meanwhile, local economists are nervously clutching their calculators. "If this catches on, we could see a rapid rise in inflation, an economic boom in hospitality, or Kyle Sandilands accidentally becoming Australia's next Reserve Bank governor," speculated one financial analyst.</p> <p>Not everyone, however, is on board with the tipping craze. Outraged anti-tipping Australians have taken to social media, decrying the practice as "un-Australian" and a gateway to the country becoming “the 51st state of America”.</p> <p>One particularly passionate commenter warned, "This is how it starts! First, it's tipping, then it's calling football ‘soccer’, and next thing you know, we’re driving on the right side of the road!"</p> <p>Despite the uproar, Sandilands seems unfazed. With his unique approach, he may have found a loophole in Australia’s new EFTPOS tipping culture – if everyone else sticks to the modest 5-25% suggested range, he might actually be saving money.</p> <p>“You’re doubling the cost,” Ross pointed out in disbelief. “I’ll save big time,” Sandilands responded, seemingly unconcerned with mathematical realities.</p> <p>As for whether his fellow Australians will follow suit or hold the line against tipping tyranny, only time will tell. One thing’s for sure: if you see Kyle Sandilands dining out, you might want to consider switching tables – and bringing an extra billfold.</p> <p><em>Images: KIIS FM</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Cruise passenger facing life sentence after onboard discovery

<p>A Brazilian passenger has been charged with drug-related offences after authorities discovered a significant quantity of cocaine hidden in his cruise ship cabin upon docking in Sydney Harbour on Saturday.</p> <p>The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege that the 48-year-old man had concealed 10kg of cocaine within the ceiling cavity of his room aboard the vessel, which had arrived from Argentina. During a search conducted by Australian Border Force (ABF) officials, officers reportedly uncovered 28 individually wrapped parcels of the substance, which tested positive for cocaine.</p> <p>In addition to the drugs, authorities also discovered "body packing material" hidden in the ceiling cavity and the wardrobe. According to the AFP, such materials are commonly used by drug couriers attempting to smuggle narcotics across international borders and security checkpoints.</p> <p>An examination of the suspect’s mobile phone allegedly revealed further evidence linked to drug trafficking. The AFP subsequently charged the man with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.</p> <p>AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy highlighted the potential impact of the drug haul, noting that the seized cocaine could have been distributed in 10,000 individual street deals, with an estimated street value of $3 million.</p> <p>“This amount of cocaine could have been sold in the community as 10,000 individual street deals of 1 gram for about $3 million,” Cressy stated. “Drug traffickers are motivated by greed, and they do not care about the harm they cause. These drug deals put pressure on the health system.”</p> <p>The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that between 2022 and 2023, there were more than two hospitalisations per day in Australia due to drug-related incidents.</p> <p>ABF Superintendent Matt O’Connor acknowledged the increased risk of drug smuggling during the cruise season but reassured the public of law enforcement's vigilance in tackling such operations.</p> <p>“The cruising season brings with it additional opportunities for criminal syndicates to attempt to smuggle illicit drugs into the country; however, Border Force officers are very attuned to their pivoting tactics,” O’Connor said. “Our ABF officers process and border-clear thousands of passengers and crew members on every international cruise ship which arrives into Sydney and are ready to respond to any threat which may present itself.”</p> <p>The accused is set to appear in court as investigations continue into the broader implications of the smuggling attempt.</p> <p><em>Images: Australian Federal Police</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Makes me sick": Amanda Keller weighs in on Marty Sheargold controversy

