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Another COVID winter is coming. Is this the calm before another peak?

<p>Australia is currently experiencing the longest <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/lessons-from-the-fourth-omicron-covid-19-wave-chief-medical-officer-professor-paul-kelly.pdf">break between infection peaks</a> since Omicron arrived in late 2021 and community-wide transmission took off. </p> <p>With winter looming, it’s worth taking stock of where we are with COVID and what we might expect over the colder months – especially in the southern states and territories. The climate and the way our behaviour changes at this time of year increase the transmission potential for all infectious respiratory diseases. </p> <p>This will be our second winter with Omicron subvariants, but there are signs it might not be as challenging as the last.</p> <h2>Peaks and troughs</h2> <p>The last time we had national <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/case-numbers-and-statistics">hospital counts above 2,400</a> was on January 20, some 12 weeks ago. Our <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/case-numbers-and-statistics">dips in the Omicron era</a>have previously been short lived. Variant BA.1 replaced BA.2 quickly this time last year and hospital counts rose above 2,400 within five weeks of the first wave. In November 2022, the hospital counts again climbed above 2,400 with a change in subvariants after only ten weeks of respite. </p> <p>Will the current break last? Most states are seeing a rise in hospital numbers, but those that started climbing earliest (New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania) might already be seeing hospital numbers <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/case-numbers-and-statistics">levelling out</a>. So there is hope the current surge will not lead to as high rates of severe illness.</p> <p>And we know, COVID counts recorded for hospitals aren’t all admissions for COVID. Most are incidental infections. <a href="https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/Fortnightly%20Surveillance%20Report%2025%20March%202023.pdf">Tasmanian data</a> show on average less than one third of COVID positive patients were admitted for COVID illness. </p> <p>With each wave, a smaller proportion of COVID positive patients are being reported in ICU. The proportion of people on ventilators because of COVID has also <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/case-numbers-and-statistics">reduced</a> to less than 10% from 30% in the initial January 2022 Omicron peak. The deaths associated with each peak have also fallen with each main wave, with the summer wave just passed having about half the daily deaths reported at its peak compared with our previous summer. Antivirals have played an important role, but so too has population immunity, now <a href="https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/04/08/covid-19-inside-the-shifting-vaccine-strategy">estimated at 99.6%</a>.</p> <h2>Community immunity</h2> <p>Thankfully, Omicron is less likely to cause severe illness, especially in a population with significant levels of immunity from both vaccine and prior infection. Antivirals also reduces the risk that infections will end up in hospital. But at times of peak infections, even a smaller proportion translates to <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/provisional-mortality-statistics/jan-dec-2022">significant loss of life</a> among those who are vulnerable.</p> <p>The shift in the dominant Omicron subvariants and their immune escape characteristics allow people to acquire new infections sooner than they might have if only exposed to the same variant they were infected with previously. Add to this the fact we now have a mix of variants in the population at any one time, then reinfections become more common and the overall infection rate will rise. So, while high levels of population immunity reduce the impact of infection, multiple variants circulating means infection rates can still rise. </p> <p>Surveillance data from NSW show <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/weekly-covid-overview-20220402.pdf">this time last year</a> there were only two Omicron variants in circulation, BA.1. and BA.2. Now genomic testing is capturing <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/weekly-covid-overview-20230401.pdf">12 different Omicron variants</a> and the dominant variants keep shifting, with XBB emerging as the most dominant strain alongside XBB1.5.</p> <h2>Getting COVID again … and again</h2> <p>Reinfection is difficult to measure and will be seriously underestimated due to low reporting rates and mild or asymptomatic infections. </p> <p>Reinfections help fuel infection rates and therefore increase the risk of exposure to people who are at risk of severe disease if infected. </p> <p>We are still not sure whether having repeat infections might alter the chances of developing long COVID. It seems less likely for Omicron, especially in people who experience <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-repeat-covid-infections-increase-the-risk-of-severe-disease-or-long-covid/">mild or no symptoms</a>. </p> <p>Young adults are still the group <a href="https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/COVID19-Blood-Donor-Report-Round4-Nov-Dec-2022.pdf">where most infections</a> and <a href="https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/Fortnightly%20Surveillance%20Report%2025%20March%202023.pdf">reinfections</a> occur. They should be conscious of the extra risks in the winter months with more indoor mixing and make sure they’ve have had at least one booster to reduce their <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2800554">long COVID risk</a>.</p> <h2>Who should still get boosted?</h2> <p>Vaccination may still help reduce the risk of passing the virus on, even if you do become infected in the first month or two after a dose. A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02138-x">recent US prison study</a> found the risk of onward transmission was reduced by nearly a quarter, and by 40% in those who were both vaccinated and had a recent infection, but this protection wanes by about 6% per week. </p> <p>How this applies to a wider community is hard to gauge. People living in very close quarters have higher transmission rates than the general population – so it’s not clear how much of a reduction we would see in the community setting, even among younger adults with higher rates of work place and social mixing. </p> <p>Younger adults, like everyone else, are only eligible for a booster six months after their previous dose or their last infection – and many may not go six months without infection as they are the ones <a href="https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorian-coronavirus-covid-19-data">most likely</a> to be infected during each Omicron peak which have been spaced less than six months apart. </p> <p>The best protection against onward transmission in the prison study came from a combination of vaccine and recent prior infection. Once young adults have had their first booster, ongoing immunity boosting from subsequent exposures or infections means they – and therefore the population – have less to gain from multiple boosters. </p> <p>For those who are vulnerable to severe infection, have a weakened immune response, or have been shielding from the community, a booster dose with the latest vaccines is still strongly recommended.</p> <h2>Protecting ourselves this winter</h2> <p>The tools we used to manage transmission risk with previous variants do not work now. We saw with Delta that even strict lockdown and mask mandates could only just hold transmission in check with high vaccination coverage. </p> <p>Omicron has some fundamental differences that undermine these measures, including a higher proportion of cases having <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8852223/">a very high viral load</a>, which means there is more virus in the aerosols people exhale. This undermines the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35019196/">effectiveness of masks</a>, social distancing and other measures.</p> <p>Omicron also has a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.468">shorter incubation period</a>, which means more secondary cases will be infectious before the index case even knows they themselves are infected. </p> <h2>A reminder</h2> <p>The Australian winter will likely see a rise in cases again. The cycle of subvariants will leave us exposed and hasten the waning of immunity. And we’ll spend more time together indoors. </p> <p>Being up-to-date with the latest COVID and flu vaccines is critical for those more vulnerable to waning immunity and serious illness, and may reduce symptoms in any adult who hasn’t yet had their first booster or an infection in recent months.</p> <p>It would be great if all symptomatic people could stay home. We’d have less respiratory illness all round. But even then exposure to COVID in the community would be inevitable with so many infectious people without symptoms. </p> <p>Personal protection with well-fitted masks might still <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-11934-x">reduce the risk</a> that exposure to Omicron variants will lead to infection in high risk settings. But the safest plan is still to stay home if you are unwell, look for well-ventilated areas when out, open windows to ventilate your home before and during visits, and be considerate of those who are wearing masks as they are more than likely vulnerable and anxious.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/another-covid-winter-is-coming-is-this-the-calm-before-another-peak-203149" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Body

