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Disabled woman dies after firefighters go to wrong address

A disabled woman has tragically died after being trapped in a burning home while firefighters went to the wrong address in an attempt to save her. Vivianne Rodger, who relies on using a wheelchair, called emergency services after her home in Victoria sparked a fire. She was then left for over two hours as firefighters, who were relying on a paper map, went to the wrong house trying to find her. When they eventually reached Ms Rodger, she was dead. According to a Victorian coroner, the blaze was "clearly avoidable" and she may have survived if they had arrived sooner, with their delayed response being directly linked to her death. The 54-year-old lived alone and was unable to move around independently after suffering a stroke and acquired brain injury, meaning she relied on a wheelchair and needed assistance to get in and out of bed. In the early hours of the morning on January 17th 2019, a service coordinator received a distressed call from the woman who said "my blanket is on fire", but the call was disconnected before more information was taken. Firefighters initially went to the wrong house on Ms Rodger's street, after becoming confused with the street numbers and using Melways, a printed street directory of Melbourne, to find the property. The process at the time was to send the fire station an A4 printout of the fire call with the address and a Melways reference. Fire crews didn't arrive at Ms Rodger's home until 5am, when smoke was billowing out of her home, and the woman was found dead in her bedroom. Coroner Paul Lawrie said the failure to find the correct address was "a missed opportunity to try to rescue Ms Rodger" and she would have had an "improved" chance of surviving if they found her sooner. He found the delays were "significant", "clearly avoidable" and questioned the fire brigade's reliance on Melways maps over a GPS map application. "It is also concerning that reliance on a Melway map may have contributed to the failure to identify the correct property," he wrote. The coroner urged for firetrucks to be equipped with modern navigation technology, and to implement policies, procedures and training to ensure firefighters can better identify the location of a call to prevent further deaths. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Slimmed down Oprah addresses Ozempic rumours

Oprah Winfrey has addressed rumours about her impressive weight loss on the red carpet. The TV icon stunned at the premiere for the reboot of The Color Purple, walking the red carpet in a figure-hugging purple dress in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. While doing an interview with <a href="https://www.etonline.com/oprah-winfrey-reacts-to-her-physical-transformation-at-the-color-purple-premiere-exclusive-216118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Tonight</a>, the 69-year-old spoke candidly about her body transformation. ET host Kevin Frazier told Winfrey she was looking “divine in purple” and then asked, “What’s going on? Because if this is WeightWatchers, please, sign me up tonight!” “Well it’s not one thing, it’s everything … and I intend to keep it that way,” she replied, noting that she “was on that treadmill” hours before the premiere kicked off. Oprah's admission comes after her drastic weight loss was the subject of many rumours, with many people questioning whether she had used the weight loss drug to slim down. The former TV host did admit that she had contemplated the controversial weight loss injections, but ultimately decided against using it. “When I first started hearing about the weight loss drugs, at the same time, I was going through knee surgery, and I felt, ‘I’ve got to do this on my own,’” she explained on an episode of Oprah Daily’s The Life You Want: The State of Weight, which featured a panel of obesity specialists. “Because if I take the drug, that’s the easy way out.” Oprah has long been an ambassador for Weight Watchers, and said in 2015 when she first partnered with the company that her new lifestyle is "a way of living that’s so freeing". Image credits: Getty Images

Body

Separating? 5 commonly overlooked money issues you need to address

Amid the heartache of a relationship ending, it’s easy to overlook money, legal and logistical matters or make poor decisions on the fly. However, that can bring more pain – even years down the track. When a relationship ends, you have the chance to embrace your new-found independence and do things for yourself. Including managing money. Make the most of this freedom by taking charge of your financial affairs, starting with these aspects that commonly get neglected: 1. Split finances and expenses Separating finances is an important first step. Otherwise, your savings could be pilfered or you could be held liable for your ex’s debts and spending. Be thorough – smaller things are especially easy to miss. That includes store cards, utilities, subscriptions, memberships, as well as loans and credit cards. Some could be cancelled; others may need to be retained, in which case they should be changed into just one name. Don’t leave it up to your ex to take your name off anything. Redirect your payments and direct debits to your personal bank account to avoid penalties for missed payments. Update details with your employer for your salary (and superannuation, if necessary) to be paid into. 2. Update estate planning The next step is to look at your estate planning. Failing to do this means your ex could receive an unexpected windfall should you pass away – at the expense of loved ones you actually want to support. Update your will to reflect your new situation as well as the beneficiaries in your superannuation – which is treated separately from your will. The same goes for any trusts, companies, or similar structures you have. 3. Get your best settlement Many people – especially women – settle for less than their fair share in a separation. Why? Some don’t realise their real worth or legal entitlements. Others just want to get it done with quickly. While it makes financial sense not to drag things out due to spite, your future quality of life and retirement depend on how much you walk away with. Among the factors to consider are: <ul> <li>Superannuation: you may be eligible for part of your ex’s super because it forms part of the joint asset pool. This is especially valuable if you earned considerably less or had time out of the workforce to raise children or care for relatives.</li> <li>Custody: supporting children and pets obviously impacts ongoing living costs. Child support isn’t necessarily guaranteed.</li> <li>Your home: is this really worth keeping at all cost if you won’t be able to afford it on your own? </li> <li>Sale time: if you separate on good terms, do you really need to sell assets now? Could you keep them to maximise value jointly or sell later at a better price?</li> </ul> Ensure you get pre-settlement financial advice BEFORE you sign on the bottom line. 4. Live independently You’re now on one income. Economies of scale (most things cost less per person when you’re coupled) no longer work in your favour. Taking time off work may be harder. So, don’t keep spending like you used to. Be proactive in adjusting to your new situation. Make a new spending and investment plan (a nicer and more comprehensive version of a budget). See what you can and cannot afford and make necessary cuts. Update insurances, subscriptions, and utilities to ensure you’re only paying for what you still need. Set up an easily accessible emergency fund, to cover you should you lose your job or face an unexpected crisis. Tailored advice from your financial adviser can help you make the most of what you have – for now and the future. 5. Be wise in love It may be the last thing on your mind amidst a separation, but a new relationship could be in your future. Learn from your current separation and take measures to protect your future self. A pre-nuptial agreement (pre-nup) could be useful to protect your assets. Or a post-nuptial agreement if you already have a new partner. Carefully consider co-habiting arrangements – your place, their place, a new place together? Who contributes what? Even if you don’t ultimately need them (fingers crossed!), the peace of mind from having protections in place will make any new relationship feel that much sweeter. Image credits: Getty Images Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, On Your Own Two Feet: The Essential Guide to Financial Independence for all Women (Ventura Press, $32.99). Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a>