<p>Amanda Keller has unleashed on Marty Sheargold, calling out his "embarrassing" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/disgusting-radio-host-slammed-over-women-s-sports-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> about the Matildas. </p> <p>The radio host reacted to the news that Sheargold has been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/marty-sheargold-axed-from-triple-m-after-matildas-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let go</a> by Triple M after his comments about women's sport caused a wave of backlash online. </p> <p>Addressing the controversy on her own radio program, Keller took aim at Sheargold and the state of radio in Australia. </p> <p>“This embarrasses everyone who works on radio because it gives everyone a chance to say commercial radio is filled with old dinosaurs,” Keller began.</p> <p>“This thinking, this way of thought is so privileged, outdated and boorish.”</p> <p>She noted that Triple M has honed a reputation as being a home for both sport and comedy, saying, “Well, he’s pissed over both. He really has. And he’s punched down at women.”</p> <p>She called his comments “outdated, dumb, disrespectful and incorrect,” and noted that while radio hosts are paid to voice their opinions on-air, “if our network or if our audience say too far, then they’re the arbiters of what we do. And people here have said too far.”</p> <p>Keller further slammed the industry model, “particularly at Triple M”, of pairing “boorish” male comedians with female co-hosts “whose job it is to say, ‘Oh stop it.’ That is so boring.”</p> <p>She went on to remind viewers of Sheargold's previous program with Fifi Box, and how Marty admitted himself that he had become "a giant A-hole" on the show. </p> <p>“He said, ‘I battered that woman down. Show after show. And I don’t blame Fifi for wanting to get out.’ This is what he said at the time,” she claimed.</p> <p>“And here we are again. How many chances do these men get? I’m hoping that the tide has turned. The outpouring of horror has been so loud.”</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?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/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Amanda Keller Brendan Jones (@jonesyandamanda)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Later on in the show, Sheargold’s former colleague Gus Worland joined Amanda to discuss the scandal, praised Triple M’s decision to part ways with the presenter.</p> <p>Worland, who worked Triple M’s drive shift for three years before Sheargold replaced him, said the comedian had skirted “close to the line many, many times” over the years. </p> <p>“Firstly, he was wrong yesterday in the information that he gave out. Secondly, the way that he did it made us all feel really, really sad. And I’m glad that they [Triple M] made the decision to give him the flick. The apology was never going to be enough, and we just need to change the way that we look at things at Triple M,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Triple M / Instagram </em></p>

Music

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"Dropping like flies": Cruise passengers ravaged by severe virus

<p>A dream holiday has turned into a floating nightmare for passengers onboard a P&O Cruise after the vessel was ravaged with a severe strain of novovirus. </p> <p>The luxury ship, Iona, was sailing through Northern Europe when the virus struck, affecting over 5000 guests and nearly 2000 staff onboard. </p> <p>Sky News UK reported that the onslaught of the virus has caused hundreds of passengers to fall ill with the company releasing statements providing updates as the situation grows worse aboard the ship.</p> <p>The ship, which is currently located off shore near Belgium, is continuing on with the itinerary as planned, with staff attempting to isolate the affected passengers and restrict their movements both aboard the ship and land-based stopovers.</p> <p>“People were throwing up in restaurants, on decks, outside cabins,” one of the passengers told Sky News. “A large number of guests and staff are experiencing the virus symptoms. They're dropping like flies."</p> <p>Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis and causes diarrhoea, vomiting, and severe stomach pain.</p> <p>The symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed and can take three days for a person to fully flush the virus from their system.</p> <p>P&O Cruises confirmed that some guests have reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness but refused to provide an update on the health of cruise staffers.</p> <p>“P&O Cruises works with global, national and regional public health authorities on approved and proven protocols across our ships in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all on board,” a P&O spokesperson said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Couple forced to sit next to dead passenger on international flight

