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The Princess of Wales wants to stay cancer-free. What does this mean?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amali-cooray-1482458">Amali Cooray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-eddie-la-marca-1503690">John (Eddie) La Marca</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-diepstraten-1495268">Sarah Diepstraten</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822"><em>WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)</em> </a></em></p> <p>Catherine, Princess of Wales, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/09/princess-of-wales-cancer-free-after-completing-chemotherapy">has announced</a> she has now completed a course of preventive chemotherapy.</p> <p>The news comes nine months after the princess first <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68641441">revealed</a> she was being treated for an unspecified form of cancer.</p> <p>In the new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSrDEq8QFkc">video message</a> released by Kensington Palace, Princess Catherine says she’s focused on doing what she can to stay “cancer-free”. She acknowledges her cancer journey is not over and the “path to recovery and healing is long”.</p> <p>While we don’t know the details of the princess’s cancer or treatment, it raises some questions about how we declare someone fully clear of the disease. So what does being – and staying – “cancer-free” mean?</p> <h2>What’s the difference between being cancer-free and in remission?</h2> <p>Medically, “cancer-free” <a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/remission--cancer-free--no-evidence-of-disease--what-is-the-difference-when-talking-about-cancer-treatment-effectiveness-and-results.h00-159460845.html">means</a> two things. First, it means no cancer cells are able to be detected in a patient’s body using the available testing methods. Second, there is no cancer left in the patient.</p> <p>These might sound basically the same. But this second aspect of “cancer-free” can be complicated, as it’s essentially impossible to be sure no cancer cells have survived a treatment.</p> <p>It only takes a few surviving cells for the cancer to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-does-cancer-spread-to-other-parts-of-the-body-219616">grow back</a>. But these cells may not be detectable via testing, and can lie dormant for some time. The possibility of some cells still surviving means it is more accurate to say a patient is “in remission”, rather than “cancer-free”.</p> <p>Remission means there is no detectable cancer left. Once a patient has been in remission for a certain period of time, they are often considered to be fully “cancer-free”.</p> <p>Princess Catherine was not necessarily speaking in the strict medical sense. Nonetheless, she is clearly signalling a promising step in her recovery.</p> <h2>What happens during remission?</h2> <p>During remission, patients will usually undergo surveillance testing to make sure their cancer hasn’t returned. Detection tests can vary greatly depending on both the patient and their cancer type.</p> <p>Many <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/screening/screening-tests">tests</a> involve simply looking at different organs to see if there are cancer cells present, but at varying levels of complexity.</p> <p>Some cancers can be detected with the naked eye, such as skin cancers. In other cases, technology is needed: colonoscopies for colorectal cancers, X-ray mammograms for breast cancers, or CT scans for lung cancers. There are also molecular tests, which test for the presence of cancer cells using protein or DNA from blood or tissue samples.</p> <p>For most patients, testing will continue for years at regular intervals. Surveillance testing ensures any returning cancer is caught early, giving patients the best chance of successful treatment.</p> <p>Remaining in remission for five years can be a huge milestone in a patient’s cancer journey. For most types of cancer, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31231898/">chances of cancer returning</a> drop significantly after five years of remission. After this point, surveillance testing may be performed less frequently, as the patients might be deemed to be at a lower risk of their cancer returning.</p> <h2>Measuring survival rates</h2> <p>Because it is very difficult to tell when a cancer is “cured”, clinicians may instead refer to a “five-year survival rate”. This measures how likely a cancer patient is to be alive five years after their diagnosis.</p> <p>For example, data shows the <a href="https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival-diagnosis">five-year survival rate</a> for <a href="https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer">bowel cancer</a> among Australian women (of all ages) is around 70%. That means if you had 100 patients with bowel cancer, after five years you would expect 70 to still be alive and 30 to have succumbed to the disease.</p> <p>These statistics can’t tell us much about individual cases. But comparing five-year survival rates between large groups of patients after different cancer treatments can help clinicians make the often complex decisions about how best to treat their patients.</p> <p>The likelihood of cancer coming back, or recurring, is influenced by many factors which can vary over time. For instance, approximately 30% of people with lung cancer <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7061059/">develop a recurrent disease</a>, even after treatment. On the other hand, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4933127/">breast cancer recurrence</a> within two years of the initial diagnosis is approximately 15%. Within five years it drops to 10%. After ten, it falls below 2%.</p> <p>These are generalisations though – recurrence rates can vary greatly depending on things such as what kind of cancer the patient has, how advanced it is, and whether it has spread.</p> <h2>Staying cancer-free</h2> <p>Princess Catherine <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/09/princess-of-wales-cancer-free-after-completing-chemotherapy">says</a> her focus now is to “stay cancer-free”. What might this involve?</p> <p>How a cancer develops and whether it recurs can be <a href="https://nature.com/articles/s41467-018-05467-z">influenced</a> by things we can’t control, such as age, ethnicity, gender, genetics and hormones.</p> <p>However, there are sometimes <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances">environmental factors</a> we can control. That includes things like exposure to UV radiation from the sun, or inhaling carcinogens like tobacco.</p> <p>Lifestyle factors also play a role. Poor diet and nutrition, a lack of exercise and excessive alcohol consumption can all <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10925935">contribute to cancer development</a>.</p> <p>Research estimates more than half of all cancers could <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/resources/position-statements/lifestyle-risk-factors-and-primary-prevention-cancer/recommendations">potentially be prevented</a> through <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/cancer/screening-for-cancer">regular screening</a> and maintaining a healthy lifestyle (not to mention preventing other chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes).</p> <p>Recommendations to reduce cancer risk are the same for everyone, not just those who’ve had treatment like Princess Catherine. They include not smoking, eating a nutritious and balanced diet, exercising regularly, cutting down on alcohol and staying sun smart.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/238681/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amali-cooray-1482458">Amali Cooray</a>, PhD Candidate in Genetic Engineering and Cancer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-eddie-la-marca-1503690">John (Eddie) La Marca</a>, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-diepstraten-1495268">Sarah Diepstraten</a>, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </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/the-princess-of-wales-wants-to-stay-cancer-free-what-does-this-mean-238681">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Caring

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"Weak": Raygun's tell-all interview divides audience