Money & Banking

Karl addresses cringeworthy Kochie joke at the Logies

Karl Stefanovic has addressed his awkward joke at the Logies on Sunday night, which was aimed at long-running breakfast TV rival David Koch. While presenting an award at the ceremony, Stefanovic took to opportunity to rip into Kochie with the ad-libbed joke, which left the audience more bewildered than entertained. It started when Kochie confessed his fondness for the third season of Stan series Bump while speaking to the star-studded audience. Seizing the moment, Stefanovic took a comedic leap, playing on the double entendre of "bump", a term colloquially associated with cocaine. "I want to just check something... I am pretty sure before I heard Kochie say he loves Bump's... season three. Did anyone mishear that? Because I am pretty sure I did." "Anyway, those are the headlines tomorrow morning..." Stefanovic remarked, hoping for a laugh, while cameras panned to Kochie who looked utterly confused by the joke. Addressing the joke on Monday morning while speaking to Kyle and Jackie O, the Today host shared that even his wife Jasmine mocked him for the joke falling flat. "Clearly the audience was too old. There really wasn't much laughter. It was one of those totally awkward moments," Stefanovic happily admitted. “I got back to my seat, and you know, generally our partners support us.... that one went flat. Once I explained [to wife Jasmine].... but as they say, if you explain something, it’s no good.” Stefanovic also revealed that he checked in with Koch afterwards, who asked him, “Are you making fun of me again?” “I said, ‘I love you man!’ and he said ‘I love you too, just let me know what it’s going to be beforehand next time’,” he explained. The KIIS hosts then kept Stefanovic on the line while they called Koch himself. “I was just caught up in the confusion,” the former Sunrise host told the group live on air, laughing it off. “I must admit, I’m not [up to date] with cocaine terminology... I was just talking about the famous show [Bump]!” Image credits: Today

Kochie addresses feud rumours with Sam Armytage

David Koch has addressed the rumours of a falling out with his former Sunrise co-host, Sam Armytage for the first time. Kochie responded to the rumours while appearing as a guest on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday morning, after the radio hosts grilled him about reports of their strained relationship. The rumours spread after Armytage left Sunrise in March 2021 and hosted a lavish farewell lunch with some of her co-workers, with Kochie notably absent. The next day he publicly claimed that he “didn’t know about it [happening].” But on Wednesday, Kochie told Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O that he “didn’t think” he was on “bad terms” with Armytage. “No, I don’t think … We didn’t end on bad terms,” he said. When asked if Kochie had spoken to her ever since he evaded the question and answered with: “Don’t forget she very publicly said she wanted to get out of the media, and that scrutiny.” “She sent me a really nice note on the announcement. As did Mel,” he added, revealing the well-wishes from his former co-hosts. “I think I’m seeing Sam tonight at a function. I saw Mel at Fashion Week and sat next to her there.” Armytage and Kochie hosted the breakfast show together for eight years between 2013–2021. The rumours had started after there were relentless reports about Armytage being estranged from the Seven cast and crew. Image: Getty

Kochie addresses the rumours of his “secret hot son”

When David ‘Kochie’ Koch announced <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-world-s-best-job-kochie-quits-sunrise">he would be departing from Seven’s hit breakfast TV series Sunrise</a> after 21 years at the helm, there was a lot to talk about. From the future of the show to the reasons behind his exit, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/kochie-responds-to-chris-brown-rumours-as-his-replacement-is-confirmed">theories and rumours ran wild</a>, although one thing nobody had seen coming was the attention turned on Kochie’s son, Alexander ‘AJ’ Koch. Kochie had thanked his family - wife Libby and their four children, Samantha, Brianna, Georgina, and AJ - while announcing his resignation live on-air, and circled back to AJ a few days later after reports of his “secret hot son” made the rounds online. The Daily Mail had run with the angle that AJ was “just as business savvy as his father”, but that he was happier working behind the scenes than he was having his face on it. And with 12 years experience behind him as general manager for the Kochie-founded and family-run business Pinstripe Media, that much seems true. They went on to note that AJ was the “spitting image of his father at a younger age”, citing his dark hair and full beard. “Daily Mail had a story on ‘Kochie’s hot son hidden away in the family business’,” an amused Kochie informed his friend and co-host, Natalie Barr, during their morning appearance. “His sisters have gone to town on him, let me tell you. Saying, ‘receding hairline’, all that sort of stuff.” Sibling fun aside, family seems key to the Koch clan, particularly with how many times it has come up in the wake of Kochie’s big news, and how his entire decision stemmed from the desire to spend more time with them - and, of course, their financial business. “It's time for me to work business hours and for Libby and I to have a bit more flexibility to enjoy our burgeoning family,” he said in his initial public announcement, “to travel and focus on our family business interests in Pinstripe Media and the Ausbiz business channel.” And his fans, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/sam-mac-nat-barr-and-lisa-wilkinson-on-kochie-s-departure">rivals and colleagues</a> - while devastated to hear they wouldn’t be seeing his face on their screens each morning - were happy for him (well, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/i-m-glad-you-re-resigning-kochie-s-run-in-with-a-heckler">almost all of them were</a>), sharing their well-wishes for the TV star and his family in the next big chapter of their lives. “I’m sad to see you go but wishing you all the best for your future especially time with Liv & the grandkids & PAFC,” one wrote. “Thank you for many many years of hosting Sunrise, I’ve enjoyed every minute.” “Will miss you! Enjoy your decision to keep normal hours with your family,” another said. And one opted to share a personal take on his departure, writing of how “our daughter is 21 and I’ve watched you since the first episode- this [is] how I remember the 3 of you[,] with a newborn and then the next one 7 years later. Congratulations on your retirement and spending time with your own family instead of ours.” Images: Facebook

Family & Pets

Channel Nine addresses rumours of "tension" on Today set

Channel Nine has addressed rumours of tension and anxiety on the set of Today, with the relationship between hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo reportedly being strained. According to reports to <a href="https://www.newidea.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Idea</a>, Stefanovic and Abo have been at odds over a reported $700,000 pay gap, with Karl reportedly earning $1.5million a year for his hosting duties while Abo brings home $800,000 a year. Despite the rumours of "tension" over the six-figure pay gap, Nine's director of morning television Steven Burling told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/morning-shows/channel-9-denies-salary-leak-is-causing-tension-on-today-show/news-story/ecb1489015c2b038fd968652e9e0a6b8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">news.com.au</a> that the rumours are "not even remotely correct". "The salary figures for our network talent published last week in various outlets were not even remotely correct. Anyone who watches Today can confirm there's absolutely no tension on set," Mr Burling said. "We couldn't be happier with our talented line-up of Karl, Sarah, Brooke, Alex and Tim who are working well and having a great time - end of story." The statement comes after New Idea spoke to a source allegedly close to the show, who said the news of the pay gap was "anxiety inducing" for new host Sarah, who took over from Ally Langdon in January. "The news of Karl's big pay cheque is anxiety inducing to say the least... Some are wondering why she isn't being more equally matched with Karl," a source allegedly said. "If you were Sarah would you stay and put on a smile every day knowing full well you're being paid so much less than your male counterpart for doing the same job? I can imagine she's likely disappointed." Image credits: Today

