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Italian village offers $1 homes to Americans upset by US election results

<p>An Italian village in Sardinia, Italy is offering one-euro homes to Americans seeking a new start following the results of the 2024 U.S election that saw Donald Trump being re-elected as president. </p> <p>Ollolai has long been trying to persuade outsiders to move in to revive the community after decades of depopulation. </p> <p>Now, it's selling dilapidated houses for as little as one euro — just over a US dollar or $AU1.60 — to entice Americans to move abroad. </p> <p>Following the November 5 outcome, they have launched a website aimed at potential American expats, offering cheap homes in hopes that those disappointed by the result and seeking a fresh start will snap up one of their empty properties. </p> <p>"Are you worned (sic) out by global politics? Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities?" the website read. </p> <p>"It's time to start building your European escape in the stunning paradise of Sardinia."</p> <p>Mayor Francesco Columbu told CNN that the website was specifically created to attract American voters in the wake of the presidential elections.</p> <p>The mayor loves the United States and is convinced Americans would be the best people to revive the community. </p> <p>"We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all," he said. </p> <p>"We can't of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure. We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card."</p> <p>The village is offering three tiers of accommodation: Free temporary homes to certain digital nomads, ($1.6) homes in need of renovations, and ready-to-occupy houses for prices up to $160,000.</p> <p>The mayor also set up a special team to guide interested buyers through every step of the process including finding contractors, builders and navigating required paperwork. </p> <p>"Of course, we can't specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he's the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country," Columbo added. </p> <p>"We have specifically created this website now to meet US post-elections relocation needs. The first edition of our digital nomad scheme which launched last year was already solely for Americans."</p> <p>Photos and plans of available empty properties will soon be uploaded to the website. </p> <p>The website has since received nearly 38,000 requests for information on houses, with most of them coming from the United States</p> <p>In the past century, Ollolai's population has shrunk from 2,250 to 1,300 with only a handful of babies born each year. </p> <p>Over the last few years, this has dropped 1,150 residents. </p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

"Really upsetting": Man turned away from concert for being in a wheelchair

<p>A man from Melbourne has been left devastated after he was denied entry into a concert due to being a wheelchair. </p> <p>Dylan Taylor and his friends arrived at the Pier Bandroom in the suburb of Frankston to see one of his favourite heavy metal bands Polaris, when he ran into problems getting in the door. </p> <p>“I got to the front of the line, and they were checking IDs like normal, and one of the bouncers wouldn’t even acknowledge that I was there,” Taylor told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/news/dylan-was-turned-away-from-seeing-his-favourite-band-because-he-uses-a-wheelchair-experts-say-its-a-common-issue-c-15618393" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a></em>.</p> <p>“I was holding up my licence, and he wouldn’t look at it or take it, and they had taken everyone else’s licence."</p> <p>“I hadn’t really figured it out at this point ... but then the other bouncer said: ‘Nup, sorry mate, no wheelchairs’.”</p> <p>Taylor’s group of friends called for a manager to discuss the potential for them to “make it work”.</p> <p>The group was asked to wait around the side of the building for the manager, who was unable to offer any solutions. </p> <p>Dylan said he was told it would be a fire safety risk to let him in, and that even though in a scenario where a person injured in the venue would be carried out by bouncers during a fire, that the bouncers would not carry a wheelchair user out in the same scenario.</p> <p>“I’m spewin’ because, at this point, I haven’t even paid my friends back for the ticket, and I’ve ruined their night out,” he said.</p> <p>His friends continued to try to reason with the manager to let Dylan in, even saying they had seen a wheelchair user in the venue two weeks earlier, but to no avail.</p> <p>“Technically, you can have wheelchairs, but you have to be ambulant, that’s what we got out of them, in the end,” Taylor said.</p> <p>According to Dylan, there was no wheelchair access disclaimer on his tickets, nor on the Pier Bandroom’s website or social media, with Google Maps even displaying an accessibility widget which claimed there was a “wheelchair-accessible entrance”.</p> <p>A spokesperson from the Pier Bandroom parent company Endeavour Group told <em>7News</em> it was sorry for the distress caused by the incident.</p> <p>“The Pier Hotel was originally built in the 1800s and is a historic landmark in Frankston. While the Pier Hotel has various rooms on the ground floor, the Pier Bandroom function space is only accessible by stairs, and is not wheelchair accessible,” it said.</p> <p>“We apologise to any ticket holders who were not given adequate information about our venue’s policies at the time of purchasing tickets to recent concerts. We regret any inconvenience or distress this may have caused.</p> <p>“We are taking action to update the Pier Bandroom’s website with this information and communicate with any show promoters to do the same.”</p> <p>Taylor said the incident at the Pier Bandroom “was the first time I’ve faced, I would say, pretty blatant discrimination”, as he has only required the wheelchair for 18 months after sustaining a permanent spine injury. </p> <p>“You feel pretty empty inside, and I did have a little cry in the car on the way home."</p> <p>“It just really upsets me thinking about people who have maybe been dealing with disability for their whole life. Who maybe haven’t had the other half of life I’ve had, to be able to go and experience these things before being in a wheelchair.”</p> <p>While learning to live with his disability, Taylor was pleased to learn “how many people will go out of their way to help you out” but said it was disappointing to discover just how much his autonomy was curbed by poor accessibility.</p> <p>“It’s been a steep learning curve,” Taylor said.</p> <p>“Melbourne will accept the reputation of being inclusive and accepting, but it’s not necessarily accessible.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Google Maps / 7News / Dylan Taylor </em></p>

