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Damning report exposes toxic workplace culture at Channel Nine

<p>A damning culture investigation has revealed a history of systemic bullying and harassment within the Channel Nine workplace. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.nineforbrands.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Intersection-Nine-Entertainment-2024-Report-FA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>, which was conducted by independent investigators, revealed their findings on Thursday, sharing the extent of the disturbing behaviour going on inside the network's offices.</p> <p>As stated in the report, Nine has “has a systemic issue with abuse of power and authority; bullying, discrimination and harassment; and sexual harassment”, with several employees sharing their own horror stories of working for the network. </p> <p>Dozens of female workers came forward with allegations of sexual assault, with one employee saying, “When I was in (location), (employee) tried to groom me. He also touched me on the bum at the Christmas party and at other times he would rub my legs under the table."</p> <p>“I saw him do it to other women.”</p> <p>Another staff member was warned not to let a senior male employee “touch (her) boobs”, adding, “His comments about my body were constant.”</p> <p>“He made me feel like I was just a piece of meat to be ogled at, and that he was the credible one just because he was the older man. Over time, this eroded my confidence. It just chipped away at it.”</p> <p>Other employees said the culture at Nine “destroyed (them) as a human being”, left them “broken” and a “shell” or gave them “debilitating” anxiety.</p> <p>“I was broken,” one former employee said. “I left the newsroom after a year. By the time I left my soul was gone.”</p> <p>If anyone complained about the toxic culture and inappropriate behaviour, they were allegedly sent to what was known as “punishment island”.</p> <p>“I have only been at the company a short time, but in my opinion there is a concerning culture among senior older men of sexual(ly) inappropriate jokes. There is sexual intimidation against young women and I find this completely unacceptable. I will always call them out,” another said.</p> <p>Others said talking about getting bullied at Nine had become commonplace, with one employee saying, “We used to talk about being bullied, harassed or publicly humiliated like you’d talk about the weather. Now when I look back it horrifies me how normalised it had become."</p> <p>Nine’s new chair Catherine West released a statement on Thursday after the report finding, saying, “We are deeply sorry ... I unreservedly apologise.”</p> <p>“Today is an incredibly difficult day for Nine as we confront these findings and reflect on serious cultural issues as an organisation."</p> <p>“The behaviour outlined in the report is unacceptable. Abuse of power, bullying, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct is not OK. This behaviour has no place at Nine.”</p> <p>The report concluded with 22 recommendations to address the negative culture, including training, accountability and another external review in three years.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <div class="hide-print ad-no-notice css-svlwa0-StyledAdUnitWrapper ezkyf1c0" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: #292a33; color: #292a33; font-family: HeyWow, Montserrat, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </div>

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Aussies expose massive flaw with new passports

<p>Aussies who have received their new passport have called out a major flaw with the travel documents, that now cost $398.</p> <p>As of July 1st, Australian travellers will have to fork out the hefty fee to renew their passports, with the cost jumping from $346. </p> <p>Some Aussies have received their new passports, with many slamming the quality of the new R series passports, which have been issued since September 2022.</p> <p>Many have taken to social media to share their fears that the new documents may not last the intended 10 years because the covers appear to bend before they have even been used. </p> <p>Aussie woman Greta was one of many who shared her thoughts on TikTok, which has attracted more than 145,000 views. </p> <p>She initially said she liked the "epic" new design which features images of iconic landmarks, but was later disappointed by how flimsy the document was.</p> <p>"I recently got the new Australian passport. I was very excited but then, I had a few people tell me I had to put a paperweight on it because it bends," she said.</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7391654333999320321&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40the_gretaway%2Fvideo%2F7391654333999320321&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F8ec5048b25b44feaad62942a9ab7932a_1721003662%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-alisg-i-0068%2FoEyzmMdFAAA8AIVEwEiMSbOBEfSsdojiACBCUI.image%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26nonce%3D29172%26refresh_token%3D52b34ece20849688562e0cdd271d06f2%26x-expires%3D1721354400%26x-signature%3DVdRtUv8AHtWwirQkxbPH3zMl2EA%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>She showed her new "curving" passport in comparison to her old heavily used one side by side.</p> <p>"You're not wrong... This passport is brand new. It has not seen a different country," she explained. </p> <p>"Considering this is one of the world's most expensive passports, what happened?"</p> <p>Many of Greta's TikTok viewers agreed, as travellers were concerned that the new passport's curvy nature could be problematic or stop them from travelling. </p> <p>"Get a passport cover... utterly ridiculous that they do that,' a viewer commented."  </p> <p>Another added, "My new one is so bent Heathrow almost didn't accept it."</p> <p>Despite the online comments, the Australian Passport Office assures travellers that general "normal wear and tear should not be a problem."</p> <p>"You may notice a slight curling on the cover of your R Series passport. This occasionally occurs due to changes in humidity," the website states.  </p> <p>"It's not a manufacturing defect and doesn't affect the validity of your passport. Keeping your passport tightly secured will help prevent this curling."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px;"><em>Image credits: TikTok / Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Young woman exposes "hate" response to Origin's Welcome to Country

<p>The young woman who delivered the Welcome to Country at the State of Origin has opened up on the "overwhelming" response to it, revealing how she has "received a lot of hate".</p> <p>Savannah Fynn, 22, was invited to deliver the Welcome to Country and while it was generally well received, it also led to radio host Kyle Sandilands slamming the practice in general, saying the practice had become “overused and lost its impact”.</p> <p>Since then, Fynn revealed that she has received an overwhelming amount of hate online, with some even jumping to criticise her appearance. </p> <p>“I was just so worried I would stutter or mess up my words because I’d never spoken in front of that many people,” Fynn told <em><a title="www.dailytelegraph.com.au" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/stellar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="stellar" data-tgev-label="lifestyle" data-tgev-metric="ev">Stellar</a></em>.</p> <p>“But once I finished, I felt a moment of relief. I ran straight over to my nan, obviously one of my Elders, and I gave her a big hug and a cuddle. It’s definitely an overwhelming feeling, getting all this attention. It’s not something I’m used to at all."</p> <p>“I’m a very quiet person so this is a big change. Even though it’s all positive, I struggle with taking compliments and I get a bit shy. I’m kind of ready for it to die down!”</p> <p>“As sad as it is, being a lighter skin colour, I’ve received a lot of hate for that,” the 22-year-old university student said.</p> <p>“A lot of people have picked on the way I look, the way I speak, even coming down to having blonde hair. My hair is actually dark, I’ve just dyed it blonde."</p> <p>“I think people also get very confused as to what an Acknowledgement and Welcome actually is. We’re not welcoming you to Australia; obviously you live here."</p> <p>“We’re welcoming you to the traditional owners of that land and acknowledging the traditional land. And in terms of comments about overuse, I feel you have to respect everyone’s opinions, even if you may not agree."</p> <p>“Being a First Nations person, I find it wonderful seeing my culture embraced. But obviously you can’t please everyone.”</p> <p>Fynn is aiming to be a young role model and hopes to show “young Indigenous people that we can get up and speak”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p> <p> </p>

