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"Not much of me left": Elton John's grim health confession

<p>Elton John has made a blunt admission about his health battles. </p> <p>The 77-year-old singer opened up about his many health issues in a speech at the screening of his new documentary<em> Elton John: Never Too Late</em>, at the New York Film Festival on Tuesday. </p> <p>“To be honest with you, there’s not much of me left,” Elton told the audience. </p> <p>“I don’t have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix,” he continued, according to <a href="https://people.com/elton-john-jokes-not-much-of-me-left-listing-missing-organs-documentary-premiere-8721741" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>People</em></a> magazine. </p> <p>“I don’t have a prostate. I don’t have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee. In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip.</p> <p>“But I’m still here,” Elton continued. “And I can’t thank you [enough], you’re the people that made me.”</p> <p>The documentary is directed by his husband David Furnish, and American filmmaker R.J. Cutler.</p> <p>Throughout the years Elton has struggled with his health, and just last month he revealed he was recovering from a "severe eye infection" that affected his vision. </p> <p>This occured after he underwent knee and hip replacement surgery. </p> <p>The<em> I'm Still Standing </em>singer also got a pacemaker fitted in back in the 90s, and was hospitalised for influenza and a bacterial infection in 2009. </p> <p>In 2013 he had an abscess on his appendix, and three years later he had suffered from "gastric flu". </p> <p>In addition to all of these health woes he has dealt with hearing loss caused by years of touring. </p> <p>The singer also talked about his retirement from touring at the premiere of his new documentary, following a successful five years of performances and more than 300 shows worldwide. </p> <p>“As you know, I decided to stop touring because I’m 77 years of age,” he said.</p> <p>“I’ve done all there is to do, to play. I’ve succeeded. I’ve been there and I’ve done it.”</p> <p>The documentary explores his 50-year career leading up to his final North American show at Dodger Stadium in 2022. It is set to stream on Disney+ in the US on December 13. </p> <p><em>ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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"The worst is still yet to come": Grim warning for chocolate lovers

<p>Chocolate lovers could be facing a potential nightmare ahead of the festive season as cocoa supplies hit an all time low, driving confectionary prices to a record high.</p> <p>Most of the world's cocoa beans are grown in West Africa, where ongoing inclement weather and crippling crop diseases, coupled with economy-wide pressures like rising labour, packaging and energy costs, have put unprecedented pressure on the chocolate industry in recent months. </p> <p>However, market analyst Rabobank’s Paul Joules told <a title="www.smh.com.au" href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-a-global-cocoa-crunch-will-sour-chocolate-for-years-to-come-20240927-p5ke0w.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em>, </a> “the worst is still yet to come for consumers”, as the stockpiles of cocoa that manufacturers have been relying on for the past 18 months have run out. </p> <p>“While hedging has protected many manufacturers from the worst effects of the price rises until now, eventually all these forward contracts will get used up, and prices will have to increase to reflect the current cocoa price,” Rabobank’s Soaring chocolate prices report, released last week, read.</p> <p>Rabobank wanted that the increased costs of manufacturing will be passed down to consumers, with dark chocolate lovers being the most affected due to the high concentration of cocoa. </p> <p>Analysis by Mr Joules found that, worldwide, a 100 gram block of chocolate with 70 per cent cocoa content could rise from $4.90 to $6.50, with a “similar increase could be expected in Australia”.</p> <p>“It can take anywhere from six to 12 months for … price hikes to be reflected in the retail pricing of products,” Saxo Head of Commodity Strategy, Ole Sloth Hansen said. </p> <p>“The trend of shrinkflation is likely to become more pronounced. Consequently, while there might not be a stark rise in the price tags of chocolate items, the quantity offered for the same price will see a reduction.” </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Money & Banking

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"A bit grim": Sam Neill shares cancer update

<p>Actor Sam Neill has shared a heartbreaking update on his cancer journey, which he has said he will eventually succumb to. </p> <p>Last year, the 76-year-old revealed that he was battling rare blood cancer, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.</p> <p>After undergoing chemotherapy that failed to work, Neill's doctor switched him to an anti-cancer drug which has put him in remission for more than 12 months. </p> <p>The treatment requires him to have infusions every two weeks, and while his condition is currently stable, the drug will eventually stop working. </p> <p>Speaking candidly to the <em>Herald Sun</em> about his condition, he said while he is maintaining a positive outlook, the gruelling treatment is impacting the way he lives his life.</p> <p>“It’s just meant that every second week it was a case of forget about the weekend because that would be a bit grim,” he explained of his treatment schedule. “But other than that, it’s great to be alive and working and in beautiful places, like York.”</p> <p>Last year, Sam insisted while he wasn’t afraid of death after battling the disease, he “would be annoyed” because he still has plenty he wants to achieve.</p> <p>“I’m prepared for that,” Neill said at the time, adding that while dying would be “annoying” he’s not “remotely afraid” of it.</p> <p>“The last thing I want is for people to obsess about the cancer thing because I’m not really interested in cancer," he added. "I’m not really interested in anything other than living.” </p> <p><em>Image credits: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Worrying pattern of cancellations shows Australian TV's grim future

