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Bachelorette star found dead at just 36

<p dir="ltr"><em>The Bachelorette</em> contestant Charlie Newling has been found dead at the age of 36. </p> <p dir="ltr">The reality TV star who appeared on Ali Oetjen's season of the dating show in 2018, died after his car fell from a cliff in Dover Heights, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Saturday night. </p> <p dir="ltr">A NSW police spokesperson confirmed to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/the-bachelorette/the-bachelorette-australia-star-charlie-newling-dead-at-36/news-story/e75be1c603f493bdeafc6ff133b60f70" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>news.com.au</em></a> that police attended the scene after onlookers alerted the authorities to the location of the crashed car. </p> <p dir="ltr">His death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report is being prepared for the coroner.</p> <p dir="ltr">Newling, who had been working as a builder since his time on <em>The Bachelorette</em>, had welcomed a baby daughter just two months ago with his partner Kristal Taylor. </p> <p dir="ltr">The couple had been together since January 2021 and were living in Bronte. </p> <p dir="ltr">Newling also has a 13-year-old son from a previous relationship.</p> <p dir="ltr">During Ali Oetjen’s season of <em>The Bachelorette</em>, Newling’s charm quickly placed him as a frontrunner and was nicknamed 'Mr Perfect' by viewers.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, he was let go after refusing to introduce Oetjen to his family during hometown visits until they were “exclusive”.</p> <p dir="ltr">After his time on the reality dating TV show, Newling had a run in with the law, and was sentenced to 13 months in prison for threatening to torture and kill his stepfather in a series of 37 text messages he sent to his mother over a three hour period. </p> <p dir="ltr">He was also convicted of a mid-range drink driving offence in 2021.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Ten</em></p>

News

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Little girl praised for shielding baby brother for 36 hours in quake

<p>A seven-year-old girl and her younger brother have been rescued after a 7.8 magnitude quake in southeast Turkey and northern Syria destroyed their home and trapped them beneath tonnes of heavy concrete. </p> <p>Mariam and Ilaaf, along with the rest of their family, were asleep at home in Besnaya-Bseineh, a small village in Haram, Syria, when the Monday quake occurred. It is believed the siblings were confined in the debris for 36 gruelling hours before rescuers located them. </p> <p>Footage has emerged of the moment the children were found, and has revealed that despite the horrors of their situation, Mariam had one priority - protecting her little brother. Their father has since informed reporters that Illaf’s name is an Islamic one meaning ‘protection’. </p> <p>With an arm sheltering his head and covering his face from the dust and debris, Mariam can be seen stroking Ilaaf’s hair in what some believe to be the remains of their bed. A concrete slab lies precariously above them, pinning the two to the spot. </p> <p>“Get me out of here,” Mariam pleads to the rescuers in the now viral clip, “I’ll do anything for you.” </p> <p>To the relief of millions, the children were pulled safely from the scene of the disaster, and transferred to hospital to receive medical treatment. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">While under the rubble of her collapsed home this beautiful 7yr old Syrian girl has her hand over her little brothers head to protect him.<br />Brave soul<br />They both made it out ok. <a href="https://t.co/GrffWBGd1C">pic.twitter.com/GrffWBGd1C</a></p> <p>— Vlogging Northwestern Syria (@timtams83) <a href="https://twitter.com/timtams83/status/1623060122695004169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>UN representative Mohamad Safa took to Twitter to urge people to “share positivity” in light of the rescue. With a death toll in the thousands - a number only predicted to rise - and aid a desperate need, the siblings’ story has become a moment of bittersweet brightness in a time of tragedy. </p> <p>Around the world, people who heard their story have taken to social media to praise Mariam for her bravery, hailing her as a hero for her actions and love in a time of disaster. </p> <p>“Oh bless her,” tweeted one,  “children's love and resilience makes me weep.”</p> <p>“Miracles happen. What a great big sister. Lovingly protective under such stressful circumstances,” wrote another. “Hope for all those still trapped. Respect for all the rescuers working tirelessly.”</p> <p>Their father, Mustafa Zuhir Al-Sayed, has confirmed that their family - he, his wife, and their three children - were asleep when it all happened. </p> <p>“We felt the ground shaking,” he said, “and rubble began falling over our heads, and we stayed two days under the rubble. We went through, a feeling, a feeling I hope no one has to feel.”</p> <p>“People heard us,” he explained, after recounting how he and his family prayed for someone to find them, “and we were rescued – me, my wife and the children. Thank God, we are all alive and we thank those who rescued us.”</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Netflix actress' sudden death at 36

