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Rare coin hidden for decades to fetch eye-watering sum

Three sisters from the US who inherited a dime coin kept it in a bank vault for more than 40 years, and while they know it had some value, they didn't know just how much until a few years ago. The rare coin, struck by the US Mint in San Francisco in 1975, could be worth more than $US500,000 ($748,000), according to Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, the auction house selling the coin. What makes the coin depicting President Franklin D. Roosevelt so valuable is that it is just one of two coins missing the "S" mint mark for San Francisco. The other dime sold for $US682,000 (over $1 million) at a 2019 auction and then again months later to a private collector. While avid coin collectors have known about the existence of these two extraordinarily rare coins, their whereabouts had remained a mystery since the late 1970s. “They were hidden for decades,” Russell said. “Most major collectors and dealers have never seen one.” The three sisters from Ohio, who want to remain anonymous, inherited one of the two dimes after the recent death of their of their brother, Russell said. They told Russell that their brother and mother bought the first error coin discovered in 1978 for $27,225, which would amount to roughly $135,000 today. Their parents, who ran a dairy farm, saw the coin as a financial safety net, and it was only until last year that one of the sisters saw the coin first-hand. Russell also said that their brother had reached out to him about seven years ago and told him about the coin, but he too kept it a secret. When Russell told one of the sisters about the potential value of the coin, she told him: “is that really possible?”. The coin, known as the “1975 ‘no S’ proof dime,” will be displayed at a coin show beginning on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, and before <a href="https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1655587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the auction</a> closes late next month, Russell said. The current highest bidder has offered $US250,000 ($374,000). Images: Great Collections/ Professional Coin Grading Services

Money & Banking

What’s a recession – and how can we tell if we’re in one?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/leonora-risse-405312">Leonora Risse</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> Today’s <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-national-income-expenditure-and-product/latest-release">economic data</a> shows that, outside of the pandemic, the Australian economy has slowed down to its lowest annual rate of growth since the early-1990s recession. That’s prompting the dreaded question: are we headed for another one? Any mention of the “R” word can trigger anxiety. Recessions bring job losses and financial strain, and put serious pressure on people’s mental health. These impacts can be especially severe for people who are already experiencing disadvantage and vulnerabilities. But what exactly does it mean to be in a recession? What are the different ways we define them? And are these current approaches the best way to measure people’s economic pain? <h2>What’s a recession?</h2> A bit like the waves of the ocean, our economy is characterised by ebbs and flows in overall activity. Spending and business growth can swell during times of confidence, but slow down when optimism deflates or the economy is hit by an unexpected shock such as a pandemic or climate disaster. This pattern is what economists describe as “the business cycle”. Most of the time, our economy is constantly growing, even if the pace varies. Conventionally, we measure this pace by tracking changes in the level of <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/economic-growth.html">gross domestic product</a> (GDP) – the overall volume of items and services being produced, bought and sold in the economy. The <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-national-income-expenditure-and-product/jun-2024">latest economic growth rates</a> of 0.2% for the June quarter, and 1% over the past year, tell us that the Australian economy is still growing, even if at a slower pace than previous years. Occasionally, the economy slows down to such a grind that economic activity, from one quarter to the next, shrinks. When this happens, the GDP measurements come out negative. When we have two negative measurements of GDP in a row, this is defined as a <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/recession.html">technical recession</a>. This is what happened to most countries around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, Australia hadn’t experienced a technical recession since 1991. The latest figures tell us Australia is staying afloat for now. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like a recession to many people. Some other metrics show why. <h2>Other measures of recession</h2> Growth in economic activity is fuelled, in part, by a growing population. Dividing total economic output by the population size, GDP per capita can offer a more accurate picture of people’s economic reality. This population-adjusted measure of economic growth has long fallen into negative territory. Today’s figures tell us that Australia’s GDP per person has been shrinking for 18 months. Our annual per capita growth rate is now -1.5%. <figure class="align-right zoomable"></figure> In the United States, recessions are measured differently again. Recessions are officially declared by the National Bureau of Economic Research (<a href="https://www.nber.org/research/business-cycle-dating">NBER</a>). Unlike technical recessions, these aren’t based on a simple rule. NBER considers a range of measures beyond GDP – including personal income, employment, personal consumption, wholesale and retail sales, and industrial production across multiple sectors – when deciding whether to declare a US recession. <h2>Is Australia heading for a recession?</h2> This is a challenging question to answer because the GDP figures economists conventionally use to diagnose the situation only come to light after a recession hits. Today’s economic figures from the ABS are for the June 2024 quarter – now more than two months old. Measurements of the current economic climate won’t come through in official statistics for some time. If it occurs, by the time a recession is officially diagnosed, we’re usually well and truly in it. A similar limitation applies to the retrospective approach of the <a href="https://www.nber.org/research/business-cycle-dating">NBER</a>, which “waits until it is confident that a recession has occurred”. It’s like a weather forecaster declaring a cyclone has hit only after the wind gusts have blown your roof away. But we can use other metrics to alert ourselves to recession risks before the eye of the storm hits. <h2>Using jobs numbers as a recession alert</h2> One approach is the <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SAHMCURRENT">Sahm Rule</a>, named after its creator, US economist Claudia Sahm. By analysing patterns in the monthly unemployment data that preceded past recessions, Sahm devised a <a href="https://stayathomemacro.substack.com/p/the-sahm-rule-step-by-step">formula</a> to detect when increases in the current unemployment rate were rapid enough to pose a recession risk. The advantage of this approach is that unemployment statistics come out more quickly and frequently than GDP numbers. Many would also argue that monitoring unemployment, rather than GDP, is a more meaningful metric to reflect people’s everyday experiences of the economy and wellbeing. The Sahm approach tracks how quickly the national unemployment rate is currently rising compared to the past year. It’s calculated by comparing the current three-month moving average of the national unemployment rate to this figure’s lowest value in the previous 12 months. This “moving average” approach smooths out the bumpiness of monthly figures. A jump of 0.5% or more signals the economy’s current pattern is on the cusp of recession. While the Sahm formula was developed for the US economy, it does a fairly good job of waving a red flag where recessions previously occurred in the Australian economy, too. Australia’s latest unemployment rate – inching up to 4.2% in July 2024 – pushed the Sahm value up to 0.5%. <iframe id="3d239" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3d239/5/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> This indicator doesn’t necessarily mean that a recession will occur. But it suggests policymakers should be on high alert. The Sahm indicator also validates the experiences of job seekers who – despite official definitions that the economy is not in recession – are personally feeling the pressures of a slowing economy and shrinking job opportunities. As our approaches to measuring and managing the ups and downs of the economy continue to evolve, these people-centred metrics are an increasingly important part of our toolkit.<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/238199/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/leonora-risse-405312">Leonora Risse</a>, Associate Professor in Economics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-a-recession-and-how-can-we-tell-if-were-in-one-238199">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