"I'm scared": Chloe Lattanzi's sneak peak of tribute song for Olivia

<p>Chloe Lattanzi has posted a heart-warming tribute to her late mother Olivia Newtown-John in an upcoming song.</p> <p>The 36-year-old told fans on Instagram that she was “terrified” when writing the track. While she did not yet release the song itself, Lattanzi shared a clip, which served as an excellent sneak peak into the writing process.</p> <p>Standing by a microphone, Chloe said she let the inspiration flow before launching into the song.</p> <p>She said: “Oh shit I’m scared. This is a scary place right now because there is so much inside and I don’t know how to put it into words. I don’t know what to say. I’m terrified.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiWlV5TDzll/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiWlV5TDzll/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She then began to sing, but chose to mute the song for now, with plans to release it when it's finished.</p> <p>Chloe is the only child of the late Olivia Newton-John and her ex-husband Matt Lattanzi. In a recent interview, Chloe revealed she married her long-time fiancé in a secret ceremony officiated by her late mother.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram </em></p>

Music

Peak white privilege: Dramatic end to Erin Molan defamation case

<p dir="ltr">NRL journalist and commentator Erin Molan <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/erin-molan-defamation-lawsuit-against-daily-mail-concludes/news-story/7c79bd53676379d66e04680cb28b34e9" target="_blank">is suing</a><span> </span><em>The Daily Mail</em><span> </span>for defamation over an article and two tweets she says portray her as a racist.</p> <p dir="ltr">The publication has responded arguing that Ms Molan has demonstrated a “pattern” of racist comments during her time at 2GB’s Continuous Call Team program.</p> <p dir="ltr">The<span> </span><em>Daily Mail</em><span> </span>article was based on Ms Molan saying “hooka looka mooka hooka fooka” on the show in May last year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Molan told the court it was a jab at commentator Ray Warren who had been overheard sounding out players’ names with his son.</p> <p dir="ltr">Barristers representing Ms Molan and<span> </span><em>The Mail</em><span> </span>made their closing remarks to Justice Anthony Bromwich in Thursday’s Federal Court hearing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Molan’s barrister, Keiran Smark SC, said the publication used social media outrage to criticise her “peak white privilege”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you’re going to publish an article such as this and carry comments such as these … the care needed to step around to not make an allegation of racism is extreme. And you fall far short of that by using a term such as ‘complicit in racism’,” Mr Smark said.</p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to argue that the article was “sensational” and that the<span> </span><em>Daily Mail</em>’s accusations and attempt to spark outrage online risked damaging Ms Molan’s career.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bruce McClintock SC, the barrister for<span> </span><em>The Mail</em>, made a distinction between “one racist remark” and Ms Molan’s behaviour.</p> <p dir="ltr">He argued that one remark does not make a racist, but Ms Molan had repeatedly engaged in offensive behaviour towards different races.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr McClintock reminded the court of an incident during one broadcast, where Ms Molan said “Me love you longtime” in a Chinese accent, and argued that her comments should be judged by current standards of what is acceptable behaviour.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The fact it’s a joke makes no difference,” Mr McClintock said in reference to the “hooka looka” comments.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Making a racially based joke about people’s names is really quite disgraceful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Molan denied that the comments mocked Polynesians and insisted it was a lighthearted joke about Mr Warren pronouncing Manly Sea Eagles player Haumole Olakau’atu’s name.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr McClintock noted that Mr Warren had no trouble pronouncing Mr Olakau’atu’s name during the team’s semi-final game, and that Ms Molan’s comments had knock-on effects.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olakau’atu was born in Guildford and is as Australian as me or Ms Molan,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hiding behind all this is the assumption people like Mr Olakau’atu who have ‘funny names’ are not really part of our society.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Molan is seeking aggravated damages from the publication, telling the court that the accusations had resulted in people she respected turning away from her.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also refuted any suggestion that she thought less of people based on their race.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @erin_molan / Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