<p>As the future of free-to-air Australian television continues to be more and more "uncertain", a worrying pattern of dozens of cancelled programs show how the industry has been in trouble for quite some time. </p> <p>In recent years, dozens of seemingly popular shows have been axed across three major networks with thousands of people across the industry preparing themselves for further cancellations, pay cuts, job losses and career changes.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/exclusive-34-axed-aussie-shows-revealed-as-future-of-free-to-air-tv-uncertain-224725084.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo Lifestyle</em></a>, 34 shows across Seven, Nine and Ten have either been axed, put on an indefinite hiatus, or quietly removed from TV schedules with no mention of it again over the last five years. </p> <p>Many Aussie TV staples such as <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em>, <em>The Bachelor</em>, and <em>Australian Ninja Warrior</em>, which were all once the highest rated shows on television, have been binned due to declining viewership and dwindling ratings. </p> <p>Channel Ten's <em>The Masked Singer</em> has also become a casualty in the TV wars, as host Dave Hughes <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/hughesy-spills-the-beans-on-major-shows-set-to-be-axed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> that he simply hadn't received a production schedule for the new season of the show, only to discover it had been shelved. </p> <p>In an attempt to breathe new life into the channels, newer shows like Shaynna Blaze’s <em>Country Home Rescue</em> or Kate Langbroek’s <em>My Mum, Your Dad</em> premiered, but have only survived for single seasons after failing to grab an audience. </p> <p>Even revived classics like <em>Big Brother</em>, <em>Celebrity Apprentice</em> and <em><a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/channel-10-axes-another-show-amid-ratings-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gladiators</a></em> haven’t been able to survive as they now face growing competition from streaming giants like Netflix and Stan.</p> <p>As the list of cancelled shows continues to grow, one seasoned lighting director, who asked to remain anonymous, told Yahoo Lifestyle that job insecurity for casts and crews is a major concern. </p> <p>They said, “Every year the breaks between jobs are getting longer and longer to the point a lot of us (crew) are now leaving the industry. Ten years ago we’d be booked consistently with jobs locked in 12 months in advance for all of the networks, now everyone’s scrambling to try to get on a three-day pilot shoot. Everything is so uncertain.”</p> <p>Below are all of the free-to-air shows from the last five years that haven’t been renewed.</p> <p id="channel-seven"><strong>Channel Seven</strong></p> <p>Big Brother (2001-2008, 2012-2014, 2020-2023)</p> <p>SAS Australia (2020-2023)</p> <p>This Is Your Life (1975-1980, 1995-2005, 2008, 2011, 2022-2023)</p> <p>Blow Up (2023)</p> <p>Million Dollar Island (2023)</p> <p>We Interrupt This Broadcast (2023)</p> <p>The Voice: Generations (2022)</p> <p>Big Brother VIP (2021)</p> <p>Holey Moley (2021)</p> <p>Ultimate Tag (2021)</p> <p>Wife Swap Australia (2012, 2021)</p> <p>House Rules (2013-2020)</p> <p>Plate of Origin (2020)</p> <p>Pooch Perfect (2020)</p> <p id="channel-nine"><strong>Channel Nine</strong></p> <p>Millionaire Hot Seat (2009–2023)</p> <p>My Mum, Your Dad (2022-2023)</p> <p>The Beach House Escape (2023)</p> <p>Rush (2023)</p> <p>Snackmasters (2021-2022)</p> <p>Australian Ninja Warrior (2017-2022)</p> <p>Beauty and the Geek (2009-2014, 2021-2022)</p> <p>Celebrity Apprentice (2011-2015, 2021-2022)</p> <p>Country Homes Rescue (2022)</p> <p>This Time Next Year (2017-2019)</p> <p>Australia’s Most Identical</p> <p id="channel-ten"><strong>Channel Ten</strong></p> <p>Gladiators (1995-1996, 2008, 2024)</p> <p>The Bachelor (2013-2023)</p> <p>Studio 10 (2013-2023)</p> <p>The Masked Singer (2019-2023)</p> <p>The Traitors (2022-2023)</p> <p>Would I Lie To You? Australia (2022-2023)</p> <p>The Real Love Boat (2022)</p> <p>The Bachelorette (2015-2021)</p> <p>Bachelor In Paradise (2018-2020)</p> <p><em>Image credits: Ten / Seven </em></p>

