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Jamie Oliver's book pulled from shelves over Indigenous Australian subplot

<p>Jamie Oliver has had his new children's book pulled from shelves after a subplot about Indigenous Australians was deemed "disrespectful" and "damaging".</p> <p>The celebrity chef and author released his second children’s book in May, titled <em>Billy and the Epic Escape</em>, in which the protagonist takes a brief detour from England to Alice Springs, where the villain of the story abducts a young Indigenous girl living in foster care in an Indigenous community.</p> <p>The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Commission (NATSIEC) led the calls for the book to be withdrawn, accusing Oliver of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and “trivialising complex and painful histories”.</p> <p>NATSIEC chief executive Sharon Davis told <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/nov/10/jamie-oliver-pulls-childrens-book-from-shelves-after-criticism-for-stereotyping-indigenous-australians-ntwnfb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a></em> that the book implied Indigenous families “are easily swayed by money and neglect the safety of their children”, adding, “[It] perpetuates a racist stereotype that has been used to justify child removals for over a century.”</p> <p>“This portrayal is not only offensive but also reinforces damaging biases.”</p> <p>Oliver, who is currently in Australia promoting his latest cookbook, said in a statement, “I am devastated to have caused offence and apologise wholeheartedly. It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue. Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.”</p> <p>Penguin Random House UK also released a statement on the book, conceding, “It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion, and we must learn from that and take decisive action. With that in mind, we have agreed with our author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale.”</p> <p>Both Oliver and Penguin Random House UK revealed that during the writing of the book, no consultation with Indigenous Australian individuals or organisations had taken place. </p> <p>Indigenous children’s author Cheryl Leavy told <em>The Guardian</em> the decision to pull the book from shelves was the right one, saying, “It makes it possible for Penguin Random House to build relationships with First Nations communities and tell better stories.”</p> <p>“It’s time now for Penguin Random House to work with First Nations advisers to put structural measures in place that prevent this from ever happening again.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Penguin Random House UK/Ken McKay/ITV</em></p>

Books

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Beloved breakfast radio show pulled off air

<p>Sydney's 104.1 2DayFM has announced the end of the beloved Hughesy, Ed and Erin breakfast show after three years. </p> <p>The breakfast hosts Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan shared a statement last night announcing their departure. </p> <p>"We've loved our time together on 2DayFM Breakfast, however, due to some of our families living in different cities we are unable to commit to 2025, so with a heavy heart we are moving aside so 2DayFM can find the team to take them forward in Breakfast," the co-hosts said.</p> <p>"We are so grateful to Sydney for their support, and to double the number of listeners in three years is something we are immensely proud of, and we will miss each and every one of them."</p> <p>The trio first started working on the morning radio show together in January 2021. </p> <p>Southern Cross Austereo has announced that an interim replacement has been made, with Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye from the Hit Network <em>Jimmy & Nath Show</em> will temporarily move from evenings to cover the empty breakfast timeslot. </p> <p>SCA's Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron  said changes were coming to the breakfast show in 2025.</p> <p>“As we look to 2025, we are preparing for a change for the 2DayFM Sydney Breakfast show and will make further announcements in due course,” he said.</p> <p>He then thanked Hughesy, Ed and Erin for their "unwavering dedication" in making the show "a fun way to wake up Sydney each morning".</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram/ 2Day FM</em></p>

Music

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Chaos as The Project pulled from air to evacuate

<p>Channel 10's <em>The Project </em>was suddenly pulled from air after a fire alarm sounded, forcing presenters and crew to evacuate the building, just before 7pm on Wednesday night. </p> <p>The show was replaced with an episode of <em>Dog House</em>, and at 6:50pm the show's X account notified viewers of the matter, saying: “We are being evacuated… we think we will back soon?”.</p> <p>A few minutes later they shared a follow up post:  “Due to a fire alarm in the studio, The Project has had to evacuate the building.”</p> <p>“You can see what’s happening Facebook and Instagram Live ... or watch an episode of the Dog House,” it read.</p> <p>The Project later posted a video of the hosts going outside as they joked and made light of the situation. </p> <p>“Guys, we get it you are so obsessed with us and were wondering where we went as the Dog House came on,” the caption read.</p> <p>“And to be honest we couldn’t tell you either as the fire alarm was going off and we just followed our boss.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-FSiekK_yK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-FSiekK_yK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The show returned on-air at 7:09pm, with host Waleed Aly saying: “What’s that, where did we go? Oh nowhere, we didn’t even know."</p> <p>“We all needed to go to the bathroom, at once. </p> <p>“No, there was a fire alert in our building and we had to leave.”</p> <p>Sarah Harris cut in jokingly saying they didn't only have to leave but had to "run". </p> <p>A Fire and Rescue Victorian spokesperson said that they had responded to a false alarm after a smoke detector malfunctioned. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ The Project</em></p>

TV

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Rebel Wilson's memoir "pulled from shelves"