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Air travel exposes you to radiation – how much health risk comes with it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/timothy-j-jorgensen-239253">Timothy J. Jorgensen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/georgetown-university-1239">Georgetown University</a></em></p> <p>In 2017, <a href="http://www.independent.ie/business/world/18-million-miles-and-counting-the-globes-top-business-traveller-35666790.html">business traveler Tom Stuker</a> was hailed as the world’s most frequent flyer, logging 18,000,000 miles of air travel on United Airlines over 14 years.</p> <p>That’s a lot of time up in the air. If Stuker’s traveling behaviors are typical of other business flyers, he may have eaten 6,500 <a href="http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=689041">inflight meals</a>, drunk 5,250 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8305.2009.00339.x">alcoholic beverages</a>, watched thousands of <a href="http://www.iata.org/publications/store/Pages/global-passenger-survey.aspx">inflight movies</a> and made around 10,000 visits to <a href="http://blog.thetravelinsider.info/2012/11/how-many-restrooms-are-enough-on-a-plane.html">airplane toilets</a>.</p> <p>He would also have accumulated a radiation dose equivalent to about 1,000 <a href="https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=safety-xray">chest x-rays</a>. But what kind of health risk does all that radiation actually pose?</p> <h2>Cosmic rays coming at you</h2> <p>You might guess that a frequent flyer’s radiation dose is coming from the airport security checkpoints, with their whole-body scanners and baggage x-ray machines, but you’d be wrong. The <a href="http://www.aapm.org/publicgeneral/AirportScannersPressRelease.asp">radiation doses to passengers from these security procedures</a> are trivial.</p> <p>The major source of radiation exposure from air travel comes from the flight itself. This is because at high altitude the <a href="http://www.altitude.org/why_less_oxygen.php">air gets thinner</a>. The farther you go from the Earth’s surface, the fewer molecules of gas there are per volume of space. Thinner air thus means fewer molecules to deflect incoming <a href="http://www.space.com/32644-cosmic-rays.html">cosmic rays</a> – radiation from outer space. With less <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/atmosphere_and_climate/atmosphere">atmospheric shielding</a>, there is more exposure to radiation.</p> <p>The most extreme situation is for astronauts who travel entirely outside of the Earth’s atmosphere and enjoy none of its protective shielding. Consequently, they receive high radiation doses. In fact, it is the accumulation of radiation dose that is the limiting factor for the maximum length of manned space flights. Too long in space and <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace">astronauts risk cataracts, cancer and potential heart ailments</a> when they get back home.</p> <p>Indeed, it’s the radiation dose problem that is a major spoiler for <a href="http://www.space.com/34210-elon-musk-unveils-spacex-mars-colony-ship.html">Elon Musk’s goal of inhabiting Mars</a>. An extended stay on Mars, with its <a href="http://www.space.com/16903-mars-atmosphere-climate-weather.html">extremely thin atmosphere</a>, would be lethal due to the high radiation doses, notwithstanding Matt Damon’s successful Mars colonization in the movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej3ioOneTy8">“The Martian</a>.”</p> <h2>Radiation risks of ultra frequent flying</h2> <p>What would be Stuker’s cumulative radiation dose and what are his health risks?</p> <p>It depends entirely on how much time he has spent in the air. Assuming an <a href="http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/JobyJosekutty.shtml">average flight speed</a> (550 mph), Stuker’s 18,000,000 miles would translate into 32,727 hours (3.7 years) of flight time. The radiation dose rate at typical <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/why-do-planes-fly-so-high-feet/">commercial airline flight altitude</a> (35,000 feet) is about <a href="https://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/commercialflights.html">0.003 millisieverts per hour</a>. (As I explain in my book <a href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10691.html">“Strange Glow: The Story of Radiation</a>,” a millisievert or mSv is a unit of radiation dose that can be used to estimate cancer risk.) By multiplying the dose rate by the hours of flight time, we can see that Stuker has earned himself about 100 mSv of radiation dose, in addition to a lot of free airline tickets. But what does that mean for his health?</p> <p>The primary health threat at this dose level is an increased risk of some type of cancer later in life. Studies of atomic bomb victims, nuclear workers and medical radiation patients have <a href="https://doi.org/10.17226/11340">allowed scientists to estimate the cancer risk</a> for any particular radiation dose.</p> <p>All else being equal and assuming that low doses have risk levels proportionate to high doses, then an overall cancer risk rate of <a href="http://www.imagewisely.org/imaging-modalities/computed-tomography/medical-physicists/articles/how-to-understand-and-communicate-radiation-risk">0.005 percent per mSv</a> is a reasonable and commonly used estimate. Thus, Stuker’s 100-mSv dose would increase his lifetime risk of contracting a potentially fatal cancer by about 0.5 percent.</p> <h2>Contextualizing the risk</h2> <p>The question then becomes whether that’s a high level of risk. Your own feeling might depend on how you see your background cancer risk.</p> <p>Most people <a href="http://www.who.int/whr/2002/chapter3/en/index4.html">underestimate their personal risk of dying from cancer</a>. Although the exact number is debatable, it’s fair to say that <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/lifetime-probability-of-developing-or-dying-from-cancer.html">about 25 percent of men ultimately contract a potentially fatal cancer</a>. Stuker’s 0.5 percent cancer risk from radiation should be added to his baseline risk – so it would go from 25 percent to 25.5 percent. A cancer risk increase of that size is too small to actually measure in any scientific way, so it must remain a theoretical increase in risk.</p> <p>A 0.5 percent increase in risk is the same as one chance in 200 of getting cancer. In other words, if 200 male travelers logged 18,000,000 miles of air travel, like Stuker did, we might expect just one of them to contract a cancer thanks to his flight time. The other 199 travelers would suffer no health effects. So the chances that Stuker is the specific 18-million-mile traveler who would be so unlucky is quite small.</p> <p>Stuker was logging more air hours per year (greater than 2,000) than most pilots typically log (<a href="http://work.chron.com/duty-limitations-faa-pilot-17646.html">under 1,000</a>). So these airline workers would have risk levels proportionately lower than Stuker’s. But what about you?</p> <p>If you want to know your personal cancer risk from flying, estimate all of your commercial airline miles over the years. Assuming that the values and parameters for speed, radiation dose and risk stated above for Stuker are also true for you, dividing your total miles by 3,700,000,000 will give your approximate odds of getting cancer from your flying time.</p> <p>For example, let’s pretend that you have a mathematically convenient 370,000 total flying miles. That would mean 370,000 miles divided by 3,700,000,000, which comes out to be 1/10,000 odds of contracting cancer (or a 0.01 percent increase in risk). Most people do not fly 370,000 miles (equal to 150 flights from Los Angeles to New York) within their lifetimes. So for the average flyer, the increased risk is far less than 0.01 percent.</p> <p>To make your exercise complete, make a list of all the benefits that you’ve derived from your air travel over your lifetime (job opportunities, vacation travel, family visits and so on) and go back and look at your increased cancer risk again. If you think your benefits have been meager compared to your elevated cancer risk, maybe its time to rethink flying. But for many people today, flying is a necessity of life, and the small elevated cancer risk is worth the price.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/78790/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/timothy-j-jorgensen-239253">Timothy J. Jorgensen</a>, Director of the Health Physics and Radiation Protection Graduate Program and Professor of Radiation Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/georgetown-university-1239">Georgetown University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/air-travel-exposes-you-to-radiation-how-much-health-risk-comes-with-it-78790">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