<p>A couple has recalled the distressing moment they were forced to sit next to a dead passenger on an international flight. </p> <p>Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were en route from Melbourne to Venice with Qatar Airlines, via the city of Doha, when a female passenger died mid-flight. </p> <p>The crew decided to put the dead passenger's body in Ring and Colin's row for the remaining four hours of the flight, which the couple said left them traumatised.</p> <p>The incident unfolded when a woman walked out of the bathroom and collapsed next to their row.</p> <p>"Unfortunately the lady couldn't be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch," Ring told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/couple-forced-to-sit-next-to-corpse-for-hours-on-flight/24d51b24-9a7f-4e6c-be04-ec2dbf6df1c4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>.</p> <p>"They tried to wheel her up towards business class, but she was quite a large lady and they couldn't get her through the aisle."</p> <p>"They looked a bit frustrated, then they just looked at me and saw seats were available beside me, my wife was on the other side, we were in a row of four."</p> <p>"They said, 'Can you move over please?' and I just said, 'Yes no problem'. Then they placed the lady in the chair I was in."</p> <p>The couple claims cabin crew did not offer them a different seat to move to, with a passenger in the row behind them instead offering a spare seat to nervous-flyer Colin.</p> <p>"There were a few spare seats I could see around us," Ring said.</p> <p>Ring spent the remaining hours of the flight in the same row as the corpse, saying he was told to stay seated after the plane landed as medical crews took off blankets covering the body.</p> <p>"I can't believe they told us to stay … it wasn't nice," he said.</p> <p>The couple said they have not been offered any support from Qatar Airways, with Ring saying, "They have a duty of care towards their customers as well as their staff, we should be contacted to make sure, do you need some support, do you need some counselling."</p> <p>"I don't really know how I feel and would like to speak to somebody to make sure I'm alright."</p> <p>Colin said the pair was now trying to make the best of their Italian holiday of a lifetime after the disturbing flight. </p> <p>"I'm trying to make the best of a pretty hard situation, but, you know, we're on holidays so we're really trying to have a good time," she said.</p> <p>Since <em>A Current Affair</em> spoke to the couple, Qatar Airways says it is looking into the situation.</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Horrifying": Cruise passengers left reeling over "KKK cruise"

<p>Passengers onboard a P&amp;O Australia cruise have been left reeling after staff members emerged in costumes resembling the Ku Klux Klan during a themed event. </p> <p>According to the cruise liner, the disturbing incident occurred onboard the Pacific Explorer during a Christmas-themed voyage, when a staff fun day went wrong. </p> <p>One passenger captured the "horrifying" moment the crew donned what she described as "offensive KKK costumes".</p> <p>The crew were believed to be part of the ship's housekeeping staff, with one member pictured holding up a housekeeping sign.</p> <p>Dressed in white cloaks and white masks with pointed tops and eye-holes cut out - the same as those worn by the KKK - the crew members competed in a Christmas-themed 'sports battle day'.</p> <p>Passenger Terri told <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14306781/P-O-cruise-klu-klux-klan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a></em> that many were excited about the onboard event day, which was highly publicised throughout the ship in the days before. </p> <p>However, everything allegedly went "quiet" when the costumed staff emerged, as Terri instructed her husband to "get the camera" and document the shocking moment. </p> <p>"I (requested) a please explain and have received no response," Terri said. "This is not tolerated in this current environment and education is desperately needed."</p> <p>Terri also shared the video on of the moment on social media, recounting the incident. </p> <p>"There was a lot excitement then it all went quiet… the lack of judgement was astounding," she said.</p> <p>"Everyone was there, everyone gathered, it was advertised, there was a lot of noise and it went dead quiet, just silent."</p> <p>"A lady sitting in front of me, her jaw dropped she was like 'what the hell', everyone was like OMG - they were calling it the 'KKK cruise'."</p> <p>"They’d gone the whole way through this ship dressed as the KKK and paraded through the Lido deck in front of basically every passenger but it was only then when senior crew saw them and they took their hats off."</p> <p>"I spoke ... to one of the (housekeeping) staff - they were all male - and he told me 'we didn't think we didn’t anything wrong'. They didn't say they weren't dressed as the Ku Klux Klan when I asked them but I truly believe it was an innocent mistake."</p> <p>Terri said she expected senior ship crew to offer an apology or explanation but none was given. </p> <p>After the controversy, A P&amp;O Cruises Australia spokesperson clarified that the crew were dressed as "upside-down snow cones" and not as the Ku Klux Klan. </p> <p>"We regret if a recent incident on a Pacific Explorer cruise offended any guests," the spokesperson told <em>Daily Mail Australia</em>. </p> <p>"Several crew members dressed up as snow cones for a Christmas family event, not understanding how their costumes could be misconstrued. They were only in public view for a short time before management acted quickly and had them remove the costumes. The crew members were horrified and extremely apologetic when they learned of the distress their outfits could cause."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Daily Mail Australia</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Weet-Bix weighs in on married couple's "un-Australian" debate