<p>Fans hoping to get their hands on a copy of Rebel Wilson's memoir have been left disappointed after the book has been pulled from shelves in Australia. </p> <p>The book, titled <em>Rebel Rising</em>, was released on Wednesday, although numerous retailers have removed the book from their websites, halting sales indefinitely. </p> <p>One of Australia’s biggest book retailers, Amazon, have made the memoir unavailable to order, and noted to customers: “We don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.”</p> <p>On Booktopia.com the book is currently listed as “Unavailable” with no date listed as to when the memoir will be back on-sale.</p> <p>Wilson took to Instagram to celebrate the release of her book, but her post was inundated with comments from frustrated fans in Australia and New Zealand who were questioning why it was no longer available in the region. </p> <p>“I am in Australia and can’t get a copy,” wrote the frustrated fan. “Just went to my local book store and they said it has been recalled to be possibly be re-printed and have parts redacted!! Can we get it in the US?”</p> <p>Fans in the UK appeared to be having the same issue, with many questioning why they couldn’t pick up the book in their own country either.</p> <p>Many were quick to speculate that the reason the book has been pulled from shelves was due to ongoing legal issues with actor Sacha Baron-Cohen, who Wilson named and shamed in the book for acting inappropriately while they were working on a movie together. </p> <p>When the news broke that Wilson was calling out Baron-Cohen for his alleged behaviour, the Aussie actress claimed that Baron-Cohen "threatened" her over the book's release. </p> <p>Taking to her Instagram, Rebel wrote, “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. The ‘a**hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.”</p> <p>"Now the a**hole is trying to threaten me. He’s trying to stop press coming out about my new book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know the truth.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Legal

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Retailer pulls "creepy" and "disturbing" ad for school uniforms

<p>H&M has removed a school uniform ad in Australia after social media users slammed the retailer for sexualising children. </p> <p>The ad, which a few social media users have screenshot before it was removed,  features  two young girls in school uniform looking back at the camera with the caption: "Make those heads turn in H&M's Back to School fashion." </p> <p>Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, slammed the ad calling it it "creepy" and "disturbing", and sharing their own stories about "being ogled" at school. </p> <p>"What is your intention with this sponsored Facebook ad?" Australian writer Melinda Tankard Reist, whose work addresses sexualization and the harms of pornography, shared on X. </p> <p>"Little schoolgirls generally don't want to 'turn heads.' The large numbers I engage with in schools want to be left alone to learn and have fun and not draw unwanted attention to their appearance."</p> <p>"The little girls parents generally prefer heads don't 'turn' when others see their daughters walking to school, on a bus or in class," she continued. </p> <p>"Why would you want to fuel the idea that little girls should draw attention to their looks, bodies and 'style'?"</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hmaustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hmaustralia</a> what is your intention with this sponsored Facebook ad? Little schoolgirls generally don’t want to “turn heads”. The large numbers I engage with in schools want to be left alone to learn and have fun and not draw unwanted attention to their appearance 1/ <a href="https://t.co/DDwv42GeNz">pic.twitter.com/DDwv42GeNz</a></p> <p>— Melinda TankardReist (@MelTankardReist) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelTankardReist/status/1747866459836158415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Another user wrote: "This is really disturbing.</p> <p>"I remember being cat called whilst waiting for the bus in my school uniform. It made me feel unsafe." </p> <p>"Girls go to school to get an education, not to be jeered at by onlookers," they concluded. </p> <p>The Swedish fashion giant has since removed the ad and apologised for the campaign. </p> <p>"We have removed this ad," they told CNN. </p> <p>"We are deeply sorry for the offence this has caused and we are looking into how we present campaigns going forward."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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"Such a tragedy": Shannon Noll pulls dying teen from car wreck

<p>Singer Shannon Noll ha found himself at the centre of a tragic accident on a remote stretch of Ellangowan Road, just kilometres away from his northern New South Wales home. The incident involved an 18-year-old couple, Kobi Roberts-Walker and Jaselle Melrose, whose car veered off the road, crashing into a tree in a horrifying double fatal accident.</p> <p>Noll, best known for his time on <em>Australian Idol</em>, was on his way back to his family property when he became one of the first responders to the accident. The singer, faced with a burning car and desperate circumstances, didn't hesitate to take action. He bravely dragged the dying Jaselle Melrose from the wreckage and performed CPR in an attempt to save her life.</p> <p>In a statement to <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/two-teenagers-die-in-fiery-crash-after-hitting-tree/news-story/3bdf4004457b59e2078bff3caf0b3749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a>, Noll expressed the gravity of the situation, saying, “Last night was such a tragedy. I just reacted and did what I could to assist the young woman at the scene. Our prayers and condolences go out to their families at this terribly sad time.”</p> <p>Noll's manager, Paul Paoliello, revealed that the singer was deeply affected by the incident: “I can confirm Shannon did provide assistance last night and he is obviously quite shaken up by what happened,” Paoliello said.</p> <p>The local community, already shaken by the accident, has been left heartbroken over the loss of two young lives.</p> <p>Volunteer rescue workers who were present at the scene attested to Noll's immediate and courageous response. Describing the situation, a witness mentioned that Noll "literally ran" to the car engulfed in flames, pulling the passenger away before emergency services arrived. Others at the scene acknowledged Noll's determination to make a difference and lauded his hands-on approach.</p> <p>The victims, Kobi Roberts-Walker and Jaselle Melrose, were both 18 years old and deeply connected to their local community. Roberts-Walker, known by many in the area, had recently posted their car for sale, citing their anticipation of a growing family. Melrose, a recent graduate of Casino High School, was recognised for her academic achievements.</p> <p>The crash occurred on a notoriously hazardous section of Ellangowan Road, known for its narrow roadway and limited lighting. Locals have raised concerns about the safety of this stretch, and the New South Wales Police are currently investigating the incident to determine the cause and whether speed played a role.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Manu Feildel forced to pull out of major event after health emergency