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Channel 10 presenter exposes on-air dress shaming

<p>Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs has exposed a “humiliating” email she received from a viewer who commented on an outfit she wore on-air Tuesday. </p> <p>The Australian journalist, who hosts <em>10 News First</em>, wore a v-neck blouse and patterned blazer when she was reporting that day, when the unsolicited "feedback" came through. </p> <p>Jacobs shared a screenshot of the email that was sent to the Ten News group on Instagram. </p> <p>“Inappropriate dress sense for reading the news. Cleavage is for the nightclub,” the email read. </p> <p>Addressing the email, Jacobs began:  “Yes, we still receive emails like this. Yes, it went to the entire newsroom." </p> <p>“Yes, I was on air at the time. Yes, it is intended to shame and humiliate me," the 48-year-old added. </p> <p>“No, what I’m wearing is not inappropriate but your email sure is.”</p> <p>Followers took to the comments to back Jacobs, with fellow journalists sharing their own experience of receiving sexist criticism. </p> <p>Retired swimmer Giaan Rooney wrote:  “Yep. The number of emails the newsroom used to get attacking everything about my appearance when I was presenting the weather was incredible.” </p> <p><em>The Guardian</em> journalist Amy Remeikis recalled how “not that long ago” a woman felt that she had to “hide” her nine-year-old son from the TV when she was on-air.</p> <p>“Because he wanted to know why that woman (me) had ‘sex face’ and what my boobs were,” Remeikis wrote. “Had never seen breasts apparently, but could use the phrase ‘sex face’.”</p> <p><em>ABC Radio</em> host Yumi Stynes joked, “How dare you cleavage?” before complimenting Jacobs for her radiant look, while <em>Dessert Masters</em> judge Melissa Leong wrote, “File under ‘When you really hate yourself, so you decide to email random strangers to tell them.’”</p> <p>Comedian Janelle Koenig slammed the ‘feedback’ as “absolute insanity.”</p> <p>This comes after thousands attended <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/it-s-up-to-men-anthony-albanese-joins-violence-against-women-rally" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rallies</a> in late April calling on the government to take action against the recent spate of acts of violence against women. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Seven's insane plan to ambush Lisa Wilkinson exposed

<p>A bizarre plan pitched by Channel Seven for Bruce Lehrmann to ambush Lisa Wilkinson has been revealed. </p> <p>According to several close friends of Mr Lehrmann, Channel Seven's <em>Spotlight</em> program suggested that Lehrmann hover around the Sydney suburb of Cremorne in the hopes of catching Lisa Wilkinson unawares. </p> <p>They proceeded to explain to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/sevens-plan-for-bruce-lehrmann-to-ambush-lisa-wilkinson-in-public/news-story/1e6df346affc123ad23f1f7efcb12136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> how they wanted Lehrmann to confront Wilkinson while a cameraman stood close in the hopes of manufacturing a must-see TV moment. </p> <p>Mr Lehrmann's friends said he was not keen on the idea, although the program continued to suggest the ambush. </p> <p>As the fallout continues over untested allegations in the Federal Court that Mr Lehrmann leaked Brittany Higgins’ private text messages to the current affairs program, the former Liberal staffer’s mates are spilling the beans on claims of the program’s bizarre plan.</p> <p>“Bruce very much wanted a third program. But that was a bridge too far," another friend said.</p> <p>“Seven were desperate for ideas. They raised it several times. On many occasions I met with Bruce after meetings and they were pushing for it."</p> <p>“The plan as described was (they) wanted Bruce to be at a local cafe that they knew Lisa Wilkinson would go to and they would have a TV camera confront her.”</p> <p>When asked what Mr Lehrmann planned to say during the ambush, the friend admitted, “I dunno. I don’t know if they thought that far ahead.”</p> <p>Mr Lehrmann’s inner circle claim that it was just one of a number of wild ideas floated by <em>Spotlight</em> producer Steve Jackson as they pitched ideas for future programs about Lehrmann. </p> <p>Another confidante of Mr Lehrmann’s said the Wilkinson plan was “bizarre” and joked it seemed to involve Mr Lehrmann jumping from behind a pot plant to startle the TV star, an idea the former Liberal staffer wasn't keen for, despite the Seven “ideas factory”.</p> <p>“It wasn’t something that Bruce (Lehrmann) pushed," the source said.</p> <p>“<em>Spotlight</em> had a million viewers and so they were always looking for any excuse for a third program. The plan was to spark some sort of public row.”</p> <p>Mr Lehrmann’s criminal trial was delayed in the wake of Wilkinson’s ill-fated Logies speech, but his barrister Steve Whybrow SC has hailed the speech as keeping him out of jail.</p> <p>“Frankly, if it wasn’t for Lisa Wilkinson’s speech at the Logies, Bruce would probably be in jail. Thank God for that speech," Mr Whybrow said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Rebel Wilson exposes A-lister who "threatened" her over book release

<p>Rebel Wilson has slammed a Hollywood A-lister for allegedly threatening her over the release of her new memoir. </p> <p>The Aussie actress is set to release her autobiography <em>Rebel Rising</em> on April 2nd, which details her rise to stardom from Australia to the US. </p> <p>In the book, she has dedicated a chapter to one particular actor who she had an unfortunate experience with on the set of a movie in 2014. </p> <p>Now, Rebel claims Sacha Baron-Cohen, husband of Aussie actress Isla Fisher, has "threatened" her about the release of such information in the upcoming book. </p> <p>Taking to her Instagram, Rebel named and shamed the actor, writing, “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. The ‘a**hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.”</p> <p>"Now the a**hole is trying to threaten me. He’s trying to stop press coming out about my new book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know the truth.”</p> <p>Sacha Baron-Cohen was quick to release a statement in response to the allegations, with his representative sharing the statement with <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/03/25/rebel-wilson-calls-out-sacha-baron-cohen-book-memoir/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>TMZ</em></a>. </p> <p>“While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby,” the statement said. </p> <p>Wilson and Baron-Cohen worked on the comedy film <em>The Brothers Grimsby</em> in 2014, where Rebel alleges that Baron-Cohen acted sexually inappropriate towards her for the duration of the shoot. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

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Martin Scorsese exposes Leo DiCaprio’s irritating on-set habit