"Not guilty": Richard Wilkins addresses fake arrest photos

Richard Wilkins has spoken out about a series of photos that have gone viral online, depicting his apparent arrest. The entertainment report set the record straight while chatting to 2GB's Ben Fordham, saying the photos were fake. "I have never been arrested," Wilkins said. He went on to say he has never been in such trouble with the law, claiming the images were either photoshopped or AI-generated. "I got arrested in London yesterday," Wilkins sarcastically told Fordham, referring to the image which shows him being grabbed by two police officers. "I don't know what to do about it, this has been going on for some time," he continued, noting how he has no idea why or how he's been put at the centre of "all this", with "this" including a false story circulating that he's been charged by the Bank of Australia for giving out incorrect financial advice live on air alongside Karl Stefanovic on Today. "It never happened," Wilkins said of the Bank of Australia scam, noting how the transcript of the false Today segment provided "looks really legit" but the fabricated conversation did not actually occur. "It's complete BS," Wilkins said. "The thought of anyone investing in anything because I was recommending it is quite disturbing, and I'd hate to think that that was happening." He went on to say that his name and face have been used for several months to try and fool people, with both staffers from Facebook and the Nine Network lawyers have been involved for months to resolve the issue, but it's only "getting worse." "It's a pain in the derrière," Wilkins said. Wilkins' discussion with Fordham comes days after his son, Christian Wilkins, denied his father's arrest took place. "For those wondering, yes these posts are fake," Christian wrote on his Instagram Story last week. He joked, "There's no way [Wilkins] would be seen not wearing skinny jeans." Image credits: Facebook

Legal

Kyle and Jackie-O address mid-show walk out "hissy fit"

Kyle and Jackie O have addressed their recent "hissy fit" that saw them walk out of the studio in the middle of their live radio show. The pair returned to the airwaves on Monday morning, after their show was "dumped" halfway through Friday's show, resulting in a dramatic walk out. On Monday, Kyle said, “Good morning … Well, we’ve made it back, who would’ve thought?” before admitting he’d been told he had been “testy” lately by his manager, Bruno Bouchet. “Bruno did say, maybe you’ve been a bit grumpy, you do have a new child and you’ve been working 20 hours a day.” Kyle then brought up Jackie’s appearance at the Mediaweek annual Power lunch on Saturday in the wake of their storm-out, at which it was revealed she and her longtime co-host had topped the publication’s inaugural Star Power 25 list, a countdown of this country’s “top 25 most powerful talent on screen and on air.” “How great did Jackie look after doing her ‘power move’ after we left the show on Friday in a hissy fit?” Kyle said, before saying to Jackie, “It was nice of you to support me for once and walk out together.” “But I understood why you were doing it, because we were both very confused,” she replied. “Out of all the stars, we were number one – what a day to win it,” Kyle added of the Mediaweek accolade. During the beginning of the show on Monday, Kyle attempted to summarise Friday’s drama, explaining that “there was some confusion between management and mixed signals, wishy-washy back-end signals”, before declaring, “Who cares what a team of management thinks? I don’t care what they think.” Newsreader Brooklyn Ross then asked if it was “all smoothed over”, to which Kyle replied emphatically, “No, no it’s not smoothed over.” But Jackie disagreed, saying “Yes it is, don’t lie! The thing is, it wasn’t even that big a deal in the first place.” The drama began on Friday when the pair complained about being "dumped" by their in-studio censor while interviewing Alan Jones. A fairly innocent 15 minute chat with Jones saw the trio discussing Jones’ favourite restaurants, cars and homes, before listeners suddenly heard the prerecorded alert informing them the audio had been “dumped”. After a very lengthy song and advertisement break, a frustrated Kyle and Jackie O returned without Jones. Explaining what had happened, Kyle told listeners they were going into “weird territory” and “comparing cars and homes” before the show got dumped. As the two hosts continued to figure out what went wrong, their broadcast got dumped again. Kyle then decided, after seeking advice from his personal lawyer, to pull himself off the air as Jackie joined him in the walk out. Kyle said that he would be back for Monday’s show – “and if I’m not back Monday, it didn’t work out well for me.” Image credits: Instagram <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px;" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div> <div class="AV62af35d851923c62777207b4" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; width: 712px;"> <div id="aniBox" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; overflow: hidden; transition: height 1s ease 0s; width: 712px; height: 1px; opacity: 0;"> <div id="aniplayer_AV62af35d851923c62777207b4-1666560171970" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> <div id="aniplayer_AV62af35d851923c62777207b4-1666560171970gui" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></div> </div> </div> </div>

News

Inflation is 2022’s boogeyman. How can we address rising living costs, while helping bring it down?