<p dir="ltr">Manu Feildel has explained a recent health scare, after he was forced to pull out of appearing at a major event. </p> <p dir="ltr">The celebrity chef and <em>My Kitchen Rules</em> judge was set to make a guest appearance at Sydney’s Tour de Cure Spring Lunch at Doltone House on Friday, but was hospitalised before he was expected to arrive. </p> <p dir="ltr">Feildel took to Instagram to explain his mysterious absence from the event, which was a charity luncheon to raise money for cancer research. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I wish I could be there celebrating with you, but unfortunately I have to go for surgery tomorrow,” he said in a video message.</p> <p dir="ltr">Whilst the cook did not say what his condition was, he later posted a video showing his leg in a heavy brace.</p> <p dir="ltr">Manu’s knee looked especially red and swollen, with dressing across the kneecap.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve had some surgery done and I can’t cook for myself as I usually do,” he said in the clip. </p> <p dir="ltr">Fans flocked to the comments section to wish Manu well. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Look after your leg mon ami!” wrote fellow chef Luca Ciano. “Hope you’re ok.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Manu, oh no. What happened?” wondered another follower, while one person quipped, “Too much sauce, and u slipped on it?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another concerned fan asked: “What have you done to yourself now? Wishing you a speedy recovery,” while others posted a simple, “Get well soon.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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New royal book pulled from shelves over huge legal blunder

<p>Copies of an explosive new book about the royal family are being pulled from shelves and destroyed after a translation error "accidentally named" the alleged "royal racist". </p> <p>Sales of the new book <em>Endgame</em>, written by Omid Scobie who also wrote <em>Finding Freedom</em> about Harry and Meghan's exit from the royal family, were "temporarily" put on hold just days after its release after what has been labelled an error. </p> <p>According to Xander, the publishers of the Dutch edition of Scobie's book, a translation error led to a member of the royal family being identified as the person who made comments about baby Archie's skin colour. </p> <p>“[We are] temporarily withdrawing the book by Omid Scobie from sale. An error occurred in the Dutch translation and is currently being rectified,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.</p> <p>Meanwhile, <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/24884315/royal-racist-accidentally-named-omid-scobie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em> claims that thousands of copies of the book are now being destroyed as a result.</p> <p>The "racist royal" scandal dates back to when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview in 2021, when Markle  alleged that while she was pregnant with their first child, Prince Archie, there were “concerns and conversations” from a member of the royal family about how dark his skin might be.</p> <p>The Duchess of Sussex stopped short of naming the person involved, telling Winfrey, “I think that would be very damaging to them.”</p> <p>In the original edition of his book, Scobie also declines to identify the royal, claiming libel laws prevented him from doing so – although he has confirmed he knows who it is.</p> <p>“I do know who made the comments about Archie’s skin colour,” he told UK program <em>Good Morning</em> during his book press tour.</p> <p>“The names were mentioned in letters between Meghan and Charles that were exchanged sometime after the Oprah interview."</p> <p>“We know from sources that Charles was horrified that that’s how Meghan felt. Those conversations were, and that he wanted to, sort of as a representative for the family, have that conversation with her.</p> <p>“And it is why I personally think they have been able to move forward with some kind of line of communication afterwards. Though they may not see eye-to-eye on it.”</p> <p>It’s understood the royal family member accidentally named in the Dutch edition was not the person Meghan had been referring to.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Harper Collins</em></p>

Books

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Coastal property prices and climate risks are both soaring. We must pull our heads out of the sand