Legal

Marcia Hines returns as Australian Idol fans cry foul over upset win

<p>The <em>Australian Idol </em>2024 grand finale left viewers stunned and divided as Dylan Wright emerged victorious, leaving many fans feeling that Amy Reeves had been unjustly denied the crown.</p> <p>The electrifying finale aired on Monday evening, showcasing the talents of Denvah Baker-Moller, Dylan Wright and Amy Reeves as they vied for the coveted title. However, it was Wright who clinched the top spot, much to the disappointment of numerous fans who had rallied behind Reeves.</p> <p>Throughout the season, Wright had consistently impressed both judges and audiences alike with his remarkable performances. His emotional reaction upon winning the <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment Australia and a $100,000 cash prize </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">was palpable: “I’m about to cry!" he told the cheering crowd. "So, thanks!”</span></p> <p>The finale kicked off with hosts Ricki Lee and Scott Tweedie addressing the absence of judge Marcia Hines, who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/marcia-hines-rushed-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had been hospitalised</a> due to health issues potentially related to her Type 1 diabetes. The void left by Hines was temporarily filled by guest judge Guy Sebastian, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/guy-sebastian-reveals-what-happened-when-marcia-hines-collapsed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who stepped in</a> to ensure the show's continuity.</p> <p>Despite her absence, Hines' spirit remained present as she conveyed her apologies via Instagram, assuring fans of her eagerness to return. “I feel fine,” she said on Monday night's show in response to Ricki Lee and Scott Tweedie<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">. “I want to thank everybody who reached out towards me, you know. I do appreciate it. And you guys need to know – I couldn’t have missed this for the world. I couldn’t have.”</span></p> <p>Hines admitted to having had stitches after collapsing backstage, and briefly lifted her hair to show the stitches on her forehead. “It is all good," she explained. "I’m good. I go back to the hospital tonight,” she added jokingly.</p> <p>As the finalists delivered their last performances, Reeves' rendition of Jessie J's "Bang Bang" stood out, earning praise from judge Kyle Sandilands and igniting a wave of support from viewers. However, despite her standout performance, it was Wright who ultimately clinched the title after a tense battle with Reeves.</p> <p>The decision sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many expressing disbelief and frustration over Reeves' loss. Some fans proclaimed Reeves as the most deserving contestant in <em>Idol</em> history. “Call the police!" they wrote. "A robbery has taken place on #AustralianIdol. Amy has been absolutely shafted. Easily the best performer in idol history.”</p> <p>Amidst the chorus of disappointment, there were voices of congratulations for Wright, acknowledging his talent and triumph in the competition. Despite the divided opinions, one thing remained certain – the passion and fervour of <em>Australian Idol</em> fans, who eagerly await the next chapter in the musical journeys of all the finalists.</p> <p><em>Images: Channel Seven</em></p>

Australia’s ‘retirement age’ just became 67. So why are the French so upset about working until 64?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-whiteford-2016">Peter Whiteford</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a></em></p> <p>Since Saturday, Australians have been required to wait until the age of 67 until they can get the age pension.</p> <p>The original so-called “retirement age” of 65 for men dated back to <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-02/p2020-100554-ud01_outline.pdf">1909</a>.</p> <p>Women had their pension age lifted from 60 to 65 between 1995 and <a href="https://insidestory.org.au/work-till-you-drop/">2013</a>. And all Australians have had it lifted in stages from July 2017, in a process that ended on <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/seniors/benefits-payments/age-pension">July 1 2023</a>.</p> <p>It has happened with little protest – a stark contrast to the demonstrations and riots that rocked France earlier this year, when President Macron proposed and passed laws to lift the French pension age from 62 to 64.</p> <h2>What’s so special about French pensions?</h2> <p>French strikes and demonstrations over the retirement age aren’t new.</p> <p>There were nationwide protests when France increased its retirement age from 60 to 62 in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/10/french-retirement-age-reform-62">2010</a>, before that in <a href="https://www.etui.org/covid-social-impact/france/pension-reform-in-france-background-summary-an-overview-of-pension-reforms-since-the-1990s-updated-july-2019">2003</a>, and in <a href="https://theconversation.com/pension-reform-in-france-macron-and-demonstrators-resume-epic-tussle-begun-over-30-years-ago-198354">1995</a>, when France tried to increase the pension age for public sector workers.</p> <p>Just about anything you could want to know about public pension schemes in high-income countries can be found in the <a href="https://www.oecd.org/about/">OECD</a> report <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/oecd-pensions-at-a-glance-19991363.htm">Pensions at a Glance</a>, published every two years, most recently in 2021.</p> <p>Public pension spending in <a href="https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2021-country-profile-France.pdf">France</a> is 13.6% of GDP, compared to 4% in <a href="https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2021-country-profile-Australia.pdf">Australia</a>.</p> <p>In part, this is because France has an older population than Australia, but it is also because French pension payments are more generous than both Australia’s age pension and superannuation supports taken together.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="E0wpD" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/E0wpD/7/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <hr /> <p>The OECD finding that Australia provides a replacement rate of about 40% and France of about 74% is “forward looking”, in that it is based on what a worker on average earnings is estimated to be entitled to under the system applying in 2020, if she or he works from age 22 until that country’s normal retirement age.</p> <p>For low-paid workers, Australia’s means-tested age pension makes the payments about as generous as those in France.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="rJpy5" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rJpy5/4/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <hr /> <p>A separate 2018 OECD calculation showed that the average after-tax income of a French household headed by someone 65 years or older was <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/oecd-pensions-at-a-glance-19991363.htm">99.8%</a> of the average income of all French households.</p> <p>In contrast, the average after-tax income of an Australian household headed by someone of that age was 75% of that of all households.</p> <p>Given that French households receive about the same disposable income while retired as working, it is easy to see why they are keen to retire.</p> <p>And the heavy tax contributions required to fund their retirement incomes give them little opportunity to save privately while working.</p> <p>The level of median private wealth in Australia (converted at prevailing exchange rates) is nearly <a href="https://www.credit-suisse.com/media/assets/corporate/docs/about-us/research/publications/global-wealth-databook-2022.pdf">twice</a> that in France.</p> <p>Yet French public pension wealth is substantial. Calculating the value of the future pension income streams using life expectancies, the net pension wealth of French retirees amounts to 14 years of average earnings, compared to just over seven in Australia.</p> <p>Because the value of these income streams is strongly influenced by how long the pensions are received, raising the French pension age by two years would cut the value of French pension wealth by around 8%.</p> <h2>Why was postponing pensions easier in Australia?</h2> <p>The phase-in of the Australian change after 2017 meant it didn’t affect the retirement incomes of Australian workers until many years after the change was first announced, and didn’t affect the incomes of those already retired at all.</p> <p>And the Australian change legislated in 2009 was part of a <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/2738/2009_budget_pension_changes.pdf">broader program</a> of reforms that included the biggest single <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Newstartrelatedpayments/Report/section?id=committees%2Freportsen%2F024323%2F72678">increase in age and disability pensions and carer payments</a> in Australian history.</p> <p>Yet it will have losers. Those losing the most will be those with the shortest life expectancies. Indigenous men have life expectancies nearly <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/resource-centre/indigenous-affairs/commonwealth-closing-gap-annual-report-2022">nine</a> years lower than non-Indigenous men and Indigenous women nearly eight years lower.</p> <h2>Which Australians will pay the highest price?</h2> <p>And the change has pushed a substantial number of Australians aged 65 and over who would have once received the pension on to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/top-economists-want-jobseeker-boosted-100-per-week-tied-to-wages-150364">much-lower</a> Jobseeker unemployment payment.</p> <p>The number of people aged 65 years and over receiving JobSeeker climbed from zero in 2017 to <a href="https://www.data.gov.au/data/dataset/dss-income-support-recipients-monthly-time-series/resource/05f06c42-e027-43aa-b83e-28292f683ede">40,300</a> by May this year – and will climb further because of this month’s change.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>These people are severely disadvantaged by this change, as the level of payment for an older unemployed person is more than $300 a fortnight less than the age pension, a gap that will only be slightly reduced by the increases announced in the most recent Commonwealth budget.</p> <p>Relatively little attention has been paid to these people, who because of the low level of payment are among the poorest in the Australian population – with very limited prospects of being able to improve their circumstances.</p> <p>In contrast, the idea of boosting tax on the earnings of superannuation balances over <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/28/albanese-government-lifts-tax-rate-on-superannuation-balances-over-3m">A$3 million</a> attracted <a href="https://www.firstlinks.com.au/mechanics-3m-dollar-super-tax-must-fixed">widespread criticism</a>.</p> <p>The very different institutional environments of Australia and France have created different lobby groups, with different interests to protect.<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/208648/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-whiteford-2016">Peter Whiteford</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-retirement-age-just-became-67-so-why-are-the-french-so-upset-about-working-until-64-208648">original article</a>.</em></p>