It’s warming up and mozzies are coming. Here’s how to mosquito-proof your backyard

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> The weather is warming up and that means more time in the backyard. It also means more mosquitoes. Here are five ways you can mosquito-proof your backyard that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-battle-against-bugs-its-time-to-end-chemical-warfare-111629">don’t rely on spraying insecticides</a>. <h2>1. Get rid of water</h2> Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycles. They <a href="https://theconversation.com/feel-like-youre-a-mozzie-magnet-its-true-mosquitoes-prefer-to-bite-some-people-over-others-128788">need blood</a> – but water and warmth are just as important. Getting rid of water around your backyard will go a long way to keeping mosquitoes away. Water trapped in blocked roof gutters, drains and tarpaulin covering boats and trailers can be a great home for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can exploit the tiniest of water sources too. It may just be the upturned lid of a discarded plastic drink bottle. If it traps water, mosquitoes will find it and lay eggs in it. Flush out your bird bath once a week to disrupt the mosquito’s life cycle. If you have a pond, installing a fountain will discourage mosquitoes. If you can’t keep water clean and circulating, consider filling it with sand and gravel to create an interesting garden bed for succulents or other plants. Mosquitoes will avoid clean and chlorinated swimming pools but will quickly move into “green pools”. If you’re not using your pool, consider <a href="https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Your-local-environment/Wildlife/Living-with-wildlife/Pool-to-pond/How-to-convert-your-pool">converting it to a “pond”</a> so that fish can help keep mosquito numbers down. <h2>2. Screen up – windows, doors and rainwater tanks</h2> If you can’t get rid of permanent water, at least stop mosquitoes getting to it (or you). Ensure <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/water/water-smart-homes/rainwater-tanks/using-your-rainwater-tank">rainwater and septic tanks</a> have screens to stop mosquitoes entering. Screen windows and doors to stop mosquitoes entering the home. There are plenty of flexible screening options for windows, doors and balconies. If you live in a mosquito-prone area, creating a screened outdoor area (such as a pergola, courtyard, or balcony) will give you the opportunity to spend time outdoors without being hassled by mozzies. <h2>3. Choose your garden plants carefully</h2> Some plants <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-the-American-Mosquito-Control-Association/volume-25/issue-3/09-0016.1/Are-Commercially-Available-Essential-Oils-from-Australian-Native-Plants-Repellent/10.2987/09-0016.1.short">contain essential oils and other chemicals</a> that, when extracted and concentrated, provide protection against biting mosquitoes. But there isn’t a lot of evidence that the whole plant will keep mosquitoes away from your garden. Some types of plants are even marketed as “mozzie blockers” or “mosquito repelling”. But there isn’t <a href="https://www.veranda.com/outdoor-garden/a40592197/do-mosquito-repelling-plants-work/">any evidence of effectiveness</a>. In fact, some of these plants, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2009.00736.x">such as melaleucas</a>, also happen to be associated with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/36/4/515/903838">hot spots of mosquito breeding</a> in coastal Australia. The plants to avoid around the home are those that help mosquitoes breed, such as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2008.00641.x">bromeliads</a>, which trap water. <h2>4. Encourage the animals that eat mosquitoes</h2> Mosquitoes are food for a range of animals including birds, bats, fish, frogs, lizards, insects, spiders and <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2656.13965">dragonflies</a>. But don’t expect them to eat enough to keep all mosquitoes away. Bats are often promoted as a good “biological control” options but studies have shown mosquitoes are <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0077183">more likely to be a snack food</a> for small bats, not an irresistible staple of their diet. For garden ponds, frogs will eat a few adult mosquitoes but tadpoles of Australian frogs generally <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-21/issue-4/8756-971X(2006)21%5b492%3aTOFCAF%5d2.0.CO%3b2/TADPOLES-OF-FOUR-COMMON-AUSTRALIAN-FROGS-ARE-NOT-EFFECTIVE-PREDATORS/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)21%5B492:TOFCAF%5D2.0.CO;2.short">don’t eat many mosquito “wrigglers”</a>. Australian native fish <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15532929/">will readily eat mosquitoes</a> and may be useful for backyard ponds. But not all fish are good. While “mosquitofish” (aka “plague minnow”) is distributed overseas to assist in mosquito control, <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article/30/3/316/134508/Does-predation-by-the-fish-Gambusia-holbrooki">it’s a disaster for local wildlife</a> and, <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquatic-biosecurity/pests-diseases/freshwater-pests/finfish-species/gambusia">along with other exotic fish species</a>, should not be released into local waterways. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-019-01133-2">Healthier habitats promote fewer mosquitoes</a> so the best thing you can do is create habitats for the animals that eat mosquitoes. <h2>5. Avoid traps and other gadgets</h2> There are lots of devices purported to catch, kill, or repel mosquitoes from your garden. Some may catch a mosquito or two but they’re not very effective in knocking out big numbers. “Bug zappers” with bright lights will collect lots of flying insects. It’s just that mosquitoes make up a very small proportion of collections. Electrocuting devices, again, don’t seem to attract a lot of mosquitoes. Devices that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-buzz-from-your-smartphone-wont-stop-mosquito-bites-92611">emit high frequency sounds</a> won’t help either. The best devices are typically those that are baited with carbon dioxide. These are a mainstay of state and territory <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/mosquito-borne/Pages/surveillance.aspx">mosquito and arbovirus surveillance programs</a>. For a mosquito, the C0₂ tricks them into thinking the trap is a warm-blooded animal. The only problem is these can be expensive to run and don’t seem quite as effective for mosquito control <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-22/issue-3/8756-971X(2006)22%5b490%3aTATTFA%5d2.0.CO%3b2/Traps-and-Trapping-Techniques-for-Adult-Mosquito-Control/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)22%5B490:TATTFA%5D2.0.CO;2.short">unless used in large numbers</a>. <h2>Yes, you’ll still need repellent</h2> Perhaps the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to pick an insect repellent <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/december-2016-volume-26-issue-5/a-review-of-recommendations-on-the-safe-and-effective-use-of-topical-mosquito-repellents/">recommended by health authorities</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/mozzies-biting-heres-how-to-choose-a-repellent-and-how-to-use-it-for-the-best-protection-150183">apply it</a> to ensure all exposed areas of skin are covered. These products and safe, affordable and effective.<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/212711/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-warming-up-and-mozzies-are-coming-heres-how-to-mosquito-proof-your-backyard-212711">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