<p>Australians’ <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/australians-beach">well-documented</a> affinity with the sun, surf and sand continues to fuel <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/stunning-holiday-hotspots-where-house-prices-have-doubled-in-five-years-20221109-p5bwuk.html">coastal property market growth</a>. This growth defies rising interest rates and growing evidence of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jul/23/against-the-tide-storm-battered-wamberal-residents-cling-to-beachfront-homes">impacts of climate change</a> on people living in vulnerable coastal locations.</p> <p>People in these areas are finding it harder to insure their properties against these risks. Insurers view the Australian market as sensitive to climate risks, as climate change impacts can trigger large insurance payouts. They are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/12/australians-facing-prohibitive-insurance-premiums-after-climate-related-disasters">pricing their products accordingly</a>.</p> <p>Clearly, there is a vast disconnect between the coastal property market and climate change impacts such as increasingly severe storms, tidal surges, coastal erosion and flooding. There is no shortage of <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/32-billion-of-cba-mortgages-exposed-to-extreme-weather-risks-climate-analysis-finds-20220819-p5bb5p.html">reports</a>, <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/australian-homes-uninsurable-2030-climate-risk-map/">studies</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-18/gold-coast-council-additional-88-000-properties-at-flood-risk/101664596">analyses</a> confirming the climate risks we are already living with. Yet another alarming <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/research/environmental-impacts/climate-change/State-of-the-Climate">State of the Climate</a> report was released last week.</p> <p>We keep talking about reaching global net-zero emissions. But this “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwD1kG4PI0w">blah blah blah</a>” masks the fact that climate impacts are already with us. Even if we make deeper, faster cuts to emissions, as we must, our world is now warmer. Australians will <a href="https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/science-policy-and-analysis/reports-and-publications/risks-australia-three-degrees-c-warmer-world">feel the effects of that warming</a>.</p> <p>We ultimately cannot afford the price of business as usual, as embodied by so many coastal developments.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZwD1kG4PI0w?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Greta Thunberg denounces the ‘blah, blah, blah’ from world leaders in response to the climate emergency.</span></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Risks are worrying banks and insurers</strong></p> <p>In Australia, the disasters and the environmental collapse we are experiencing will get worse. While a range of businesses see this as opening up <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-internet-sweeps-target-greenwashing-fake-online-reviews">new market and product frontiers</a>, the fact is climate change is creating a fundamentally uncertain, unstable and difficult world.</p> <p>Banks have a <a href="https://law-store.wolterskluwer.com/s/product/banking-on-climate-change-how-finance-actors-regulatory-regimes/01t0f00000J3aMk">central role</a> in addressing climate risks. They are <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-can-your-bank-help-reduce-climate-change-risks-to-your-home-60049">exposed to climate risk</a> through residential lending on properties that are vulnerable to climate impacts and now <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/26/australias-unraveling-climate-risk-leaving-more-homes-uninsurable-against-flooding-expert-warns">face insurance pressures</a>.</p> <p>One in 25 Australian homes are <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/australian-homes-uninsurable-2030-climate-risk-map/">projected to be uninsurable by 2030</a>. The Australian government risks bearing the large costs of supporting the underinsured or uninsured – otherwise known as <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/disaster-funding/report">being “the insurer of last resort”</a>.</p> <p>This costly legacy shows why planning decisions made now must take account of climate change impacts, and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40641-020-00161-z">not just in the wake of disasters</a>.</p> <p>The rapidly escalating impacts and risks across sectors demand that we undertake mitigation and adaptation at the same time, urgently and on a large scale. This means reducing emissions to negative levels – not just reaching net zero and transitioning our energy sector, but also actively removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.</p> <p>We must also respond to climate change risks already locked into the system. We have to make substantial changes in how we think about, treat, price and act on these risks.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Australia’s ‘unraveling’ climate risk leaving more homes uninsurable against flooding, expert warns <a href="https://t.co/cLj1SKei72">https://t.co/cLj1SKei72</a></p> <p>— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuardianAus/status/1596294943529893888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>As the climate shifts, so must our coastal dream</strong></p> <p>The consequences of a warming climate, including reaching and crossing tipping points in the Earth’s weather systems, are <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn7950#core-collateral-purchase-access">occurring sooner than anticipated</a>. The required behavioural, institutional and structural changes are vast and challenging.</p> <p>People are often attached to places based on <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/tran.12368">historical knowledge</a> of them. These lived experiences, while important, inform a worldview based on an understanding of our environment before the <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-2428-6_2">rapid onset</a> of climate change. This can skew our climate risk responses, but compounding climate impacts are outpacing our ability to adapt as we might have in the past.</p> <p>Institutional signalling, such as <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/property-values-are-at-risk-in-climate-change-hot-spots-rba-warns-20210917-p58skt.html">warnings by the Reserve Bank</a>, support greater public awareness of climate impacts and risks.</p> <p>When buying a property, people need to consider these factors more seriously than, say, having an extra bathroom. Obligatory disclosure of regional climate change impacts could inform buyers’ decision-making. The data and models used would have to be clear on the validity and limitations of their scenarios.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A great presentation from <a href="https://twitter.com/Tayanah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tayanah</a> at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/C2C2021?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#C2C2021</a> about the legal status of property rights in Australia enabling (or otherwise...) managed retreat as a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/climateadaptation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#climateadaptation</a> solution. Once again we find the climate projections are ahead of our legal preced…<a href="https://t.co/XgDVV5O0Gj">https://t.co/XgDVV5O0Gj</a></p> <p>— Anthony Boxshall (@ScienceN2Action) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScienceN2Action/status/1420173588217303044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>Nature-based and equitable solutions</strong></p> <p>In recent years there has been an increasing focus on nature-based solutions. This approach uses natural systems and tools for tackling societal issues such as the enormous and complex risks posed by climate change. Indeed, many Indigenous peoples, communities and ways of knowing <a href="https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/full/10.1139/facets-2019-0058">have long recognised</a> the fundamental role of nature in making good and safe lives possible for people.</p> <p>Nature-based solutions provide a suite of valuable tools for remedying issues we’re already facing on coasts. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0964569121000399">For example</a>, in many contexts, building hard seawalls is often a temporary solution, which instils a false sense of security. Planting soft barriers such as mangroves and dense, deep-rooting vegetation can provide a more enduring solution. It also restores fish habitat, purifies water and eases floods.</p> <p>Acknowledging the well-being of people and nature as interconnected has important implications for decisions about relocating people from high-risk areas. Effective planned retreat strategies must not only get people out of harm’s way, but account for where they will move and how precious ecosystems will be protected as demand for land supply shifts. Nature-based solutions must be built into retreat policies too.</p> <p>As the Australian Academy of Science’s <a href="https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/events/launch-national-strategy-just-adaptation">Strategy for Just Adaptation</a> explains, effective adaptation also embeds equity and justice in the process. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-019-02535-1">Research</a> on historic retreat strategies has shown that a failure to properly consider and respect people’s choices, resources and histories can further entrench inequities. Giving people moving to a new home as much choice as possible helps them work through an emotional and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0964569116301119">highly political process</a>.</p> <p>We all need to find the courage to have difficult conversations, to seek information to make prudent choices, and to do all we can to respond to the growing climate risks that confront us. As climate activist Greta Thunburg <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwD1kG4PI0w">says</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>“Hope is not passive. Hope is not blah blah blah. Hope is telling the truth. Hope is taking action. And hope always comes from the people.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Acting on this kind of hope can put us on an altogether different and more positive path.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/195357/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Writen by Tayanah O'Donnell and Eleanor Robson. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/coastal-property-prices-and-climate-risks-are-both-soaring-we-must-pull-our-heads-out-of-the-sand-195357" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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“You couldn’t pull it off”: Kochie grills Anthony Albanese over election promises