<p dir="ltr">Martin Scorsese has exposed Leo DiCaprio’s irritating on-set habit that came to light while the pair were filming the new movie <em>Killers of the Flower Moon</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The award-winning director called out the A-list actor in a conversation with the <em><a href="https://www.wsj.com/style/martin-scorsese-killers-flower-moon-b4989f0c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street Journal</a></em>, saying that the <em>Titanic</em> star tends to flesh details out and improv while filming, describing his technique as “endless, endless, endless!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Although Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together on six other films, there was one more actor on the set of the new film that could not stand the ad libbing: Robert de Niro.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then Bob didn’t want to talk,” Scorsese explained. “Every now and then, Bob and I would look at each other and roll our eyes a little bit. And we’d tell him, ‘You don’t need that dialogue.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">While de Niro wasn’t able to deal with DiCaprio’s improv, director Quentin Tarantino said the actor’s famous freakout scene as Rick Dalton in <em>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood </em>“wasn’t in the script,” but was brought to the table by DiCaprio himself, and took the film to another level. </p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the “endless” technique of DiCaprio’s acting, Scorsese said the actor was instrumental in the film’s success, after he helped determine that the film needed a rewrite in order to avoid being a “movie about all the white guys.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It just didn’t get to the heart of the Osage,” DiCaprio told <em><a href="https://deadline.com/2023/05/martin-scorsese-interview-killers-of-the-flower-moon-leonardo-dicaprio-robert-de-niro-1235359006/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a></em> in May, with reference to the original script. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It felt too much like an investigation into detective work, rather than understanding from a forensic perspective the culture and the dynamics of this very tumultuous, dangerous time in Oklahoma.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Killers of the Flower Moon</em> is in cinemas now. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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1983 vs 2023: Truth of Australia’s housing crisis exposed

<p dir="ltr">Australian filmmaker Jack Toohey has painted a bleak picture of the reality of the nation’s housing crisis, with four decades of comparison to back up his case.</p> <p dir="ltr">As Toohey himself proclaims in the caption to his video, the “market is broken”, and there’s far more to the story than older Aussies - many of whom believe earlier generations had it much harder in life - might expect.</p> <p dir="ltr">To begin, Toohey throws himself “back in time to 1983 to buy a house”, where he goes on to explain that he’s only “an average person looking to buy an average house”.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Toohey, the average cost of a house in 1983 was $64,039, while the average annual income was $19,188, and an average university degree cost nothing. Average taxes and rents were $4,377 and $2,494, and the average disposable income for Aussies was $12,315.</p> <p dir="ltr">And for anyone who managed to save 50% of what was left of their income to put towards a mortgage, they could expect to have enough in their account within two years to put towards a 20% deposit.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Remember that as we head back to 2023,” Toohey said, “and I’m still an average person looking to buy an average house.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It was then that things took a turn for the worst, with Toohey sharing just how much things had changed over the course of 40 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">In comparison to 1983, Australians in 2023 could expect to have to fork out - on average - $920,100 for a home. And their savings were set to take a bigger hit, too, with the cost of a degree rising from the low price of “free” to an average HECS debt of $23,685, and wages at an annual average of $90,896.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taxes and rent had taken a hit, too, coming in at $20,008 and $28,600 - with the added problem of $5,453 HECS repayments.</p> <p dir="ltr">And the new average disposable income was $36,835, leaving hopeful Aussies with $18,417 after their repayments and taxes, and 10 whole years before they could even consider putting down a house deposit.</p> <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7240732571313638664&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40jack_toohey%2Fvideo%2F7240732571313638664&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2Fd8c1512dcd27459288fba5180051cbff_1685864431%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-alisg-i-0068%2F23958d0b68604bf7ba312a5dce455671.image%3Fx-expires%3D1686117600%26x-signature%3DJt8ZF65d8EGFALqjAbYSYOeu0Do%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p dir="ltr">As Toohey noted, it was no surprise that many were feeling the pressure, and that “clearly it’s not just lazy layabout young people sipping lattes, indulging, that’s the problem”. It would, he pointed out, take him 84 years to save up if he started skipping his one daily takeaway coffee.</p> <p dir="ltr">To simplify, he explained that the average house price had increased by 14 times in four decades, while the average yearly salary had only increased by 4.7 times - information he stressed had been drawn from both the ABS and ATO.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Houses used to cost three times your salary,” he said, “and now they cost 10 times.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Real Estate

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“What a legend”: Groom exposes new wife’s affair during wedding speech

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">A groom has exposed his new wife after finding out she had been having an affair with his best man during a speech at their wedding.</p> <p dir="ltr">The scorned groom handed out intimate photos and explicit videos of his wife and the best man together before announcing he would be “leaving now”, dropping the microphone and then walking off with his family, who had been pre-warned.</p> <p dir="ltr">On The Unfiltered Bride podcast, wedding planners Georgina and Beth spoke about the shocking story.</p> <p dir="ltr">Georgina said although his family knew, he wanted to go ahead with the wedding so that the bride would have to pay for all the food.</p> <p dir="ltr">They posted a snippet of their podcast on TikTok, which quickly went viral. </p> <p dir="ltr">Georgina said on the podcast, “I've got another story to tell you. I can't tell you who told me because I'm not really allowed to tell the story, but f**k it I'm going to tell the story anyway. So there was a wedding and they did the wedding, bride and groom got married, lovely ceremony, drinks reception, sat down for wedding breakfast, had their food, speeches after food.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Father of the bride does his thing, groom stands up and says, ‘Just before I properly get started, there's some envelopes coming round now. If you could all open them up. Yeah those are pictures of the bride f*****g the best man so I'll be leaving now.’ Dropped the microphone and him and all his family knew about it and left because they wanted the bride to have to pay for the food.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Beth then asked, ”So the bride paid for everything?” To which Georgina replied, “The bride's family paid for everything.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video sparked numerous reactions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My mouth actually dropped. OMG!!!” one person said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t blame him at all!! I’d do the same 😂😂” another added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But WHY did he still marry her?” a third asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I admire the patience of the groom and family to get through the whole thing without slipping up once. 😅” another added.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Relationships

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Gardener exposes neighbour over loud mowing complaint

<p>A neighbourhood “bully” has been slammed online after threatening to call the police on a gardener for making “too much” noise while cleaning up an overgrown property.</p> <p>James Selmes, from Lush Cut Lawns, was tidying a garden of a home in Blacktown, west of Sydney, when the disgruntled neighbour approached him to complain about the noise.</p> <p>“Mate, I’m just from up the road, how long are you going to be doing this for?” the miffed man asked.</p> <p>Mr Selmes told him he had been working on the lawn for a couple of hours, and that he’d likely be working a few more.</p> <p>“All morning you’ve given me a f***ing headache. You need to finish it up,” the man demanded.</p> <p>The gardener said it had only been two hours and that he was “allowed to mow lawns”.</p> <p>“It’s as simple as that. The neighbours have seen this lawn bad, and no one has even bothered to come and help them,” Mr Selmes said.</p> <p>“Perhaps if you guys helped, we wouldn’t have this issue.”</p> <p>The neighbour rejected his comments, responding “Do you think I care about that?”</p> <p>“Let me tell you again, I’m going to be a nice guy, 15 minutes alright? 15 minutes before I call the police. I can’t have this all morning.</p> <p>“So are you going to be here another two hours?"</p> <p>Mr Selmes advised him there were no laws against mowing during the middle of the day.</p> <p>“I’m allowed to mow lawns in the morning or any time during the day between reasonable hours,” he said, with the neighbour hitting back, “yeah, reasonable!”</p> <p>Mr Selmes again attempted to argue his point.</p> <p>“I’m here mowing the lawn, I’m here to help somebody out, that’s all I’m here to do,” he explained.</p> <p>It was clear the neighbour paid no mind to Mr Selmes’ remarks as he maintained he was going to call the police.</p> <p>“Fifteen minutes, I’ll call the police. You make up your own mind,” he said.</p> <p>At his wit's end, Mr Selmes encouraged the neighbour to call the police if he deemed it necessary.</p> <p>“Go and call the police then, I don’t really care. Seeya!” he said.</p> <p>Once the neighbour left, Mr Selmes said it had taken 18 months for him to receive a negative reaction to his work.</p> <p>“Well, that’s a first. It took me a year-and-a-half for someone to complain about the noise. Oh well, what’s he going to do? It’s not against the law."</p> <p>“Tough sh** as they say. I’m just here to do a job and that’s it. People can be kind of weird, hey.”</p> <p>The video of the encounter was uploaded to YouTube, attracting more than 1.8 million views and nearly 5,000 comments of support.</p> <p>“I bet that guy is a pain in the a*se to the entire neighbourhood. You did a great job on this lawn. And you told the guy what you thought of his threat,” one comment read.</p> <p>“After that encounter with that miserable neighbour, I would have definitely taken my time and made sure every inch of that property was perfect,” another added.</p> <p>“He is the same type of neighbour I had who would yell at the kids for laughing too loud as they played outside. Blessings to you for not letting him bring you down,” a third wrote.</p> <p><em>Image credit: YouTube</em></p>