<p>A husband and wife have gone viral on social media for their differing views on stacking Weet-Bix, with the breakfast cereal company chiming in to settle their debate. </p> <p>The argument erupted on Reddit after a man asked users to "Help me settle an argument between my wife and me" over how they prepared their Weet-Bix in the morning. </p> <p>“How do you eat yours? I put my Weet-Bix vertically, which optimises each biscuit’s access to milk, ensuring a more balanced texture across the dish. She likes hers flat. Thoughts?”</p> <p>The man attached a photo of both ways side-by-side. In the first bowl, four Weet-Bix biscuits are placed vertically, while in the second, they’re stacked flat.</p> <p>Within hours, thousands of comments poured in on the divisive post and the consensus was clear: eating them vertically is “un-Australian”. </p> <p>“I’ve never heard of that,” one user wrote. “I denounce it as heresy and witchcraft.”</p> <p>“I didn’t know there was any other way to eat them other than flat,” chimed in another.</p> <p>“Who are these people eating their Weet-Bix vertically and walking around acting like normal citizens?” joked someone else.</p> <p>However, a few brave souls defended the vertical method, saying they could see the benefits, such as keeping the biscuits “crisper” for longer and allowing more to fit in the bowl.</p> <p>To settle the debate, Sarah Smyth, Weet-Bix Brand Manager at Sanitarium chimed in, telling <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/weetbix-responds-to-wild-breakfast-debate/news-story/f6f6585dbb48070ea79e97ca586559ce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> that the Aussie breakfast staple is to be enjoyed however you want.</p> <p>“We’ve been doing our Weet-Bix daily for nearly 100 years, and there’s no right or wrong way,” she told the news outlet. </p> <p>“Vertical, flat, whole, crumbled, soaked or plain, we just love how the humble Weet-Bix is the perfect base to inspire a master breakfast chef in any generation."</p> <p>“From savoury to the strangest of sweet toppings, to smoothies, slices, veggie balls, and even crumbled on a salad for extra crunch, we’ve heard it all over the years!”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Reddit</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Passenger mistakes baggage conveyor belt for travelator

<p>CCTV footage has captured the moment an elderly passenger in Russia mistook the baggage conveyor belt at a check-in desk for a travelator - walking onto it before disappearing into the baggage area. </p> <p>The incident occured at a state-owned airport in Vladikavkaz, in North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, on January 5.</p> <p>Video footage captures the airline desk staff talking to another passenger, failing to notice the 74-year-old pensioner approaching the weighing area and climbing onto the conveyor belt. </p> <p>As she approached the thick rubber curtain separating the check-in area from the baggage area, the woman toppled over onto her back and disappears from view. </p> <p>The elderly woman mistook the baggage conveyor belt at the busy airport for a travelator that she thought led to her departure gate. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A family from Vladikavkaz, Russia, went to the airport to travel. While they were at the baggage area, their grandmother thought the conveyor belt for luggage was the way to the airplane. So, she got on it and went along for a 10-minute ride.</p> <p>They later found her with the bags… <a href="https://t.co/piE3JQi8K9">pic.twitter.com/piE3JQi8K9</a></p> <p>— Ibra ❄️ (@IbraHasan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/IbraHasan_/status/1877305300203565404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>The other passenger at the check-in desk can be seen telling the check-in staff what just happened as the footage ends. </p> <p>Local media reported that the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, was rescued uninjured and escorted to the correct boarding gate. </p> <p>The video footage, which has been circulating online, drew in mixed reactions. While some people were amused at the incident, others were concerned about the safety protocols at the airport. </p> <p>It also raised a few questions on passenger awareness and staff attentiveness at busy airports. </p> <p><em>Images: X</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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Vegemite weighs in on long-lasting Aussie debate