<p dir="ltr">Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire from <em>Sunrise</em> host David ‘Kochie’ Koch over two election promises the host says were broken in Tuesday’s federal budget.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kochie brought up two promises Mr Albanese made to Australians before taking on the top job, including real wage increases and a drop in power bills by $275.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now, those two in this budget are a fail,” the Sunrise host said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What do you say to voters … you have broken two promises?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Refuting that promises regarding wages were broken, the Prime Minister said the minimum wage had increased by 5.2 percent, with inflation at the time sitting at 5.1 percent.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That is a real wage increase for minimum wage workers out there,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for slashing power bills, Kochie pointed out that they were instead going up by more than half over the next year and a half.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You said you’d save $275 a year on power bills, and now they are going up 56 percent over the next 18 months,” Kochie said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Ukraine war has been going a fair while. We knew this was happening.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese conceded that the war in Ukraine was one contributor to increasing prices while also attributing it to “failed energy policies” under the previous Coalition government.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One [reason] is the Ukraine war, which has been going on for some time, that has flowed through into global prices,” the Prime Minister explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We know global energy prices have fed into global inflation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In our competitors, many of them are looking at double-digit inflation. You are aware of that pressure.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As well as that, we had 10 years of failed energy policies, we saw four gigawatts leave the system, and only one go back in. If you have less supply, that has an impact on price. That is why we are dealing with that through our Powering Australia Plan.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Kochie didn’t let up though and questioned why Mr Albanese made the promise in the first place if he knew he “couldn’t pull it off”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But you shouldn’t have made the promise because you knew you couldn’t pull it off,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Co-host Natalie Barr also weighed in, pointing out that election promises influence who Australians vote for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When it comes to power prices, there are real pressures out there,” Mr Albanese continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We understand people are doing it tough. We understand the power price issue is a difficult one. That’s why we’ve flagged the preparedness for further regulatory reform.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Treasurer Jim Chalmers received similar treatment from the morning show host, with the war in Ukraine being a sore point.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think Australians understand, Kochie, that when you’ve got a war in Europe which is causing havoc on global energy markets, then that has consequences for electricity prices here in Australia,” Mr Chalmers said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think people do understand that, and I think they also understand that renewable energy, it’s not just cleaner energy, it’s cheaper energy as well, that remains the case.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What we’re doing in this budget is investing in new sources of energy, which is important over time, but we have also got necessary regulatory steps.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is more work to be done when it comes to the electricity market and we do understand these electricity price rises make it harder for Australians who are already under the pump, and that is why we are taking some of the steps that we are taking.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the new budget, the Powering Australia Plan will see $20 billion spent on upgrading the electrical grid, including connecting Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation, a network of hydropower and power stations, to the East Coast transmission network.</p> <p dir="ltr">The government also plans to spend $224.3 million on a program delivering 400 community batteries to store excess solar energy, as well as $102.2 million on a program to help up to 25,000 households access solar-powered energy.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-55c6cc6b-7fff-6ff4-a709-6821f16e69b5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Sunrise</em></p>

Money & Banking

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"This is the devil's work!": Nun pulls apart female models sharing a kiss

<p dir="ltr">A shocked nun caused quite a stir in the streets of Italy when she pulled away two female models who were kissing for a photoshoot.</p> <p dir="ltr">The nun was dressed in a white habit and rushed to stop Serena de Ferrari and Briton Kyshan Wilson who had locked lips in a Naples backstreet as they posed for a photo for Not Yet magazine.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What are you doing? This is the devil's work,” the nun shouted at them as they giggled.</p> <p dir="ltr">She looked around at the cameramen and crossed herself before saying: “Jesus, Joseph and Mary”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Make up artist Roberta Mastalia, who was on the shoot, said they had to ask the nun to leave thinking she was just joking.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We were on location in the Spanish Quarter in Naples, in a little sidestreet with the two models when all of a sudden the nun walked past,” he said, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11027633/Italian-nun-splits-two-female-models-kissing-photoshoot-calling-devils-work.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Mail</a> reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She asked us if we had been to Mass that day and when we said 'No' she started blaming young people for Coronavirus and then she saw the two models posing up ready to kiss and that's when she ran forward to split them up.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our first reaction was we were all stunned. They took it as a bit of a joke and you can see from the video the two girls are laughing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We then had to ask the nun to leave as we explained we had work to do and she slowly walked off.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Both Serena and Briton shared clips of the incident to their social media with the caption “God doesn’t love LGBT”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Local priest Father Salvatore Giuliano The Church is constantly updating its views but some of the older generation have not yet accepted it.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Michael Jackson songs pulled from Youtube over authenticity claims