An entire generation has never experienced life with high inflation. But that is set to change. Countries like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others are <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/inflation-stats-usa-and-world/">reporting rising inflation</a>. In New Zealand, inflation has climbed to its <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129293267/annual-inflation-hits-73">highest rate in 32 years</a>. Our collective inexperience with the scourge of inflation, and how to solve it, could be a real problem. For those experiencing high inflation for the first time, it is helpful to understand just what economists and politicians are talking about. Inflation is a sustained increase in overall prices. Not everything goes up by the same amount but when people are having to pay more each week, month or year for the same basket of goods and services then that’s inflation. Inflation is harmful in many ways. It works like rust – slowly eating away at the value of your money. Inflation affects all of us. It doesn’t matter what the face value of your money is – what matters is the quantity of goods and services you can buy with it. The real value of money One easy way to understand inflation is to look at what you can buy for the money you have. Suppose at the start of the year your $100 note bought you 20 cups of coffee. However, inflation pushes coffee from $5 to $6 a cup. By the end of the year, your same $100 only buys you 16 cups of coffee. The face value of your money is the same but its real value (in terms of the number of coffees you can buy) has gone down. Your money is worth less now than a year ago. This rise in costs hurts wage earners who have limited opportunity to renegotiate their wages. Inflation also hurts those on fixed incomes such as beneficiaries and superannuitants who only receive periodic adjustments. Rising inflation hurts savers who find the real value of their savings going down if returns on savings don’t keep up with inflation – which they currently aren’t. Inflation can benefit borrowers who have the same debt at the end of the year but the value of that debt is lower in real terms. Providing there is at least some inflation adjustment to their income, borrowers have to sacrifice less to repay their debt. While this sounds good, it’s not. It encourages poor borrowing decisions and discourages savings. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Young woman looking at a grocery receipt." /><figcaption>Inflation has risen to levels not seen for three decades. Consumers will feel the squeeze as their purchasing power drops. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/checking-receipt-royalty-free-image/691853536?adppopup=true">Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> The all-encompassing impact of inflation In a progressive tax system, inflation hurts salary and wage earners who get pushed into higher tax brackets as they receive inflation adjustments to their pay. Inflation can also cause issues at a national level. If one country’s inflation rate is higher than their trading partners then its currency falls in value. In the early 1970s, the NZ dollar was worth almost US$1.50. Our higher inflation rates of the 70s and 80s saw it fall to around US$0.50 by the mid 80s. This drop in value limits what we can buy from overseas – things like life-saving drugs will become more expensive for us if we don’t get inflation down and others do. The causes of inflation can come from good intentions Inflation is too much money chasing too few goods. If central banks push more money into circulation, there is a real risk of inflation. A big increase in demand for goods from, for example, an increase in government spending can also trigger inflation. So can supply chain disruptions that reduce the goods available (meaning the same amount of money chasing fewer goods). Unfortunately, all these triggers are currently in play as countries respond to a series of global crises. The invasion of Ukraine and ongoing COVID-19 supply chain disruptions have reduced the goods available. Governments globally have boosted spending to support their economies. But this latter factor has been put on steroids by central banks being willing to purchase government debt. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Man with mask pushing supermarket trolly." /><figcaption>Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a cost-of-living crisis. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/man-wearing-mask-while-shopping-in-supermarket-royalty-free-image/1235145649?adppopup=true">Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> Unintended consequences The RBNZ bought billions of government bonds to keep interest rates low as part of its <a href="https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/library-research-papers/research-papers/library-research-brief-large-scale-asset-purchase-lsap-programme">“large scale asset purchases” programme</a>. In New Zealand, the average money growth between 1995 and 2019 was about 8% per year. This accommodates a growing population, a growing economy and a little bit of inflation (a little bit is OK). In the last two years money supply has grown by around 30% per year. Of course it’s easy to look back with the benefit of hindsight. Those who made the decisions at the time don’t have that luxury. The RBNZ is now they are having to wind back their asset purchases and raise interest rates to rein in inflation. Some argue the RBNZ has been <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129311096/more-pain-expected-as-inflation-runs-hotter-than-a-government-can-handle">distracted and has dropped the ball on their key job</a> and we are now facing the risk the inflation genie is out of the bottle. Whether that criticism is justified or not, the RBNZ will now have to act decisively to reduce inflation. But getting inflation down is never painless. Households with mortgages will find their weekly budgets squeezed as interest rates rise. Firms will face falling demand from consumers with less to spend. Job growth will dry up – though New Zealand is in the fortunate position of starting with very low unemployment. Regardless, the RBNZ must do the job they got back in 1989 with the passing of the <a href="https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/-/media/29ada25bfa8b4e50922262618fb03e00.ashx?sc_lang=en">Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act</a>. New Zealand’s central bank is the only one that can control monetary conditions; it’s the only one that can get inflation under control. The same could be said for many of the countries facing growing inflation. If central banks don’t take decisive action, we could get a sharp reminder of just how bad inflation can be.<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/187154/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-hickson-1288490">Stephen Hickson</a>, Economics Lecturer and Director Business Taught Masters Programme, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canterbury-1004">University of Canterbury</a> 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/inflation-is-2022s-boogeyman-how-can-we-address-rising-living-costs-while-helping-bring-it-down-187154">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

"The most famous address in Britain" hits the market

Royal fans could live a stone's throw away from “the most famous address in Britain”, as long as they have £2.5 million ($AU 4.36 or $NZ 4.84 million) to spend. An apartment in the building Princess Diana lived in while she was dating Prince Charles has hit the market with a multi-million-dollar price tag, situated in one of the most desired parts of London. The three-bedroom apartment, <a href="https://search.savills.com/com/en/property-detail/gbecrsecs220018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed</a> through UK agency Savills, comes with a reception room, a formal dining room, and a separate kitchen and breakfast room, as well as an additional room that could become a fourth bedroom and a communal garden. Currently, the apartment’s interior boasts a regal theme of pastel colours, plush carpet, drapes, lattice windows, and timber accents. The late Duchess of Wales was regularly photographed entering and leaving the apartment building, which is ideally situated between Chelsea, South Kensington and Earl’s Court. Diana lived in the three-bedroom Edwardian flat with three close friends from 1979 until 1981, the year she married Prince Charles. Last year, her apartment was awarded an English Heritage blue plate, which was unveiled by one of her former housemates, Virginia Clarke. Diana’s biographer, Andrew Morton, referred to the apartment - her first since moving out of her parent’s home - as “the most famous address in Britain”. Images: Savills Realty

Real Estate

Kochie addresses Nat Barr's mysterious absence

Sunrise host Kochie has addressed why his co-host Nat Barr failed to show up for work on Monday morning. Nat was scheduled to return to the Sunrise desk on Monday after a week off to visit family in Perth. However, Kochie shared that Nat had unfortunately tested positive for Covid-19 upon her return to Sydney. "Well, everyone's been asking, 'Where's Nat?' Well, you may have noticed she's been missing over the past week or so," Koch began. "She's at home in isolation after testing positive for Covid." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Where's Nat??? We found out what she's been up to while she's been in isolation and when she will be making her long-awaited return to Brekky Central. <a href="https://t.co/fFxJWcT9zE">pic.twitter.com/fFxJWcT9zE</a> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1551342684698120192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2022</a></blockquote> Monique Wright, who was filling in for Barr on Monday morning, said, "During her time off, Nat's been very busy: she's been trying new recipes, she has also been working her way through her new wardrobe, doing some early spring cleaning and organising, due to being stuck in her bedroom." Kochie joked that Barr was so bored in isolation she even "cleaned out the bathroom cabinets" and reorganised her sock drawer. He also assured the audience that Nat's symptoms have been mild. “She’s fully vaccinated of course - all the four doses, her cough is virtually gone,” he said. “We wish her a speedy recovery.” Nat is expected to return to Brekky Central on Wednesday. On her Instagram stories on Sunday night, Barr said, “I know I’m bored when I’m cleaning out the bathroom drawers #covid”. She then shared footage of her sharpening her lip liners, writing “Peak COVID excitement”. Image credits: Sunrise