<p>Raygun has finally faced the music after her disappointing Olympics performance, sitting down with <em>The Project</em>'s Waleed Aly to share her side of the story from the breakdancing event in Paris. </p> <p>Rachael Gunn, 37, represented Australia in the breakdancing competition at the Paris Olympics where she failed to score a single point, and her unusual routine quickly went viral around the world. </p> <p>While some people, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, thought Raygun gave it her best try, others were quick to call her out for "making a mockery of Australia". </p> <p>In her first exclusive tell-all interview since the Olympics, Raygun told Waleed Aly that the backlash to her performance had a huge impact on her mental health. </p> <p>“I didn’t understand the scale of it,” she said. “I did preview some comments and I was like, ‘Oh, no’, and this kind of sick feeling started coming out. I was like, ‘Oh, goodness! What has happened?’”</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/C_fbu5PvItj/?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/C_fbu5PvItj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“That was really wild,” Gunn said. “If people are chasing me, what do I do? But that really did put me in a state of panic for a while after that and I was quite nervous being out in public because I just didn’t know what was safe, if anyone was going to recognise me, how they were going to respond to seeing me."</p> <p>“And it was pretty nerve-racking for a while there.”</p> <p>She went on to say that the hate she received, both in person and online, took a toll. </p> <p>“It was really sad, how much hate that it did evoke,” she said. “There’s been a portion of very angry and awful responses, not only attacking me but attacking my husband, attacking my crew, attacking the breaking and street dance community in Australia, my family. The energy and vitriol that people had was pretty alarming.”</p> <p>Despite her candid answers on <em>The Project</em>, the interview as a whole divided audiences, as some viewers were unhappy with the style of interviewing, claiming Waleed hadn't gone hard enough on her and saying that Raygun is still not taking any accountability for "making a mockery" of Australia and hip-hop culture.</p> <p>"Weak AF interview," one person raged on Facebook. "Just another absolute p***take by her and Waleed's questions."</p> <p>"Of course it will be a Waleed interview. Let Steve Price ask her a few questions," someone else commented, with another agreeing, "Pity Steve Price didn't do the interview."</p> <p>"No apology for making a mockery of the breaking hip-hop culture. And there are other female breakers who are much more talented," one person said. "She needs to apologise for taking the place of talented dancers. She’s an embarrassment that scored a zero. That has to be a first," someone else ranted.</p> <p>Not everyone had a problem with the line of questioning, with some labelling Waleed as "kind and respectful".</p> <p>"Very well done, and very kind interview. You asked some tough questions, and she gave some tough answers," one person said. "Bravo, Waleed, that was a wonderful interview. You were probing but also kind and respectful," someone else commended. </p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project/Paul Kitagaki, Jr/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock</em></p>

TV

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Prince and Princess of Wales receive new royal title

<p>King Charles has issued new royal titles for Prince William and Princess Kate. </p> <p>Kate has been appointed Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour.</p> <p>The Order was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service.</p> <p>Since becoming a member of the royal family, a lot of Kate's work has been on the arts, mental health and early education.</p> <p>The appointment comes after the Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer, and is currently undergoing treatment for it. </p> <p>Prince William was also given a new title as the Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. </p> <p>The Most Honourable Order of the Bath was established by King George I in 1725, and is awarded to members of the military or civil service for their exemplary service. </p> <p>King Charles had received the same title when he was the Prince of Wales, and the position was left vacant until now. </p> <p>Previous Grand Masters include Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.</p> <p>The Buckingham Palace have announced several other new appointments this week. </p> <p>Queen Camilla as been appointed the Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.</p> <p>The title was previously held by the late Duke of Edinburgh, the late Queen's grandmother – Queen Mary of Teck, and King George VI when he was the Prince of Wales.</p> <p>The Duchess of Gloucester has become a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and is expected to make her debut at the ceremony on June 17.</p> <p>The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, which was established by King Edward III almost 700 years ago. </p> <p>Other appointments to the Order include Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, The Right Honourable the Lord Kakkar and Lord Lloyd-Webber.</p> <p>These appointments come after the monarchy was rocked by a number of unexpected health challenges this year, namely King Charles and Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Princess of Wales and King Charles: one in two people develop cancer during their lives – the diseases and treatments explained