<p>An American expat has reignited the age-old debate that has been plaguing Aussies for decades: how much Vegemite is the right amount?</p> <p>Taking to Reddit, the American shared a picture of their Vegemite toast, showing off a hefty smear of the salty spread. </p> <p>“I’m American, how’s my Vegemite amount?” he asked, likely unaware of the storm he was about to unleash within the Australian Reddit community.</p> <p>“I love salty and savoury stuff, so Vegemite is right up my alley,” he added.</p> <p>His bold approach earned a mix of reactions, with some praising the man, saying things like, “You could apply for citizenship with this coverage,” while others joked, “That’s pro-Aussie level spread.” </p> <p>Another commenter declared, “You’re not American anymore.”</p> <p>However, not everyone was impressed with his efforts, with some claiming he had applied far too much for a beginner Vegemite consumer. </p> <p>“Unless you’ve done it before, that is WAY too much for a newbie,” one remarked. </p> <p>Another added, “I’m a born and bred Vegemite fanatic, and that’s fine by me, but I don’t think most people would handle half that.”</p> <p>One commenter went as far as to say, “Slightly closer to serial killer amount than ordinary Aussie,” while another simply stated, “That would make me gag.”</p> <p>With the true blue debate well and truly reignited, Vegemite themselves weighed in on the topic, with The Head of Spreads at Bega sharing their opinion on the American's display of dedication. </p> <p>“For a first timer, this ratio of Vegemite to bread might be quite intense,” Mary Stafford told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/expat-sparks-national-outrage-after-sharing-criminal-vegemite-toast/news-story/e061b746981cc11cbebf35ef494e0d7e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>. </p> <p>“We recommend starting with a small amount and gradually building up, but we totally understand – it’s hard for people who don’t eat Vegemite to pick up a jar and know what to do with it. There’s so many people missing out on the unmistakeable joy, simply because they haven’t been introduced to it properly … yet.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Reddit / Shutterstock </em></p>

International Travel

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"Brace for impact": Qantas passengers recall terrifying emergency landing

<p>Passengers onboard a Qantas flight have recalled the terrifying moment their plane rerouted as they were told to brace for impact. </p> <p>Flight QF1929 was only 40 minutes into its trip from Brisbane to Adelaide when the plane was forced to turn around due to a brake issue. </p> <p>Tudor Vasile was onboard the terrifying flight, and told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-flight-heading-to-adelaide-diverted-to-brisbane-brake-issue/e9242066-1248-404c-b68b-bcc62633e96d" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>9News</em></a> his fellow passengers were fearing the worst. </p> <p>"The captain jumped on the mic and said 'brace for impact, brace for landing, brace for landing'," Vasile said.</p> <p>"We were just waiting for that big explosion to occur."</p> <p>Footage of the moments before landing showed passengers in the brace position as cabin crew members repeated told them to "stay down, heads down".</p> <p>Vasile said the fear was palpable as the plane made a rapid approach to the runway.</p> <p>"Everyone was looking at each other and going into brace position ... You could feel goosebumps and everyone was starting to panic at some stages, wondering what the hell was going to happen next."</p> <p>The pilot made a textbook landing before engineers rushed to examine the plane, as Vasile said, "I tell you, that was one hell of a joyride."</p> <p>Another passenger Kurt Gray added, "You sort of picture the worst but they crew, they just looked after us so well."</p> <p>Qantas confirmed to <em>9News</em> there had been a problem with the landing gear brakes and the flight landed back in Brisbane shortly before 10am on Tuesday, just 40 minutes after take-off.  </p> <p>"A flight from Brisbane to Adelaide returned to Brisbane shortly after take-off due to an issue with landing gear brakes," a spokesperson said.</p> <p>"The aircraft landed normally and is being checked by engineers. We understand that this would have been a distressing experience for customers and we thank them for following the instructions of the crew."</p> <p>"We are working hard to get customers on their way as quickly as possible. We will follow up with all customers to provide our support."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"I don’t want my son to be called a disease name": Gout Gout's dad weighs in