Queen Camilla's damning "proof" in Simon Dorante-Day's case

A seemingly innocent comment made by Queen Camilla to the Archbishop of Canterbury about her relationship with King Charles has become new "proof" in Simon Dorante-Day's claims against the monarch. For several years, 57-year-old Simon from Queensland has claimed that he is the love child of King Charles and Queen Camilla. However, there have been several holes in his fact checking that have seen his claims been slammed. One major blindside in his story is the fact that he was born in 1966, and Charles and Camilla have famously dated their relationship back to when they were introduced by a friend in 1970. When Charles and Camilla first met, they were aged 21 and 22 respectively, and were not photographed publicly together until 1972. However, in a new documentary titled The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, Dr George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, said their relationship could go back further than initially believed. Dr Carey was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, and gave his blessing for Charles and Camilla to marry. In the explosive documentary, Dr Carey says Camilla confirmed that her relationship with Charles went “back to when they were teenagers”. The former Archbishop said he met Camilla at his son’s flat in Peckham, London, to discuss the possibility of marrying Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales. He explained they had met at the obscure location to avoid attracting public attention. “She walked through the front door and we had coffee together… we had an animated conversation and we talked about her relationship with Charles, going way back to when they were teenagers,” Dr Carey said in the TV interview. “And after that I decided there was no way I could treat her as anything other than a really nice human being who is deeply in love with Charles.” Dr Carey later gave his blessing for the pair to marry. Dorante-Day has long claimed that his own personal research has shown that Charles and Camilla first became close in 1965. He believes that months later, in the lead-up to when he was born, Camilla disappeared from Britain’s social scene for at least nine months, while Charles was sent to Australia. “I have been unable to find any photos of Camilla from the last months of 1965 or the beginning of 1966, when she would’ve been heavily pregnant with me,” Dorante-Day said. Speaking to <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/queen-camilla-comment-to-archbishop-becomes-explosive-new-proof-in-aussie-simon-dorante-day-royal-love-child-case--c-10543212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>, Dorante-Day said the new interview with Dr Carey casts doubt over the public history of Charles and Camilla's early relationships days. “My adoptive grandmother said to me, she said to me quite clearly, that Charles and Camilla were your parents,” he said. “So when I looked back in the history of when they got together and if this was even possible, I didn’t just believe it. But I went off and I researched it." “When you go back and you look at the newspapers from the time and read the royal biographies, it was always stated that they first met in 1972 at a polo match in Windsor." “You know, sometimes the media got it wrong and said 1974 or things like that. But that story was always 1972 until I started doing this." “Then royal commentator Robert Jobson changed it to 1970 in a TV interview with me, pushed it back a few years." “People just keep changing the date. It’s interesting to me." “And now the Archbishop’s story, that Camilla said that they went back to when they were teenagers as well. Yeah. Come on." “It’s the first time someone has given a concrete account of when they met, where it wasn’t just reports and changing dates.” Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook

Family & Pets

How to snake-proof your house and garden

If there’s one thing that strikes fear into many Australians, it’s snakes. Sure, some of them are harmless but they are still the last thing you want to see in your home or garden. There are some ways to make your home less inviting to these reptiles. 1. Block their entrance Snakes like to hide in quiet places such as your roof, garage or underneath the house. Try to make it harder for them to get in by covering any holes leading in or out, and ensuring that screens and doors are kept shut. 2. Keep your garden tidy Snakes like to hide, so keep things neat in the backyard to stop them finding a place to do so. Keep your lawns mowed, and garden beds weeded. Keep your shed locked, and be sure to have a clear out regularly to remove any old boxes. If you have wood stored outside try to have minimal space between each piece so that they can’t use it as shelter. Avoid keeping grass clippings and mulch in a pile as snacks find the warmth appealing. 3. Seal holes in walls Snakes love rock and brick walls as they can use them to keep warm, provide shelter, and find food. Block up any holes that they could hide in by filling them in. 4. Reduce the rodent population Snakes like houses that have mice and rats, so try reducing their numbers. Place bait in your house and garden (ensure it is pet-friendly) and this should reduce the chances of snakes hanging around. 5. Keep birds safe Ensure any chook pens or bird cages are well protected from snakes entering them. Also be sure to keep them clean so that rats and mice aren’t entering the pens either. 6. Keep your bins tidy When you dispose of food scraps, always ensure they are in a sealed garbage bag in your bin, rather than just loose. This will keep rats and mice away, and therefore snakes too. 7. Watch your plant choice Think about the types of plants in your garden if snakes are an issue. Low shrubs and bushes are the ideal spot for a snake. Taller trees and flowers could be a better option. Also be sure to keep leaf litter to a minimum as it’s the perfect hiding spot for snakes. Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

How grandchild proof is your home?

We all have adventurous little ones in our life who are full of beans and personalities who love nothing more than to explore everywhere and anywhere. Is your home safe for these explorers? It’s a given: little ones can (and will!!!) climb and crawl anywhere and everywhere! Here we have a few helpful tips to ensure your home is a safe place for young children to explore explore! Did you know that accidental falls are among the most common types of injuries that are sustained in the home when it comes to children? Given this, you’ll want to make every effort to keep stairs and hallways clear and clutter-free to make room for your child to explore without tripping. It might also be a good idea to consider temporary fencing around stairways, steps and hallways. Safety gates at the top or bottom of stairs should be securely fastened to the wall and have a locked handle that can be used with one hand. These will prevent toddlers from climbing stairs unsupervised. As you all probably know, grandchildren love to climb, look at everything and pull on anything in their sight. To make sure spaces are as safe as possible, guard any hazards you can see when you look around the house. For instance, conceal window locks and blind cords from adventurous babies. Furthermore, ensure window, back doors and so on are locked Modern technology has many benefits and it’s a tool you can use to help with safeguarding your home. For example, place baby monitors around the home. Baby monitors can provide you peace of mind and now also connect to a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer allowing them to be managed through a wireless network for parents on the go. Lastly, many child safety products can be DIY installed and keep children safe from hazards such as sharp corners on drawers and tables, power points and stairs. Do a search on the internet or head to your local hardware store or places like Target or Kmart for budget-friendly options. Image: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