Home & Garden

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King Charles’ grimmest guest exposed

<p dir="ltr">In the months leading up to King Charles III’s extravagant coronation, the guest list was a hot topic. </p> <p dir="ltr">From “will she or won’t she?” discussions surrounding Meghan Markle to the “who’s who?” of British high society, there was always something on hand to pick apart. But one guest that no-one had seen coming - except perhaps in some of the internet’s darkest jokes - was the Grim Reaper.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cloaked figure was spotted during Charles’ May 6 coronation at Westminster Abbey, scurrying past a doorway with a long thin staff in hand, reminiscent of the reaper’s scythe or Charon’s ferry oar.</p> <p dir="ltr">Those determined to see some Harry and Meghan drama transpire joked that it may have been the prince’s wife in disguise, or even the late Diana back for “revenge”, and social media was rife with jokes, though most were of the opinion that the mysterious guest was none other than the fabled Grim Reaper. </p> <p dir="ltr">One Twitter user wasted no time in sharing a clip of the figure’s appearance at the abbey, asking if anyone else was seeing the same thing. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anyone else just notice the Grim Reaper at Westminster Abbey? 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coronation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coronation</a> <a href="https://t.co/77s4XIY17i">pic.twitter.com/77s4XIY17i</a></p> <p>— Joe (@realjoegreeeen) <a href="https://twitter.com/realjoegreeeen/status/1654774890237394945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Yep, had to pause &amp; rewind to get a pic,” one like-minded soul wrote in response, “couldn't decide if it was Death (Pratchett would be proud) or maybe Darth Vader!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“High security should allow the identity of the grim reaper to be revealed.  No doubt this is an official walk-in,” another said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought I was seeing things when this happened,” one user admitted, “would love to know who it was.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Diana getting her revenge,” another decided. </p> <p dir="ltr">There was, of course, another possibility, as someone pointed out when they wrote “Charles got pranked.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When footage was uploaded to TikTok, alongside the caption “NAH IT CANT JUST BE ME THAT SAW IT”, the response was similar, with the video collecting over 31k comments, and 21 million views. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Grim reaper Casually invited to the coronation as a security guard,” one user said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That is Diana,” another declared.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, someone was simply of the opinion that “Lizzy [was] coming back for her crown”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, they weren’t left to ponder it for long, with a Westminster Abbey spokesperson putting the grim theories to rest, confirming the figure’s identity as a member of the abbey community. More specifically, as a verger, an individual who assists with religious services but who is not actually a member of the clergy itself.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

International Travel

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The truth about cruise ship crew bars exposed

<p>Everyone who has been on a cruise ship has a favourite spot onboard, and for many, that place is the bar. </p> <p>Whether they’re in search of a refreshing lemonade or an extravagant cocktail concoction, there’s a lot to take in, with no few liners opting to deck their bars out in all the glitz and glamour they have to offer. </p> <p>Celebrity Cruises, for example, have recently collaborated with designer Nate Berkus for their new Sunset Bar, and two separate spaces reserved for the ship’s crew. </p> <p>For years avid cruise goers have wondered what goes on in these forbidden realms, and now, thanks to David Smiedt’s vast onboard experiences, curious souls can put their questions to rest - though the answers may not be quite as exciting, or things quite as dramatic, as they’d hoped. </p> <p>As he explained for <em>Escape</em>, it isn’t - under any circumstances - possible for passengers to hop back into the crew bars for a look around, and especially not for a drink. </p> <p>And contrary to popular belief, they aren’t particularly lavishly decorated, so there isn’t much to see back there anyway. Typically, David said, they are “furnished in stuff from the cruise boat deemed a bit too out of fashion for modern paying guests. </p> <p>“As a result, the aesthetic is a bit of a hodge podge with mismatched couches, chairs and - oftentimes - a video jukebox.”</p> <p>But rest assured, despite the lacklustre decor,  the crew make sure there’s room for a well-loved dance floor.</p> <p>And forget finding a four-course meal hidden away in there, as “unless you’ve made previous arrangements with the mess for a special occasion like a birthday, there ain’t a lot to eat.”</p> <p>Employees can secure themselves a drink though, at a “heavily subsidised” rate no less. </p> <p>“It would hardly be fair to begrudge your hard working crew a drink at the end of the day,” David pointed out. “It would be even more unfair to charge them the same as the passengers who make cruising the profitable venture it is.”</p> <p>And while things can be a little on the quiet side during the day, the crew find their own ways to entertain themselves - with a large portion of them turning to FIFA in their downtime. </p> <p>“The competition is intense and the skill level [is] off the charts,” David noted. “The matches are seriously some of the best entertainment on board.”</p> <p>It’s a whole new world - or ocean - at nighttime, however. As David explained, anyone who’s been out on the open ocean on the cruise of a lifetime will have “noticed that the crew tends to divide into two main categories”. </p> <p>“The first is those who have been on the sea for decades and are often sending money home for families,” he said. “They are often a bit older and fiercely disciplined about maintaining their budget. </p> <p>“The second are the freshly scrubbed young folk in their 20s who are living a life of adventure on the ocean. Not long out of home, they work and play hard. And so they should.”</p> <p>David assured that they have their fun - within reason and regulation - but that, at the end of the day, it’s still a crew-only affair. </p> <p>Or as David put it, “once again, sorry, you're not allowed.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Cruising

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Ticked off trekker exposes family’s selfish act