<p dir="ltr">Actress Busisiwe Lurayi, the star of Netflix’s comedy series <em>How to Ruin Christmas</em>, has passed away aged 36.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lurayi, a prolific stage and screen actress known as Busi, died at her South African home over the weekend.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her sudden death was confirmed in a statement shared on the official Instagram account of her Johannesburg-based talent agency, Eye Media Arts.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are deeply saddened to notify you of the passing of our beloved Busisiwe Lurayi," the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Busisiwe passed away suddenly and was pronounced dead at her residence on Sunday [July 10, 2022] by medical personnel.”</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/Cf3ePghj6gz/?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/Cf3ePghj6gz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by EYE MEDIA ARTISTS (@eyemediaartists)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The cause of her death is still unknown, according to the statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We humbly request that you allow us as the family to come to terms with this tragic news,” the statement continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We thank you for the support that has been given so far and will provide further information as soon as it has been made available."</p> <p dir="ltr">Lurayi was best known for her role as Tumi Sello in <em>How to Ruin Christmas</em>, which earned her the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Actress in a TV Comedy in 2021.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also starred in various South African shows, including <em>City Ses’la</em>, which she received the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Actress in a TV Comedy for in 2011 and the SAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2006.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lurayi was also known for her roles in the shows <em>Ses’Top la</em> and <em>Wild at Heart,</em> and guest-starred in an episode of <em>ER </em>in 2006.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tributes to Lurayi have poured in since the news of her passing, with fans, Netflix South Africa and the SAFTAs praising her as an “incredible light” and “brilliant actor”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a542f82e-7fff-bfac-a23a-3d2a42fc4599"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“An incredible light has gone out in the South African entertainment industry. We are deeply saddened by the passing of award-winning stage &amp; screen actor Busi Lurayi. We will hold onto the laughs, the beauty &amp; the moments of joy she brought us,” Netflix South Africa tweeted.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">An incredible light has gone out in the South African entertainment industry. We are deeply saddened by the passing of award-winning stage &amp; screen actor Busi Lurayi. We will hold onto the laughs, the beauty &amp; the moments of joy she brought us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPBusiLurayi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPBusiLurayi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HowToRuinChristmas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HowToRuinChristmas</a> <a href="https://t.co/eUdcpqtTfG">pic.twitter.com/eUdcpqtTfG</a></p> <p>— NetflixSA (@NetflixSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NetflixSA/status/1546518948488908801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">At this time of loss, we are deeply saddened by the passing of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BusiLurayi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BusiLurayi</a>. We’ll remember her as an incredibly talented actress who was a winner of her first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Safta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Safta</a> for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy in 2006. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPBusiLurayi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPBusiLurayi</a> <a href="https://t.co/hKlMKUZelM">pic.twitter.com/hKlMKUZelM</a></p> <p>— #SAFTAs (@SAFTAS1) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAFTAS1/status/1546489832418992130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">RIP: Busi Lurayi </p> <p>The prolific Stage &amp; Screen ctress has passed on. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPBusiLurayi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPBusiLurayi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jtje4Efqfj">pic.twitter.com/Jtje4Efqfj</a></p> <p>— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilMphela/status/1546438519182315521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">"At this time of loss, we are deeply saddened by the passing of #BusiLurayi. We'll remember her as an incredibly talented actress who was a winner of her first #Safta for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy in 2006,” the SAFTA’s wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">One fan replied: “She was remarkable. Condolences to her family🙏🏽."</p> <p dir="ltr">Kgopolo Phil Mphela, a South African celebrity commentator, wrote: “RIP: Busi Lurayi. The prolific Stage &amp; Screen actress has passed on.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I remember Busi Lurayi from City Ses’la that’s where I fell in love with her, she was a brilliant actor she will definitely be missed,” another fan <a href="https://twitter.com/Collen_KM/status/1546448898809647104" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sad to hear about Busi Lurayi’s passing,” celebrity blogger and TV presenter Lelo Boyana <a href="https://twitter.com/MsLeloB/status/1546534845869965315" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “She was an incredibly talented artist, one of the best we’ve had, and I’m glad we gave her flowers while she was here.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sending love and comfort to friends, family and colleagues 🕯️🙏🏽.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-36894a12-7fff-09dc-d2da-81503d63a340"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