News

"Truth prevails”: Ricky Martin addresses nephew after harassment case heard

Ricky Martin’s 21-year-old nephew’s protection order against the popular singer has been dismissed following bombshell incest allegations. Attorneys for Martin, aged 50, have reported that the court in Puerto Rico did not extend Dennis Yadiel Sanchez’s temporary protection order just as they had anticipated. “The accuser confirmed to the court that his decision to dismiss the matter was his alone, without any outside influence or pressure, and the accuser confirmed he was satisfied with his legal representation in the matter,” lawyers Joaquín Monserrate Matienzo, Carmelo Dávila and Harry Massanet Pastrana said in a joint statement. “The request came from the accuser asking to dismiss the case. This was never anything more than a troubled individual making false allegations with absolutely nothing to substantiate them.” The attorneys concluded: “We are glad that our client saw justice done and can now move forward with his life and his career.” Martin also released a statement himself, via a two-minute video. In the video he explained his earlier silence and spoke directly to his nephew, saying he hopes he “doesn’t hurt anybody else.” “I’m in front of the cameras today because I really need to talk in order for me to start my healing process,” Martin said. “For two weeks, I was not allowed to defend myself because I was following a procedure where the law - the law - obligated me not to talk until I was in front of the judge and got this claims were proven to be false.” “But I’m going to tell you the truth. It has been so painful. It has been devastating for me, for my family, for my friends. I don’t wish this upon anybody. To the person that was claiming this nonsense, I wish him the best - and I wish he finds the help so he can start a new life filled with love and truth and joy - and he doesn’t hurt anybody else.” “Now, my priority is to heal and how do I heal? With music,” Martin continued. “I cannot wait to be back on stage. I cannot wait to be back in front of the cameras and entertain, which is what I do best.” “Thank you to all my friends. Thank you to all the fans who always believed in me. You have no idea the strength that you gave me with every comment you wrote on social media. I wish you love and light - and here we come with the same strength and passion.” Martin’s husband of five years also broke his silence, posting a photo of the couple together with the caption: “Truth prevails.” <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/CgSOwN7PGev/?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/CgSOwN7PGev/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jwan Yosef (@jwanyosef)</a> </div> </blockquote> Image: Getty

Legal

"You opened the door to hell": Epstein victims address Ghislaine Maxwell as she is sentenced

Content Warning: This article discusses Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting and grooming four teenage girls who were sexually abused by her then-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein. At her sentencing hearing in Manhattan federal court, the 60-year-old showed no emotion as she was sentenced early Wednesday (Australia time). Before learning the sentence, four of the survivors read out victim impact statements, describing the abuse they faced at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein, as well as the long term emotional impacts they have experienced as a result. “For a long time I wanted to erase from my mind the crimes that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell committed against me … but I’ve had to acknowledge the long-lasting effects,” Annie Farmer, the fourth victim to take the stand, said, breaking into tears during her statement. “One of the most painful and ongoing impacts of Maxwell and Epstein’s abuse was the loss of trust in myself.” Sarah Ransome, Elizabeth Stein, and the accuser known as “Kate” also shared their statements, while the attorney for Virginia Giuffre read out her statement in court. Standing up at a Plexiglass-enclosed lectern, Maxwell described Epstein as a “manipulative, cunning and controlling man” who fooled everyone around him and said she was “sorry” for the pain his victims experienced. “It is my greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein,” she said. “I also acknowledge that I have been convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes. “And despite the many helpful and positive things I have done in my life and will continue to do … I know that my association with Epstein and this case will permanently stain me.” However, she attempted to shift the blame onto Epstein, emphasising that he “should have been here before all of you”, echoing arguments her lawyers made that she had been scapegoated for Epstein’s crimes. This is despite her involvement as the person to introduce the victims to Epstein and statements from victims describing her abusing them as well. During sentencing, US Circuit Judge Alisan Nathan said Maxwell didn’t appear to express remorse or take responsibility for her actions. “Maxwell directly and repeatedly and over the course of many years participated in a horrific scheme to entice, transport and traffic underage girls, some as young as 14, for sexual abuse by and with Jeffrey Epstein,” Judge Nathan said. “The damage done to these young girls was incalculable.” The sentencing comes after Maxwell was convicted of five of six charges laid against her in December 2021, which followed a month-long trial and 40 hours of deliberation by jurors. Maxwell was convicted of: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> sex trafficking, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> conspiracy to entice individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> conspiracy to transport individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Transportation of an individual under the age of 17 with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, and, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of individuals under the age of 18. </li> </ul> Prosecutors last week called Maxwell’s conduct “shockingly predatory” and said she deserved to spend at least 30 years behind bars, based on their interpretation of sentencing guidelines. Maxwell’s lawyers argued that she should be sentenced for no more than five and one-quarter years, due to her being scapegoated and the time she has already spent in prison since her arrest in July 2020. However, her official sentence is far lower than the maximum possible sentence of 55 years that she could have received. Judge Nathan calculated that the sentencing guidelines called for 15.5 to 19.5 years in prison, but delivered a higher sentence due to the victims’ disturbing testimony and Maxwell’s “direct and repeated participation in a horrific scheme”. “Miss Maxwell is not punished in place of Epstein,” she said. “Miss Maxwell is being punished for the role that she played.” Image: Getty Images

Legal

Shifting seasons: using Indigenous knowledge and western science to help address climate change impacts