Retirement Life

"He's upset": Kochie flips off Nat Barr after hilarious insult

<p>A hilariously awkward moment unfolded on <em>Sunrise</em> on Friday morning after Kochie was left feeling "visibly upset" from a seemingly innocent quip from Nat Barr. </p> <p>In the <em>Sunrise</em> studio, Nat Barr and fill-in co-host Matt Shirvington crossed live to Kochie, who is currently in London covering King Charles III’s coronation. </p> <p>Appearing on the live cross, Kochie tuned in wearing a newsboy cap, which sparked a nostalgic memory from Nat. </p> <p>Nat and Matt giggled as they couldn't help but compare Kochie's outfit to Aussie actor Glenn Robbins’ cap-wearing character Uncle Arthur from the classic sketch show, <em>Comedy Company</em>.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr1prf6gflH/?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/Cr1prf6gflH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sunrise (@sunriseon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Kochie, looking good,” Shirvington said, to which Barr quipped, “Uncle Arthur.”</p> <p>Kochie rejected the comparison, saying he was trying to channel David Beckham with his <em>Peaky Blinders</em>-style cap, but Nat stuck to her guns. </p> <p>Appearing beyond shocked by the resemblance, Kochie told Nat to "Get out", before sticking up his rude finger. </p> <p>“He’s upset – he’s visibly upset,” Shirvington said as Barr awkwardly laughed off Koch’s gesture. </p> <p>“It becomes you – it’s beautiful,” she backtracked. </p> <p>Koch dismissed her compliment and tried to gather his thoughts to report on the events leading up to Saturday’s coronation.</p> <p>The moment was shared to the official <em>Sunrise</em> Instagram page, as one viewer commented that Kochie's look was more reminiscent of someone else. </p> <p>"He looks like Dr Harry!" they said, while another was more preoccupied with the gesture he gave Nat on live TV. </p> <p>"Wow, the finger on breakfast television. Not classy David."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

"So upset": Delta Goodrem's sad health announcement

<p>Delta Goodrem has been forced to postpone her upcoming Innocent Eyes tour, after she has been placed on "strict vocal rest". </p> <p>The Aussie songstress is reportedly "so upset" about he decision to postpone the UK and Europe leg of the tour, according to Nine's entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins. </p> <p>"She's OK, but she's upset, as you would be," Wilkins said as he broke the news on <em>Today Extra</em>.</p> <p>"She's been so looking forward to this," he added. "It's the 20th anniversary of Innocent Eyes, the [album] tour that took her all around the world."</p> <p>Goodrem also shared the news to her fans on Instagram, as she wrote out an apology on a whiteboard while she sat at a piano. </p> <p>She then shared a more lengthy message explaining the situation in depth, telling her fans that her busy schedule has proved to be too much on her vocal cords.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIC8UiuYkq/?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/CqIC8UiuYkq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"It hurts my heart to have to share with you that we've had to make the difficult decision to reschedule my upcoming UK & European shows," the star wrote.</p> <p>"I am feeling so grateful to be this busy at this moment of my career, but from overextending myself on a number of projects, including preparing new music for you all, I have unfortunately overused my vocal cords to the point of me having no voice for extended periods of time," she added.</p> <p>On <em>Today Extra</em>, Wilkins added that cancelling a show is something that "every artist hates", but "for Delta, this is such a big thing."</p> <p>"She's so resilient, she's had problems before but she needs to do this," Wilkins said.</p> <p>The "problem" Wilkins is referring to is when Delta battled cancer in the early years of her career, after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma when she was just 18-years-old in 2003.</p> <p>At the time, Goodrem had just released her debut album <em>Innocent Eyes</em>, but was forced to spend her time undergoing chemotherapy treatment and radiation rather than on tour. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

“I'm really upset about the schnitty”: Karl tees off on outrageous price hike

<p>Karl Stefanovic has labelled Sydney as “nuts” after hearing a pub is charging $46.70 for a basic chicken schnitzel, chips and salad.</p> <p>Stefanovic was reacting to news from a reporter at Five Dock Bowling Club.</p> <p>“That's why Sydney has lost the plot. It's not even good there... I'm really upset about the schnitty. How many bread crumbs?,” he said.</p> <p>“That's why we stay home and make our own food, parmies, schnitties - $40, that's crazy.”</p> <p>The reporter, Luscie McLead, said the schnitzel without the sides costs $28.90.</p> <p>If you’re after chips, you need to pay an extra $6.90, and adding a salad would cost you an additional $8.90.</p> <p>The bowling club also charges an extra 10 per cent surcharge on weekends and public holidays.</p> <p>McLead said buying all the ingredients from a supermarket to make the same dinner for a family costs almost the same as just one meal from the bowling club.</p> <p>“To put it into perspective, I went to Coles, bought the ingredients, $56. Karl, you could make it home,” she said.</p> <p>Karl agreed, saying, “Just whack it in the air fryer and Bob's your uncle.”</p> <p>A venue just down the road from the bowling club charges $24 for a chicken schnitzel, which includes two sides.</p> <p>Five Dock’s Bowling Club defended its high prices, saying it isn’t a bowling club, it’s a “private restaurant.”</p> <p>“The only thought behind keeping the building name as Five Dock Bowling Club was as a reference for people to know its location and whereabouts, as the site first opened in 1933, not to denote the offering,” owner Pierre Moio told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/restaurant-at-five-dock-bowling-club-surprises-locals-by-charging-35-for-schnitzel-and-chips/news-story/a0ed949ab1f851a7440866f0f870439c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Telegraph</a>.</p> <p>“We are not a registered club. We don't have poker machines, we are not subsidised by gambling. We are a private restaurant.</p> <p>“There are enough places offering $15 meals nearby. We made a conscious choice to be different and maybe that attracts a new market.”</p> <p>Recent data from the Consumer Price Index found Australians were paying 9.4 per cent more for food and non-alcoholic in November 2022 when compared to the same time in 2021.</p> <p>Image credit: Getty</p>