TV

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Parents' grim warning after losing 3-year-old to flu

<p>Doctors have issued a crucial warning for parents after a healthy and happy Perth toddler became the youngest person in Western Australia to die from the flu in 2023.</p> <p>Muhammed Saadiq Segaff is being remembered as a cheerful but cheeky boy after dying from a strain of the flu virus, influenza A.</p> <p>The three-year-old’s health rapidly declined at Fiona Stanley Hospital, located about 16km from the state's capital, where the toddler went from having difficulty breathing to cardiac arrest.</p> <p>As a result, he underwent open heart surgery before being transported to Perth’s Children's Hospital where doctors and nurses had to use a machine to keep Muhammed’s blood pumping during the transfer.</p> <p>Yet despite their best efforts, they couldn’t save his life, with his parents making the painful decision to turn off his life support on May 26 after his family flew in from Singapore to say their goodbyes.</p> <p>Although influenza is a common virus, it can be fatal in high risk groups as it attacks the lungs, nose and throat.</p> <p>Typical symptoms include chills, fever, fatigue, headaches and muscle aches, with most fit and healthy people able to recover without seeing a doctor.</p> <p>However, young children, senior adults, unhealthy adults and pregnant women have an increased chance of contracting more severe cases due to being immunocompromised.</p> <p>Doctors advise getting a flu shot annually, but statistics are showing that the uptake of flu vaccines in WA in 2023 is slower than usual.</p> <p>“We have a significant and effective prevention strategy for flu, it’s a flu vaccine,” Perth Children’s Hospital infectious diseases specialist Chris Blyth told <em>7News</em>.</p> <p>Despite the chilling warning, less than 14 per cent of children under five have gotten the vaccination in WA, with a slimmer figure for those aged between five and 15 years old.</p> <p>Dr Blyth said about 10 per cent of children who are admitted to hospital with the flu require intensive care.</p> <p>Parents are advised to monitor children for unusual symptoms associated with the flu, such as breathlessness and fast breathing, which Dr Blyth warned could impact the heart.</p> <p>“Confusion or drowsiness is another important sign. Both of those things would make me want to seek medical advice,” he said.</p> <p>“In the middle of winter, our hospitals are full of people with respiratory illnesses but if parents think their child is much sicker than they normally are they should be seeking advice.”</p> <p>Muhammed’s parents hope that by sharing their son’s heartbreaking story, more parents will consider vaccinating their children against the flu annually.</p> <p>“No parents want this to happen to their own children,” Muhammed’s mother Shikin Hasnawi told <em>7News</em>.</p> <p>“We just miss him so much,” his father Segaff Sinin said.</p> <p>The WA government has extended its free flu vaccine rollout to children and seniors until the end of June in an attempt to encourage further uptake of the shot.</p> <p><em>Image credit: 7 News Perth</em></p>

Caring

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King Charles’ grimmest guest exposed

<p dir="ltr">In the months leading up to King Charles III’s extravagant coronation, the guest list was a hot topic. </p> <p dir="ltr">From “will she or won’t she?” discussions surrounding Meghan Markle to the “who’s who?” of British high society, there was always something on hand to pick apart. But one guest that no-one had seen coming - except perhaps in some of the internet’s darkest jokes - was the Grim Reaper.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cloaked figure was spotted during Charles’ May 6 coronation at Westminster Abbey, scurrying past a doorway with a long thin staff in hand, reminiscent of the reaper’s scythe or Charon’s ferry oar.</p> <p dir="ltr">Those determined to see some Harry and Meghan drama transpire joked that it may have been the prince’s wife in disguise, or even the late Diana back for “revenge”, and social media was rife with jokes, though most were of the opinion that the mysterious guest was none other than the fabled Grim Reaper. </p> <p dir="ltr">One Twitter user wasted no time in sharing a clip of the figure’s appearance at the abbey, asking if anyone else was seeing the same thing. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anyone else just notice the Grim Reaper at Westminster Abbey? 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coronation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coronation</a> <a href="https://t.co/77s4XIY17i">pic.twitter.com/77s4XIY17i</a></p> <p>— Joe (@realjoegreeeen) <a href="https://twitter.com/realjoegreeeen/status/1654774890237394945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Yep, had to pause &amp; rewind to get a pic,” one like-minded soul wrote in response, “couldn't decide if it was Death (Pratchett would be proud) or maybe Darth Vader!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“High security should allow the identity of the grim reaper to be revealed.  No doubt this is an official walk-in,” another said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought I was seeing things when this happened,” one user admitted, “would love to know who it was.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Diana getting her revenge,” another decided. </p> <p dir="ltr">There was, of course, another possibility, as someone pointed out when they wrote “Charles got pranked.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When footage was uploaded to TikTok, alongside the caption “NAH IT CANT JUST BE ME THAT SAW IT”, the response was similar, with the video collecting over 31k comments, and 21 million views. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Grim reaper Casually invited to the coronation as a security guard,” one user said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That is Diana,” another declared.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, someone was simply of the opinion that “Lizzy [was] coming back for her crown”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, they weren’t left to ponder it for long, with a Westminster Abbey spokesperson putting the grim theories to rest, confirming the figure’s identity as a member of the abbey community. More specifically, as a verger, an individual who assists with religious services but who is not actually a member of the clergy itself.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