<p>Australian bushwalkers are bristling at one family’s claim over an entire viewing platform in Victoria. </p> <p>A picture, shared to Reddit, shows a family - of at least four - taking over at Wilsons Promontory National Park with their set up. Camp chairs, bags, and meal trays can be seen around them, blocking access to the viewing point for anyone else who might like to enjoy what the park has to offer. </p> <p>The area - well known for its stunning vistas and bountiful wildlife - is a popular weekend retreat for tourists and locals alike, and Parks Victoria have revealed that it gets “extremely busy over summer”.</p> <p>“This family [is] taking up an entire sightseeing platform so nobody else can take photos,” the poster stated. </p> <p>“It’s a long weekend,” he continued below, “so Wilsons Promontory was very busy. A lot of people missed out on great photos and views because these people wanted it for themselves.”</p> <p>One had a simple, if not entirely beneficial solution, declaring that “confrontation is not always wrong.” </p> <p>“As I walked past, a guy said ‘that's just f***ing rude’,” the individual behind the post responded. </p> <p>“Especially in the case of entitled twats, I feel sorry for the kids though, they have parents who convince them shit like this is ok,” agreed another. </p> <p>“This park have rangers?” enquired one. “I'd be getting them to get those a***oles outta there.”</p> <p>“Despite being 2hrs from civilisation, it was packed because it's a long weekend here,” the original poster responded. “There's a huge campground nearby that was completely full.</p> <p>“But I didn't see any rangers all day, just a bus driver shuttling people up a mountain because the car park at the top would have been overflowing if everyone drove up.”</p> <p>Another shared their past experience with the spot, noting that they’d seen the same thing happen before, and that they’d just gone over and taken pictures anyway.</p> <p>“They then realised they were in the way,” they said of their encounter, “apologised, moved a little, and we had a chat about the weather. People do dumb s*** all the time without taking into consideration other people.”</p> <p>“I’m wondering this too if maybe they didn’t connect that it was a specific overlook platform at the time of the pic,” mused one responder. </p> <p>Meanwhile, another only had “never assume malice when stupidity will suffice” to say. </p> <p>Some, however, had a little more compassion for the family in the picture, writing that there were a lot of people “describing how they'd solve this problem. How about ‘excuse me, can I take some photos here?’ like a normal person?”</p> <p>“Exactly. I cringed. Like what if they just thought they stumbled upon the spot and were like ‘let’s picnic real quick’ and didn’t know people were going out of their way to find that spot or just that it’s a viewpoint spot,” another offered in agreement. “I have to sympathise, we’re all humans and hopefully it was not malicious. Just parents trying to have fun with their children?”</p> <p>“Duuuude, seriously,” one more wrote. “The ‘perpetrators’ might not even know [that] what they’re doing isn’t cool. It looks like they hiked out there and saw a decent spot to chill.”</p> <p><em>Images: Reddit</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Shocking footage exposes police officer attacking “defenceless” wheelchair user

<p dir="ltr">Shocking CCTV footage has captured the moment a police officer strikes at a wheelchair user in Shepparton, North Victoria. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kevin Scott was at home celebrating his 36th birthday on February 28, when the officer arrived in response to a noise complaint. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the footage, Scott can be seen wheeling towards the police officer and appeared to lightly kick the officer in the leg. </p> <p dir="ltr">In response, the officer strikes him in the head and is later seen shoving Scott backwards. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I couldn’t do nothing,” Scott recalled.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I seen him shut his fist and I wheeled back. Next minute he just hit me straight in the mouth, in the jaw. When I pointed at my camera, that’s when he walked off,” he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to <em>7News</em>, Scott said that he was “defenceless” and that the attack was unprovoked. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kay Scott, his sister, has also spoken out on the incident and said that the attack was “shocking” and “disgusting”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It would be different if my brother spat or tried to throw a punch or put up a fight with them but he never did,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was in a wheelchair, defenceless. We need to be able to feel safe in our community, people need to be aware that this does happen,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">Scott struggles with his health due to drug and alcohol addiction. </p> <p dir="ltr">Victoria Police have confirmed that they are aware of the incident and have launched an investigation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The male sergeant in the video has been identified and transferred to other duties while the investigation is carried out,” they said in a statement to <em>7News</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Watch the entire footage <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/vic/cctv-footage-emerges-of-police-officer-striking-defenceless-wheelchair-user-in-shepparton-c-9987037" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">7News</span></em></p>

Legal

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Australia’s worst performing hospitals exposed

<p>The Australian Medical Association (AMA) shared a report on Tuesday that shed light on problems for the country’s public hospitals, revealing that only three out of 201 public hospitals in Australia are delivering care to patients within the recommended timeframes. One year ago, the count was at 15. </p> <p>The three “green lit” hospitals were Young Hospital in NSW, as well as South Coast District and Riverland General hospitals in South Australia. </p> <p>As AMA President Professor Steve Robson explained, “the logjam in Australia’s public hospitals has worsened, with continued workforce shortages, increased ambulance ramping, emergency departments beyond capacity and hospital beds unavailable when they’re needed.”</p> <p>Professor Robson went on to stress that the report “paints a worsening picture of emergency department and essential surgery performance”. </p> <p>He called the findings shocking, and urged Australians to stand up and review their local hospitals, stating that they were “asking people to tell us their stories and email their MPs so state and federal governments can hear their voices.”</p> <p>Australians can check out how their local hospitals are performing by inputting their postcode to the <a href="https://www.ama.com.au/clear-the-hospital-logjam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AMA’s logjam finder</a>.</p> <p>The logjam finder utilises hospital data sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to rank hospital performances in the areas of their emergency departments and elective surgeries. </p> <p>The AMA stated that “Australia urgently needs a recovery plan to address the backlog of elective surgeries, build enough capacity to meet the growing needs of the community, and clear the hospital logjam.”</p> <p>“When National Cabinet sits down on Friday,” Professor Robson said, “we want ministers to tackle the backlog of surgeries that we estimate will top half a million at the end of June, because it’s devastating for every person waiting and dealing with months and months of pain.”</p> <p>“It’s unlikely hospitals will be able to expand their capacity to address this backlog if there is no intervention,” he added, “we are calling for a new national plan funded by all governments but with an up-front advance payment provided by the Commonwealth to support state and territory governments to expand their hospital capacity, including the workforce, to address the elective surgery backlog.” </p> <p>He went on to say that the AMA has called on the federal government to “increase its share of hospital funding from 45 to 50 per cent, and to remove the annual cap on activity.”</p> <p>“For their part, the states and territories need to commit to improve hospital performance by re-investing that extra five per cent,” Professor Robson concluded, “and both need to fund additional ongoing performance improvement, capacity expansion, and ways to reduce avoidable admissions.” </p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Caring

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Prince Harry forced to explain why he keeps exposing royal family's secrets