<p dir="ltr">Three songs from Michael Jackson’s posthumous 2010 album <em>Michael</em> have been pulled from online streaming services amid allegations the king of pop didn’t actually sing them. </p> <p dir="ltr">The songs in question - <em>Monster</em>, <em>Breaking News</em>, and <em>Keep Your Head Up</em> - are no longer available to buy or stream on global music services. </p> <p dir="ltr">The tracks have been the subject of an ongoing lawsuit against Sony Music and Jackson’s estate, alleging that Jackson did not sing them.</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2014, a fan of the late musician filed a lawsuit against Sony and the estate over the three songs for violation of consumer laws, unfair competition and fraud.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sony and the estate were cleared from the case in 2018 and its appeal in 2020, and the suit is currently in the California Supreme Court.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prior to the album’s release, doubts were raised by Jackson’s family members whether songs were performed by the Grammy-winner. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/08/new-michael-jackson-songs">The Guardian</a>, his mother Katherine claimed in 2010 that “some of the tracks on the album are fake”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The musician’s sister, LaToya, told <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2010/11/07/la-toya-jackson-michael-jackson-song-breaking-news-sony/">TMZ</a>, “It doesn’t sound like him”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Michael’s nephew Taryll tweeted at the time, “I KNOW my Uncle’s voice, and something’s seriously wrong when you have immediate FAMILY saying it’s not him.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the allegations, a spokesperson from Jackson’s website recently said the tracks being pulled “had nothing to do with their authenticity”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Estate and Sony Music believe the continuing conversation about the tracks is distracting the fan community and casual Michael Jackson listeners from focusing their attention where it should be — on Michael’s legendary and deep music catalog [sic],” the Jackson website spokesperson said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

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URGENT RECALL: Lucas' Papaw Ointment pulled from shelves

<p>Several batches of Lucas’ Papaw Ointment have been urgently recalled, due to microbial contamination.</p> <p>The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued the nationwide recall of 11 batches of the topical ointment.</p> <p>The microorganisms in questions have been identified as Aspergillus tubingensis, Sordaria humana, Penicillium paneum and Paenibacillus glucanolyticus.</p> <p>The TGA said that while these moulds and bacteria pose “minimal risk” to the general population, there is a “remote risk” that individuals who are immunocompromised could become ill if exposed to these organisms.</p> <p>The impacted batch numbers are:</p> <ul> <li>00522D22, 15g, Expiry April 2025</li> <li>00822E25, 15g, Expiry May 2025</li> <li>00822E26, 15g, Expiry May 2025</li> <li>00822E27, 15g, Expiry May 2025</li> <li>00822F01, 15g, Expiry June 2025</li> <li>00822F03, 15g, Expiry June 2025</li> <li>00822F06, 15g, Expiry June 2025</li> <li>00822E31, 15g, Expiry May 2025</li> <li>00522E04, 75g, Expiry May 2025</li> <li>00522E05, 75g, Expiry May 2025</li> <li>00822E30, 200g, Expiry May 2025</li> </ul> <p>Those who use the cult product are urged to check the batch number which can be found at the ‘crimp’ at the top of the tube or at the bottom of the bigger containers.</p> <p>Those who have an ointment from an affected batch are advised to “immediately stop using it” and return it to the place of purchase for a refund.</p> <p>No other batches or other Lucas’ Papaw Remedies products are being recalled at this time.</p> <p><em>Images: Lucas Papaw.com.au </em></p>

Body

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Popular product pulled from ALDI shelves over allergy fears

<p dir="ltr">ALDI has issued an urgent recall for a popular salad and has pulled it from the shelves over fears that it could contain an undeclared ingredient that could cause allergic reactions.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 500g Fresh Salad Co Thai coconut wild rice prepared salad has been recalled because it could contain cashews, with Food Standards Australia expressing concern that consumers with a cashew allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if they eat it, per <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/food-warnings/aldi-pulls-thai-coconut-rice-salad-due-to-undeclared-cashews/news-story/29063456fff4e456a53d59177ac00b14" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2d6f1127-7fff-8b04-6754-51a66ac032aa"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The product was on sale at ALDI stores across NSW, the ACT, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/recall-salad.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Food Standards Australia</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Anyone with a cashew allergy or intolerance who purchased the salad shouldn’t eat it and instead return it to any ALDI store for a refund of the purchasing price if it has one of the following use-by dates:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use by July 3, 2022</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use by July 4, 2022</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use by July 5, 2022</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use by July 6, 2022</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use by July 7, 2022</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use by July 8, 2022</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use by July 9, 2022</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Any consumers who are concerned about their health should seek medical advice.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4e2c6f62-7fff-a28e-eb20-e8ba9bf8cf94"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Food & Wine

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"Pull ya head in": Lisa Wilkinson’s colleagues lash out