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gavin-metcalf-1340598">Gavin Metcalf</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin University</a></em></p> <p>The Princess of Wales released a <a href="https://x.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1771235267837321694?s=20">moving video message</a> on March 22 to address speculation about her health. In it, the future queen disclosed that she’d been <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68641710">diagnosed with cancer</a> following tests conducted after she underwent major abdominal surgery at a clinic in London in January.</p> <p>Catherine explained that she was undergoing “preventative chemotherapy” – but emphasised that her surgery had been successful, and that she was “well” and “getting stronger every day”.</p> <p>The message was the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/22/princess-kate-cancer-royal-family-health-annus-horribilis">second announcement</a> of a royal family cancer diagnosis in recent weeks. On February 5, Buckingham Palace <a href="https://www.royal.uk/a-statement-from-buckingham-palace-5Feb24">published a statement</a> that King Charles III had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68208157">cancer, unrelated</a> to the treatment he had been receiving for an enlarged prostate.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3xzKooCaRXU?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>The statement said that he had begun “regular treatments”. The king postponed all public-facing duties during his treatment, but <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68213383">reportedly continued</a> with his “constitutional role as head of state, including completing paperwork and holding private meetings”.</p> <p>Cancer is the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer">leading cause of death</a> worldwide. <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/#:%7E:text=The%20cancerous%20cells%20can%20invade,of%20cancer%20during%20their%20lifetime.">One in two</a> people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime – so the condition will affect almost every family. However, many cancers can be cured if, as appears to be the case with the king, the condition is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68213383">detected early</a> and treated effectively.</p> <h2>What is cancer?</h2> <p>Our bodies are made up of more than 100 billion cells, and cancer typically starts with changes in a small group of cells – or even a single one.</p> <p>We have different cell types depending upon where in the body they are and the function that the cell has. The size, amount and function of each of these cells is normally tightly regulated by genes – groups of codes held within our DNA – that instruct cells how to grow and divide.</p> <p>However, changes (mutations) to DNA can alter the way cells grow and multiply – often forming a lump, or solid tumour. Cancers can also develop in blood cells, such as white blood cell cancer which is known as leukaemia. This type of cancer does not form solid tumours; instead, the cancer builds up in the blood or sometimes the marrow in the core of bones, where blood cells are produced.</p> <p>In all, there are <a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/how-cancer-starts/types-of-cancer#:%7E:text=For%20example%2C%20nerves%20and%20muscles,of%20cell%20they%20start%20in.">more than 200</a> types of cancer, but all start with mutations in the DNA contained within each and every cell.</p> <h2>What exactly are mutations?</h2> <p>Think of your DNA as a big recipe book, and your genes as individual recipes for making different dishes. Mutations are smudges or missing words from this recipe that can result in key ingredients not being added into the mix.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8BJ8_5Gyhg8?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Regardless of the type of cancer or the cells from which it develops, mutations in our genes can result in a cell no longer understanding its instructions.</p> <p>These mutations can happen by chance when dividing, but can also be the result of lifestyle choices such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6141049/">smoking</a>, <a href="https://www.ndph.ox.ac.uk/news/new-genetic-study-confirms-that-alcohol-is-a-direct-cause-of-cancer#:%7E:text=These%20mutations%20both%20disrupt%20the,aldehyde%20dehydrogenase%202%20(ALDH2).">drinking</a>, and <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet">inactivity</a>.</p> <p>Research has found that in order for a normal cell to turn into a cancerous cell, anywhere from <a href="https://www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/1-10-mutations-are-needed-drive-cancer-scientists-find/">one to ten different mutations</a> are normally required.</p> <h2>How is cancer treated?</h2> <p>Treatment options for cancer depend on a variety of factors, including where your cancer is, how large it is, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The main treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.</p> <p>Chemotherapy uses drugs to target and kill cells that are rapidly dividing in our bodies. This approach is effective at targeting fast-growing cells in various cancers – but also has negative side effects. It also targets healthy cells that rapidly divide, such as hair and the cells lining our digestive system. This can lead to commonly reported <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chemotherapy/side-effects/">side-effects</a> such as hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q6tyQxTuBzU7vVD7SHjQ5dF-fRdqnL7S74-k5LXyTqODydsrPfJVsoaAkgyEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">Chemotherapy</a> can be used both preventatively – as in the case of the princess – and therapeutically.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FkZn5u3MIiY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Preventative chemotherapy, also known as <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/adjuvant-therapy">adjuvant chemotherapy</a>, is given after surgery or other primary treatments to eliminate any remaining cancer cells in the body. It aims to reduce the risk of the cancer returning (known as recurrence).</p> <p>Therapeutic chemotherapy is used as a treatment option for cancer that has spread or is well established, such as advanced-stage cancers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/surgery/about">Surgery</a> involves the physical removal of cancerous tissues as well as nearby lymph nodes – small glands which act as filters in your body that cancers can spread through – to eliminate the tumour. Surgery is often used to remove localised cancers that haven’t spread throughout the body.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy">Radiotherapy</a> uses high-energy radiation beams that are able to target specific areas where tumour cells are located to destroy or shrink the tumour. Radiotherapy can be applied externally or internally.</p> <p>Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are often combined in cancer treatment to improve outcomes for patients.</p> <p>Thanks to developments in cancer research over the last 50 years, survival rates have improved greatly – although the rate of improvement has <a href="https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/02/02/world-cancer-day-2024/#:%7E:text=Improvements%20in%20cancer%20survival%20have%20slowed%20in%20recent%20years&amp;text=Survival%20increased%20three%20to%20five,consistently%20lags%20behind%20comparable%20countries.">slowed recently</a>. Cancer survival depends on various factors such as age – people under 40 have a <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/age">greater chance</a> of survival – overall health and fitness, as well as family history.</p> <h2>What you should do</h2> <p>Particular changes in your body or warning symptoms could indicate the presence of cancer. These include, but are not limited to:</p> <ul> <li>Unexplained weight loss;</li> <li>Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest;</li> <li>Changes in bowel or bladder habits;</li> <li>Persistent cough or coughing up blood;</li> <li>Difficulty swallowing;</li> <li>Persistent pain;</li> <li>Noticing lumps, such as in a breast or testicle.</li> </ul> <p>The symptoms may not necessarily be the result of cancer. But it is important to get checked by a doctor if you notice anything out of the ordinary or have had persistent symptoms that don’t ease. Early detection and treatment can <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aay9040">significantly improve</a> outcomes for many types of cancer.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226456/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gavin-metcalf-1340598">Gavin Metcalf</a>, Cancer Biologist and Lecturer in Biomedical Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin 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/princess-of-wales-and-king-charles-one-in-two-people-develop-cancer-during-their-lives-the-diseases-and-treatments-explained-226456">original article</a>.</em></p>

Caring

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Steve Price slams "buffoon" Kyle Sandilands over move to Melbourne airwaves

<p>The radio waves have been rocked once again after Steve Price, a man with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, dubbed fellow radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands a "grubby buffoon".</p> <p>The saga unfolded as Sandilands and his radio partner-in-crime, Jackie O Henderson, inked a deal reportedly worth a staggering $200 million. Yes, you heard that right – $200 million. </p> <p>But the real kicker as far as Price is concerned? The show is expanding to Melbourne next year, leaving the current breakfast hosts, Jason Hawkins and Lauren Phillips, with a one-way ticket to radio oblivion.</p> <p>In a tearful farewell on their Melbourne morning show, Phillips lamented: "This is certainly not the way we wanted to bow out."</p> <p>Price, the unsolicited guardian of Melbourne's radio sensibilities, didn't hold back in his assessment of Sandilands, calling him a "grubby buffoon" and then backpedaling to settle on "just a grub". </p> <p>“Kyle’s a grubby buffoon," Price said to the bemused panel on a recent episode of <em>The Project</em>. "And I don’t think grubby buffoons work in Melbourne. I probably shouldn’t call him a grubby buffoon. He’s just a grub.”</p> <p>Price also predicted that Melbourne might not be ready for the explicit nature of the Kyle and Jackie O Show. “Some of the sexually explicit material is off-putting," he explained. "Sarah [Harris] would know better than anyone else that it’s school drop-off time for kids. You don’t want people talking about anal sex at breakfast time, in my view. That’s what they do on that show.</p> <p>"Melbourne people are not going to embrace that. Look, the company that is putting them on the air has a different view to that, and I may be proven to be completely wrong, but that doesn’t happen very often.”</p> <p>Despite Price's dire predictions, Sandilands remains unfazed, his ageless charm apparently defying the laws of time. Given that the $200 million deal extends for the next ten years, that would put Sandilands well into his sixties – quite a challenging age for a "shock jock" to remain relevant. </p> <p>“Can a 60-year-old be smutty?” Price was asked by the panel. “I don’t think they can, and that is part of the problem,” he replied. “But Kyle seems to be ageless. I don’t know how, with that unhealthy lifestyle he has. But he doesn’t seem to age much. So perhaps he can, at 62 . . . You can’t imagine he’s going to be appealing to the 18 to 28-year-old demographic that the radio station is paying him to drag in. I find that really puzzling.”</p> <p>So brace yourselves, Melbourne: the radio waves are about to get a whole lot grubbier, buffoonier and possibly more explicit. It's the Kyle Sandilands extravaganza, and no amount of Price's disapproval can stop the buffoonery.</p> <p><em>Images: KIIS FM / Network 10</em></p>

TV

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Waleed Aly and Steve Price clash over damning Voice letter