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Tradie faces 36 offences after destroying 68-year-old’s home

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An unlicensed tradie has left a man’s house in ruin and drained his life savings - but he’s just one of the builder’s many victims.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tevita Ungounga has received multiple public warnings and convictions for various building offences, and has become well-known to Fair Trading and police.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ian O'Connor, one of Mr Ungounga’s victims, paid the builder $235,000 to build a seawall and renovate his house.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two years after the job commenced, the 68-year-old’s home is filled with unfinished rooms, holey walls, and still has no running water.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 396px; height:223px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845577/tradie4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/540e3d1b51e44be8b5c85991b011cce1" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr O’Connor sits in his unfinished home. Image: A Current Affair</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He’s a pig, a disgusting pig,” Mr O’Connor told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/fake-tradie-who-destroyed-mans-home-draining-him-of-life-savings-exposed/a1de65e0-e586-447f-bb60-f761a0968c64" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Current Affair</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He seemed quite nice, very friendly, but I guess you could say most conmen are.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr O’Connor lost his life savings, and has had to delay his retirement and continue working so he can rebuild his home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Ungounga has since been accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $220,000 from homeowners for incomplete or defective work to their homes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He is currently facing these allegations in court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, complaints about Mr Ungoungu date back to 1998, when he was jailed for 60 days after failing to declare an estimated income of $1.4 million to Hawaii’s tax department.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a civil case, Hawaii’s Regulatory Industries Complaints Office was quoted by the media saying Mr Ungounga was “just very, very good at what he does”.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 396px; height:223px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845578/tradie3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/844a284e694e4545a429e5c8b34f21da" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Ungounga and his wife Siosiana. Image: A Current Affair</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2015, Mr Ungounga and his wife Siosiana received a combined fine of $90,000 under the company name T &amp; T Sandstone. They were fined for engaging in significant residential building work in Australia without a licence.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the incident with Mr O’Connor, Mr Ungoungu was sentenced to a 14-month intensive corrections order this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has also been charged with 36 offences by NSW Police, and has been the subject of three public warnings issued by Fair Trading in the last two years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The warnings related to his status as an unlicensed and uninsured tradie, with the organisation urging customers to do their checks before employing Mr Ungoungu.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I never take the money and go, I do the job,” Mr Ungoungu told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Current Affair</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: A Current Affair</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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Huge change coming to Neighbours after 36 years