Proof that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are our sweetest rock and roll couple

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman will forever be known as the sweetest rock and roll couple. The loved up couple once again proved that during one of Keith’s shows where Nicole made a surprise appearance on stage. “We love you Nashville,” a smiling Nicole said as Keith embraced her. She then turned to get off stage for her husband to start his show before telling him to “play some music”. "Happy wife, happy life. You guys know what I'm talking about,” Keith responds. Nicole later shared a stunning noir photo of her and Keith with their arms around each other backstage at the show in Nashville. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjeWh7NpWdG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjeWh7NpWdG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)</a> </div> </blockquote> Fans went crazy at the photo, with many thanking the couple for being incredible and sweet during tour. “Nicole you looked amazing last night. I loved your outfit. I waved to you as I was very close to you. You and Keith are such a beautiful blessed couple. Love to you both and your family,” someone wrote. “Love you two Nicole and Keith! You guys are so beautiful together!” another commented. “You two were the sweetest last night - I love seeing a couple still thriving together- gives us all hope,” someone else wrote. “Do you know what I love the most about this photo? It’s the utter love the two of you share — you’re close, you're touching, you’re communicating, you’re supporting, you're in it together. Love it!” another read. Images: Instagram

Music

8 ways to age-proof your brain

While it is well documented that eating a balanced diet (think lots of fruits and veggies and not much sugar, saturated fat or alcohol), as well as getting enough exercise and sleeping about eight hours a night, is not only good for your body but also your brain, there’s something else you need to know too. There is accumulating evidence that a whole host of other activities can help keep your brain young even as you age. Again it’s all about balance, so try a handful of the following. Take dance lessons According to a 2003 landmark study in the New England Journal of Medicine, seniors who danced three to four times a week – especially ballroom dancing – had a 75 per cent lower risk of dementia compared with people who did not dance at. “Dancing is a complex activity,” says study lead author Joe Verghese, M.D., chief of geriatrics at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. “It’s aerobic so it improves blood flow to the brain which has been shown to improve brain connections. It also provides mental challenges.” Play games A 2013 French study found a 15 per cent lower risk of dementia among people who played board games versus those who did not. And the effects seemed to last over the study’s 20-year follow-up. “The idea is that this helps build cognitive reserve,” says Verghese, whose study also found benefits to playing board games like Monopoly. “The more these activities buffer against the disease, you may be able to mask the effects of the disease for longer periods of time. It buys you extra time.” Read more of less While getting stuck into books in good for the brain in general, reading fewer books and articles so you can give them each more focused attention may be even better. “Our brain doesn't do very well with too much information. The more you download, the more it shuts the brain down,” says Sandra Bond Chapman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas. “It's better to read one or two good articles and think about them in a deeper sense rather than read 20.” Change your font Next time you have to print something (or if you have the option under other circumstances) consider changing the typeface before you print. Chances are, the docs came to you in an easy-to-read font like Arial or Times New Roman, but switching it to something a little less legible like Comic Sans or Bodoni may improve your comprehension and recall of the information, according to a small study out of Harvard University. Likewise, a study at an Ohio high school revealed that students who received handouts with less-legible type performed better on tests than the students who were given more readable materials. It’s a version of the no-pain-no-gain phenomenon: When you exert more effort, your brain rewards you by becoming stronger. But make sure you keep things new by changing fonts regularly. Unitask If you pride yourself on your ability to multitask, you might want to rethink you behaviours. “Multitasking hijacks your frontal lobe,” says Chapman, who is also the author of Make Your Brain Smarter. The frontal lobe regulates decision-making, problem-solving and other aspects of learning that are critical to maintaining brain health. Research has shown that doing one thing at a time – not everything at once –strengthens higher-order reasoning, or the ability to learn, understand and apply new information. Write about your stress It has been shown that if you write about stressful experiences for 20 minutes three day in a row you can see an improvement in memory. “We hypothesized that stress causes unwanted, intrusive thoughts,” says study co-author Adriel Boals, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at the University of North Texas in Denton. “Writing gets rid of intrusive thoughts then working memory increases.” So if something’s bothering you, don’t bottle it up. Play a video game Playing puzzle games on an Xbox may have the same effects as brain-training games. And depending on what you play, they may be even more effective. In a Florida State University study, subjects either played games on Lumosity.com or played Portal 2, a popular action-puzzle game for computers, Playstation and Xbox. Those who played Portal 2 scored better on problem solving, spatial skill and persistence tests. Other research shows that playing Tetris may increase gray matter in the brain. Wash the dishes According to one study, washing the dishes, cooking and cleaning can add to your daily activity total and are linked with a reduced risk of dementia. In the study, people with the least amount of total physical activity were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with people reporting the most activity. Even playing cards and moving a wheelchair counted.