Money & Banking

"I was upset": Karl confirms snub to Sam Armytage

<p dir="ltr">Karl Stefanovic has confirmed he was passed over as the host of Channel 9’s election coverage over the weekend.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 47-year-old told former Sunrise host Samantha Armytage that he was “upset” about the snub during his appearance on her podcast <em><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/something-to-talk-about-with-samantha-armytage/id1553858670" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Something to Talk About With Samantha Armytage</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though Stefanovic and his Today co-star Allison Langdon reportedly presented a strong pitch to host the bulletin, Nine opted for long-time presenter Peter Overton and Melbourne newsreader Alicia Loxley.</p> <p dir="ltr">Stefanovic admitted to Armytage that the snub was disappointing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was upset that I didn’t host the election … It’s kind of like doing all the preliminary games for two years and then missing out on the Super Bowl,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But it’s not something you need to articulate in a particularly public fashion: ‘I was really shitty.’ No, no.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you’ve been in broadcasting as long as I have, you’re going to get some gigs, you’re not going to get them all.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You think about it for a while and you go, other people make those decisions … I’ll just stay at home and [shrug it off].”</p> <p dir="ltr">Langdon was reportedly particularly “aggrieved” about the snub, with <em><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/annette-sharp-allison-langdon-not-happy-to-be-overlooked-for-election-night-duties/news-story/0b563a64b91f98ea1aa2a0b496446778" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a></em> reporting that sources said she was “bristling” over the choice and took her complaint to Darren Wick, Nine’s director of news.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Armytage’s podcast, Stefanovic said the pair had done “an enormous amount of work” prior to the election, including interviewing political figures every day during the campaign, with Stefanovic even pulling off major interviews with Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese for 60 Minutes.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m very proud of what we did day in, day out. And while I might be upset, you’ve got to put your big boy pants on and go to work the next day and get on with it,” he added. </p> <p dir="ltr">The snub comes after Stefanovic was nominated for the Gold Logie at this year’s awards, having been nominated twice previously and winning the Gold Logie in 2011.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f6e665f1-7fff-f3fb-7b6b-f93c2543eb6c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @karlstefanovic (Instagram)</em></p>

Man destroys girlfriend’s family heirloom, doesn’t understand why she’s upset

<p dir="ltr">A man has been left scratching his head after online commentators tore him to shreds for destroying a family heirloom belonging to his girlfriend.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man posted to Reddit’s ‘Am I the A******’ forum, where people go to ask strangers to adjudicate their interpersonal disputes, deciding who was in the wrong in any given situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">This man wanted to propose to his girlfriend using a ring that had sentimental value, so when he found out that her late grandmother had left her a ring, he decided to remove a diamond from the ring and use that in a new engagement ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, when he proposed with the new ring, the girlfriend hated it. Her grandmother had only recently passed away in September, and the pair were close as she was her only granddaughter.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man asked his girlfriend’s mother if she thought his idea was a good one, and the mother said that as much as she loved the idea, she didn’t know if her daughter would, and told him to think about it.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite this caution, he went ahead with his plan, as he “couldn’t find anything else [he] liked as much”. He said that the resulting ring was beautiful, and he thought she would love the sentiment of it.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he proposed and she immediately accepted, he was thrilled, until she saw the ring and her reaction changed. He wrote, “She told me I’d practically vandalized and ruined the only meaningful thing of her grandmothers that she had and that I should have asked. I went to her mom for support, but she just kept saying she warned me that my girlfriend might not like the idea. She said yes to my proposal but refuses to wear the ring, which I just think is disrespectful considering how much money and thought went into it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Commenters were quick to side with the now-fiancée, with one writing “YOU DESTROYED her one family heirloom! You were disrespectful and STOLE her property and then had it destroyed,” while another wrote, “This dude deserves no sympathy, and I cannot even believe he can even question whether he’s wrong,” and several users suggested she dump him.</p> <p dir="ltr">The best laid plans of mice and men…</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Tetra Images/Jamie Grill</em></p>

Relationships

“I’m really upset”: Karl Stefanovic’s rude gesture shows lockdown struggle on 47th birthday

<p><span>Karl Stefanovic has previously admitted his struggle to remain positive for viewers tuning in to <em>Today</em> at home, but a new bizarre photo has revealed his real thoughts.</span><br /><br /><span>A behind-the-scenes snap taken of the <em>Today</em> host features Karl flipping the bird at fellow colleague, Brooke Boney.</span><br /><br /><span>The clip was posted to social media with the caption: "Day 8,789,765 of lockdown.”</span><br /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843067/karl-stefanovic.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8a956004a1fe449b92b9e0a1210d241a" /></p> <p><em>Image: Brooke Boney</em></p> <p><span>It comes amidst the current COVID outbreak, as millions of Australians are forced to remain indoors while in lockdown.</span><br /><br /><span>The moment was filmed during an ad break, just moments after he went off-script to apologise to viewers on <em>Today</em>.</span><br /><br /><span>He admitted the coronavirus crisis in Australia was really starting to get to him.</span><br /><br /><span>The admission followed while Karl and co-host Sophie Walsh discussed with experts the ongoing pandemic.</span><br /><br /><span>It was then he admitted he was simply “over it”.</span><br /><br /><span>"I'm sorry, I know I'm supposed to be on breakfast TV and all happy and stuff, but it's just not a happy time," he told viewers.</span><br /><br /><span>"And I want to go to the [MCG], I want to have three meat pies and 45 schooners and watch the AFL grand final.</span><br /><br /><span>"I don't want to see it moved to Perth. I want games back at the [MCG], I want normal life.</span><br /><br /><span>"I'm really upset."</span><br /><br /><span>Karl celebrated his 47th birthday on Thursday, and to celebrate the 9 team shared a series of throwback snaps of the TV presenter.</span></p>