<p><span>Channel 10 has announced after 36 years of <em>Neighbours</em>, the network will be reducing the amount of episodes that air.</span><br /><br /><span>TV Tonight revealed that the popular soap opera will be cut back to four nights per week, meaning there will be no more episodes on Friday nights.</span><br /><br /><span>Channel 10 said in a statement: “From July 26, <em>Neighbours</em> will air four nights a week, from Monday to Thursday at 6:30 pm on 10 Peach.</span><br /><br /><span>“On Fridays, viewers can laugh along with their favourite Friends at 6:30pm.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 284.1357537490134px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842498/neighbours-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8e22b9be763f480db103e9a7511be7d1" /><br /><br /><span><em>TV Tonight</em> has reported that decision had nothing to do with “changes in the Australian drama quotas nor to budgets”.</span><br /><br /><span>The new schedule has been finalised so the Australian episodes line up better with the UK release of the TV series.</span><br /><br /><span>British TV network Channel 5 began airing just two episodes of <em>Neighbours</em> a week in 2020, due to the pandemic.</span><br /><br /><span>This led to spoilers being leaked online as Australian viewers were so far ahead.</span><br /><br /><span>It remains unclear whether <em>Neighbours</em> will return to five episodes a week anytime soon but TV Tonight has reported that the production company will continue to film six episodes a week in Melbourne.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842500/neighbours.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fe38b52213854d9c89a263d727e68f5f" /><br /><br /><span><em>Neighbours</em> was one of the first TV shows in the world to resume filming after the COVID-19 pandemic saw a global shutdown of productions.</span><br /><br /><span>The show began filming again in April of last year with strict social distancing rules being put in place.</span><br /><br /><span>“There will be no more than 100 people a day in any area, we'll implement the four-square-metre rule and the one-and-a-half-metre social distancing rule,” Chris Oliver-Taylor, the chief executive of Fremantle Australia, said at the time.</span><br /><br /><span>“We've got a nurse on set, different catering for everyone, males will have no make-up, women's [make-up] will not be touched up, there are no intimate scenes.</span><br /><br /><span>“We're going to assume if someone does get sick we don't need to shut the entire shoot - we just close that group and carry on.”</span></p> <p><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

TV

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Simon Baker debuts relationship with 36-year-old designer

<p>Simon Baker has debuted his relationship with fellow Aussie Laura May Gibbs.</p> <p>People reported the 51-year-old was spotted with the activewear designer, 36, at a beach off the NSW town of Byron Bay.</p> <p>Gibbs is the founder of fashion and lifestyle brand Nagnata, a creative design collaborative with her sister Hannah Gibbs.</p> <p>In January, The Mentalist star announced his separation from Aussie actress Rebecca Rigg, 53, his wife of close to 30 years.</p> <p>They share three children together: Stella, 27, Claude, 22, and Harry, 19.</p> <p>"We remain close friends and our three children will always be the most important focus of our lives," the couple — who met in the early 1990s and starred on the Aussie soap<span> </span><em>E Street</em><span> </span>together — said in a joint statement at the time.</p>

Relationships

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John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Palm Beach mansion sells for eyewatering $36 million

<p>An oceanfront Palm Beach estate that was once owned by celebrity John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono has sold for a whopping $36 million.</p> <p>Reports say the El Solano is located on South Ocean Boulevard, which is referred to as Billionaires’ Row.</p> <p>The sprawling mansion with intricate detailing and expansive views was bought by the famous singer around 1980, according to the book<span> </span>Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon,<span> </span>by Robert Rosen.</p> <p>Mr. Lennon was shot to death a few months later after they bought the beautiful home, and his and Ms. Ono’s grand dream to renovate the home never came to fruition.</p> <p>Yoko sold the property in 1986.</p> <p>The 1920s-era, Spanish-style property is about 14,000 square feet and has seven large bedrooms.</p> <p>It was deigned by Society architect Addison Mizner, and has rare features not seen in most homes including an oceanfront dining room, a library fit for any bookworm and a grand salon with a wet bar.</p> <p><em> The Wall Street Journal</em> also reported when it hit the market that the estate also includes a tennis court, two swimming pools, a three-car garage and a beachfront cabana.</p>

Real Estate

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Thomas Cook bosses’ took home more than $36 million despite the company being in debt