Traditional Owners in Australia are the creators of millennia worth of <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/native-knowledge-what-ecologists-are-learning-from-indigenous-people" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traditional ecological knowledge</a> – an understanding of how to live amid changing environmental conditions. Seasonal calendars are one of the forms of this knowledge best known by non-Indigenous Australians. But as the climate changes, these calendars are being disrupted. How? Take the example of wattle trees that flower at a specific time of year. That previously indicated the start of the fishing season for particular species. Climate change is causing these plants to flower later. In response, Traditional Owners on <a href="http://www.archerpoint.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yuku Baja Muliku</a> (YBM) Country near Cooktown are having to adapt their calendars and make new links. That’s not all. The seasonal timing of cultural burning practices is changing in some areas. Changes to rainfall and temperature alter when high intensity (hot) burns and low intensity (cool) burns are undertaken. Seasonal connections vital to Traditional Owners’ culture are decoupling. To systematically document changes, co-author Larissa Hale and her community worked with western scientists to pioneer a Traditional Owner-centred approach to climate impacts on cultural values. This process, <a href="https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7kw7z2c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published last week</a>, could also help Traditional Owners elsewhere to develop adaptive management for their Indigenous heritage. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467324/original/file-20220606-15930-59oyt9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Wattle flower" /></a><figcaption>A YBM Traditional Owner showing the wattle flower which used to be an indicator species for good fishing. Author provided</figcaption></figure> Climate change threatens First Nations - their perspectives must be heard Australia’s First Nations people face many threats from climate change, ranging from impacts on food availability to health. For instance, rising seas are already <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/torres-strait-islanders-plead-for-climate-action-as-government-builds-seawall-20220401-p5aa13.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flooding islands</a> in the Torres Strait with devastating consequences. The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on impacts and adaption noted in the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_FinalDraft_Chapter11.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australasia chapter</a> that climate-related impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their country and cultures are “pervasive, complex and compounding.” While it is important these impacts are recorded, the dominant source of the data is academic literature based on western science. Impacts and pressures Traditional Owners are seeing and managing on their country must be assessed and managed from their unique perspective. Traditional Owners have survived and adapted to climatic shifts during their 60,000+ years in Australia. This includes sea-level rise that flooded the area that is now the Great Barrier Reef and extreme rainfall variability. As a result, <a href="https://theconversation.com/ancient-knowledge-is-lost-when-a-species-disappears-its-time-to-let-indigenous-people-care-for-their-country-their-way-172760" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they have developed</a> a fine-tuned sense of nature’s variability over time. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467327/original/file-20220607-20-y7p3ak.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Drone shot of Annan river" /></a><figcaption>YBM Traditional Owners and scientists surveying freshwater mussel populations on Annan River near Cooktown. Author provided</figcaption></figure> So what did we do? Worried about the changes they were seeing on their Land and Sea Country around Archer Point in North Queensland, the YBM people worked with scientists from James Cook University to create a new way to assess impacts on cultural values. To do this, we drew on the values-based, science-driven, and community-focused approach of the <a href="https://cvi-heritage.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate vulnerability index</a>. It was the first time this index had been used to assess values of significance for Indigenous people. YBM people responded to key prompts to assess changes to their values, including: <ul> <li>What did the value look like 100 years ago?</li> <li>What does it look like now?</li> <li>What do you expect it will look like in the climate future around 2050?</li> <li>What management practices relate to that value and will they change?</li> </ul> We then discussed what issues have emerged from these climatic changes. Using this process, we were able to single out issues directly affecting how YBM people live. For instance, traditional food sources can be affected by climate change. In the past, freshwater mussels in the Annan River were easy to access and collect. Extreme temperature events in the last 10 years have contributed to mass die-offs. Now mussels are much smaller in size and tend to be far <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311066114_Freshwater_mussel_surveys_from_the_Annan_River_Yuku_Baja_Muliku_Country_-_project_findings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fewer in number</a>. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=528&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=528&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467325/original/file-20220607-16-b1ny4a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=528&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Freshwater mussels Annan River" /></a><figcaption>Freshwater mussels used to be more common. Author provided</figcaption></figure> Through the process we also documented that changes to rainfall and temperature have altered the time when some plant foods appear. This is particularly true for plants that depend upon cultural burns to flower or put up shoots. This in turn has meant that the timing of collecting and harvesting has changed. <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467328/original/file-20220607-12-61cmu0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="bushfoods found on YBM country" /></a><figcaption>The timing of when some bushfoods appear is changing. Author provided</figcaption></figure> These climate-linked changes challenge existing bodies of traditional knowledge, altering connections between different species, ecosystems and weather patterns across Land and Sea Country. A key part of this process was developing a mutually beneficial partnership between traditional ecological knowledge holders and western scientists. It was critical to establish a relationship built on trust and respect. Walking the country first – seeing rivers, mangroves, beaches, headlands, bush, wetlands, and looking out at Sea Country – helped researchers understand the perspectives of Traditional Owners. Honouring experience and knowledge (especially that held by Elders and Indigenous rangers) was important. Indigenous cultural and intellectual property <a href="https://www.artslaw.com.au/information-sheet/indigenous-cultural-intellectual-property-icip-aitb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protocols</a> were recognised and respected throughout the assessment. <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Respecting</a> and working collaboratively with Traditional Owners as expert scientists in their own knowledge system was critical for success. Any effort to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge in climate change assessments must protect sensitive traditional knowledge. As climate change will continue and accelerate, we must work together to minimise resulting impacts on the cultural heritage of First Nations peoples.<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/183229/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karin-gerhardt-1350288" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karin Gerhardt</a>, PhD student, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Cook University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jon-c-day-142416" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jon C. Day</a>, PSM, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Cook University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/larissa-hale-1346434" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Larissa Hale</a>, Yuku Baja Muliku Traditional Owner, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/indigenous-knowledge-4846" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indigenous Knowledge</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/scott-f-heron-256521" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott F. Heron</a>, Associate Professor in Physics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Cook University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/shifting-seasons-using-indigenous-knowledge-and-western-science-to-help-address-climate-change-impacts-183229" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Yuku Baja Muliku Land and Sea Rangers (Facebook)

Domestic Travel

Reader response: What is one thing you wish the government would address?

As decision time draws near as to who will lead Australia, there’s no more important time for people to weigh in on the most important issues of the day. To that end, we asked our readers: What is the one thing you wish the government would address? Affordable housing, homelessness, the rise in the rental crisis and public housing are the topics that have received the most traction among our readers. Many are in agreement that housing should become more affordable and as a nation we should work towards zero homelessness. This ties in with the rising cost of living as well. Aged care and the pension rate were also big issues, with many feeling they’ve been ripped off by the means-tested pension system and others feeling concerned by the state of the medicare system, particularly for mental health care. From climate action to affordable housing and more, here are just some of the hot-button issues you would like to see put front and centre in the coming years. Pam Miller: The needs of the people they are meant to represent rather than their own avaricious desires. Nicola Miller: Medicare. Jill Doolan: Aged care facilities. Not just a little talk but a lot of action. The bottom line should not be their profit but the care and dignity of the elderly in their care. Sheila Beaven: Raise pension payments to minimum wage and have couples paid from Centrelink as two separate people not 1.5 people. Roswitha Stewart: Affordable housing and increase in rent allowances for private renters. Val Quinn: More public housing. Lizzie Barlett: How difficult it is for some people with serious mental health problems to negotiate Centrelink to claim entitlements that they desperately need. Joan Garfui: Hospitals and schools. Dorothy Estelle Winks: So many things to choose from. Top priority, climate action. Robert Warner: Affordable dental health across the board covered by Medicare..! Christine Higgs Warby: A rise in the aged pension. Susan Burton: Housing and aged care. Andy Mills: When politicians receive a pay increase, emergency services personnel should get the same percentage rise. Image: Getty