News

Queen “deeply upset" by Prince Harry

<p>The Queen is said to be deeply disappointed by her grandson, Prince Harry, due to his latest callout on the royal family.</p> <p>The Duke of Sussex spoke candidly about Prince Charles’ parenting style in a podcast interview.</p> <p>He would go on to claim his family had showed “total neglect” for his wellbeing.</p> <p>A royal source reportedly told the<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9608457/The-Queen-deeply-upset-Harrys-personal-attacks.html" target="_blank"><em>Mail on Sunday</em></a>: that “Harry’s grandmother has taken this very personally and is deeply upset by what Harry has said.”</p> <p>“In particular his comments about Charles’s parenting and suggesting his father knows no better because of how he was brought up.</p> <p>“It has been a very upsetting time.”</p> <p>Harry has been a vocal critic of the dynamics that have existed for decades within the royal family since he and his wife Meghan Markle broke away from The Firm and moved to the United States with their son Archie last year.</p> <p>He has sat down for a number of tell-all interviews in recent months, the most explosive one including his chat with Oprah Winfrey.</p> <p>During his interview with the<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/prince-harry-throws-charles-and-queen-under-the-bus-in-extraordinary-new-interview-c-2835901" target="_blank"><em>Armchair Expert</em><span> </span>podcast</a>, the royal revealed he left London to “break the cycle” of “pain” he suffered as a member of the royal family.</p> <p>He also said he needed to “change that for my own kids”.</p> <p>The Duke suggested his father had “suffered” because of his upbringing by the Queen and Prince Philip.</p> <p>He also hinted that his father “treated me the way he was treated”, calling it “genetic pain”.</p> <p>“I don’t think we should be pointing the finger or blaming anybody, but certainly when it comes to parenting, if I’ve experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I’m going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don’t pass it on, basically,” Harry said.</p> <p>“It’s a lot of genetic pain and suffering that gets passed on anyway so we as parents should be doing the most we can to try and say ‘you know what, that happened to me, I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen to you’”.</p> <p>He added: “I never saw it, I never knew about it, and then suddenly I started to piece it together and go ‘OK, so this is where he went to school, this is what happened, I know this about his life, I also know that is connected to his parents so that means he’s treated me the way he was treated, so how can I change that for my own kids”.</p> <p>“And here I am, I moved my whole family to the US, that wasn’t the plan but sometimes you’ve got make decisions and put your family first and put your mental health first.”</p> <p>In the new Apple TV+ docuseries<span> </span><em>The Me You Can’t See</em>, which was produced by Oprah and Harry, the Duke of Sussex revealed the trauma he underwent following the death of his mother, Princess Diana.</p> <p>Harry said his mental health struggles worsened as he got into adulthood and claimed that between ages 28 to 32 were a “nightmare time” in his life.</p> <p>The 36-year-old said he was willing to drink excessively and take drugs in order to mask his feelings, and that he felt stuck within the royal system.</p> <p>Harry admitted that even flying to London can be a “trigger” for him.</p> <p>“I wasn’t aware of it at the time when I was younger, but after I started doing therapy stuff, I became aware of it,” he said.</p> <p>“I was like, why do I feel so uncomfortable? And of course, for me, London is a trigger, unfortunately, because of what happened to my mum, and because of what I experienced and what I saw.”</p> <p>Harry revealed he was “ashamed” of how he dealt with his mental health and was “really angry” that he had not been offered the support he didn’t know he needed.</p> <p>“I was ashamed that it got this bad,” he said.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841389/harry-queen-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/55e24ffc5c274e9da7a2e10d32311890" /></p> <p><em>Image: Prince Harry in <span>Apple TV+ Documentary</span></em></p> <p>“I was ashamed to go to my family, because to be honest with you, like a lot of other people my age could probably relate to, I know that I’m not gonna get from my family what I need.”</p> <p>He also said that “one of the biggest reasons” he decided to step back from his role in the royal family was the fear of losing his wife.</p> <p>“I then had a son, who I’d far rather be solely focused on, rather than every time I look in his eyes, wondering whether my wife is going to end up like my mother, and I’m going to have to look after him myself,” he said.</p> <p>Harry revealed he had once found Meghan crying due to the “combined effort of the Firm and the media to smear her” before the Oprah interview aired.</p> <p>“I was woken up in the middle of the night to her crying in her pillow because she doesn’t want to wake me up, because I’m already carrying too much,” he said.</p> <p>“That’s heart-breaking. I held her, we talked, she cried, and she cried, and she cried.”</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

"I’m not upset": Leila Abdallah speaks out after home invasion

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>The Abdallah family have tried to move on after losing three children in one accident, but the blows keep coming after they were robbed of several sentimental items by thieves on Wednesday.</p> <p>Danny and Leila Abdallah's family home was robbed by a masked intruder around 11:45 am just a year after their three children, Antony, 13, Angelina, 12 and nine-year-old Sienna as well as their 11-year-old niece Veronique were killed by an out-of-control driver in Oatlands last year.</p> <p>Leila, 36, said that she had been busy looking at photos of her children when she noticed someone leaving with a big black bag through the unlocked front door.</p> <p>“He took a lot of personal items (but) it’s not about the items, these items are sentimental to us,” she said to media yesterday.</p> <p>“With every item, we have memories of our kids. He took a watch but it’s not about the watch, this watch reminds me of me and Angelina walking together to the store to buy this watch.”</p> <p>“I was in shock, I just walked outside … people are looking at us thinking ‘you guys have been through enough this year.”</p> <p>Home security tapes show the moment the man fleed the scene in a stolen white Audi, with a man waiting in the car to escape quickly.</p> <p>Cumberland Police Area Commander Detective Superintendent Darryl Jobson said that the crime was "absolutely disgusting" given the "incredible ordeal" but has said that the crime did not appear to be targeted.</p> <p>“I appeal to the conscience of the people responsible for the crime to hand themselves in to the police and to return the property of those victims,” he said.</p> <p>“It is abhorrent to enter anyone’s home whilst people are there. It is a breach of people’s privacy.”</p> <p>Despite the robbery, Leila said that she's "not going to lose sleep over it".</p> <p>“I’m not going to lose sleep over it, at the end of the day life keeps going and there’s more to life than that,” she explained.</p> <p>“Life is challenging, life is full of challenges, and I definitely forgive him, I’m not upset … what matters most in life are my kids.</p> <p>“Family is more important than anything.”</p> </div> </div> </div>