<p>As hundreds of thousands of tourists are stranded across the country, there have been furious calls for the top earners of travel firm Thomas Cook to hand back their multimillion dollar bonuses.</p> <p>In the past five years alone, 12 of the company’s top earners took home a shocking $36 million despite the company facing debts of $2.9 billion when it collapsed. This is according to the UK’s<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/22/thomas-cook-bosses-received-20m-bonuses-last-5-years-company/" target="_blank">The Telegraph.</a></em>     </p> <p>Chief executive officer Peter Fankhauser took home $15.23 million since he took on the job in 2014, whereas chief financial officers Michael Healy and Bill Scott earned a combined $12.84 million since 2014.</p> <p>The UK’s opposition Labour Party finance spokesman John McDonnell has said that the executives should repay their bonuses.</p> <p>“I think they need to really examine their own consciences about how they’ve brought this about and how they themselves have exploited the situation,” he said on BBC radio.</p> <p>The company was one of the world’s oldest and largest travel operators and fell into compulsory liquidation after it was unable to secure the $368 million demanded by lenders.</p> <p>Mr McDonnell also attacked the British Government for not doing more to help out the company.</p> <p>“I’m worried for the holiday-makers. I really feel for them. But also 13,000 people will lose their jobs over this and I just think the government should have been willing to do more intervene, stabilise the situation, then allow a longer term plan to develop,” he said.</p> <p>“This company once was in public ownership and as a result of privatisation it’s had real problems over the years I think because of issues around management and the lack of long-term planning.”</p> <p>However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it would be a “moral hazard” to save the company.</p> <p>The liquidation has left more than 21,000 people out of work and stranded more than 600,000 holiday goers overseas.</p> <p>In Tunisia, things took a turn for the worse as tourists were locked inside a hotel by security guards.</p> <p>“Do not come to Les Orangers hotel (in) Hamamet, Tunisia, as we’re all being held hostage because Thomas Cook haven’t paid for our stays!” she said.</p> <p>“Everyone’s being charged nearly 3000 pounds to leave. The security gates are locked and no-one can leave nor can any coaches get in to take people out.”</p> <p>A spokesman for Thomas Cook later said the issue had been resolved and guests allowed to leave.</p> <p>"We are aware that a small number of customers were asked to pay for their hotel room before leaving Les Orangers in Tunisia … this has now been resolved and customers flew home as planned. We continue to support our customers in all our resorts," they said.</p>

Travel Tips

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Aussie golfer Jarrod Lyle dies aged 36

<p>Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle has died from cancer aged 36.</p> <p>It comes less than 10 days after he made<strong><u><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/world-in-shock-over-aussie-golfers-tragic-decision"> the heartbreaking decision</a></u></strong> to move into palliative care after deciding his body could no longer handle active treatment.</p> <p>He spent his last days at home with his wife Briony and two daughters.</p> <p>Mrs Lyle said in a statement today: "It breaks my heart to tell everyone that Jarrod is no longer with us.”</p> <p>Mrs Lyle said he died at 8:20pm Wednesday evening, surrounded by friends and family in Torquay.</p> <p>"He asked that I provide a simple message: 'Thanks for your support, it meant the world. My time was short, but if I've helped people think and act on behalf of those families who suffer through cancer, hopefully it wasn't wasted'."</p> <p>The 36-year-old golfer had been fighting his third cancer battle since last year, after there was a recurrence of acute myeloid leukaemia.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJarrodLyleGolf%2Fposts%2F1765179523531356&amp;width=500" width="500" height="734" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>Before he passed away, Lyle issued a touching message to all his supporters.</p> <p><strong><u><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/aussie-golfer-s-touching-message-to-supporters-as-he-enters-palliative-care">In an interview</a></u></strong> with friend and Golf Australia media manager Mark Hayes, Jarrod said: “To have so many friends around the world, whether they’re spectators, golfers, marshals, whatever, to have that kind of support (at) every tournament, is a great feeling.</p> <p>“It’s going to be hard to leave that behind, but they know that I love them, they know that all the fighting that I did was to get back out and play golf again.</p> <p>“To have the support from all those people was just a tremendous feeling.</p> <p>“It’s going to be hard, but at some point it’s going to happen and they’ll get on with their lives, and I just feel very, very lucky.”</p> <p>The sad news about Jarrod, widely considered one of the most likeable figures in world sport, prompted an outpouring of love and support from around the world, especially Aussie golfers Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman.</p>

Caring

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Roger Federer's fantastic career first at 36