<p>Australia’s new athletics sensation, "Gout Gout", has become the talk of the nation – not just for his blistering, breathtaking, ridiculous, insane 200m time of 20.04 seconds, but because everyone’s been calling him the wrong name.</p> <p>The 16-year-old sprint prodigy, who shattered a 56-year-old national record over the weekend, now finds himself racing against a linguistic mix-up that’s dogged him since birth. Turns out, his name isn’t actually Gout Gout at all! It’s <em>Guot</em>, pronounced “Gwot”. And his father, Bona, isn’t exactly thrilled about his son being inadvertently linked to an inflammatory arthritis condition.</p> <p>“When I see people call him Gout Gout, I’m not really happy for him,” Bona told 7News. “His name is <em>Guot</em>, it’s supposed to be <em>Guot ... </em>I know that Gout Gout is a disease name but I don’t want my son to be called a disease name ... it’s something that’s not acceptable.”</p> <p>It’s like winning gold but they hand you a medal shaped like a big toe. Nobody wants that. The name mix-up began years ago when an Arabic spelling error during the family’s journey from Egypt to Australia resulted in an unfortunate case of mistaken identity. Bona and his family were intending to move to Canada, but when Aussie paperwork was approved first, that plan became Brisbane - and Guot was then born in Ipswich, Queensland, in 2007, two years after his parents arrived in Australia.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Since his epic run over the weekend, even Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic champion, has weighed in on the 16-year-old's stunning performance. “He looks like young me,” Bolt said in an Instagram comment.</span></p> <p>Guot’s meteoric rise has also attracted attention from sponsors. Having recently signed with Adidas, his career seems poised to sprint toward global stardom. But behind the scenes, his family is working on legally restoring the original spelling of his name before his fame gets forever linked to arthritis medication ads.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">SORRY WHAT?!👂 10.04? 👀</p> <p>Teenage sensation Gout Gout gets the crowd roaring with a spectacular though windy 10.04 (+3.4) performance in his U18 100m Heat - the fourth fastest time in all conditions by an Australian in history. </p> <p>Stay tuned for the final at 3:40pm AEST. Tune in… <a href="https://t.co/UbXfzH5mj6">pic.twitter.com/UbXfzH5mj6</a></p> <p>— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) <a href="https://twitter.com/AthsAust/status/1864879745344901478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Watch out for media-savvy health organisations to now jump on the Guot bandwagon, perhaps offering free gout awareness campaigns. If nothing else, he’s made gout a household name for the right reasons.</p> <p>For now, Guot is focused on his next challenge: balancing Year 12 studies while training with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in Florida. But the family hopes the name change will allow him to leave the painful puns behind.</p> <p>Watch this space, though. No matter what happens, we will be hearing a lot about the sensational young athlete over the coming years.</p> <p><em>Images: X (formerly Twitter)</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Virgin Australia passenger denied travel over tiny passport detail

<p>Renee Reader, 30, flew to Melbourne from the Gold Coast on Monday and had her passport checked several times by Virgin Australia staff. </p> <p>It wasn't until she was in the final boarding queue to Bali when staff spotted one tiny detail in her passport. </p> <p>"I got through security and customs. It wasn't until I was actually boarding the flight and I handed over my boarding pass and passport that the staff weren't sure about my passport," she told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em>.</p> <p>Staff then started taking photos of her passport and she was asked to step aside. When asked what the issue was, she was told there was a "yellow stain" on her passport identification page. </p> <p>It wasn't long before she received the "heartbreaking" news, with staff telling her: "You're not going to Bali." </p> <p>Although she tried to plead her case, airline staff stood firm on their decision, and said Renee would need to be escorted out of the airport by security. </p> <p>"I said, 'I don't think that's quite necessary. I'm not a criminal — It's a passport with a watermark on it'," she recalled, but was she was escorted anyways. </p> <p>While the airline paid for Renee's flight back to the Gold Coast, and acknowledged that they should've flagged the passport damage earlier into her journey, she still lost the money for her return flight tickets to Bali which cost around $200.</p> <p>"My message to everyone is to triple-check your passport and make sure that it is in immaculate condition, because they are getting a lot stricter, and I would never want this to happen to anyone else," she said.</p> <p> "I've travelled all over Europe, I've been to Bali with it [the mark] twice... I was in Bali just in July... it was absolutely heartbreaking," she said.</p> <p>A Virgin Australia spokesperson told <em>Yahoo News </em>that staff are required to flag any passport issues to prevent passengers from being refused entry at their intended destination. </p> <p>"When a guest presents for check-in for an international flight, Virgin Australia team members are required to ensure they have the necessary travel documentation and that the documents are in suitable condition," the spokesperson said.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok/ Yahoo News</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Give him a break": Karl Stefanovic weighs in on Lidia Thorpe outburst