Legal

“He’d be dating Brad Pitt!” Deborra-Lee Furness addresses Hugh Jackman rumours

<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a hilarious and at times touching and revealing podcast with Gus Worland recently, Hugh Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness addressed the longheld rumours surrounding her husband’s sexuality – before opening up on how she and the children cope whenever Hugh has a sex scene in one of his films. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When asked by Worland on his Not an Overnight Success podcast about the rumours that Hugh is “gay”, Furness simply mocked the idea as baseless and “so silly” – and that it’s just one of many rumours that have circulated about Jackman over the years. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I mean HELLO, guys,” said Furness, “if he was gay, he could be gay! <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">'He didn't have to hide in the closet anymore, and he'd be dating Brad Pitt, or whatever. Not that Brad's gay, but you know what I'm saying!' <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She continued: 'It's so silly, and then people perpetuate silly things and it's boring.' <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later on in the podcast, Worland then questioned Furness about how she and the kids handle it when Jackman is asked to get hot and heavy with an on-screen love interest – as well as how HE copes when she is required to do the same. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What's it like when you're doing a love scene in the movie, and Jacko's watching and vice-versa?' posed Worland. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It's so weird,” replied Furness. “I suppose because I've done it so many times before, it's not really romantic. You've got the light in your face, you've got to hit a mark and so it's not really sexy.” <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But when it comes to watching Jackman perform in romantic scenes, it’s a little different. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When I'm sitting in the theatre watching – especially if I'm with the kids – I feel a little uncomfortable,” she said. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But also a lot of the times I'm very good friends with the actress he's making out with as we're making a film, we all get to know each other. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sometimes it’s weird seeing it, and I think the kids are like, "Ahh!" [Oscar] doesn't want to watch. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When you're in a relationship, that's just all fluff, you know? It's all fluff.” <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image: Instagram

Relationships

Chris Rock addresses the slap

After seemingly every celebrity shared their perspective on the incident where <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-slap-heard-around-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock</a> at the Oscars, Rock has addressed the topic for the first time publicly. The comedian revealed he was “still processing” the incident at the start of one of his standup shows in Boston on Wednesday night, as reported by <a href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/will-smith-chris-rock-oscars-2022-comedian-responds-slap/d56fdda5-93dc-4418-8567-033f2353652f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a>. Footage and audio of the start of the show was also shared on social media by audience members and media outlets, including the New York Post and in the tweet below. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Chris Rock breaks his silence in the most Chris Rock way <a href="https://t.co/cQaYXtKjfx">pic.twitter.com/cQaYXtKjfx</a> — Piñata Farms 🪅 (@pinatafarms) <a href="https://twitter.com/pinatafarms/status/1509363694458875910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote> After appearing on stage in an all-white suit to thunderous applause from the crowd, he addressed the thing that was sure to be at the front of everyone’s minds. “How was your weekend?” he began, prompting a wave of laughter. “I don’t have a bunch of s**t about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. “I’m still kind of processing what happened. So, at some point I’ll talk about that s**t. And it will be serious and funny.” One audience member chanted, “F**k Will Smith!” before Rock continued on with the show. “I’m going to tell some jokes. It’s nice to just be out,” he said. Outside the theatre, at least a dozen local broadcast journalists had set up, arriving up to two hours before showtime to catch a glimpse of Rock. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/03/GettyImages-1388644800.jpg" alt="" width="792" height="1024" /> Chris Rock arrived at the Wilbur Theatre for his standup show to journalists and religious leaders, as many hoped to hear his side of the story. Image: Getty Images Local religious leaders also gathered outside before the show to make a statement about “the incident regarding our brothers” and to “send a message that violence is not the way to resolve conflict”. “This is a teachable moment so we end the cycle of violence that is underreported in the Black community,” Kevin C. Peterson, the founder of the non-partisan, non-profit organisation New Democracy Coalition, told reporters. Rock’s performances at the State Theatre in Boston, ahead of his “Ego Death World Tour” which starts next month, were sold out and were in especially high demand as many anticipated it would be the first time he would publicly address the incident. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We sold more tickets to see Chris Rock overnight than we did in the past month combined. — TickPick (@TickPick) <a href="https://twitter.com/TickPick/status/1508453636862627844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2022</a></blockquote> With tickets originally starting at $USD 49.50 (approximately $AUD 66), they began to sell for as much as $USD 800 to $USD 8000 (between $AUD 1068 and 10686) on secondary sites such as StubHub and TickPick, which recorded record demand and sales. It comes just a day after Smith <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/an-embarrassment-ben-fordham-weighs-in-on-will-smith-drama" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued an apology</a> to Rock, and as many criticise the Fresh Prince star and the audience for <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/mind/opinion-why-we-need-to-change-how-we-re-talking-about-the-oscars-slap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letting a person assault another on-stage without any repercussions</a>. Image: Getty Images