<p>Waleed Aly and Steve Price have clashed over an anonymous letter from Yes campaigners, condemning those who opposed the Voice to Parliament. </p> <p>On Sunday night, a lengthy and unsigned letter was shared by activists associated with the Uluru Dialogue group, as the letter slammed No voters for committing "a shameful act" by contributing to the Voice defeat. </p> <p>On <em>The Project</em>, Price was quick to slam the author of the letter, who addressed the message to the Prime Minister and all federal members of parliament, saying they did not have "the guts" to sign it. </p> <p>"It seems to me the Yes campaign hasn't learned anything about the result that happened Saturday two weeks ago," he said on Monday night. </p> <p>"The public voted 60 (per cent) No, 40 (per cent) Yes and yet, they pen a letter that they then send to the Cabinet and Prime Minister calling people who voted No as doing a shameful act, suggesting No voters are racists."</p> <p>"If you are going to do that, at least have the courage to put your name to it."</p> <p>Aly then leapt to the defence of those who wrote the anonymous letter, saying, "I don't think they said all No voters were racist."</p> <p>"They said racism was a big part of the campaign and the vote, they are inextricably bound up."</p> <p>Aly admitted that while he did not agree with everything in the letter, it was "hard to have a simple response to it".</p> <p>"They must be so hurting. I can't deny them that. Whether we agree or not," he said.</p> <p>The open letter claims to be "the collective insights and views of a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, community members and organisations who supported Yes".</p> <p>The published letter said, "The truth is that the majority of Australians have committed a shameful act whether knowingly or not, and there is nothing positive to be interpreted from it. We needed truth to be told to the Australian people." </p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project</em></p>

Legal

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Waleed Aly defends pro-Palestine rally

<p>In the wake of a recent pro-Palestine rally in Sydney that turned violent, Waleed Aly, host of <em>The Project</em>, has taken to his platform to urge authorities not to ban such protests. The controversy erupted following the decision to light up the Sydney Opera House in the colours of the Israeli flag. What began as a peaceful demonstration soon escalated as protesters clashed with the police. Amidst the chaos, a group chanted inflammatory slogans and burned an Israeli flag, sparking a divisive debate about the right to protest and its limits.</p> <p>During a recent episode of <em>The Project</em>, Waleed Aly and his co-hosts discussed the incident, with Aly expressing his concern about the potential consequences of shutting down future protests. He acknowledged the government's position in trying to maintain order but cautioned that doing so might have unintended repercussions.</p> <p>"I understand what the NSW government’s position is on trying to shut down the protests, but I just think it’s a very dangerous path to walk," he shared. Aly empathised with the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, pointing out that their actions were motivated by the Opera House being illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag. He emphasised the need for recognition of their pain, suffering, and the lives lost over the years.</p> <p>"[If you say] 'Sorry, you cannot protest' because there was a group of people who said something they absolutely shouldn't have, then I think that will only increase resentment among all those protesters who had nothing to do with that, right?" Aly pointed out. He also highlighted that the organisers of the rally had condemned the actions of a few individuals who engaged in incendiary behaviour, emphasising that they were fewer than 20 in number and their actions were swiftly curtailed.</p> <p>Aly stressed that those who break the law and attempt to incite violence instead of promoting peace should be held accountable. "We've got endless laws to deal with this," he noted. "If people end up doing that, throw the book at them. I've absolutely no problem with that. We've got hate speech laws and incitement to violence laws, and some of that was straight up incitement to violence, right?"</p> <p>The TV host underlined that these laws exist to protect freedom of speech and representation but voiced his concerns about politicians getting involved in the debate. He worried that the balance between maintaining order and preserving the right to protest could be compromised.</p> <p>Aly concluded by stating that the right to protest is a fundamental component of any democracy, and it is possible to feel sympathy for victims on both sides of the ongoing conflict. He advocated for a nuanced approach that respects the rights of demonstrators while holding accountable those who engage in illegal and harmful actions.</p> <p>Prior to Aly's comments, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had called for the protest to be cancelled out of respect for those killed in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Furthermore, the New South Wales Police had declined the pro-Palestinian activists' request for an authorised protest, citing their failure to provide adequate notice.</p> <p>In this ongoing debate, Waleed Aly's call for a balanced and thoughtful approach to protests echoes a wider conversation about the importance of preserving the right to demonstrate while ensuring that such demonstrations remain peaceful and respectful. Balancing freedom of expression with the need to maintain order is a delicate tightrope to walk in any democratic society.</p> <p><em>Image: The Project</em></p>

TV

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Albo and Waleed Aly descend into shouting match

<p>In a fiery live TV interview, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese engaged in a clash with Waleed Aly from <em>The Project</em>, as he faced tough questions regarding a contentious housing policy related to rent caps.</p> <p>During the interview, Mr Albanese found himself caught in the middle of a political dispute between the Labor party and the Greens. The minor party was holding a significant housing policy, which proposes rent caps, as a bargaining chip for the passage of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) in the senate.</p> <p>Refusing to rule out the possibility of an early election should the Greens block the bill, the Prime Minister faced Aly's scrutiny about the Greens' demands. Aly pointed out that the Greens were requesting the government to allocate $2.5 billion to incentivise rent caps rather than enforce legislative changes, as certain aspects, like rent caps, fall within the jurisdiction of state governments.</p> <p>“The problem with that Waleed is that we put $2bn on the table for states and territories in June,” countered Mr Albanese.</p> <p>The pair then went back and forth shouting over each other for 20 seconds before Aly cut in with his question: “Are you philosophically opposed to the rent caps and the idea of capping rent increases … and therefore won’t use your megaphone for it?”</p> <p>Mr Albanese began to answer before he turned on the host.</p> <p>“Waleed, that’s not the question. The question here is states and territories will look at measures for renters and renters rights” he said.</p> <p>“I want to see increased renters rights, if that’s what you’re asking me, but there are six states and two territories, all whom have different systems in place.”</p> <p>Despite Aly's persistence, a clear answer regarding the Prime Minister's stance on rent caps remained elusive, and the conversation shifted to another contentious topic – the recent deaths of four Australian soldiers in a helicopter accident in Queensland.</p> <p>Aly probed whether Australia had a habit of paying a premium for subpar military equipment, to which Mr Albanese redirected the discussion by emphasising the importance of respecting the families who had lost their loved ones that day.</p> <p>When Aly pressed further, suggesting that the families of defence force members deserved answers, Mr Albanese reassured that an appropriate investigation would take place, and necessary actions would be taken but stated that it was not the day for speculation on the matter.</p> <p>“Today’s the day we’ll leave with respect where we’re dealing with four families who’ve lost loved ones. Today’s a day to think of those families ... there‘ll be an appropriate investigation on that, and appropriate responses... today’s not the day for me to speculate about what has occurred.”</p> <p>The interview concluded with several important questions left unanswered, leaving viewers with lingering uncertainties about the Prime Minister's stance on rent caps and the issue of military equipment quality.</p> <p><em>Images: The Project</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Belgium royal accused of copying the Princess of Wales