International Travel

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“Stop using it immediately”: Grim warning over infant rocker after 100 fatalities

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have urged parents to stop using Fisher-Price’s Rock ‘n Play Sleeper following revelations by US regulators that it has been linked to 100 infant deaths.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Consumers who own this product should stop using it immediately and contact Mattel via the details in the recall notice to arrange a refund and instructions to make it unusable,” said an ACCC spokesperson to 7NEWS.com.au.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sleeper was initially recalled due to fatalities caused by infants rolling "from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances," causing accidental suffocation.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), despite being recalled in 2019, the product has since been linked to 100 fatalities.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"We now know of approximately 100 infant deaths in the Rock n Play, including eight that happened after the recall was announced," CPSC chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric said in an official </span><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Chairman/Alexander-Hoehn-Saric/Statement/Statement-of-Chair-Alexander-Hoehn-Saric-on-the-Reannouncement-of-Two-Inclined-Infant-Sleeper-Recalls"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">statement</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"And we know of 15 infants who died in the Kids2 Rocking Sleeper, including four since the announcement of the recall".</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ACCC also said that the recall for the Fisher Price Sleeper is ongoing in Australia, and they will continue to prioritise minimising the risks of these products.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 4pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image Credit: US Consumer Product Safety Commission</span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-194e52ee-7fff-ce47-b66c-863d88aa2f65"> </span></p>

News

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Coles shopper's grim warning after item explodes in pantry

<p>A Coles customer has claimed a bottle of pasta sauce exploded in his pantry for "no reason".</p> <p>The shopper took to the Coles Facebook page to suggest the company put a warning on their Mum's Pizza Sauce.</p> <p>"Caution... bottle may explode for NO reason..." the man said.</p> <p>The customer shared proof of the aftermath with a photo of the pasta sauce seen dripping from the pantry's shelves and splattered on the roof and door.</p> <p>A squeeze tube of Coles' Mum's Pizza Sauce is seen sitting among the mess on the top shelf.</p> <p>The shopper explained he never got around to using the product after purchasing it on March 27.</p> <p>"Woke up this morning to a bang in the kitchen and found this in my pantry," he explained.</p> <p>"Definitely WILL NEVER buy this product again... my suggestion to anyone who has this in their pantry... get rid of it."</p> <p>One Facebook user appreciated the heads up and hoped the clean up wasn't too bad.</p> <p>"It looks like a crime scene," they said.</p> <p>"Thanks for the heads up I hope you got your cupboard cleaned up ok, sending you a virtual beer."</p> <p>Coles also responded to the Facebook post and thanked the man for bringing it to their attention.</p> <p>"We pride ourselves on the quality of our products so it's disappointing to hear of your experience," a spokesperson said before asking the shopper to privately message the company so the issue could be followed up.</p> <p>Coles told the man to visit his local store for a full refund or replacement.</p> <p>Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the company revealed they are in contact with the customer.</p> <p>"Coles takes the quality of all our products seriously," the Coles spokesperson said.</p> <p>"We have spoken to the customer and will follow up with our supplier to investigate the matter."</p> <p>Mum's Pizza Sauce is listed for $3 on the Coles website. The storage instructions online say it should be refrigerated below 5C once opened and be used within five days.</p>

Food & Wine

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ALDI shopper's grim warning after purchasing explosive appliance