Caring

Winter-proof your garden

The start of winter doesn’t mean you have to hang up your gardening hat for the season. Many people see winter as a time to close down the garden and cease all green-thumb activities. But before you hang up your gardening gloves and put away the packets of seeds, you might want to consider a few things first. Prepping your garden before and through winter will make a big difference when spring rolls around. Instead of going into damage control and fixing winter’s havoc, your garden will be ready to enjoy when spring’s first blooms have sprung. We’ve put together a list of things to stay on top of. It will not only give you a good start in spring, but protect your garden through winter. Getting the garden ready for winter checklist: Guard young trees Not only is it a good idea to protect young trees and shrubs from animals (think rabbits and mice), but during winter you have to take extra care of them to ensure the winter elements like rain, gusty winds, snow and ice don’t completely destroy them. Use plastic or wire mesh (known as hardware cloth) to guards around the slender trunks and shrubs. Make sure the guard is high enough, over the snow line. Keep the water coming Most people probably think that during winter, the garden doesn’t require water. But this is not always the case. As long as the ground is not frozen and can accept water, you should at least water your evergreens. While a lot of plants are dormant during these cooler few months and not using much water, evergreens keep their needles all winter and thus lose water through their needles. Keeping water supplied to the roots on a weekly basis as long as possible into the winter season will help reduce stress on evergreens. Brush it off If ice or snow settle or piles up on evergreens, try to gently brush it off and don’t shake the branches. If you’re in a snowy part of Australia, the snow may freeze on the branch and will not brush off easily, if this is the case it is best to let it melt naturally, to avoid damage to the tree or shrub. If tree limbs break due to the weight of ice or snow, remove the broken limbs as soon as the weather permits. The tree’s wound will heal better in spring if it has clean edges instead of ragged tears. Get leafy with it Come winter it is quite possible that your garden floor is covered in leaves. Rather than throwing them out with the garbage, consider shredding autumn leaves and using them as winter mulch on flower beds. You can also add shredded leaves to the compost pile. Weekly clean-up A stitch in time save nine! This is a good thought to live by in the garden, too. Don’t wait until all the leaves have fallen, as during the cooler months of the year the lawn still needs sunlight and leaves left on the lawn will weaken it. Branch off When it comes to broken branches – as there can be a lot of these in winter – removing the most susceptible parts of a plant prior to the onset of winter weather can help with future breakage. Ice, snow, hail, wind, and other winter-weather extremes often cause branches to break, altering the plant’s appearance and, possibly, its productivity. Branches that appear partially dead or especially weak would qualify for early removal. Weed them out Do a big weed before winter sets in and discard any weeds that have seeds on them into the bin instead of compost. You will also want to do a good weeding and edging of the flower beds. Love your lawn It’s a good idea do apply lawn fertiliser late autumn as this encourages winter hardiness and promotes quick greening in spring. Perennial garden clean-up Cut down dying perennial foliage now and this way you don't have to clean up in the spring. A good compromise when getting your garden ready for winter is to remove leaves and stalks that frost turns to mush and any that are diseased. When cutting plants down, prune perennials so they're 4 to 5 inches of the ground. Spring into the warmer months It might sound odd, but this is still a good time to plant spring-flowering bulbs before the ground freezes hard. That way when spring is sprung you will be organised and can just sit back and watch your garden grow. Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Experts warn new homes aren’t future-proof

With thousands of new homes being built across <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/building-and-construction/building-activity-australia/latest-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/building-consents-issued-april-2022/#:~:text=Key%20facts,the%20year%20ended%20April%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Zealand</a>, industry experts have raised concerns that they are already outdated. In a world of pandemics, working from home, and climate change, experts say these new homes aren’t fit for purpose now, let alone for whatever the future holds. Electric vehicle charging stations, multi-split air conditioners, double-glazed windows and built-in 5G technology top the list of features that could help achieve this, according to Peter Li, general manager of Sydney-based apartment marketing agency Plus Agency. Li told the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/what-are-the-top-ways-to-future-proof-your-home-and-increase-its-value-20220729-p5b5nw.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald </a>that multi-split air conditioners, where air isn’t circulated throughout an apartment block or even a single unit, is particularly crucial in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “You basically have your own air within your own property but also within separate rooms. So if someone gets COVID, and they’re isolating in the master room, the other bedrooms won’t be affected,” he said. With a growing market for electric vehicles, Li said charging stations in homes are also key. “If you compare to Asian countries, a lot of Australian apartment building blocks don’t even have electric vehicle charging stations,” he added. “Even though we are pushing green energy, the buildings don’t come with electric car charging stations, how green is that?” Li noted that adding these features when homes are first being built will also be cheaper than years down the track, with most of the infrastructure being provided by telcos and electric vehicle companies. Andy Marlow, an architect and the director of sustainable architecture firm Envirotecture, said a majority of new homes are also “baking in” carbon emissions from the energy used to build and the energy produced to run the home, which Marlow said contributes to emissions and creates health problems. “These buildings are not fit for purpose now, and they are definitely not fit for purpose in the future,” he said. “When you build something that is substandard, which is basically our entire housing stock, it is very unlikely somebody will fix that soon.” Marlow said the key to building future-proofed homes lies in building comfortable dwellings with good insulation, good quality air, and reliable ventilation, and that existing products like double-glazed windows that address these issues should become standard. “Single glazing is just crap. Science shows us that single glazing will get condensation on it, it’s just physics,” he said, adding that this leads to mould and asthma. “Everything has been solved, every technical problem has been fixed. There’s a wonderful bit of evidence out of California, where they mandated double glazing and within nine months it was cheaper than single glazing.” Wealth over shelter Professor Alan March, an expert in urban planning at the University of Melbourne School of Design, explained that the problem stems from the perception of the property market as a vehicle for creating wealth rather than providing shelter. “The land value and the overall value is so inflated that people are not so interested in the interior and actual benefit they receive from the structure itself as to secure the number, the numeric value, and so that changes the nature of the housing market towards wealth building, or just avoidance of renting,” March said. One feature he said is key for Australian housing is resistance and adaptability to heat waves through natural ventilation and the ability to retrofit cooling systems or integrate battery-powered solar panels. Though building codes could change to allow for the construction of homes that suit the country’s varying climates, March said recent Covid-induced financial challenges have meant the building and construction industry are and will remain conservative. With Covid looking to be an ongoing challenge the world will face alongside increasing effects of climate change, here’s hoping that can change before it’s too late. Image: Getty Images

Real Estate

Mum’s fool-proof hack to dry your clothes in half the time

A clever mum has shared the ultimate laundry tip that will ensure your clothes air-dry in no time. With surging energy bills crippling households, air drying items is a much more efficient way of doing laundry. However, colder winter months can sometimes mean clothes and linen may take days to dry in the fresh air. One mum has found the answer to this problem, sharing her hack on the Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mumswhoclean">Mums Who Clean</a>. "I have recently been staying with my elderly parents. While there, I did some washing for them," she says. "Mum said to me, 'Don't forget to do an additional spin cycle after the cycle has finished.'” "Her response was that it wouldn't take as long for the washing to dry on a cold winter's day when there isn't as much sun.” "And guess what, she was right!" The mum tried it for herself when she got home, saying it helped to dry her clothes in half the time. "Since returning home this week to Sydney and the rain, I tried this on a load of towels (bath sheets) before putting them in the dryer," she says. "Normally, the load would take one and a half to two hours to dry, and they took just under 60 minutes." Other group members were impressed with the hack, with many saying they would give it a go. "Oh wow, I'm going to give this a go!" said one person. Others said they’ve been doing this hack “for years”, and were happy others were going to try the handy tip. Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