<p dir="ltr">A dress worn by Belgium’s Princess Delphine has caused a stir over its similarity to one of Princess Kate’s recent looks.</p> <p dir="ltr">The original designer of Kate’s dress, Andrew Gn, has called out Belgian design label Atelier ExC for creating a “shameless copy” of his work.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Singaporean designer expressed his anger via an Instagram story which has since expired.</p> <p dir="ltr">Princess Delphine wore a dress that featured colourful swirls and a blue trim that was embellished by matching blue crystals, during the country's National Day celebrations on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her dress bared a striking resemblance to the Princess of Wales’ green dress with satin trimmings and jewelled button-like decorations, which she wore at Trooping the Colour in June.</p> <p dir="ltr">Not only that, Gn had also worked closely with hat designer Philip Treacy to create a wide-brimmed hat for Kate, and Princess Delphine was pictured with a similar looking hat on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The stylist who designed Princess Delphine’s outfit has denied the claims and said that her look was “inspired” by vintage Chanel.</p> <p dir="ltr">"For Princess Delphine's dress we were inspired by the Chanel style of the '60s," Jody Van Geert told <em>Vanity Fair </em>Spain.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Both the designer of Kate's dress and Atelier ExC copied from the best. Therefore, it is purely coincidental that the dresses are similar.</p> <p dir="ltr">"And, in fact, there are differences, like the ruffles on Princess Delphine's dress."</p> <p dir="ltr">Some royal fans were quick to judge, taking to Instagram to express their critiques.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When you ordered Kate's dress from wish," wrote one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It seems the Shein version of Catherine's outfit,” echoed another.</p> <p dir="ltr">However there were a few others who defended Atelier ExC’s design choices.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm a huge fan of AG so I can see why one would be inspired by him. His work is breath-taking,” wrote one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Everybody is inspired by someone. Kate's green dress by Andrew Gn was inspired by a hundred dresses before him, even with the buttons,” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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"I don't want to talk about it": John Cleese shuts down Waleed Aly

<p>John Cleese has butted heads with Waleed Aly in an awkward interview on <em>The Project</em>, with the Monty Python star refusing to answer a question and mocking Waleed's name. </p> <p>The 83-year-old comedic legend appeared on the show to promote his new Australian tour, <em>An Evening with the Late John Cleese</em>, when Waleed asked him what had brought him Down Under for the show. </p> <p>Cleese simply quipped, "Money."</p> <p>The interview turned sour when Waleed began to ask Cleese about his iconic 1970s sitcom <em>Fawlty Towers</em>, before he was shut down. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnCleese</a> is 83 years old, but he doesn't fear death; in fact, he says he's already dead. <a href="https://t.co/2uHTp1w1oX">pic.twitter.com/2uHTp1w1oX</a></p> <p>— The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1681961238731825152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“We can’t let you go without talking about <em>Fawlty Towers</em> – at least I can’t, because I think it’s one of the greatest shows …” Aly began, before Cleese interjected.</p> <p>“I don’t want to talk about <em>Fawlty Towers</em>,” he said. </p> <p>“Yeah but, you know what – it’s not all about you, is it? I mean, I can ask you about <em>Fawlty Towers</em>?” Aly asked.</p> <p>“You can talk about <em>Fawlty Towers</em>,” Cleese told him, before turning his back and facing away from his hosts to take a sip of water, which earned him a round of applause from the panel.</p> <p>After making his point, Cleese turned back to the hosts, and asked: “What kind of a name is Waleed, anyway? Is it an anagram?”</p> <p>“No. It’s just Arabic. I take it your Arabic’s not great?” Waleed replied. </p> <p>“No. I tried to learn it once. There’s about four h’s and two k’s or something.”</p> <p>“Do you know what John is in Arabic? Yahya. I bet you can’t say that either,” said Aly.</p> <p>Cleese remarked that it was a “more interesting” topic to discuss than <em>Fawlty Towers</em>, but Aly persisted, asking whether he could see the show’s imprint in any recent comedy series.</p> <p>Despite his reluctance to talk about the show, Cleese conceded that it was, in fact, “a very interesting question.” </p> <p>As the interview wrapped, Cleese joked that as his original family surname is actually Cheese, he could be known as “Yahya Cheese.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project</em></p> <div class="AV62af35d851923c62777207b4" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; width: 712.1875px; background-color: white; height: 1px;"> </div>

TV

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Princess of Wales shares new photo of daughter

<p>Princess Charlotte of Wales celebrated her eighth birthday on May 2 2023.</p> <p>Kensington Palace has shared a new photo of the young royal to commemorate the special day, saying, “The Prince and Princess of Wales are delighted to share a new photograph of Princess Charlotte ahead of her eighth birthday.”</p> <p>Just like the images posted in 2022 to mark her seventh birthday, Princess Charlotte bears a striking resemblance to her father.</p> <p>The pair seem to share a number of similar facial features, including their eyes and nose, and expressions.</p> <p>The birthday photo, taken by her mother, the Princess of Wales, follows a long-standing tradition started by Catherine soon after her marriage to Prince William 12 years ago.</p> <p>The photo saw Princess Charlotte near the family’s home, Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor.</p> <p>She is shown sitting in a white wicker chair, with a beaming smile, wearing a white dress with floral embroidery.</p> <p>The new portrait comes shortly after the fifth birthday of Charlotte’s younger brother Prince Louis.</p> <p>However, breaking from tradition, the two photos shared by the palace on April 23 were taken by photographer Millie Pilkington rather than Kate.</p> <p>Instead, the Princess of Wales was captured in one of the images pushing her young son in a wheelbarrow.</p> <p>The Princess of Wales has been photographing her children for special occasions since soon after the birth of her first child, Prince George, and has chosen a more personal approach to royal family portraits.</p> <p>She’s been praised by professional photographers for her skills and ability to capture her children so organically.</p> <p>Princess Charlotte is said to join her parents Prince William and Kate, and brothers Prince George and Prince Louis at the coronation of King Charles on May 6.</p> <p>She is not believed to have an official role due to her age but she will take part in a procession with her two brothers from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace following the ceremony.</p> <p>They will ride in a carriage close behind the Gold State Coach carrying the King and Queen Consort Camilla.</p> <p>Prince George will <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/palace-confirms-prince-george-s-role-at-coronation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">play a special role</a> during the ceremony, acting as one of the King’s four pages as the monarch enters the Abbey.</p> <p>They will be joined by the Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.</p> <p>Princess Anne, who is a former Olympic equestrian is set to ride horseback behind the Gold State Coach.</p> <p>This role is formally given the title of Gold-Stick-in-Waiting, a position that has historically been given to the person trusted with looking after the Monarch’s safety.</p> <p>Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are not expected to participate.</p> <p>It was previously revealed that Prince Harry <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/king-charles-coronation-harry-is-in-meghan-is-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will be in attendance</a> but Meghan will remain in Montecito, California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.</p> <p>However, Prince Harry's visit will likely be short-lived as he will return to California to celebrate Prince Archie's fourth birthday that same day.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Princess of Wales delights in new family photo