Caring

"Saddened and hurt": Kate Middleton upset by Meghan Markle comments

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>The Duchess of Cambridge is said to be feeling "saddened, disappointed and hurt" after Meghan Markle told Oprah it was Kate that had made her cry in the lead up to her royal wedding.</p> <p>Markle claimed that Kensington Palace refused to clear up a story that involved her and Kate Middleton and called it the "beginning of a real character assassination".</p> <p>"The narrative with Kate, which didn't happen, that's when everything changed," the Duchess of Sussex told Oprah.</p> <p>Markle also said it was Middleton who made her cry during the bridesmaid dress fittings, despite reports claiming it was the opposite.</p> <p>"She was upset about something, she apologised, she owned it," Meghan said.</p> <p>"She was upset about something, about the flower girl dresses and it made me cry and it really hurt my feelings."</p> <p>Middleton later sent flowers to apologise to Markle, but it was too late.</p> <p>Royal commentator Katie Nicholl said that the whole experience has been "mortifying" for the royal family, Middleton included.</p> <p>"This has been a very hard few days for Kate," Nicholl told the UK's<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ok.co.uk/royal/royal-news/kate-middleton-hurt-meghan-interview-23702055" target="_blank"><em>OK magazine</em></a>.</p> <p>"Behind closed doors, she has been saddened, disappointed and hurt."</p> <p>Nicholl believes there are "different versions of the bridesmaid story, not just the one Meghan discussed".</p> <p>"Kate felt it was all sorted, so to have it brought up again was mortifying."</p> </div> </div> </div>

Relationships

"That smell!": Permanent portaloo upsets neighbours

<p>NSW Central Coast residents are furious with their neighbour who abandoned a caravan and portaloo five years ago in their suburban street.</p> <p>The caravan is on an overgrown section on the street, but it's the portaloo that infuriates neighbours.</p> <p>"Disgusting, absolutely disgusting," neighbour Kylie Griffith told<span> </span><em>A Current Affair.</em></p> <p>"It looks like a bogan's house, like someone that doesn't care for it."</p> <p>Although things are bad now, they were worse when owner Hervander Bhandari was living there.</p> <p>He submitted plans to build a grand home after buying the site for $135,000 in 2014.</p> <p>"It was five storeys high," neighbour Stephen Crampton said.</p> <p>"The bricks turned up, the portaloo and virtually he was staying in it all the time."</p> <p>Neighbours were disgusted as they watched his personal routine, which included showering with a garden hose.</p> <p>That didn't bother them as much as the smell from the portaloo.</p> <p>"When he flushed the toilet, the water used to come back out of the port skip here and down the roadway, down his block of land into the neighbour's driveway, down the gutter and into the stormwater," Mr Crampton said.</p> <p>"It was disgusting. It was shocking. You would go, 'oh no, not again, that smell'.</p> <p>"We would have to have all our windows up and everything, we couldn't put up with it."</p> <p>Mr Crampton had enough and contacted the Central Coast Council, who instructed him to keep a diary of his movements.</p> <p>After enough evidence, the council took Mr Bhandari to the NSW Land and Environment Court, claiming that his living situation was illegal.</p> <p>Mr Bhandari told the court he has no interest in taking part in the case and it's currently understood that he has moved home to India.</p> <p>The Central Coast Council has said that Mr Bhandari has until January 17th to clean up the site before council moves in.</p> <p>Neighbours are upset at the decision as the council has told them they will only remove the portaloo, which means that the stack of bricks and the caravan will stay on the land.</p> <p>"They need to get rid of that stinking old caravan cause the smell is still here," Mr Crampton said.</p>

Real Estate

Prince George upset by Sir David Attenborough doco

<p>Prince William has broken royal fan's hearts with the latest story about his seven-year-old son Prince George.</p> <p>Prince William revealed that Prince George got so sad while watching a documentary by Sir David Attenborough about the extinction of animals that they had to turn it off.</p> <p>The Duke of Cambridge said George said to him: “I don’t want to watch this anymore,” <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12875493/prince-george-sad-watching-extinction-documentary/" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink"><em>The Sun</em></a> reports.</p> <p>“The most recent one, the extinction one, George and I had to turn it off, he got so sad about it.</p> <p>“He said, ‘I don’t want to watch this anymore, why has it come to this?’</p> <p>“He’s seven-years-old and he’s asking these questions. He feels it.”</p> <p>Prince William spoke to <em>Sky News </em>to mark the launch of his environmental Earthshot Prize and said that his children usually love watching Sir David Attenborough's <em>A Life On Our Planet</em> documentaries, but this one was too much.</p> <p>The dad-of-three said he had struggled with staying optimistic about the future of the environment, adding: “I think, to be perfectly honest, I’m struggling to keep the optimism levels going with my own children, and that’s really kind of like, an understanding moment.</p> <p>“Where you kind of look at yourself and go, ‘Am I doing enough on this, are we really at this stage in life when I can’t be hugely optimistic and pleased that my children are getting so into nature?</p> <p>“Because you kind of worry and dread they’re soon going to realise that we are in a very, very dangerous and difficult time in the environment and that as a parent, you feel you’re letting them down immediately.”</p> <p>The sweet story comes after a video of the Cambridge children asking Sir David Attenborough questions about the environment, with Prince George asking which creature would become extinct next.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CF4dvUDFPEK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CF4dvUDFPEK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">We've got some questions for you, @DavidAttenborough...🌍🕷️🐒</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Duke and Duchess of Cambridge</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Oct 3, 2020 at 5:59am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Sir David Attenborough assured him that we could act to save endangered species from becoming extinct.</p> <p>The Earthshot Prize will hand over $1.81 million each year for a decade to five winners who build innovative projects that are designed to save the planet.</p> <p>This can include green businesses, cities or even planet-saving people movements.</p> <p>Speaking this morning, Prince William said we had 10 years to “fundamentally fix our planet”.</p> <p>“This is me putting my stamp on what I can do in my position to really galvanise and increase the interest and tackle some of these issues and drive a decade of change to help repair the planet,” Prince William told <em>Sky News.</em></p>