<p dir="ltr">Lisa Wilkinson’s colleagues have turned on her in the wake of the Brittany Higgins trial being delayed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Project</em> host caused <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/serious-legal-fallout-of-lisa-wilkinson-s-logies-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serious legal issues</a> for the alleged rape case against the former Liberal Staffer following her Logies speech. </p> <p dir="ltr">Chief Justice Lucy McCallum announced the case, which was due to begin next week, has been delayed due to Wilkinson’s speech. </p> <p dir="ltr">And now, Wilkinson’s <em>Channel 10</em> colleagues have turned on her and the result has been nothing but nasty. </p> <p dir="ltr">Beloved weatherman Tim Bailey called out Wilkinson in a now deleted tweet telling her to “pull ya head in”.  </p> <p dir="ltr">“Hey Lisa, pull ya head in. I know this might be difficult, because it is a very big head. But please try. #LisaWilkinson #Logies2022 #carparkthief,” the tweet read. </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/tim-bailey3.jpg" alt="" width="642" height="344" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Veteran newsreader Sandra Sully has also liked a tweet by celebrity reporter Peter Ford, who heavily criticised Wilkinson’s speech. </p> <p dir="ltr">His tweet had an image of The Daily Telegraph’s Wednesday front page showing Wilkinson with her hand up and the headline: “Hand up if you’ve caused court chaos”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ford also tweeted: “Such serious consequences from @Lisa_Wilkinson Logies speech. If only she’d stuck to silly stories like the paparazzi who stalked her in Chapel Street. Hope she now backs away now and lets people seek justice they (both parties) deserve.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/10-tweet.jpg" alt="" width="873" height="408" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Sunrise </em>presenter Natalie Barr also briefly mentioned the incident on the breakfast TV show on Wednesday questioning why the speech wasn’t checked by lawyers. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You know, we have our own lawyers, we often consult them before we put a story to air, would this have been the case where Channel 10's lawyers should have stepped in and lawyered this speech?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ironically, Wilkinson called for discretion to be used when writing/reporting on the case. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Naming the man on social media &amp; passing judgement could have dire consequences for the outcome of any trial,” she tweeted last year. </p> <p dir="ltr">There is a high possibility that Wilkinson’s speech could be investigated and she may face legal consequences according to President of the Australian Bar Association Matthew Collin.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bruce Lehrmann is accused of sexually assaulting Higgins in 2019 and was due to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court next week.</p> <p dir="ltr">He has pleaded not guilty over the alleged rape.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lehrmann’s team then requested a temporary stay of court proceedings due to the publicity surrounding the case from the speech.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Stalk choppers unite: Sneaky money-saving trick sparks debate

<p>With the cost of living expenses skyrocketing as the days go by, Aussie shoppers are taking matters into their own hands by finding creative ways to reduce their supermarket spend.</p> <p>However, the latest ploy to pay less for broccoli, which now costs up to $11.90 per kilo in some areas – has left customers divided, with some condemning this questionable "short-cut".</p> <p>Some shoppers have noticed legions of broccoli stalks being dumped on supermarket shelves, and have shared their observations online.</p> <p>The running theory is that some customers are snapping off the florets and leaving the stalk – or stem – behind, as that's the heaviest part. Doing this makes the vegetable lighter and therefore, cheaper at the check-out.</p> <p>By that logic, and the fact most retailers charge produce by weight, not item, people are arguably paying more for the stems that aren't often used.</p> <p>Last week, 2GB producer Jake told host Ben Fordham he recently bought four pieces of broccoli for $15 from Woolworths, but he noticed the stems were longer than usual, meaning fewer broccoli florets.</p> <p>He suggested it was a deliberate attempt by Woolworths to charge customers more for less, but that might not be the case.</p> <p>A Coles shopper in Melbourne named Jenn Shaw said she saw it too and shared a video on TikTok.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@jenn_shaw_/video/7108686164973915393" data-video-id="7108686164973915393"> <section><a title="@jenn_shaw_" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jenn_shaw_" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@jenn_shaw_</a> food prices in <a title="australia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#Australia</a> ... <a title="foodwaste" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foodwaste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#foodwaste</a> <a title="foodprices" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foodprices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#foodprices</a> <a title="kitchenhacks" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kitchenhacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#kitchenhacks</a> <a title="♬ Taste It - Ikson" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Taste-It-6810180997917722626" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Taste It - Ikson</a></section> </blockquote> <p>In it, she pointed out that "shoppers are leaving stalks on shelves" in a bid to make them cheaper.</p> <p>Dozens of people responded to Shaw's video and admitted to breaking off what they needed, with one person arguing: "every bit helps these days", claiming she saves about $1.50 each time she buys broccoli, just by leaving the stalk.</p> <p>"No disrespect but for that price, I would do the same," admitted another.</p> <p>The original poster argued doing this creates so much waste as the stalks can be cooked and eaten too.</p> <p>In the clip, the Melbourne woman suggested people chop them up and add them to meals the same way you would the florets, and dozens more agreed.</p> <p><strong>Coles and Woolworths speak out</strong></p> <p>After becoming aware of the practice, Coles said it's "disappointing" to see.</p> <p>"It’s disappointing to hear a small number of customers have removed the stalks from broccoli in our stores as the entire vegetable is edible and full of nutritional value”.</p> <p>"We have not changed the specifications we set for our suppliers around the length of broccoli stems," a Woolworths spokesperson said in a statement.</p> <p>They also said the stem of the broccoli plays an important role in keeping the broccoli hydrated and fresh, particularly after being cut.</p> <p>This viral video comes after Coles and Woolworths warned about more price hikes in the coming months due to increased production and manufacturing costs, fuel price hikes and supply chain blockages.</p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Low-cost gel film pulls clean drinking water from desert air, raising hopes of quenching the world’s driest communities