<p>Kensington Palace have shared a new snap of Kate, Princess of Wales, and her three children in honour of Mother’s Day in the UK. </p> <p>The snap, shared to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account, sees Kate sitting in a tree, surrounded by her kids - Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4. </p> <p>“Happy Mother’s Day from our family to yours,” the post was captioned. </p> <p>The royals’ Norfolk estate is believed to have been the location for the shoot, and Mat Porteous - who has previously acted as photographer for the couple and their young family - was behind the lens. </p> <p>Like the family’s 2021 Christmas card and previous portraits of the children, the latest snap sees them outside, enjoying the sunshine together. Kate has spoken before of the importance of the outdoors, encouraging children everywhere to head outside and experience what the world has to offer them - a lesson, it seems, she is keen on passing on to her own kids.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp99RBWtx_V/?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/Cp99RBWtx_V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fans of the royal family wasted no time in sharing their love in the comments of the post, and wishing Kate the happiest of Mother’s Days. </p> <p>“Happy Mother’s Day to you Catherine,” wrote one. “It is so clear to see through the pictures how wonderful and doting mum you are … have an amazing day.”</p> <p>“Happy Mother's Day to our lovely Princess, a wonderful mummy to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and baby Prince Louis,” echoed another. </p> <p>“Now that’s what you call a family tree,” came one joke. </p> <p>Meanwhile, another shared the opinion that it was “nice to see the kids being kids, dressed in everyday clothes.”</p> <p>One, who’d obviously gotten quite the fright with differing dates for Mother’s Day, declared that “every man in America just panicked for a moment.”</p> <p>And one took the time to pay tribute to those who may not be having such a joyous experience on Mother’s Day, writing, “and thinking of those without their mothers, those yearning to be mothers, those with strained relations, those who have lost children.”</p> <p>In a similar post to the former sentiment, the Royal Palace’s official Twitter account shared some snaps on behalf of Charles and Camilla, along with the caption, “To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special #MothersDay.”</p> <p>The second series of snaps sees a young Charles on his late mother’s lap, and Camilla with her own late mother, Rosalind. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">💐 To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MothersDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MothersDay</a>. <a href="https://t.co/v3ugcnH8pJ">pic.twitter.com/v3ugcnH8pJ</a></p> <p>— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1637265329003872256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>It was Charles’ first Mother’s Day celebration without Elizabeth, who passed away in 2022. </p> <p>It is the King's first Mother's Day without the Queen, who died on September 8, 2022, aged 96.</p> <p>Many in the comments there had kind words for Charles, and opened up about their own experiences with missing their mothers, coming together on what was a bittersweet holiday for them all. </p> <p>“We see them as king and queen but at the end of the day they were [also a] much loved son and daughter of devoted [and] loving Mums,” said one supporter. </p> <p>“Charles, you lost your mother on September 8th during my 1st visit to England,” another shared. “I lost mine on July 22nd.  So I understand how you felt & feel on this 1st Mother's Day since their passing. I sense our mothers raised us well & they will live on forever in our hearts & soul.”</p> <p>“Our Mothers are ALWAYS with us. I truly believe that,” one more fan stated. “My thoughts are with all who are missing (like me) these Incredible, Inspirational, Beautiful and Courageous women we were (and are always) privileged to call ‘Mummy’.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Trash show": The Project blasted over "hypocritical" apology

<p>Former Project panellist Em Rusciano has taken aim at the show amid backlash over its airing of a controversial joke, accusing them of "throwing" a star "under the bus". </p> <p>Reuben Kaye, who identifies as queer, was speaking about the hate he receives for his sexuality and for dressing up in drag, specifically from the Christian community.</p> <p>“I love Jesus, I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more,” Kaye said on the show, prompting a stunned reaction from host Waleed Aly and a chuckle from co-host Sarah Harris.</p> <p>Harris and other members of the panel had a laugh, but it appeared that Waleed Aly was a bit taken aback.</p> <p>Harris and Aly both <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/the-project-apologise-after-controversial-religious-joke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apologised to viewers</a>, but that didn’t stop the backlash, with some members of Australia’s Christian and Muslim communities planning to protest at Channel 10’s office over the joke.</p> <p>The Project’s social media posts have also been swamped by hashtags such as #CancelTheProject and #BoycottTheProject, and channel 9 star Omar Slaimankhel, the 2022 winner of The Block, alongside his friend Oz’ Abu Malik, has emerged as one of the highest-profile critics.</p> <p>Slaimankhel slammed the show on social media, particularly putting Harris on blast, accusing her of hypocrisy after laughing at the joke and then apologising afterwards.</p> <p>He shared a screenshot of Harris and Aly’s apology on Instagram, with the caption, “She was p*ssing herself laughing and now wants to apologise”, and a second screenshot of Kaye on the program with the words “Trash TV. Trash show”.</p> <p>Entertainment commentator Peter Ford, who is heard on radio nationwide, told <a href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> he was of two minds” about whether the joke was actually that offensive, but said the backlash came at a critical time when The Project was already receiving a great deal of hate.</p> <p>“I’m of two minds to be honest – I don’t think the joke was incredibly offensive in my own personal view, but it seems that other people do think it was, and now it has become a big thing on social media, mainly on Twitter,” he said.</p> <p>“At the moment the show really has a target on its back – people really want to go for it and jump on anything they can to somehow try and bring the show down.</p> <p>“I suspect they’re spooked by all the sharks circling wanting to come after them and bring them down.”</p> <p>Mr Ford pointed out that while panellists were seen laughing at the joke on air at the time, it was a natural reaction given the pressurised environment of TV life.</p> <p>“It’s particularly a problem because they were seen to be laughing at the joke at the time, so you can’t then say the next night, ‘it was terrible, we’re so shocked’. But I understand that sometimes on air you hear a joke and think you have to laugh, otherwise you’re not doing your job, without having fully processed what was said,” he said.</p> <p>Mr Ford went on to say there were far greater problems the programme is facing than the latest backlash, which comes just months after the exodus of Lisa Wilkinson, Carrie Bickmore, Peter Heliar, and comedian Tommy Little.</p> <p>“Honestly, I don’t know how many people who were watching it on air at that time were shocked and offended … I think it’s unfortunate to have the hosts apologise on air, particularly if it’s not necessary to have done it – it seems there was no suggestion of advertisers pulling out, and no serious repercussions,” he added.</p> <p>“If they have these kneejerk reactions whenever people get angry on Twitter, it’s going to be taking up a lot of time every night, because people will always find something – people love to get angry.</p> <p>“I’m inclined to think if they’d not apologised, it may have worked in their favour to have something controversial, unplanned and potentially even offensive. Maybe that’s what people need to start thinking - maybe I’d better start watching The Project again.”</p> <p>“They create a rod for their own back when they start to do apologies, unless it’s really vital, or they are truly sincere.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Waleed Aly halts co-host Kate Langbroek’s wild conspiracy take