Family & Pets

Karl Stefanovic’s fiery interview with upset CEO of Jim’s Mowing

<p>In a fiery interview with Karl Stefanovic on the <em>Today</em> show, Jim Penman, CEO and founder of national gardening franchise Jim’s Mowing, labelled Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews the “worst political leader since federation”.</p> <p>“This idea that he consults with business is ludicrous,” said Penman. “It is a joke.”</p> <p>“He is an utter incompetent. He has stuffed the quarantine, he is stuffing the contact tracing, he is stuffing the testing. The only thing he is good at is trashing the Victorian economy.</p> <p>“I cannot think of anybody remotely as bad as this.”</p> <p>“Our industry is no threat to public health at all,” Penman explained to Karl, referring to the sole operators currently working for his Jim’s Mowing franchises. “A lone operator working alone in a garden is no threat to health. But, when you throw tens of thousands of people out of work without need, you talk about mental health issues, suicide, drug addiction, domestic violence and the rest.</p> <p>“He should be tossed out by his own party.”</p> <p>Penman also wrote a highly critical letter to the Premier on September 7 after Daniel Andrews announced the extension of Victoria’s lockdown period:</p> <p>“Premier, you will have blood on your hands. Every day I hear stories of misery and despair. Putting people out of work without need is a massive risk to health and wellbeing.</p> <p>“I have one Franchisee whose son barely survived a suicide attempt. His daughter too is severely depressed... This extension has filled them with despair.”</p> <p>“Drop this senseless measure,” Penman appealed in his letter, asking Mr Andrews to “put human welfare” ahead of political advantage.</p> <p><strong>Images:</strong> Getty Images</p>

Home & Garden

Explosive documentary on Princess Diana set to make William and Harry “very upset and angry”

<p>A new documentary focused on the life of Princess Diana is set to be released soon, but it’s assumed that Prince William and Prince Harry will not be watching, let alone have any involvement in the production.</p> <p>The four-episode<span> </span><em>Being Me: Diana</em><span> </span>is reportedly going to focus on the mental health struggles faced by the late Princess of Wales, her painful childhood and her broken marriage to Prince Charles.</p> <p><em>Being Me: Diana</em><span> </span>will reportedly use never-before-seen footage of Diana’s speeches in 1990-1992 in the final years of her marriage to Prince Charles along with interviews with people close to her.</p> <p>Endemol Shine, the parent company of production company DSP says that “everything” featured is “already in the public domain”.</p> <p>Speaking to<span> </span><em>The Sun</em>, a TV insider revealed that both the royal family and Diana’s Spencer family will refuse to take part in the tell-all documentary that has not yet been commissioned by Netflix.</p> <p>“William and Harry will be very upset and angry. It’s particularly distressing for Harry because he’s been working with Netflix,” said the insider, referring to Harry’s Thomas the Tank Engine special with the streaming giant.</p> <p>“At a time when the royals have been dealt a blow with Harry and Meghan leaving, the timing is not good.”</p> <p>Since their mother’s tragic passing, both her sons have been advocates of mental health.</p> <p>After chatting with Maddy Austin who was diagnosed with anorexia and revealed that Diana’s openness about her eating disorder helped her, Prince William said: “We need to be matter-of-fact about it, and not hide it in the dark where it festers.”</p> <p>The Duke of Cambridge added that he was “absolutely” proud of his mother for speaking out about her struggles with bulimia that Diana herself referred to as a “secret disease”.</p> <p>“There are illnesses. Mental health needs to be taken as seriously as physical health.”</p> <p>Although both the princes have taken part in documentaries relating to their mother in the past, both have also slammed the media – particularly tabloids – for the treatment their mother and respective wives have received.</p> <p>“I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum,” said Harry before the lawsuit he and Duchess Meghan filed.</p> <p>“Everything that she went through and what happened to her is incredibly raw every single day, and that is not being me being paranoid.</p> <p>“That is just me not wanting a repeat of the past.”</p>

Why some people overeat when they're upset

<p>The idea of eating a tub of ice cream to cope with being upset has become a bit cliche. Though some might not need a tub of chocolate swirl to help perk themselves up again, there do seem to be systematic differences in the way that people cope with <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11892-018-1000-x.pdf">upsetting events</a>, with some more likely to find solace in food than others.</p> <p>This matters because when eating to cope with negative feelings is part of a broader tendency to overeat, it is likely to be <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00426.x">associated with obesity and being overweight</a>. More people than ever are now overweight and obese, with <a href="https://www.obesityday.worldobesity.org/world-obesity-day-2017">recent estimates</a> suggesting that by 2025, 2.7 billion adults worldwide will be affected by obesity, risking health issues such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.</p> <p>So why do some people manage their emotions with food while others don’t? One psychological concept that helps to explain this difference is <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-0167.47.3.283">adult attachment orientation</a>. Depending on the extent to which we fear abandonment by those we love, adults fall somewhere on the dimension of “attachment anxiety”. Where we fall on this dimension (high or low) determines a set of expectations about how we and others behave in personal relationships. These are developed as a response to the care we received as an infant and this can characterise your attachment style.</p> <p>A recent <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666317303525">meta-analysis</a> – a study bringing together the results of many other studies – showed that the higher a person’s attachment anxiety, the more they engage in unhealthy eating behaviours, with <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ijo201072">a knock-on effect on body mass index (BMI)</a>. Two other studies have also shown that patients undergoing weight loss surgery are likely to have <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11695-017-2796-1">higher attachment anxiety</a> scores than a comparable lean population, and it is thought that this difference is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ijo2017157">partly explained by the tendency to overeat</a>.</p> <p><strong>Understanding attachment anxiety</strong></p> <p>For a long time, <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.75.2.420">we have known</a> that people who are have high attachment anxiety are more likely to both notice upsetting things and find it harder to manage their emotions when upset. This is because of how attachment orientations come about in the first place. The dynamics and feelings relating to our most important long-term relationships, including in early life, act as a templates that guide our behaviour in subsequent relationships and in stressful situations.</p> <p>If we receive consistent care from a caregiver, which includes helping us to cope with problems in life, we develop a secure attachment orientation. For people high in security, when a negative life event occurs, they are able to seek support from others or soothe themselves by thinking about the sorts of things that their caregiver or other significant person would say to them in that situation.</p> <p>However, inconsistent care – where the caregiver sometimes responds to another’s needs but at other times does not – leads to attachment anxiety and a fear that our needs won’t be met. When negative life events occur, support from others is sought but perceived as unreliable. People with high attachment anxiety are also less able to self-soothe than people with a secure attachment.</p> <p>We <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666317318378">recently tested</a> whether this poor emotional management could explain why people with attachment anxiety are more likely to overeat. Importantly, we found that for people high in attachment anxiety it was harder to disengage from whatever was upsetting them and to get on with what they were supposed to be doing. These negative emotions were managed with food and this related to a higher BMI.</p> <p>It is important to note, however, that this is only one factor among many that can influence overeating and BMI. We cannot say that attachment anxiety causes overeating and weight gain. It might be that overeating and weight gain influences our attachment orientation, or it could be a bit of both.</p> <p><strong>Managing eating behaviour</strong></p> <p>There are two approaches that appear promising for attachment anxious individuals seeking to manage their eating behaviour. These involve targeting the specific attachment orientation itself and/or improving emotion regulation skills in general.</p> <p>To target attachment orientation, one possibility is a psychological technique called “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X1830037X">security priming</a>” designed to make people behave like “secures”, who cope well with negative life events. It results in beneficial effects more generally, such as engaging in more pro-social behaviours. <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0265407512468371">One study</a> showed that priming is related to snack intake. When people are asked to reflect on secure relationships in their life they eat less in a later snacking episode than when asked to reflect on anxious relationships in their life (though this work is very preliminary and needs replicating and extending).</p> <p>Looking at emotion regulation, a <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11892-018-1000-x.pdf">recently published paper</a> highlighted the importance of emotional eaters focusing on skills such as coping with stress rather than calorie restriction, when seeking to lose weight. This study did not look solely at those with attachment anxiety, however, so further work is needed explore this further.</p> <p>Of course, in an ideal world everybody would have relationship experiences that helped them to develop high attachment security, and perhaps this is a hidden third approach – facilitating better caregiving and interpersonal relationships for all.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/105872/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><em></em></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-wilkinson-583732">Laura Wilkinson</a>, Lecturer in Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swansea-university-2638">Swansea University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/angela-rowe-256122">Angela Rowe</a>, Reader in Social Cognitive Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bristol-1211">University of Bristol</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/charlotte-hardman-109457">Charlotte Hardman</a>, Lecturer in Appetite and Obesity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-liverpool-1198">University of Liverpool</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-some-people-overeat-when-theyre-upset-105872">original article</a>.</em></p>