New Treasurer claims ScoMo left economy in "a mess"

New Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers has claimed Scott Morrison left Australia's economy in "a mess", and warned Aussies of a "serious economic challenges" ahead. At a press conference on Wednesday, Chalmers told the media that inflation and interest rates were higher since the end of March, petrol prices were up 12 per cent since the end of April, and wholesale electricity and gas prices were also significantly higher under the Morrison government. “We do have labour shortages and we do still have Covid absenteeism, and the international environment has become more challenging as well,” he told reporters. “There is no point tiptoeing around these serious economic challenges. There is no point mincing words about the sorts of conditions that we have inherited." “We have inherited high and rising inflation and rising interest rates, we’ve inherited falling real wages and we’ve inherited $1 trillion in debt.” He went on to say that the economy forecast was weaker in March than the Morrison government claimed at election time, while saying, “Consumption, dwelling investment, new business investment, exports and nominal GDP were all weaker in the March quarter than was anticipated by our predecessors.” “These national accounts are a glimpse of the mess that the former government left behind for us to clean up." “Obviously, we want the economy to recover strongly. Obviously, we want household consumption and other key elements of the national accounts to be as strong as possible. “But even when, on the surface, they might look stronger than they have been during the worst of Covid, they are still short of what the government was hoping for.” In relation to growing energy costs, Chalmers said there was a "perfect storm" of challenges facing the energy market. “These are the costs and consequences of almost a decade now of a government with 22 different energy policies failing to land the necessary certainty to improve the resilience of our energy markets,” he said. “This is the chickens coming home to roost when it comes to almost a decade now on climate change and energy policy failure from our predecessors." The Albanese government has been passionate about their climate change policy, with a strong goal of reaching net zero by 2050. Despite the government's passion for energy reform, financial experts have warned that growing oil and gas prices could plunge Australia into a recession before Christmas if radical change isn't made sooner rather than later. Chalmers also said that workers on a minimum wage should not be further disadvantaged through the ongoing cost of living crisis. “Minimum wage workers were in many cases the heroes of the pandemic. They shouldn’t be going backwards in this cost of living crisis,” he said. Although Labor are dedicated to reducing the cost of living, The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said global events – including the rolling conflict in Ukraine – would continue to impact the Australian economy in the months ahead. Image credits: Getty Images

News

Restaurant in strife for accepting puppy pics instead of vaccination proof

A restaurant in Canada was ordered to temporarily cease its indoor dining services after it was discovered that customers were being allowed a seat after presenting cute dog photos instead of proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or negative test results, health officials said.Alberta Health Services issued the closure order Friday after it investigated complaints about the Granary Kitchen in Red Deer.Two investigators posing as customers visited the restaurant at different times after providing photos and personal identification to restaurant staff, the agency said in the order.“In both instances, facility staff used a tablet to make it appear as if they were scanning a QR code, when in fact the staff member was presented with a photograph of a dog,” the agency said.“The staff member then proceeded to ask the test shopper for personal identification and offered dine-in services.” The restaurant was ordered to close its indoor dining area and submit a written COVID-19 compliance plan that follows the province’s indoor dining rules.In a Facebook post Friday, the restaurant called the incident “an unfortunate circumstance at our front door which involved one of our underage hostesses”.“We are taking the weekend to retrain and regroup,” the restaurant said.“We look forward to serving you again as soon as we are ready to reopen."In closing we would like to remind everyone of the tremendous pressure being placed on front staff, and please remember to be kind.”Image: Getty

Food & Wine

5 fool-proof ways to achieve a spectacular garden

When it comes to maintaining your garden, not everyone is a self-proclaimed green thumb. A lot of different environmental and financial factors can alter the progress and growth of a healthy outdoor space. But with these five tips, anyone can become an expert gardener in a few simple steps to have your garden thriving! Plan your garden The key to a successful garden is planning and structuring before you even start. You should know what type of soil you’re dealing with before you head to your local nursery to find plants that will work best. You will also need to make sure you choose the right plants that will thrive in your garden outside, as well as what will work best in inside spaces. So get planning, and talk to the professionals at your local nursery for fool-proof advice. Buy plants that are difficult to kill There are extensive ranges of low maintenance plants that are notoriously difficult to kill. Renowned horticulturalist Mike Wells says there are many plants that are happy soaking in the sun without being regularly watered. “People need to remember to check on their gardens and their indoor plants. Most indoor plants can last a week without watering but they need a quality potting mix,” he said. Mike says one of his go-to and easy-to-please plants is succulents, for both indoors and outdoors, as they don’t need daily watering and can be very inexpensive. ‘Set and forget’ plants Some gardeners are turning to growing their own fresh produce, as they require a lot less maintenance. These ‘set and forget’ plants are a great long-term investment, and do not need constant monitoring in larger garden beds Having fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs straight from your own backyard is a huge win financially, as well as for your kitchen! Supercharging your plants In order to maintain a healthy, weed-free garden, mulching is a must. Mike Wells says that adding mulch to ornamental gardens can be a lifesaver by extending the longevity of all plants. “Cypress pine wood chips are best to 50 to 75mm deep. For a vegetable garden, these would be too coarse, so a chopped lucerne or fine sugar cane mulch to no deeper than 50mm is recommended,” says Mike. “For the gardeners who don’t want to fertilise often, choose a controlled release plus organics product which should only need light incorporation every six months.” Self-watering plants For the tech-savvy gardener, self-watering systems can be a lifesaver. No more having to schedule watering your plants, and worrying if they are getting enough water, as smart systems take the hassle out for you. They reduce the amount of water you need for the garden. Just set up the automatic timer and away you go. There are multiple options when deciding on an indoor or outdoor plant watering system. Some are so high tech you can operate them using a mobile phone. These systems, combined with carefully planning and maintaining your garden, are destined to have your garden blooming all year round. Image credit: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Alleged love child of Charles and Camilla has new proof