<p>Waleed Aly is no stranger to making headlines for his work on <em>The Project</em>, but a debate with co-host Kate Langbroek has brought him back for perhaps the most bizarre reason yet. </p> <p>On Tuesday night, Langbroek argued the merits of those who believe that walkable 15-minute cities are, as described by those deepest in the conspiracy, “a cynical ploy by climate obsessed autocracies bent on control”.</p> <p>Conspiracy theorists are under the impression that the concept of a 15-minute city is actually a ploy for government control, and though that couldn’t be further from the truth, Kate Langbroek had plenty to say about it. </p> <p>As RMIT’s Associate Professional in International Planning Marco Amati explained, “the 15 minute city is actually about getting people to - or enabling basically - walking and active travel to shops, schools, and basically places that they want to go. </p> <p>“Many Australian cities face a challenge of how to create community, how to build walkable suburbs really quickly, so that they are as liveable and as enjoyable as inner-city areas.”</p> <p>As the show’s summary on the topic came to an end, Langbroek mused, “mm, you know I love a conspiracy.”</p> <p>When asked if the panel believed in this one, she said “I don’t know about you, but I have been locked down by governments recently.” </p> <p>Langbroek was likely referencing the COVID-19 lockdowns across Australia in recent years, something that experts worldwide may have something to do with the traction this particular conspiracy has gained across the globe. </p> <p>“So, I’m like, it’s kind of an easy thing to go ‘oh, conspiracy theorists’, however, let us just remember that in the 16 hundreds, a guy called Galileo was put in jail and I think died in jail because he said the Earth went around the sun,” she went on. </p> <p>“Oh, well, that’s that then!” Aly responded. </p> <p>“Okay,” Langbroek said, “well, because that at the time was considered to be heresy, and now we know it to be the truth.” </p> <p>“That’s not a conspiracy,” Waleed pointed out. </p> <p>“It was then, Waleed!” Langbroek argued. </p> <p>“What was the conspiracy?” </p> <p>“The conspiracy was that what he believed was wrong, what he was telling people was wrong.” </p> <p>While Aly acknowledged that he heard what she was saying and could see where she was coming from with that point, Langbroek had more to say on the matter, cutting him off before he could finish his thought. </p> <p>“I just feel increasingly like there’s a battle for control of people,” she said. “Clearly. Everywhere you go, there are cameras. Everywhere you go.</p> <p>“I just don’t think that conspiracy theorists in some cases are that crazy.” </p> <p>In a desperate bid to defuse the situation, co-host Sarah Harris tried to inject some humour, saying, “but that bird thing’s pretty crazy, right? All birds are robots?” </p> <p>“I don’t know about all of them, Sarah,” Langbroek powered on, “but I do know birds have got tiny little brains capable of anything.”</p> <p>“Easily influenced like the sheep,” she said, before emitting an uncanny bleat. </p> <p>“I guess the case has been made,” Aly answered, before Langbroek went on to ask the panel if they understood why conspiracy theorists are feeling the way they are. </p> <p>“I get the idea that people are losing trust in the government,” Aly allowed, striving to bring an end to the bizarre conversation. “But the problem is, the logical extension of that, is that any time someone comes up with something that might be a good idea, we’ll just want to kill it because we’ll decide it’s a conspiracy somehow.” </p> <p>“You agree with me then?” Langbroek asked.</p> <p>“No,” Aly didn’t miss a beat in stating, “I don’t.” </p> <p><em>Images: Network Ten</em></p>

TV

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Princess of Wales shows off her tree-decorating skills

<p dir="ltr">The Princess of Wales has given fans another glimpse into her Christmas spirit ahead of the holiday season.</p> <p dir="ltr">A few hours before her second annual <em>Royal Carols: Together at Christmas</em> concert, the Princess shared a video of herself decorating a tree.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Final touches before the #TogetherAtChristmas' Carol Service tomorrow," the caption read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video shows a cheerful Kate dressed in a white turtle neck as she decorates a festive fir at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans commented on the video, wishing the Royal Family a Merry Christmas.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Prince and Princess,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Season greetings your RH Catherine Princess of Wales,” another commented.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Final touches ahead of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherAtChristmas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherAtChristmas</a> Carol Service tomorrow 🎄 <a href="https://t.co/mixjI8d5TD">pic.twitter.com/mixjI8d5TD</a></p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1603129389927071749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“What a beautiful video. I’m so excited,” someone else wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">The concert was a family affair with the support of Prince William, King Charles and the Queen Consort.</p> <p dir="ltr">The concert also celebrated the life of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8.</p> <p dir="ltr">There were several choir performances of Christmas classics, including readings by the Prince of Wales and an introduction from The Princess of Wales.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Royal Carols: Together at Christmas </em>is set to air on ITV on Christmas Eve.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Prince and Princess of Wales release family Christmas card!

<p dir="ltr">The Prince and Princess of Wales have released their Christmas card for 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr">The stunning photo shows Prince William and Kate Middleton holding hands with their three children Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7 and Prince Louis, 4, in the British countryside of Norfolk.</p> <p dir="ltr">All five family members appear to be colour coordinating in white, denim and blue with beaming smiles.</p> <p dir="ltr">The image was taken earlier this year by photographer Matt Porteous, who had joined the family on their tour to the Caribbean.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sharing a new picture of the family for this year’s Christmas card!” their caption on Instagram read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo received almost 2 million likes with many fans wishing the family a Merry Christmas as well as thanking them for sharing the photo.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmH_qcOtUx_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmH_qcOtUx_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Happy Christmas to your family! Thank you for sharing!” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What a great photo of your beautiful family!” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Beautiful family. Merry Christmas,” someone else wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A beautiful family, have a wonderful Christmas,” another read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their photo comes just days after <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/charles-and-camilla-release-first-christmas-card-as-king-and-queen-consort" target="_blank" rel="noopener">King Charles III and his wife Camilla</a>, the Queen Consort released their Christmas card.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Another Project host bites the dust