Body

Japan upset Scotland at chaotic Rugby World Cup in the wake of Typhoon Hagibis

<p>Japan has dominated Scotland to triumph with a 28-21 win, meaning that this is the first time that Japan have reached the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.</p> <p>Japan were faster and relentless in their attacks against Scotland, much to the delight of the red-and-white crowd who were cheering on their every move.</p> <p>Japan coach Jamie Joseph said that the team went “another level” in the match.</p> <p>"Tonight we went another level," he said.</p> <p>"They wanted it as much as the Scots and gave as much as they could. This is what it takes to win big test matches."</p> <p>Wing Kenki Fukuoka scored two tries while Kotaro Matsushima and Keita Inagaki also scored as the team held off attacks from Scotland.</p> <p>However, Japan were aware that their win came at a price, as the country is reeling from the damage caused by Typhoon Hagibis.</p> <p>"Whilst we are celebrating tonight there are a lot of people who aren't," Joseph said.</p> <p>Rugby fans are shocked at the outcome, as it means that this is the second time Scotland have failed to reach the last eight. Their last loss was back in 2011, but they haven’t let it get them down.</p> <p>"We had a mountain to climb after that first half but we started climbing it and I thought the effort the players put in to get back to within seven points was excellent," said Scotland coach Gregor Townsend to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-14/japan-scotland-rwc-result-typhoon-hagibis-winner/11598394" target="_blank">The ABC</a></em>.</p> <p>"We were obviously aware that this was huge for the home nation. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic and you didn't want to be the team that was losing in that atmosphere."</p>

International Travel

Scott Cam speaks out: "I was upset"

<p>After two long, action-packed episodes where viewers watched <em>The Block</em> contestants Mark and Mitch, go head to head with show’s host Scott Cam, their issues have finally been put to rest. </p> <p>The couple apologised to Scott on Tuesday night’s episode after an explosive argument aroused from Mark and Mitch accusing the host of being homophobic. </p> <p>Cam repeatedly called their second living space a “party room,” much to the dismay of the contestants who felt their “party room” meant a judgement on their lifestyle. </p> <p>“By 2019 homophobic innuendos are f***ing not on,” a furious Mitch said to Cairns couple Tess and Luke at the time.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2JUEjQlaQB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2JUEjQlaQB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Mitch and Mark (@mitchandmark)</a> on Sep 8, 2019 at 2:40am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“F***ing done with comments from people like him, aimed at people like me. Go f**k yourself,” he fumed.</p> <p>However, Cam insisted he was merely repeating feedback given by the judges, who praised contestants El’ise and Matt for designing their bedroom away from the “noisy people,” Mark and Mitch. </p> <p>On Monday night’s episode, the TV show host approached the couple to explain he meant nothing of the comments he repeated on Sunday night, but left in a strop following the boy’s reactions. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0x4OQzHFlS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0x4OQzHFlS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Mitch and Mark (@mitchandmark)</a> on Aug 5, 2019 at 3:42am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I was expecting you to say sorry once I explained it, but you didn’t say sorry you said ‘thank you’,” he told the couple. </p> <p>Mark muttered “oh well,” after Scott stormed off and Mitch responded to his partner, “whoops”. </p> <p>However, it seems the contestants had a change of heart on Tuesday night and apologised after the two days of fiery clashing. </p> <p>“The other day we had a chat, and we had spoken on you behind your back,” Mitch said.</p> <p>“You caught us off guard, and I was a bit overwhelmed and I didn’t consider what our actions had been. I just want you to know that we sincerely apologise if we offended you. And I’m upset that I might’ve offended you.” </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2OrXM1goNk/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2OrXM1goNk/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Block (@theblock)</a> on Sep 10, 2019 at 4:39am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Mark jumped in: “And we were wrong.”</p> <p>Scott who looked taken aback by the genuine apology said: “Well, that’s really nice. Thanks boys. And you know I would never have those thoughts in any way whatsoever. Lets hug it out.”</p> <p>Mitch later explained to the cameras they “felt so much better now”. </p> <p>“We felt we owed him an apology, and we wanted to make sure he got that apology and it was genuine. We had been self-centred, and thought about how things were affecting us, and had left Scotty’s feelings out of it.”</p> <p>“I feel so much better now because I was upset,” the host said after breaking away from their group hug, joking: “I’m glad that you like me again.”</p>

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