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Simon Dorante-Day has shared new photo evidence that he believes proves he is the secret son of Prince Charles and Camilla. He has fought for decades to prove his claims that he is their biological son and has taken his battle to the Australian High Court. Dorante-Day was born in the UK and believes that he was conceived when Prince Charles and Camilla were romantically linked to one another the first time when they were just 17 and 18 respectively. “My grandmother, who had worked for the Queen, told me outright that I was Camilla and Charles’ son many times,” he told <a rel="noopener" href="http://7news.com.au/" target="_blank">7NEWS.com.au</a>. His latest photographic evidence has many people convinced. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPrinceSimonCharles%2Fposts%2F141238374673510&width=500&show_text=true&height=544&appId" width="500" height="544" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> The photo shows Dorante-Day's son compared to the Queen when she was in her early 20s. “We were blown away when we first saw it,” Dorante-Day explained. “Elvie and I feel like we see many members of the royal family in our children, but this one was an eye opener,” he added. “One of my supporters did the comparison and sent it to me and I was speechless. “A lot of people are reacting to it because it’s hard to deny the similarity.” His supporters were shocked by the side by side images as well. “I thought that too, when I saw Liam’s photo yesterday. I have followed your quest for a few years now Simon and I admire your integrity and the integrity of your wife Dr Elvianna. I just know that the truth will be told," one supporter wrote. Daronte-Day has also said that he was devastated by the passing of Prince Philip. “For us it’s also mourning a lost opportunity,” he said. “I would have very much valued the opportunity to talk with Philip but as Elvianna pointed out - his DNA will live on in the children and I.” “Since Philip’s death, people are seeing so many photos of him and many are stopping me in the street to say how much I look like him,” he said. “Even people who see me regularly are blown away. It’s become quite overwhelming, just how many people are talking about the similarities.” “We owe it to our children for them to have answers,” he said. </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

Proof that Harry and Meghan did not marry three days earlier

Harry and Meghan's shock TV claim that they married three days before their official ceremony has been exposed as a lie - by their own wedding certificate. The document was provided to The Sun by the UK's General Register Office. It confirms the formalities took place on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle. The official who drew up the licence for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding says Meghan is "obviously confused" over the marriage. Speaking to Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed she and Harry had tied the knot "in our backyard" before the grand wedding took place on May 19, 2018. But as their wedding certificate came to light for the first time, Stephen Borton dismissed the claim. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> BLATANT LIARS Harry & Meghan’s TV claim that they married three days before their official ceremony is exposed as a sham by their own wedding certificate provided by the General Register Office. <a href="https://t.co/wuQ9qUm9rL">pic.twitter.com/wuQ9qUm9rL</a> — DAILY BUGLE (@Dailybugle1898) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dailybugle1898/status/1373893295315816454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2021</a></blockquote> Mr Borton, former chief clerk at the Faculty Office, told The Sun: “I’m sorry, but Meghan is obviously confused and clearly misinformed. “They did not marry three days earlier in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury. “The Special Licence I helped draw up enabled them to marry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor and what happened there on 19 May 2018 and was seen by millions around the world was the official wedding as recognised by the Church of England and the law. “What I suspect they did was exchange some simple vows they had perhaps written themselves, and which is fashionable, and said that in front of the Archbishop — or, and more likely, it was a simple rehearsal.” Meghan, 39, had stunned the world by telling US talk show queen Oprah: “You know, three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that. “The vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury.” She went on to explain, saying she and Harry had rung the Archbishop, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, and asked him to marry them in private at Nottingham Cottage - their home in the grounds of Kensington Palace. Harry, 36, chimed in: “Just the three of us.” Mr Borton, now a consultant for the Faculty Office, added: “They couldn’t have got married in the grounds of Nottingham Cottage as it is not an authorised venue and there were not enough witnesses present. “You cannot be married with just three people. It’s not a valid ceremony. “I think the Duchess is confused. Any certificate she may have of her vows on the wall is not an official wedding certificate. “The wedding itself took place at St George’s Chapel under the conditions stipulated by the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 which have been recently amended. “In order for them to be married a Special Licence was drawn up and the wording from Her Majesty the Queen authorising the wedding and the official venue was recorded.” Mr Borton revealed the official $580 fee normally paid for couples to have a Special Licence was waived. A copy of the official wedding certificate confirms the actual ceremony did take place on May 19, 2018, at Windsor.

Legal

Angelina Jolie claims domestic abuse against Brad Pitt with “proof”

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce proceedings are still underway, and now new court documents submitted by the actress have claimed there were multiple incidents of alleged domestic abuse. Jolie reportedly filed court documents March 12 – ones that will allegedly unveil allegations of domestic abuse from both the Maleficent star and the couple's children: Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, twins Knox and Vivienne, 12. “This is just another case of Angelina changing the narrative when it suits her,” one source told Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, March 17. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840357/angelina-jolie-brad-pitt-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/631d7b882e0e49739f30689890d47309" /> “Aside from the one accusation that she made in 2016 that was investigated and dismissed, there have never been any other records, police reports, or even accusations until it suited her case.” The source added, “No one else knows what she might say now, but that background is important.” Another insider told Us Weekly that the documents were nothing more than a rouse to "hurt" the actor. “Over the past four and a half years there have been a number of claims made by Angelina that have been reviewed and not substantiated,” the insider said. “The children have been used by Angelina to hurt Brad before and this is more of that behaviour. This leaking of documents by her fourth or fifth set of lawyers has been done to hurt Brad.” In 2016, Brad was accused of child abuse following an incident that allegedly took place between him and his eldest son, Maddox, on a private plane. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840358/angelina-jolie-brad-pitt-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/67353409b84245df9b68ce9bd35d9bb2" /> The allegations were quickly dropped soon after, but a source told People at the time thag Pitt was “drunk” when he began arguing with his then-wife, Jolie. Maddox reportedly stepped in to defuse the situation, but “there was a parent-child argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should have.” Jolie and Pitt started dating after meeting on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2004. They separated in 2016 after two years of marriage, and were declared legally single in 2019. In an interview with Vogue India in June 2020, the actress opened up about the pair's split. “I separated for the well-being of my family," she revealed. “It was the right decision. I continue to focus on their healing. Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds.” Jolie also admitted in February 2021 to British Vogue that the divorce had “been pretty hard.” “I’ve been focusing on healing our family. It’s slowly coming back, like the ice melting and the blood returning to my body.” Pitt is yet to respond to the recent court documents. Images: Getty