<p>Roger Federer has claimed his 98th ATP title with a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory over Milos Raonic in the Stuttgart Cup final.</p> <p>The Swiss superstar, who won his first Stuttgart title, will be chasing a ninth Wimbledon triumph next month.</p> <p>“I’m just very happy how I played this week,” the 20-time grand slam champion said. “I never felt bad on the court, to be honest.</p> <p>“That’s a very encouraging feeling. In the last couple of days I’ve not dropped serve.</p> <p>“I was there in the most important moments, breaking Milos (in the first set) was a good effort. It’s been a great week for me.”</p> <p>The 36-year-old will take the honour from Rafael Nadal and regain the World No. 1 ranking when he pays at Halle next week. He continues his dominant form on grass after skipping the clay-court season.</p> <p>“It’s a great comeback for me,” Federer said after completing his 78-minute win. “I’m so happy to win this tournament in my third attempt. We’ll see if being number one again will probably give me a boost.”</p> <p>“I think I played very well not having played for a while,” Federer added. “Maybe I was a bit better on the big points.”</p> <p>Federer isn’t looking too far ahead at the All England Club yet.</p> <p>“That’s the plan for now, for Wimbledon I still have time. I have a quiet pre-tournament week, not many things going on, which is fine.</p> <p>“I just hope to stay injury-free and healthy.”</p>

News

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Can 36 questions make you fall in love again? Watch these senior couples try

<p>How can you scientifically study something like love? Well, psychologist Arthur Aron has been researching it for over 50 years with his wife Elaine, and together, they developed three dozen questions designed to bring people closer together and strengthen ties. In fact, the Arons were able to make two strangers fall in love in a lab.</p> <p>In 2015, the questions reappeared in a <em>New York Times</em> column and subsequently went viral – <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/2015/03/36-love-questions/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">you can read them here</span></strong></a> – and just a couple of months ago, they returned to the spotlight once again when the newspaper posed the questions to a group of senior couples.</p> <p>The aim? To make them fall in love again – or simply fall even deeper in love than they already were. So, how did it turn out? Watch the video below to find out!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v2jnL9gPX7U" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credit: The New York Times.</em></p>

Relationships

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Brace yourself for a soaking: “More than a month’s rain in 36 hours”

<p>In the past few weeks, <a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2017/11/if-you-thought-last-week-was-hot-its-not-over-yet/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">parts of Australia have seen heat records broken</span></strong></a> as the mercury soared into the 30s across the country. But we’re about to pay a price for what was one of the hottest November months in Australia’s history.</p> <p>The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning of a “very, very big weather event” bringing “major rain and flood[s]” across the entire state of Victoria, urging residents in the state’s northeast to prepare for up to 300mm of rain in just a few days.</p> <p>Flash flooding is also likely in Melbourne, which will see up to 150mm of rain over Friday and Saturday, while storms are predicted in the far west later today and may make their way across the state.</p> <p>BOM are calling it “most significant rain event for many years”. According to senior meteorologist Scott Williams, “We could see six-hourly rain rates of over 100mm over several parts of the state, stretching from the Grampians and Horsham in the west to the northeast and ultimately Melbourne.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Severe Weather Warning for heavy rainfall has been issued for the whole of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Victoria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Victoria</a>. Heavy rainfall expected to start in the far west Thursday night, extending across the State during Friday and Saturday. Check the details and other warnings at <a href="https://t.co/ipm9yXcTlp">https://t.co/ipm9yXcTlp</a> <a href="https://t.co/yqPMlCcTUs">pic.twitter.com/yqPMlCcTUs</a></p> — Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) <a href="https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/935739338071175168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>The outlook isn’t much better for NSW, parts of which can expect to see “more than a month’s rain in 36 hours”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">More than a months rain forecast in 36 hours in some areas to start our summer. Check the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/forecast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#forecast</a> at <a href="https://t.co/SrkQxr8aaY">https://t.co/SrkQxr8aaY</a> <a href="https://t.co/gb9i8dBbYt">pic.twitter.com/gb9i8dBbYt</a></p> — Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) <a href="https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/935961313167241216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>“This is a huge week of weather,” Sky News meteorologist Tom Saunders said. “Before the rain arrives, southeast Australia is ending one of the hottest Novembers on record with another spell of extreme heat.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, Adelaide suffered through almost 40-degree heat yesterday (its hottest day since March) and Hobart is expecting to hit 33 today – its hottest day in two years.</p> <p>Brisbane, too, could see rain of up to 100mm, 30mm of which could fall today alone. Rain is expected to continue over the weekend and may worsen as storms move through on Sunday and Monday.</p> <p>Darwin will reach 34-35 degrees as we enter the weekend, with expected rainfall of up to 60mm. As for Perth residents, you’re in for a gorgeous summer weekend with less than 5mm of rain predicted and temperatures from 25 to 36 degrees.</p>