<p dir="ltr">First it was Carrie Bickmore, then Lisa Wilkinson and on Tuesday night’s episode another <em>Project</em> host announced their departure from the news program.</p> <p dir="ltr">Comedian and regular co-host on Channel 10’s news program Peter Helliar announced that he will be leaving the show after eight years. </p> <p dir="ltr">“These things come in threes and it’s time for me to say I will be leaving The Project soon,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s been something on my mind for a while. People will read into the situation however they want to read into it, but I feel like I need to create some space for some projects I want to work on.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I've been able to juggle over the years, you guys have seen me do How to Stay Married and stand-up and books over the years, but I feel like there are some new areas that I'm going into hopefully next year that I need to be present for.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">After nearly 8 years at the desk, Peter Helliar will be leaving The Project. Here is the moment he made the announcement. <a href="https://t.co/k1i19lWcM5">pic.twitter.com/k1i19lWcM5</a></p> <p>— The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1594974702744707072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">An emotional Helliar then quoted Carrie when she shared her news saying that he will also continue loving the show. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You said that you are glad you're leaving The Project while you still love it, and I still love this show. I really do,” he continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It means a lot to me. It's done amazing things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once and that meant a lot, and I look forward to seeing what the show is like in the future.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm pretty sure there are no more announcements and I can't wait to see what you and Kyle and Jackie O do with the show next year,” he said to Waleed Aly.</p> <p dir="ltr">Helliar has another two more weeks on the show, while Carrie has four more days. She jokingly wished Waleed Aly good luck for remaining. </p> <p dir="ltr">But the real question now is, will Waleed Aly quit next?</p> <p dir="ltr">According to entertainment reporter Peter Ford, the program has received quite a bit of backlash in the past year that it would not be surprising if Aly quit next.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can’t think of a TV show that has been as polarising and has divided opinion as much as The Project, but it’s not mandatory to watch,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s increasing and increasing, and partly it is because on Twitter, people love to be angry, they want to be outraged and they want to bring someone or something down, so you have to allow that haters are going to hate.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But The Project has become a brand name that seems to get people angry, and I don’t know why that is. It’s odd – nobody is being forced to watch it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He did however say that Aly may get away with it because he doesn’t have social media and doesn’t acknowledge the bad press toward him. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: The Project</em></p>

News

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Waleed Aly goes head-to-head with mayor calling for IS brides’ citizenships to be revoked

<p dir="ltr">Waleed Aly has gone head-to-head with a mayor from western Sydney who slammed the government’s decision to resettle the repatriated brides and their children in the area.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Project</em> co-host was speaking to disappointed Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, who questioned why western Sydney was the “dumping ground” for the women and their children.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Carbone explained that members of the community have gotten in touch with him expressing deep concerns over the decision, particularly those who escaped Syria from the terrorist IS group.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don't think he [the prime minister] has taken into account the tens of thousands of refugees that fled their home, had their homes burnt back in Syria, have lost their loved ones, have watched a lot of their families be beheaded and burnt, and have come and resettled in Western Sydney,” Mr Carbone began.</p> <p dir="ltr">He argued that Syrians who helped the Australian army fight IS terrorists were more “Australian citizens than anyone else” before he was cut off by Waleed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Legally they're not, Australian citizens are a different category. We have obligations to Australian citizens that we don't have to refugees,” he pointed out.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Carbone did not accept the excuse, saying the IS brides committed treason under the “Commonwealth criminal code section 80” and should have their citizenships revoked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Treason is when you leave your country and you aide and abet, doesn't matter if you're baking a cake or scones and assisting ISIS, you're committing treason,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Under that act, you can have your citizenship revoked.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Waleed then pointed out that the brides would have to be convicted first to have their citizenship revoked and “that hasn’t happened”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You're talking a lot about kids here, in fact mostly about kids. Would you leave kids in camps overseas when they are Australian citizens?” he asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Carbone did not hesitate when he continued addressing the people’s concerns as to why Western Sydney was the dumping ground.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why is it Western Sydney? Why is it Western Sydney when we have tens of thousands of people that fled ISIS?” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Australia is a big country, they [ISIS families] don't necessarily have to be in Western Sydney.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His comments come just a day after Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun, and Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss made the same accusation about their area being the dumping ground.</p> <p dir="ltr">Australia repatriated four women and their 13 children after being stuck in al-Hol and al-Roj camps in the northeastern Syria region since 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is expected more women and children will follow in the next few weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: The Project</em></p>

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Waleed Aly’s suggestion for Aussie replacement to King Charles III

<p dir="ltr">Waleed Aly has suggested that Australia to replace the monarchy with an Indigenous elder as head of state, saying the change could capture the nation’s “unique and charming” character.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Project</em> co-host outlined his suggestion in a lengthy segment on Thursday night’s show, three days after <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/final-farewell-for-longest-reigning-queen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral</a> and on the same day as Australians enjoyed a public holiday to mourn her.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f41c8c5b-7fff-8326-77e6-c9a09de15047"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Aly noted that swapping the monarchy for a president wouldn’t be the same, and that installing an Indigenous elder as head of state would draw on Australia’s existing traditions and ceremonies.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">As the official mourning period for the Queen comes to an end, talk is turning to Australia's monarchy vs republic debate. But what if there was another way? Waleed Aly explains.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/8KVYIk8GQ0">pic.twitter.com/8KVYIk8GQ0</a></p> <p>— The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1572875641300701185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“An Australian President doesn’t offer the sense of constancy, history or ritual we’ll be replacing,” Aly said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If we’re going to do this, we need to draw on our own sources of tradition, ceremony and spirituality.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In short, monarchy becomes a kind of foil to government. It works specifically because it’s undemocratic and imposes relatively little on citizens.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s powerful precisely because it has no real power. The Queen was loved because she was so frequently silent, so often a blank canvas.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He added that the pomp and ceremony associated with the royals could also continue, though it would be in a different way.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One of the great things about some indigenous ceremonies like Welcome to Country, is they’re often informal,” Aly continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This extraordinary mix of ceremony and informality capture something unique and charming about the Australian character.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We could even call our elder Uncle or Aunty and when our Aunty dies, deep rituals of mourning would already exist, ready for us to embrace as a nation.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Acknowledging that the office would be “racially closed”, Aly added that the monarchy was essentially the same since it is “always going to be white” and Catholics are prevented from becoming king or queen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s also undemocratic which replicates precisely one of the monarchy’s virtues,” Aly said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sure, I can see problems. For example, how would the elder be chosen from among the hundreds of First Nations we have? Does it rotate in a predetermined way?</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our head of state has to be an apolitical figure, confining itself to speaking on areas of mere total agreement. Would the elder face too much pressure to become an activist?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I admit it’s rough but it captures something of the richness and magic of monarchy while being indisputably ours.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Co-host Carrie Bickmore disagreed with Aly’s proposal, saying it was “too soon” after Her Majesty’s death to be debating Australia’s future as a republic or constitutional monarchy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve had a Queen for 70 years so all the words of dignity and consistency and all that, it’s all about her for a lot of people,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes after the Queen’s death <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/national-day-of-mourning-brings-anti-monarchy-activists-to-the-streets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sparked renewed debate</a> over whether Australia, along with other constitutional monarchies around the world, should continue to be attached to the monarchy or vote to become a republic.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is also a republican, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/pm-responds-to-republic-referendum-question" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously said</a> he wouldn’t be holding a referendum to ask Australians to vote on the matter during his term, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he wants the country to continue as a constitutional monarchy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We need a King as much as we did a Queen, because we have a stability in our system that served us well and I don’t believe in disrupting that,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4cb03aa2-7fff-b5d0-7d68-d1af0eca25c7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @theprojecttv</em></p>

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