Legal

Samantha Markle's proof against half-sister Meghan

Meghan Markle revealed what happened between herself and her father in a rare insight during the bombshell Oprah interview. She explained that the UK press became "obsessed" with anything from her world and tracked down her father. “Once they did, I remember being told there was a huge headline like, ‘We found him’ or ‘We’ve got him.’ You’re talking about someone’s father,” Meghan said. “And from that point, the tabloids, they moved into the apartment next door and across from him. Descended on this small town. The whole thing brings us to where we are today.” She explained that the press were offering exorbitant amounts of money to give up her fathers address, but she did what she could to protect him from the frenzy. She also spoke about her relationship with her half-sister Samantha Markle, who has launched multiple attacks against Meghan in the press over the years. Some of the claims include calling Meghan a "wealthy narcissist" and saying that if their father passes, it'll be "on her". Meghan spoke about Samantha's book titled The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister, which Samantha promised to expose "hidden truths" about Meghan. “I think it would be very hard to tell all when you don’t know me. I mean, this is a very different situation than my dad, right? When you talk about betrayal, betrayal comes from someone that you have a relationship with,” Meghan told Oprah. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about people that I really don’t know.” Meghan spoke about the name change that Samantha made in order to draw attention to herself as a Markle sister. “She changed her last name back to Markle in – I think she was in her early fifties at that time – only when I started dating Harry,” Meghan said. “So I think that says enough.” Samantha fought back on Fifi, Fev & Nick this morning, saying that the claims were "rubbish". “She had said she hadn’t seen Samantha for 18 years. Well she was at my graduation from my bachelor degree, there was so many photos in the media that are like salience about that and that was 2008 so don’t know about you but 2008 to now is not 18 years,” she said. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840202/haz-megs-arch-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca13121882a446ba8547dcb7fc99809a" /> Samantha claimed that Meghan was a narcissist and "needs to see a counsellor". She also said she feels "sorry for Harry". “I feel sorry for Harry. He fell victim to her negligence and I will say sociopaths. She pulled him away from his family, all of his friends, the life that he knew,” Samantha told the radio show. “He reminds me of one of those kidnap victims who eventually starts to believe that their life was so horrible and they’re in love with their captor!” Photo credits: Samantha Markle / Twitter

Relationships

"Proof of vaccination" certificates part of AUS vaccine plan

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> The Australian Federal Government has announced that Australians, once vaccinated, will get a record that will be stored and displayed on the Express Plus Medicare and MyGov mobile phone applications, which could help Aussies travel overseas again. Anyone who requires a hard copy after getting the COVID-19 vaccine can access a printout from vaccine providers and Services Australia offices. Some government leaders have their doubts about the Federal Government's ability to follow through with this plan, with Anthony Albanese voicing his opinion to the ABC. “We know that they didn’t get the [COVIDSafe] tracing app right,” he told the ABC. “So they need to, as the rollout of the vaccine occurs, make sure that they absolutely get it right because our economy, as well as our health, depends on it.” Government Services Minister Stuart Robert has said that Australians should have "enormous confidence" in the system. “Any requirement for borders to open up will require vaccination and it will require the widespread use of assured certificates, and that is what we are talking about today – the Australian assured certificate that Australians can have enormous confidence in,” Mr Robert told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/federal-government-reveals-plans-for-proof-of-vaccination-certificates-to-be-stored-and-displayed-on-phone-apps/news-story/5eec12b6058215777ed43d5221160df7" target="_blank">reporters</a> on the Gold Coast. “Importantly for Australians, they can have assurance the certificate they will have will be robust, it will be anchored to them, so they will know it’s their certificate, and it will be widely accepted.” It is expected that these certificates will simplify visits to hospitals and nursing homes and could be required for interstate travel if further lockdowns are in place. Mr Robert said that it would be a state-by-state basis as to whether proof of vaccination would be necessary to visit workplaces, restaurants or supermarkets. “We would be expecting them to issue public health orders if they see fit so I will leave that to the states and territories,” Mr Robert said. “What the federal government does is provide a record of vaccination to Australians should the need be there for Australians to use it. And Australians need to have that record, especially, depending on state public health orders but also when travelling and borders open up again.” The Pfizer vaccine is due to be rolled out nationally from the end of this month and the AstraZeneca vaccine is due in March. </div> </div> </div>

Body

New video allegedly "proof" racist slur aimed at Indian star at SCG

Cricket chiefs and NSW police have launched an investigation into allegations of racial abuse towards the Indian team from parts of the crowd during the third Test, after six people were ejected and play halted for close to 10 minutes on Sunday. The International Cricket Council (ICC) probe followed Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah allegedly being targeted as they were on the field. Play was paused for the second time on Sunday when Siraj approached the umpire and pointed towards the crowd. The six men were immediately removed from the seats by police. “Siraj was referred to as ‘Brown Dog’ and ’Big Monkey’ both of which are racist slurs. The matter was immediately brought to the notice of on-field umpires. They were constantly abusing Bumrah too,” a BCCI source told the Press Trust of India. The Times of India newspaper said that the fans on Saturday had been drunk. “Bumrah and Siraj were called monkeys, w**ker and motherf**ker by the people almost throughout the time they were fielding,” it claimed. Footage showing the crowd chanting at Siraj has surfaced but it's unclear what was said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Well this is some proof...... 🙄🙄🙄🙄<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/racism?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#racism</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvINDtest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvINDtest</a> <a href="https://t.co/NL47ztRfOZ">pic.twitter.com/NL47ztRfOZ</a> — Rithvik Shetty (@Shetty10Rithvik) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shetty10Rithvik/status/1348271718947717120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2021</a></blockquote> While you can mainly hear people chanting "Siraj", some people claim they can hear racial abuse faintly in the background. According to Cricket Australia (CA) multiple people from the crowd had been questioned before being thrown out by police. “While we await the outcome of the investigation by NSW Police, CA has launched its own inquiry into the matter,” said CA’s head of integrity and security Sean Carroll, calling the episode “regrettable”. India captain Virat Kohli, who is missing the last three Tests of the four-match series for the birth of his first child, tweeted that such racist behaviour was “pathetic”. “Having gone through many incidents of really pathetic things said on the boundary Iines, this is the absolute peak of rowdy behaviour,” Kohli tweeted. “It’s sad to see this happen on the field. “The incident needs to be looked at with absolute urgency and seriousness and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once.”

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