Domestic Travel

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The 36 questions “guaranteed” to make you fall in love with anyone

<p>Can you choose who you fall in love with?</p><p>Well, you might be able to. More than 20 years ago social psychology researcher Arthur Anon succeeded in making two strangers fall in love in a lab. He believed intimacy could be achieved by answering 36 questions while staring silently into each other’s eyes for four minutes. Six months later, the two participants of his study were married.</p><p>Recently, Mandy Len Carton, a teacher of writing at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, wrote about her experience replicating the experiment. Her New York Times essay quickly captured the imagination of the internet because again, it worked.</p><p>Last summer, Mandy bumped into an old university acquaintance. While catching up at a bar, they agreed to try the experiment. She does note the differences in her study: “First, we were in a bar, not a lab. Second, we weren’t strangers. Not only that, but I see now that one neither suggests nor agrees to try an experiment designed to create romantic love if one isn’t open to this happening.”</p><p>But as the pair took turns asking each other increasingly personal questions, she describes how she felt a deepening bond. “We all have a narrative of ourselves that we offer up to strangers and acquaintances, but Dr Aron’s questions make it impossible to rely on that narrative,” she writes.</p><p>By the time they had finished answering the 36 personal questions and locked eyes for four minutes, it seemed like they were falling in love. Six months later, Mandy is still happily with her partner.</p><p>“Although it’s hard to credit the study entirely (it may have happened anyway), the study did give us a way into a relationship that feels deliberate. We spent weeks in the intimate space we created that night, waiting to see what it could become,” she wrote.</p><p>The experiment is not just for those looking for romance though. The study’s focus on creating interpersonal closeness means it can help create intimacy and trust with just about anybody, as well as deepen ties with people you already know well.</p><p><strong>Here are the 36 questions to fall in love:</strong></p><p>1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?</p><p>2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?</p><p>3. Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you're going to say? Why?</p><p>4. What would constitute a perfect day for you?</p><p>5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?</p><p>6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you choose?</p><p>7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?</p><p>8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.</p><p>9. For what in your life do you feel most&nbsp;grateful?</p><p>10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?</p><p>11. Take four minutes and tell you partner your life story in as much detail as possible.</p><p>12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability, what would it be?</p><p>13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?</p><p>14. Is there something that you've dreamt of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it?</p><p>15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?</p><p>16. What do you value most in a&nbsp;friendship?</p><p>17. What is your most treasured&nbsp;memory?</p><p>18. What is your most terrible memory?</p><p>19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?</p><p>20. What does friendship mean to you?</p><p>21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?</p><p>22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.</p><p>23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your&nbsp;childhood&nbsp;was happier than most other people's?</p><p>24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?</p><p>25. Make three true "we" statements each. For instance, "we are both in this room feeling..."</p><p>26. Complete this sentence "I wish I had someone with whom I could share..."</p><p>27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.</p><p>28. Tell your partner what you like about them: be honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you've just met.</p><p>29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.</p><p>30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?</p><p>31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.</p><p>32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?</p><p>33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?</p><p>34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and&nbsp;pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?</p><p>35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?</p><p>36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.</p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/dating/2015/02/secret-of-happy-couples/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">7 things all happy couples do</span></a></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/dating/2014/11/a-happy-relationship/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The truth to long-lasting relationships</span></a></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/dating/2014/10/the-real-qualities-to-look-for-in-love/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The real qualities to look for in love</span></a></strong></em></p>

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