<p>Karl Stefanovic has jumped to King Charles' defence after Lidia Thorpe's outburst Parliament House. </p> <p>The Today Host was joined by two political commentators to share their thoughts on the situation, reflecting on Thorpe's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-are-not-my-king-lidia-thorpe-interrupts-charles-parliament-house-visit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tirade</a> during a welcome ceremony for King Charles. </p> <p>The monarch had just finished his speech and was returning to his seat after shaking hands with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when Thorpe started yelling from the back of the room. </p> <p>“You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us, our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people, you destroyed our land,” Thorpe said during her outburst on Monday.</p> <p>“We want a treaty in this country. This is not your land. You are not my King, you are not our King. F*** the colony.”</p> <p>On Tuesday morning, Stefanovic jumped to the King's defence, saying "you don't have to like the King, but give him a break" after what he's been through the past few years.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBaFUelBdwU/?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/DBaFUelBdwU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by thetodayshow (@thetodayshow)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"I just wanted to give my take on what happened yesterday and the whole thing," the Today host began.</p> <p>"The dude has been going through a lot, for obvious reasons his youngest son's cheese has slightly fallen off its cracker, that son is feuding with the good son and as a parent that must ache his soul."</p> <p>"The good son's beautiful wife got diagnosed with cancer at the same time as pops, so imagine the psychology and physicality of that joint battle, he hasn't finished treatment yet, but he flies all the way to Australia and starts pressing the flesh straight away because for some bizarre reason, he genuinely loves this country and us and in comes Lidia giving a welcome to country 'Thorpe style' in sacred possum gear, shouting obscenities at him."</p> <p>"And all the while, the King and Queen just keep smiling - you don't have to like the Royal family and what it stands for, but by goodness, this King is a dude."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Today/LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial  </em></p>

TV

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Cruise passengers share why you never leave your cabin balcony door open

<p>A couple on a cruise ship have learned the hard way why you should never leave the balcony door in your cruise cabin open and unattended for too long. </p> <p>While on a cruise around the US and docked in the port of Orlando in Florida, the couple took to TikTok to share their "horror" experience of when their cabin filled up with birds. </p> <p>In the video, they opened the door to their room and were swarmed by a flock of birds as they captioned the video, "When you go on a cruise and you come back to a bunch of (bird emoji) everywhere."</p> <p>"Felt like we were living in a horror movie scene. I can breathe now because I can (laugh)about it," the passenger added.</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7423175328480136491&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40greedy810%2Fvideo%2F7423175328480136491&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-pu-sign-useast8.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2FoM5JajVJBIUqbExUAiiApxIM8Af9zqBEi0wBCg%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1729123200%26x-signature%3DC%252F8Xte%252FDJymZpHuGaa4Y8zX%252F6AA%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>The video was taken on the Carnival Freedom cruise ship in the USA, with the couple later posting another video of a room steward catching two birds in a cardboard box.</p> <p>Viewers in the comments were a mix of amused and horrified, as one person wrote, "You're not supposed to leave your balcony door open when you're gone."</p> <p>"You have a whole Alfred Hitchcock movie in your room," another commented, comparing the scene with the film,<em> The Birds</em>.</p> <p>Others speculated that the unusual behaviour of the birds could be impacted by the nearby Hurricane Milton. </p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Cruising