<p>Prince Harry has been grilled in an intense interview, as he has been forced to explain why he decided to expose secrets of the royal family in his tell-all memoir. </p> <p>The Duke of Sussex sat down with Tom Bradby for <em>Britain’s ITV </em>to discuss the release of <em>Spare</em>, as the journalist asked a series of hard-hitting questions the public has wanted to know ever since Harry and Meghan took a step back as senior royals. </p> <p>“The thing that’s saddest is it never needed to be this way – it never needed to get to this point,” said Harry.</p> <p>“None of this is intentionally to harm anyone in my family.”</p> <p>Bradby, who has been a close friend of the royal family, hit back at Harry's claims saying, “But the portrait of your brother in the book is harmful to him.”</p> <p>His comment is in reference to the allegations made by Harry in <em>Spare</em> that William once initiated a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/prince-harry-alleges-physical-fight-with-brother-william" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physical confrontation</a> between the brothers. </p> <p>The journalist also suggested what William’s defence may be to some of Harry’s accusations, prompting a frustrated Harry to hit back that it was merely “a list of assumptions you’re making”.</p> <p>Despite the extensive criticism, Harry said he is open to a reconciliation with his family, although he doesn't believe his father or brother are going to read his book. </p> <p>“I really hope they do, but I don’t think they will. And with regard to this interview, I don’t know if they’ll be watching this or not - but what I have to say to them, and what they have to say to me, will be in private and I hope it can stay that way.”</p> <p>Bradby replied bluntly saying, “People might say, you’ve destroyed any chance of a reconciliation.”</p> <p>Harry responded, “Well, they’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile up until this point and I’m not sure how honesty is burning bridges. Silence only allows the abuser to abuse. So I don’t know how staying silent is gonna make things better. That’s genuinely what I believe.” </p> <p><em>Image credits: ITV</em></p>

Family & Pets

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5 silent signs you’re being exposed to mould

<h2>The damaging effects of moul</h2> <p>Sneezing, coughing, feeling down and tired? While these sensations might make you think cold or fall allergy symptoms, you may want to keep an eye on how you feel over time. If they tend to linger or get worse whenever you’re at home, this could be a sign that you’re being exposed to mould.</p> <p>We spoke with Michael Rubino, a mould and air quality authority as well as author of The Mould Medic, an Expert’s Guide on Mould Removal. Rubino points out that in addition to respiratory issues, mould exposure has actually been linked to early onset dementia and Alzheimer’s in previous research. “We spend 90% of our time indoors,” he says. “We’re learning new things every day about all the effects our homes can have on our health, but all signs are kind of leading into the same place – that if we want to improve our health, the air we breathe has a very profound effect on it.”</p> <p>It’s true: especially if you haven’t been paying attention to the sneaky spots mould grows, being exposed to mould over time can lead to serious consequences. While routinely cleaning is extremely important for controlling the mould in your home, also be aware of these silent signs of mould exposure before any illness gets worse.</p> <h2>You may experience allergy-like symptoms</h2> <p>While allergies are growing more common, allergy-like symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and throat, stuffy nose, skin irritation and rashes are also early signs of mould exposure – also known as mould toxicity. “Usually it starts off with unusual allergies,” says Rubino. “They notice they’re getting sick more frequently; maybe their nose is stuffy [or] they’re having allergic-type symptoms.”</p> <p>Rubino says these mould exposure symptoms can pop up with various timelines – sometimes immediately, or sometimes with delayed reactions. If you’re experiencing chronic allergy-like symptoms while you’re at home, talk with your doctor.</p> <h2>You may have trouble breathing</h2> <p>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to mould can also trigger asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing. This can be a common symptom of mould exposure even for those who don’t experience allergies on a seasonal basis.</p> <p>The CDC also points to previous research that found exposure to mould can make any pre-existing asthma worse.</p> <h2>You may feel fatigued</h2> <p>Let’s face it: fatigue is a common symptom for lots of us. But Rubino points out that feeling fatigued is also a common result of exposure to mould at home.</p> <p>A 2013 study published in Toxins found exposure to different kinds of mould – especially mycotoxins, the kind of mould that can grow on food as well as under warm and humid conditions within the home – can cause feelings of chronic fatigue.</p> <h2>You may experience brain fog</h2> <p>Along with fatigue, being exposed to mould can also cause feelings of brain fog, which results in feeling sluggish and even forgetful. Rubino points out that it is typically a result of inflammation the body is experiencing when exposed to mould: “You start to experience gut issues due to the inflammation that mould and toxins can cause. Gut inflammation can lead to brain inflammation which then can cause a whole host of neuropsychiatric symptoms.”</p> <p>Experts point out that mould is an irritant to the body that can cause an inflammatory response. Just as one example, one 2009 neuropsychology study suggested that when the brain is chronically inflamed due to mould exposure, this can even lead to long-term cognitive impairment.</p> <h2>You may feel particularly anxious or depressed</h2> <p>“We are seeing a lot of studies that show that [mould is] impacting people’s mental health [through] people’s anxiety and depression,” Rubino says. According to an article published through Environmental Health Perspectives, those who are exposed to damp, mouldy households have a 34% to 44% higher risk of depression.</p> <p>Further studies in recent years, such as one in 2020, have demonstrated that mould exposure can increase anxiety-like behaviour.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/5-silent-signs-youre-being-exposed-to-mould" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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From crumbling rock art to exposed ancestral remains, climate change is ravaging our precious Indigenous heritage