<p>An ALDI supermarket shopper has issued a warning to customers after a vacuum cleaner she purchased from her local store "exploded" and caused burns to her foot.</p> <p>Taking to Facebook, shopper Diana said her Easy Home Multicuclonic Vacuum Cleaner caught on fire and set off her smoke detectors at her home.</p> <p>The bagless vacuum cleaner has been recalled due to a defect that could see the motor overheat and result in a fire.</p> <p>However, Diana was unaware of the recall, leading to the unfortunate incident.</p> <p>“Just a caution for those of us who purchased the bagless vacuum last year,” wrote Diana on the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034012533313136" target="_blank">Aldi Mums</a><span> </span>page.</p> <p>“Well today mine exploded and caught on fire, triggering the house smoke detectors and leaving me with burns to my foot.</p> <p>“According to ALDI, there was a recall of the bagless vacuums for this reason which I was not aware of.</p> <p>“Just thought I would put it out there for those who are not familiar with the recall.”</p> <p>A spokesperson for the company urged customers who still own one of the recalled appliances to urgently take it back to their local store.</p> <p>“It is unfortunate that this product has not met our strict safety and quality standards,” an ALDI spokesperson said.</p> <p>“We are actively encouraging anyone who purchased the Multicyclonic Vacuum Cleaner to return the product to any of our stores for a full refund.</p> <p>“We have been promoting this recall on our<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.aldi.com.au/" target="_blank">website</a>, in stores and on our Facebook page.”</p> <p>For more information on the recall, head<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/recalls/aldi-easy-home-multicyclonic-vacuum-cleaner-recalled-over-fears-it-could-catch-fire--c-1852023" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

Legal

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Grim discovery in Maddie McCann suspect's van

<p><span>Since the night Madeleine McCann disappeared, her “anguished but unbroken” parents Kate and Gerry have never let the world forget their daughter.</span></p> <p><span>It’s been 13 years since she went missing, but they never stopped searching for answers, and say they hope she is still alive.</span></p> <p><span>But the evidence presented to </span><em>60 Minutes Australia</em><span> could hold vital clues to Maddie’s 2007 disappearance.</span></p> <p><span>On June 4, German authorities made a shock announcement declaring the three-year-old dead, and leading to that announcement is believed to be a disturbing discovery in the campervan of Christian Brueckner.</span></p> <p><span>According to </span><em>60 Minutes</em><span>, over 8000 disturbing pieces of evidence, including videos and pictures of his alleged crimes – along with the swimsuits of little girls – were discovered in the van inhabited by the 43-year-old German sex offender.</span></p> <p><span>When Maddie was taken, on the night of May 3, 2007, Bruekner lived in a house in Monte Judeu, only 8km away from the Ocean Club apartment in Portugal from where the three-year-old disappeared. He also had a “vile and disgusting” shack only 3km from the hotel.</span></p> <p><span>Currently in prison for the torture and rape of a 72-year-old woman, Brueckner was recently named by German police as the most likely offender in Maddie’s disappearance, which is now being treated as murder.</span></p> <p><span>After raiding a deserted factory owned by Brueckner, police discovered thousands of videos and photos of his alleged crimes, </span><em>60 Minutes</em><span> reported.</span></p> <p><span>Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the investigation into Brueckner, told the program he was not able to say if there is or isn’t any pictures of Maddie.</span></p> <p><span>“I mean he was into child pornography and torture and he did crimes against children at a very young age and according to the current information, he also filmed his offences,” Mark Hofmann, a Berlin-based Crime &amp; Intelligence Analyst who also works with German police, told reporter Liz Hayes.</span></p> <p><span>Police also revelead that back in 2013, Brueckner wrote in a paedophile chat room about how “bad” he wanted to abuse a little girl.</span></p> <p><span>“He’s very, very clear about his fantasy, about abducting children and torturing them and using them for a couple of days. So these are very clear words,” Mr Hoffman said.</span></p> <p><span>Mr Hoffman said he believes that if Brueckner abducted Maddie, it’s also likely he killed her.</span></p> <p><span>“And killing is likely for different reasons. Number one, it’s likely because it’s part of the fantasy, but number two, it also just could have practical reasons not to be arrested for this crime, because she was old enough to talk,” he told Hayes.</span></p> <p><span>Christian Brückner has not yet been charged with any crime relating to Madeleine McCann’s disappearance or death.</span></p>

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The grim reality of Sam Armytage’s 10kg weight loss