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"Super uncomfortable for everyone": Qantas plays R-rated movie for every passenger

<p>Qantas has issued an apology after an R-rated movie was played for every passenger onboard a flight from Sydney to Tokyo. </p> <p>On Saturday, the flight was delayed by an hour due to problems with the in-flight entertainment system, which resulted in cabin crew only being able to play one film on everyone's individual screens. </p> <p>After requests were taken by passengers, the movie <em>Daddio</em> was chosen. </p> <p>The 2023 drama stars Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson as a taxi driver and his passenger as they discuss their relationships, including an affair Johnson’s character had with a married man.</p> <p>One passenger took to Reddit to share their experience of the flight, saying it was "extremely inappropriate", due to scenes of “graphic nudity and a lot of sexting”.</p> <p>“The kind where you could literally read the texts on screen without needing headphones,” the passenger wrote.</p> <p>“It was super uncomfortable for everyone, especially with families and kids on board.”</p> <p>Another passenger said the airline made the switch to <em>Inside Out 2</em> followed by a New Zealand nature show after playing “40 minutes of penis and boobs”.</p> <p>“These poor kids and the parents because y’all should’ve heard the audible gasps across the plane,” the passenger said.</p> <p>Cabin crew members attempted to fix the screens of those who didn't want to watch the R-rated film, but when this didn't work, resorted to switching the movie entirely. </p> <p>“The movie was clearly not suitable to play for the whole flight and we sincerely apologise to customers for this experience,” a Qantas spokesperson stated.</p> <p>“All screens were changed to a family-friendly movie for the rest of the flight, which is our standard practice for the rare cases where individual movie selection isn’t possible."</p> <p>“We are reviewing how the movie was selected.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Titanic moment": Cruise ship passenger captures iceberg collision

<p>A worried passenger onboard a Carnival cruise ship has recalled the moment the vessel collided with a large piece of ice off the coast of Alaska. </p> <p>The moment was captured on camera by Cassandra Goskie, who witnessed when the huge cruise ship was scraped by an iceberg. </p> <p>As the collision was taking place, Cassandra wrote, "If we die it was damn well worth it, it's a Titanic moment."</p> <p>According to another passenger, the vessel was halted "for hours to assess damages" before it eventually continued on its course. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7412700123140017450&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40cass_goskie%2Fvideo%2F7412700123140017450%3Fembed_source%3D121374463%252C121451205%252C121439635%252C121433650%252C121404359%252C121351166%252C72778570%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%253Bnull%253Bembed_name%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Dedition.cnn.com%252F2024%252F09%252F11%252Ftravel%252Fcarnival-cruise-ship-collides-with-iceberg%252Findex.html%26referer_video_id%3D7412700123140017450&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-pu-sign-useast8.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fos4aQULQwtkRqiQfHEGAgCvUjiNAMCeIRmIEeO%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1726362000%26x-signature%3DyrK0d0gVAMaqeloGoTRsFr7ROPA%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>A Carnival spokesperson told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/11/travel/carnival-cruise-ship-collides-with-iceberg/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>CNN</em>,</a> "An assessment determined no damage to the ship's hull and the vessel continued on its cruise and there has been no impact to operations."</p> <p>The cruise company also confirmed that no one onboard was injured by the collision. </p> <p>Despite the close call with the ice, the ship was able to finish its seven-day expedition, returning to Seattle in Washington before embarking on a 14-day trip back to Alaska. </p> <p>Alaska is home to notoriously icy waters, as other cruise ships over the years have had similar scary encounters. </p> <p>In 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line vessel Norwegian Sun hit a piece of an iceberg while sailing in Alaska, sustaining damage to its starboard bow.</p> <p>According to Captain John Herring, a marine pilot in southeast Alaska, the region is home to "hard ice that can damage the hull or propellers", while "strong winds and currents make navigating icy waters even harder.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Carnival / TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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