<p class="spai-bg-prepared">One in three people lives in <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.un.org/en/events/desertification_decade/whynow.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drylands</a>, areas covering more than 40% of the Earth’s surface that experience significant water shortages.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">Scientists and engineers have now developed a new material that could help people living in these areas access <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/water/an-answer-to-the-clean-water-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clean drinking water</a> by capturing it right out of the atmosphere, according to a new study in <em class="spai-bg-prepared">Nature Communications</em>.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">They’ve developed a gel film that costs just $2 per kilogram to produce and can pull water from the air in even the driest climates; 1kg of it can produce more than 6 litres per day in less than 15% relative humidity (RH), and 13 litres in areas with up to 30% RH.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">Relative humidity is the ratio of the current absolute humidity to the highest possible absolute humidity.  So a 100% RH means that the air is completely saturated with water vapour and cannot hold any more. People tend to feel most comfortable between 30% and 50%, and arid climates have less than 30% RH.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">These results are promising, as previous attempts to pull water from the desert air have typically been energy-intensive and not very efficient.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">“This new work is about practical solutions that people can use to get water in the hottest, driest places on Earth,” says senior author Guihua Yu, professor of Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin, US. “This could allow millions of people without consistent access to drinking water to have simple, water-generating devices at home that they can easily operate.”</p> <div class="newsletter-box spai-bg-prepared"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p192317-o1" class="wpcf7 spai-bg-prepared" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">The gel is made with <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/hydroxypropyl-cellulose" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydroxypropyl cellulose</a> (HPC) which is produced from cellulose, and a common kitchen ingredient called <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813016310339" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">konjac glucomannan</a>, as well as lithium chloride salt (LiCl). It forms a hydrophilic (water attracting) porous film with a large surface area that collects the water vapour from air.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">“The gel takes two minutes to set simply. Then, it just needs to be freeze dried, and it can be peeled off the mould and used immediately after that,” explains Weixin Guan, a doctoral student on Yu’s team and a lead researcher of the work.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">And, because the cellulose is thermo-responsive, it becomes hydrophobic (water repelling) when heated which allows the collected water to be released within 10 minutes through mild heating at 60 °C.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">This means that the overall energy needed to produce the water is minimised. The film is also flexible, can be moulded into a variety of shapes and sizes, and producing it requires only the gel precursor – which includes all the relevant ingredients poured into a mould.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">“This is not something you need an advanced degree to use,” says lead author Youhong “Nancy” Guo, a former doctoral student in Yu’s lab and now a postdoctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It’s straightforward enough that anyone can make it at home if they have the materials.”</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">And because it’s so simple, the authors say the challenges of scaling the technology up and achieving mass usage are reduced.</p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" class="spai-bg-prepared" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=192317&amp;title=Low-cost+gel+film+pulls+clean+drinking+water+from+desert+air%2C+raising+hopes+of+quenching+the+world%E2%80%99s+driest+communities" width="1" height="1" /></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/gel-film-desert-drinking-water/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto">Imma Perfetto</a>. Imma Perfetto is a science writer at Cosmos. She has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Science Communication from the University of Adelaide.</em></p> <p><em>Image: The University of Texas at Austin/Cockrell School of Engineering</em></p> </div>

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A driverless car pulled over by police goes ‘on the lam’

<p dir="ltr">Though autonomous cars might be the future, it seems that won’t become reality for some time after a video of a driverless car being pulled over by police before quickly driving off again went viral online.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video, posted to Twitter and Reddit, shows police officers from the San Francisco Police Department pulling over a self-driving car from the taxi company, Cruise.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4ea97201-7fff-4db7-2b1c-95b850d91fd3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Cruise has been operating the taxis in San Francisco since late 2021, with Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt enjoying the first driverless taxi ride, while the general public have only been able to hail them since early 2022.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Welcome to the future. Cop pulls over driverless car (because no lights?) Then Cruise goes on the lamb. (via <a href="https://t.co/mtmsIeOAUP">https://t.co/mtmsIeOAUP</a>) <a href="https://t.co/ecQ5xXuSnS">pic.twitter.com/ecQ5xXuSnS</a></p> <p>— Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) <a href="https://twitter.com/llsethj/status/1512960943805841410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In the clip, police put their lights on to signal to the car to pull over at a set of traffic lights. It stops just before the lights, and one of the officers walks to the driver side window and looks to see if anyone is inside.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ain’t nobody in it,” someone can be heard calling to the police.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, as the officer walks back to his car the Cruise vehicle drives off, before stopping and turning on its hazard lights a short distance away.</p> <p dir="ltr">This time, three officers jump out of the car and stand around the vehicle until the video ends.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though it’s initially unclear why the Cruise car was pulled over in the first place, the comments reveal that the car didn’t have its headlights on while driving at night.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is claimed that Cruise employees were aware of the incident as it was happening and were the ones to instruct the car to move forward, according to <em><a href="https://www.dmarge.com/2022/04/driverless-car-police.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DMarge</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-724fe448-7fff-6b72-4ccd-0c4000943848"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Cruise later commented on the clip, confirming that one of the officers contacted Cruise personnel and that the company had a dedicated phone number for officers to call.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chiming in with more details: our AV yielded to the police vehicle, then pulled over to the nearest safe location for the traffic stop, as intended. An officer contacted Cruise personnel and no citation was issued.</p> <p>— cruise (@Cruise) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cruise/status/1513181598140796936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Currently, Cruise offers its autonomous vehicle services between 11pm and 5am in certain parts of the city, when traffic is much calmer according to <em><a href="https://mashable.com/article/cruise-driverless-rides-san-francisco-public" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mashable</a></em>. Those interested in taking a driverless ride can sign up to be on the <a href="https://www.getcruise.com/ridersignup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waitlist</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-45e5a6fe-7fff-7edf-da4c-56f29660c088"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

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