<p>Weight Watchers' newest ambassador isn’t afraid of giving away her dress size, claiming she’s a size 12 and proud of it.</p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> co-host appeared on<span> </span><em>The </em><em>Morning Show</em> yesterday to discuss her new gig, and how she used to be treated before her weight loss.</p> <p>With the help of the diet program, the 42-year-old has lost 10kg so far but before she began her fitness journey, Armytage said that wardrobe assistants would comment on her size while dressing her.</p> <p>Despite feeling grateful and “very lucky to have stylists in the job”, sometimes they’d ask, "This fitted you last week – what’s happened in a week?”</p> <p>The media personality is now advocating against the “perfect size” saying that the mentality “had to stop".</p> <p>Armytage credits her incredible transformation to a balanced lifestyle, saying she shed the kilos “without trying too hard, just being good and exercising again".</p> <p>“The goal for me was, after 40, to be healthy and strong and get up at 3 am and still be a nice person in the afternoon!” she said.</p> <p>“It’s really not about being skinny. I don’t want to lose too much more weight.”</p> <p>In 2014, the journalist criticised <em>The Daily Telegraph </em>after they ran a story on her fashion mistakes.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxyyfFxnTp0/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxyyfFxnTp0/" target="_blank">Huge thank-you to @womensweeklymag for this month’s mag (out today!!) announcing my new ambassadorship with @ww_aunz 🎉🎉🎉 with much love &amp; thanks to the Uber-talented @brewbevanphoto 😘 @mattiecronan 😘 @monikabunic 😘 &amp; @bradmullinshair 😘</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/sam_armytage/" target="_blank"> Samantha Armytage ⭐️</a> (@sam_armytage) on May 22, 2019 at 10:37pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Wow. A newspaper bullying a woman about her weight – I thought those days were gone!” she tweeted.</p> <p>She has also previously sent lawyers after the <em>Daily Mail</em> after they body shamed her for wearing “granny panties".</p> <p>But thanks to her new role with WW, Sam is using “the attention” for a worthy cause.</p> <p>Sitting down with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/aww" target="_blank"><em>Australian Women’s Weekly</em></a>, she said: “I understand there will always be more scrutiny that comes with this … but the paparazzi are always already trying to take pictures of [me] where there is a fat roll showing. My mother said to me, ‘Darling, for Godsake, if they are already sitting outside your house taking pictures of you putting the bins out, why not just talk about it?’”</p> <p>However, she is aware of the scrutiny that comes with openly talking about her weight, saying ambassadors are usually under a microscope for being too thin or too large.</p> <p>“I don’t want to get caught up in silly social media trolling because it’s hateful and in my job, I’ve learned to just ignore that crap,” she said.</p> <p>“This is about living [my] best life and being strong. People know inside whether they feel good or not. Losing a few kilos is part of that – and it’s only part of it. I’ve gone back to the gym, I’ve got a trainer, I box twice a week, I walk the dog every day. I don’t think that’s giving in to body shamers. This is about me feeling good and going into this next phase of my life, my 40s, feeling strong and having energy.”</p> <p>“I have said it before, and I will say it again: I don’t want to be skinny. I have boobs, I have a bum, I have curves. I like being a woman with a womanly figure, so I don’t want to be skinny-skinny,” she said.</p>

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New report reveals grim reality for Sydney homebuyers

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to new research and economic analysis of data conducted by EY, renters are better off renting in Sydney and maintaining an ASX200 investment instead of buying a home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This flips the old mindset that renting is dead money, as Sydney residents are better off renting than buying in 60 per cent of cases over the last 25 years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The analysis compared capital gains by individual who purchased a home against those who invested in a leveraged share portfolio, keeping to a savings plan and renting in an area where they can afford to buy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We would caution against just assuming that home ownership is the only way to create future wealth,” EY chief economist Jo Masters said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s time to give up on the mindset that renting is dead money. Yes, when you’re paying rent to a landlord, you’re not investing in an asset that you own – but with today’s property prices, you could be better off renting somewhere affordable and investing the cash you’ve saved.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s important to note that when EY removed the ability for the lender to be able to leverage their ASX investment, results shift in favour of the homeowner.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">EY also found that while the Sydney property market has cooled, the affordability for housing is at a historical low. The average house in Sydney costs 10.9 times more than the average NSW income, which is $83,517 according to the </span><a href="https://www.livingin-australia.com/salaries-australia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian Bureau of Statistics</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This means, that despite many wanting to own property, the buyer of an average Sydney home needs to save for more than 9 years to make the 20% deposit that’s required by most banks. This goes down to 7 years when saving for an apartment.</span></p>

Domestic Travel

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Snake catcher's grim warning after toddler attacked in backyard