<p>Climate change is rapidly intensifying. Amid the chaos and damage it wreaks, many precious Indigenous heritage sites in Australia and around the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate.</p> <p>Sea-level rise, flooding, worsening bushfires and other human-caused climate events put many archaeological and heritage sites at risk. Already, culturally significant Indigenous sites have been lost or are gravely threatened.</p> <p>For example, in Northern Australia, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/16/global-heating-is-destroying-rock-art-tens-of-thousands-of-years-old-experts-warn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rock art</a> tens of thousands of years old has been destroyed by cyclones, bushfires and other extreme weather events.</p> <p>And as we outline below, ancestral remains in the Torres Strait were last year almost washed away by king tides and storm surge.</p> <p>These examples of loss are just the beginning, unless we act. By combining Indigenous <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13549839.2015.1036414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Traditional Knowledge</a> with Western scientific approaches, communities can prioritise what heritage to save.</p> <h2>Indigenous heritage on the brink</h2> <p>Indigenous Australians are one of the longest living cultures on Earth. They have maintained their cultural and sacred sites for millennia.</p> <p>In July, Traditional Owners from across Australia attended a <a href="https://drm4heritage.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">workshop</a> on disaster risk management at Flinders University. The participants, who work on Country as cultural heritage managers and rangers, hailed from as far afield as the Torres Strait Islands and Tasmania.</p> <p>Here, three of these Traditional Owners describe cultural heritage losses they’ve witnessed, or fear will occur in the near future.</p> <p><strong>- Enid Tom, Kaurareg Elder and a director of Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation:</strong></p> <p>Coastal erosion and seawater inundation have long threatened the Torres Strait. But now efforts to deal with the problem have taken on new urgency.</p> <p>In February last year, king tides and a storm surge eroded parts of a beach on Muralug (or Prince of Wales) Island. Aboriginal custodians and archaeologists rushed to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-05/ancestral-remains-uncovered-torres-strait-due-to-climate-change/101387964" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one site</a> where a female ancestor was buried. They excavated the skeletal remains and reburied them at a safe location.</p> <p>It was the first time such a site had been excavated at the island. Kaurareg Elders now worry coastal erosion will uncover and potentially destroy more burial sites.</p> <p><strong>- Marcus Lacey, Senior Gumurr Marthakal Indigenous Ranger:</strong></p> <p>The Marthakal Indigenous Protected Area covers remote islands and coastal mainland areas in the Northern Territory’s North Eastern Arnhem Land. It has an average elevation of just one metre above sea level, and is highly vulnerable to climate change-related hazards such as severe tropical cyclones and sea level rise.</p> <p>The area is the last remnant of the ancient <a href="https://users.monash.edu.au/~mcoller/SahulTime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">land bridge</a> joining Australia with Southeast Asia. As such, it can provide valuable <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-42946-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">information</a> about the first colonisation of Australia by First Nations people.</p> <p>It is also an important place for understanding <a href="https://artreview.com/fragmented-histories-the-yolngu-macassan-exchange/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact history</a> between Aboriginal Australians and the Indonesian Maccassans, dating back <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/language/indonesian/en/article/deep-ties-between-indigenous-australians-and-indonesias-macassans-celebrated-through-song-and-dance/rg6x9g1l4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some 400 years</a>.</p> <p>What’s more, the area provides insights into Australia’s colonial history, such as Indigenous rock art depicting the ships of British navigator Matthew Flinders. Sea level rise and king tides mean this valuable piece of Australia’s history is now being eroded.</p> <p>- Shawnee Gorringe, operations administrator at Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation:</p> <p>On Mithaka land, in remote Queensland, lie important Indigenous heritage sites such as <a href="https://anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/kirrenderri-heart-channel-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stone circles</a>, fireplaces and examples of traditional First Nations water management infrastructure.</p> <p>But repeated drought risks destroying these sites – a threat compounded by erosion from over-grazing.</p> <p>To help solve these issues, we desperately need Indigenous leadership and participation in decision-making at local, state and federal levels. This is the only way to achieve a sustainable future for environmental and heritage protection.</p> <p>Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation general manager Joshua Gorringe has been invited to the United Nations’ COP27 climate conference in Egypt in November. This is a step in the right direction.</p> <h2>So what now?</h2> <p>The loss of Indigenous heritage to climate change requires <a href="https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Secretariat/2022/TSP/ADCOMSC_202110_2-1_Trienial_Scientific_Plan_EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immediate action</a>. This should involve rigorous assessment of threatened sites, prioritising those most at risk, and taking steps to mitigate damage.</p> <p>This work should be undertaken not only by scientists, engineers and heritage workers, but first and foremost by the Indigenous communities themselves, using Traditional Knowledge.</p> <p>Last year’s COP26 global climate conference included a <a href="https://www.cultureatcop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate heritage agenda</a>. This allowed global <a href="https://unfccc.int/news/cop26-strengthens-role-of-indigenous-experts-and-stewardship-of-nature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indigenous voices</a> to be heard. But unfortunately, Indigenous heritage is often excluded from discussions about climate change.</p> <p>Addressing this requires doing away with the usual “top down” Western, neo-colonial approach which many Indigenous communities see as exclusive and ineffective. Instead, a “bottom up” approach should be adopted through inclusive and long-term initiatives such as <a href="https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/research_pub/benefits-cfc_0_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caring for Country</a>.</p> <p>This approach should draw on Indigenous knowledge – often passed down <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/edge-of-memory-9781472943262/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">orally</a> – of how to manage risk. This should be combined with Western climate science, as well as the expertise of governments and other organisations.</p> <p>Incorporating Indigenous knowledge into cultural heritage policies and procedures will not just improve heritage protection. It would empower Indigenous communities in the face of the growing climate emergency.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-crumbling-rock-art-to-exposed-ancestral-remains-climate-change-is-ravaging-our-precious-indigenous-heritage-188454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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12 very personal details your house reveals about you

<p><strong>What you watch on TV</strong></p> <p>Internet-connected televisions can collect data on everything you’re watching and sell it to advertisers – and many are set up to do it by default. (To keep your information private, turn off data sharing in your TV settings.)</p> <p><strong>Whom you live with</strong></p> <p>Your dirt reveals whether there are more men or women in the household (the sexes shed different types of bacteria). By examining the fungi in your dust, scientists can also predict where you live, down to about a 240km range.</p> <p><strong>Whether you are outgoing</strong></p> <p>It’s written on your front door. According to colour experts, a red front door means you’re not afraid to say what you think. A blue door says you’re naturally at ease in most situations. Green broadcasts your traditional values, and black means you’re probably consistent and reserved.</p> <p>Inside the home, extroverts tend to choose open, spacious furniture layouts. If you’re introverted, you probably decorate with soft, solid colours and muted patterns.</p> <p><strong>What you weigh</strong></p> <p>A Cornell University study found that women who had just one box of breakfast cereal on the kitchen counter weighed an average of 9kg more than those who didn’t have any cereal in plain view.</p> <p>Women with soft drink sitting out (even diet kinds) weighed an average of 11kg more. People who had a bowl of fruit in the kitchen weighed an average of 6kg less than those who didn’t have fruit out.</p> <p><strong>How often you're intimate</strong></p> <p>If you have purple decor, you have nearly double the intimacy of people with grey bedding, walls, or furniture, says a British survey. Reds and pinks also seem to spice things up, while beige and white may inhibit intimacy.</p> <p><strong>How Type A you are</strong></p> <p>The answer is in your socks. One survey found that orderly and detailed people tend to have the messiest sock drawers. Experts hypothesise that people who are meticulous are more likely to spend time prioritising and organising more important parts of their lives. Follow these decorating tips to make your home look like a luxe hotel.</p> <p><strong>Whether you're a millennial</strong></p> <p>If you have many photos of yourself visible, you’re most likely under 35. Previous generations considered it gauche to display photos of themselves, but interior designers report that millennials – accustomed to posting selfies on social media – are much more inclined to show self-portraits.</p> <p><strong>How lonely you are</strong></p> <p>A Yale University study found that people who take longer showers and baths are more likely to feel lonely and isolated. Researchers believe they subconsciously use hot baths and showers as a substitute for emotional warmth.</p> <p><strong>You hate your job and avoid the gym</strong></p> <p>Both things are probable if you think making your bed is a waste of time. One survey of 68,000 people found that those who make their beds in the morning are more likely to enjoy their jobs and to exercise regularly than people who do not. Psychologists say it could be because happy people aim for an orderly life (rather than a chaotic, unorganised one).</p> <p><strong>Your chances of being burgled</strong></p> <p>According to an analysis of more than 1,000 burglaries, your home is likely to be a target if it has a sliding glass door or single-pane windows. These are easy for burglars to pry open or break.</p> <p><strong>If you're anxious</strong></p> <p>Most people – even those with clean, organised houses – have hidden messes under their beds or in their closets. If you’re one of the few who don’t, you may be an anxious person. Social scientists say the more anxious people are, the more they try to control their environment.</p> <p><strong>How well your kids read</strong></p> <p>A 2014 study found that the number of books in your home is by far the most important predictor of your child’s grade-level reading performance – more than your income or education level. Students whose homes had at least 100 books read one and a half grade levels above those with fewer books in the house.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/12-very-personal-details-your-house-reveals-about-you?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>

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