News

The metaverse: three legal issues we need to address

The “<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">metaverse</a>” seems to be the latest buzzword in tech. In general terms, the metaverse can be viewed as a form of cyberspace. Like the internet, it’s a world – or reality, even – beyond our physical world on Earth. The difference is that the metaverse allows us to immerse a version of ourselves as <a href="https://medium.com/@ppreddy576/digital-avatars-and-working-with-human-like-creatives-b84f24005a05" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avatars</a> in its environment, usually through <a href="https://hbr.org/2016/10/the-mainstreaming-of-augmented-reality-a-brief-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">augmented reality</a> (AR) or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/virtual-reality" target="_blank" rel="noopener">virtual reality</a> (VR), which people are and will increasingly be able to access using tools like VR goggles. While it all seems very exciting, a curious lawyer like me is inclined to ask: who or what governs the metaverse? The way I see it, there are three key areas which, at this stage, are legally murky. 1. A boundless marketplace Transactions in the metaverse are generally monetised using cryptocurrency or <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/17/business/what-is-nft-meaning-fe-series/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NFTs</a> (non-fungible tokens). An NFT is a unique digital asset: it could be an image, a piece of music, a video, a 3D object, or another type of creative work. The NFT market is booming – in some cases we’re talking about <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/beeple-first-nft-artwork-at-auction-sale-result/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sales</a> equivalent to millions of pounds. While it’s difficult to say whether this is simply a trend, or a new and exciting form of capital investment, these kinds of transactions raise some interesting legal questions. For example, in the “real” world, when it comes to purchasing a piece of art, property law dictates that <a href="https://www.reedsmith.com/en/perspectives/2021/05/reed-smith-guide-to-the-metaverse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ownership</a> is two-fold. First, ownership can be attributed in the actual physical art work. And second, the buyer may or may not own the intellectual property of the art work, depending on the terms of the sale. But what kind of ownership is precisely included in a transaction of digital art? International law firm <a href="https://www.reedsmith.com/en/perspectives/2021/05/reed-smith-guide-to-the-metaverse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reed Smith</a> has said that “ownership” in the metaverse is nothing more than a form of licensing, or provision of services. In such instances, true ownership still lies with the owner. This may mean, for example, that the buyer cannot sell the item without permission from the true owner. Virtual real estate has also become an NFT, with individuals and companies <a href="https://theconversation.com/real-estate-in-the-metaverse-is-booming-is-it-really-such-a-crazy-idea-174021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spending enormous sums</a> to own a “property” in the metaverse. Do the intricacies of land law apply here? For example, will real-world legislation cover trespassers on private land in the metaverse? Can you take out a mortgage on your virtual property? The metaverse may also be susceptible to hosting a virtual marketplace somewhat like <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933260-400-silk-road-review-the-true-story-of-the-dark-webs-illegal-drug-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Silk Road</a>, which was a dark web marketplace dealing in illegal drugs, weapons and, allegedly, “<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-24378137" target="_blank" rel="noopener">murder for hire</a>”. What kinds of laws can be put in place to safeguard against this happening in the metaverse? It would be ideal to have a global regulatory authority overseeing the metaverse, although this would be difficult to implement. 2. Data Another possible legal implication of the metaverse is around data and data protection. The metaverse will expose new categories of <a href="https://www.cms-lawnow.com/ealerts/2022/01/legal-advice-in-the-metaverse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our personal data</a> for processing. This might include facial expressions, gestures and other types of reactions an avatar could produce during interactions in the metaverse. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (<a href="https://gdpr.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDPR</a>) could arguably apply to the metaverse, as could the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK’s Data Protection Act</a>. But given the novel nature of the metaverse, to ensure that users’ rights are protected, the processes governing informed consent around data processing may need to be revisited. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/443780/original/file-20220201-17-1a83bq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/443780/original/file-20220201-17-1a83bq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/443780/original/file-20220201-17-1a83bq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/443780/original/file-20220201-17-1a83bq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/443780/original/file-20220201-17-1a83bq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/443780/original/file-20220201-17-1a83bq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/443780/original/file-20220201-17-1a83bq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A rendering of two avatars shaking hands." /><figcaption>Interactions in the metaverse will expose new types of personal data. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/business-man-wear-virtual-glasses-shaking-2089653463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Athitat Shinagowin/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> Further, the “no-boundaries” nature of the metaverse means that while we might want to assume the GDPR will apply, the clauses dealing with transfer and processing of data outside the EU may need to be clarified. The GDPR applies <a href="https://www.metaverselaw.com/category/gdpr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">based on</a> the location of the subject when their data is processed, not on their home country or citizenship. So can we look to the location based on the person operating the avatar, or is it more appropriate to look at the avatar itself, since it’s the avatar’s data that will be processed? And if we look to the avatar’s location, how would we determine which jurisdiction the metaverse falls under? 3. User interactions When users interact through their avatars, we may have situations where some kind of altercation occurs that would equate to breaking the law, if it took place between people in the real world. Such incidents could be in breach of tort law (which covers civil claims such as negligence or nuisance) or criminal law (involving illegal acts and crime such as assault, murder, burglary or rape). Imagine one avatar assaults another. Could we apply criminal laws of assault and battery to this situation? How could we make an avatar responsible for their actions in the metaverse? This would be complicated, because it would mean that we need to attribute a <a href="https://www.cms-lawnow.com/ealerts/2022/01/legal-advice-in-the-metaverse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legal persona</a> to the avatar, giving them rights and duties within a legal system; allowing them to sue or be sued. Proving assault or battery would also be much more difficult because it usually requires “<a href="https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offences-against-person-incorporating-charging-standard#:%7E:text=The%20offence%20is%20committed%20when,or%20caused%20the%20bodily%20harm." target="_blank" rel="noopener">actual bodily harm</a>”. In the metaverse, there will naturally be no actual bodily harm. It would be challenging to prove harm, loss or injury suffered by an avatar. Worryingly, <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/my-journey-into-the-metaverse-already-a-home-to-sex-predators-sdkms5nd3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sexual predators</a> are already emerging in the metaverse, masking their identity behind an avatar that may not easily be traced back to its operator in the real world. For example, we’ve seen incidents of <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/12/16/1042516/the-metaverse-has-a-groping-problem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">groping</a>. Users in the metaverse can wear haptic vests or other technologies which would actually allow them to feel the sensations if they were touched or groped. <a href="https://www.reeds.co.uk/insight/should-sexual-harassment-be-a-criminal-offence-in-the-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sexual harassment laws</a> do not require physical contact to constitute sexual harassment. But are existing laws adequate to deal with this issue? Within the environment of VR and gaming, for example, upon whom rests the responsibility to ensure the safety of users? There is little doubt issues of sexual harassment will make their way into the metaverse, particularly if unscrupulous users know this is a grey area. Believing that their actions cannot be proved, or that they cannot be held responsible for events that take place in the metaverse, might embolden such behaviour. This comes back to the question of legal personas of avatars – is a legal persona necessary to make avatars responsible for their actions in the metaverse? And what kind of standards and criteria need to be in place to distinguish between a “legal” avatar and the true legal person who operates that avatar? These issues should all be addressed before the metaverse becomes mainstream.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/175891/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pin-lean-lau-1282877" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pin Lean Lau</a>, Lecturer in Bio-Law, Brunel Law School | Centre for Artificial Intelligence: Social & Digital Innovations, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/brunel-university-london-1685" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brunel University London</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-metaverse-three-legal-issues-we-need-to-address-175891" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Echoes of Churchill in epic wartime address

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered an historic wartime address to the House of Commons, vowing "we will not give up". Zelenskyy was given a standing ovation by MPs both before and after he gave his speech via Zoom, in which he likened Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Britain's fight against Germany in World War II. The Ukraine president's address mirrored the words of Winston Churchill's famous "we shall fight on the beaches" speech, following Britain's devastation in the Battle of Dunkirk in June 1940. Mr Zelenskyy said, "We will not give up and we will not lose. We will fight to the end, at sea, in the air, we will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost." "We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets." He went on to say that Ukraine was fighting a "war that we didn't start and we didn't want", as he told British MPs "we do not want to lose what we have, what is ours." Comparing Ukraine to the UK standing alone more than 80 years ago, Mr Zelenskyy said Ukrainians are fighting to save their country "just the same way as you once didn't want to lose your country when Nazis started to fight your country and you had to fight for Britain." He said more than 50 children have now been killed in the Russian invasion, telling the House of Commons, "These are the children that could have lived, but these people have taken them away from us." UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded to the address, saying "Britain and our allies are determined to press on with supplying our Ukrainian friends with the weapons they need to defend their homeland as they deserve." He added, "We will employ every method that we can – diplomatic, humanitarian and economic – until Vladimir Putin has failed in this disastrous venture and Ukraine is free once more." Image credits: Getty Images

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Disabled woman dies after firefighters go to wrong address

Slimmed down Oprah addresses Ozempic rumours

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Karl addresses cringeworthy Kochie joke at the Logies

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