<p>After being bitten by a tiger snake in the northwest of Melbourne, a young boy has been commended for his bravery throughout the ordeal.</p> <p>Huxon Healey has been discharged from hospital after a venomous snake attacked him on the leg in his backyard in Sunbury.</p> <p>The two-year-old was praised for his calm demeanour after an incident that would make most grown adults panic.</p> <p>After the bite occurred, Huxon suffered from high blood pressure and a temperature, immediately forcing his parents to rush him to hospital.</p> <p>“He was being a bit hysterical and crying which is unusual for him, he’s usually pretty tough,” said his stepdad Corey Thomas to <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/snake-catchers-warning-toddler-bitten-deadly-reptile-backyard-084006711.html" target="_blank"><em>7News</em></a>.</p> <p>He was provided with antivenom and had to sit through multiple blood tests.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821547/19e2ec479b060db860088b5722c22ac7.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e5f781a0927a42c58dc1de1d2b610e5e" /></p> <p>After the stressful moment came to an end, Huxon’s family were welled with pride at how well the young boy responded to the terrifying moment.</p> <p>“He took it like a champ and we’re pretty proud of him.”</p> <p>After a sudden rise in snake attacks, Stewart Gatt, a snake catcher from Victoria, has issued a warning to residents to remain aware of their surroundings.</p> <p>Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/snake-catchers-warning-toddler-bitten-deadly-reptile-backyard-084006711.html" target="_blank"><em>7News</em></a>, he said: “We’ve got the second most venomous land snake in the world and the fourth being the brown snake and tiger snake.”</p> <p>As Australia heads towards the warmer months, snakes head towards metro areas to hunt for food after a long hibernation period.</p> <p>“The snakes come to drink and eat, they feast on frog and mice,” he said.</p> <p>Once Huxon was safe and sound, his family asked a snake catcher to assess the backyard to guarantee it is snake free and safe, but Mr Thomas thinks it won’t be too long before little Huxon tries to get revenge.</p> <p>“I said, ‘Where are you going?’ and he said, ‘I’m going outside to catch the snake’,” Mr Thomas said.</p> <p>Huxon is now under the supervision of his family and expected to make a full recovery.</p> <p><em>Click <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/what-to-do-if-you-see-a-snake-and-how-to-avoid-them" target="_blank">here</a> to find out how you can avoid snakes and what to do if you come across one. </em></p>

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"You'll get them everywhere": Snake catcher's grim warning of Aussie plague this summer

<p>A snake catcher has issued a warning for residents across the country to be aware of their surroundings as the weather gets warmer, as there is a high chance reptiles will emerge to get some sunlight after a long mating season throughout the cold winter.</p> <p>Tony Harrison, a snake catcher from Queensland’s Gold Coast, said that September was the month when reptiles are out searching for a companion to mate with.</p> <p>According to Mr Harrison, snakes emerge from bushlands on warm days and are most prevalent during summer.</p> <p>Speaking to <em><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6125895/Prepare-snakes-season-dont-stupid-catchers-say.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail Australia</a></em>, Mr Harrison said: “You’ll get them everywhere.”</p> <p>He added, “When temperatures drop below 23C, you don’t see a lot of them, they slow right down.</p> <p>“They’re not gone, they’re just not as obvious as they usually are but as soon as weather warms up they’re a lot more active, which is what’s happening right now.”</p> <p>Andrew Melrose of Shire Snake Catchers Engadine in NSW said that the peak time for snakes and reptiles is spring, as that is the season when they breed.</p> <p>Christmas time is also an active period as they look for food, and then in April when they prepare for the colder months.</p> <p>“We do get a bit dry towards July – August – toward spring, after this bit of rain as temperatures start to warm up and they start to think about breeding and mating,” said Mr Melrose.</p> <p>Earlier in the year, a Queensland resident, Aaron Bryant was fatally killed by a snake bite after he tried to remove a baby eastern brown snake from his home.</p> <p>Mr Harrison recommends taking a photo and sending it to a snake catcher for identification before attempting to remove the reptile yourself, as many people often misidentify snakes.</p> <p>“For your average person, it’s hard to tell which one's which,” he said.</p> <p>“If you see a snake don’t go and stir them up, take a photo from a distance.</p> <p>“It’s human nature to go and stir a snake up, what will happen is the snake will defend itself, and that snake could put you in hospital.</p> <p>“A lot of people make mistakes and end up in hospital.”</p> <p>According to data from the Department of Health, Townsville Hospital emergency department has seen 103 patients who suffered from snake bites in the past financial year alone.</p> <p>But despite the large number, Mr Melrose said that a bite was usually a snake’s “last resort".</p> <p>He said that when a snake is in unknown territories such as your home or workplaces, they are not there to bite you as that plan of attack is strictly for defence purposes.</p> <p>“The best advice I give to anyone to avoid a bite if you do see it ... the best thing is just leave it alone – call the experts and don’t try to catch or killing it because the snakes will usually (not be interested in) you.”</p>

Home & Garden

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Grim warning as cyber-crime continues to rise

<p>Barely a day seems to pass without hearing about a <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2017/03/accc-warns-fake-online-stores-are-targeting-shoppers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>brand-new internet scam</strong></span></a> lurking in our inboxes, and if a recent report from online security company Symantec is anything to go by, the threat of cyber-crime is only going to get worse.</p> <p>The Symantec Annual Threat Report highlighted both the<a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2017/04/accc-warns-about-new-internet-scam/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> growing number of instances of cybercrime</strong></span></a> and the increasing sophistication of the scams.  </p> <p>Symantec security expert Nick Savvides said email attacks were at their highest level in five years, with one in every 121 emails expected to contain a malicious link or attachment.</p> <p>Mr Savvides told <a href="http://www.News.com.au" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>News.com.au</strong></span></em></a>, “The cyber-criminals wouldn’t use this method if it wasn’t successful and they are always improving the content of their emails to make them very convincing.</p> <p>“For example, while many people have learned that the federal police will never send you a speeding fine by email, pretty much every Australian is buying goods online, so the fake invoice, fake delivery docket or parcel pick up emails can be very convincing.”</p> <p>So how do we avoid these common internet scams? Well, Symantec have offered a few tips to help keep your computer clear of any malicious online viruses.</p> <ol> <li>Change the default passwords on your devices and services.</li> <li>Keep your operating system and software up to date.</li> <li>Be extra careful on email.</li> <li>Back up your files.</li> </ol> <p>Have you ever fallen victim to cyber-crime? If so, how did you cope?</p>

Money & Banking

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Grim forecast for price of Aussie beef

<p>The future is looking lean for local meat lovers, with reports from Meat &amp; Livestock Australia forecasting the price of <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/08/beef-set-to-soon-become-luxury-item-as-prices-skyrocket/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Aussie beef</strong></span></a> to soar over the next two years.</p> <p>The dramatic price rise is expected to come in reaction to the national herd hitting a 20 year low. Australia’s local cattle supply has dipped dramatically over the last year, with herd numbers in Queensland and NSW shrinking by up to40 per cent.</p> <p>This diminished supply amid an ever-increasing demand for good quality local beef is set to drive prices dramatically higher, and consumers are expected to feel the pinch.</p> <p>MLA market information manager Ben Thomas said, “All things considered, it is unlikely that Australian cattle prices will return to pre-2013 levels, but rather establish a new level – somewhere in between existing long-term averages and the current record highs.</p> <p>“In the meantime though, there will be extremely tough competition for the limited numbers available."</p> <p>Do you still shop for beef? Or has it just become too expensive? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/08/beef-set-to-soon-become-luxury-item-as-prices-skyrocket/"><strong>Beef set to soon become ‘luxury item’ as prices skyrocket</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/05/places-to-use-your-seniors-card/"><strong>15 places you didn’t know you could use your Seniors Card</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/why-you-should-still-set-an-alarm-when-you-retire/"><strong>Why you should still set an alarm when you retire</strong></a></em></span></p>

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Government issues grim warning to pensioners

<p>Aussie pensioners concerned about impending changes to the age pension asset test are being warned by the government to seek clarification from Centrelink now.</p> <p>New <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/2016/08/age-pension-asset-test-changes-2017/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>asset test thresholds</strong></span></a> will come into effect on January 1, but letters confirming individual cases reportedly won’t be sent out until the weeks leading into Christmas.</p> <p>Human Services Minister Alan Tudge confirmed that those who are likely to be affected and those who are just outside the threshold should expect a first letter in the coming weeks, with another more detailed one to be sent out in December.</p> <p>Federal cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos told <a href="http://www.9news.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Nine News</strong></span></a> said any pensioners concerned should contact Centrelink, “Any pensioner who has an issue should get on to Centrelink now and get it clarified, and they're waiting to answer their questions.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/2016/08/age-pension-asset-test-changes-2017/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Under the changes</strong></span></a> the pension will be cut by $3 a fortnight for every $1,000 of assets above new thresholds. The asset-free areas is now be $375,000 for homeowner couples; $450,000 for single non-homeowners, and $575,000 for non-homeowner couples</p> <p>Senator Sinodinos added, “This is a way to put more money into the pockets of those on the full pension rate, those pensioners with very few assets.”</p> <p>However many seniors are still in a state of uncertainty. Shadow finance minister Jim Chalmers labelled the handling changes, “cruel and unusual and pathetic”, especially considering the fact that they’ve been on the cards for a year and a half.</p> <p>Dr Chalmers said, “They should have done it before the election.”</p> <p>What do you make of the changes to the age pension asset test? Do you think the measures are fair? And do you think the government has handled it appropriately?</p> <p>Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. </p> <p>To contact Centrelink visit the Department of Human Services <a href="https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/dhs/centrelink" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>website here</strong></span></a>. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/2016/08/age-pension-asset-test-changes-2017/"><strong>Major changes for age pension in 2017</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/2016/09/plans-to-lift-pension-age-have-senior-workers-worried/"><strong>Plans to lift pension age have senior workers worried</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/09/one-in-three-pensioners-living-below-poverty-line/"><strong>One in three pensioners living below poverty line</strong></a></em></span></p>

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