Italy’s Mount Etna has a new peak

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the craters on Italy’s Mount Etna has grown in height after six months of activity, making Europe’s tallest active volcano even taller.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The southeastern crater, one of the volcano’s youngest and most active, has risen to a new record of 3,357 metres above sea level, according to the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Catania, Sicily.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Thanks to the analysis and processing of satellite images, the southeast crater is now much higher than its ‘older brother’, the northeast crater, for 40 years the undisputed peak of Etna,” INGV said in a press release.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLicTK6nemz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLicTK6nemz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Your Authentic Italian Page (@italian_vacations)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The “conspicuous transformation of the volcano’s outline” has come after about 50 episodes of volcanic activity that has seen ash and lava belched from the crater since mid-February.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the volcano poses little damage to surrounding villages, Sicily’s government estimated in July that 300,00 metric tonnes of ash has been cleaned up so far, after dirtying streets, slowing down traffic, and damaging crops.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLZ0KpuAIJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLZ0KpuAIJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Growing Up Italian™ (@growingupitalian)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Living in Catania, a two-hour drive away from Mount Etna, pensioner Tania Cannizzaro told AFP that the volcano was both beautiful and annoying, with ash that sometimes falls “like rain”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Depending on the wind, the rumblings of the volcano reach Catania and make the windows shake,” she said, adding that the streets and balconies turn black under the ash.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But there is also the spectacle, especially in the evening, when you see this red plume that moves.”</span></p>

International Travel

Climbing England’s deadliest peak

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though most consider hiking a popular pastime, it forms the core part of one of the strangest jobs in all of Britain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zac Poulton is a Fell Top Assessor in the Lake District National Park. Everyday of the past four winters, Poulton has hiked up Helvellyn, England’s third highest and most dangerous mountain, to report the weather and write a colourful account that can be used, understood, and acted on by the public so they can climb safely.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Poulton isn’t the only one with the odd title. Colleagues Jon Bennett - who has submitted Helvellyn more than 600 times - and Wes Hunter - who started the job just before the coronavirus pandemic in October 2019 - also take on the climb.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each day from early December through til late April, at least one of the trio must reach the 950m summit.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There has been a Fell Top Assessor making the hike since the first role was first introduced in 1987, and Poulton, Bennett, and Hunter have spent 126 consecutive days reaching the top in all manner of weather this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the potential for blasting winds and summit temperatures of -7C, Poulton said: “Some days are better than others.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Helvellyn is more commonly hiked during summer, it looks its best in the colder months. With three deep glacial coves, two incisor-shaped ridges, and alpine plants that don’t grow anywhere else in the country, it’s a sight to see.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Helvellyn also poses many of the similar dangers its more famous counterparts in the Alps, Andes or Himalayas do too, according to Poulton.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People get lost. Break bones. Get caught in avalanches. You won’t slide as far as you would on Everest here, but you’ll still bump off rocks and the result will be the same,” he said. “I meet lots of people with good intentions, but they don’t often recognise the risks.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once they’ve reached the peak, the assessor produces a report with as much detail as possible, which will be published daily on the official Lake District Weather Line website and to 19,000 social media followers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside meteorological notes, the reports often provide potential climbers with tips on how to best approach the mountain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What you can’t get from a weather station forecast is the experience of the mountaineer,” Poulton said. “A fully-automated system misses the human perspective. And our photos, tweets and descriptions create a 360-degree picture. We tell the wider story of life on the mountain.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their presence on the mountain also means they can help out when things go wrong.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’ve prevented hundreds of mountain rescues,” said Poulton.</span></p> <p><strong>Bridging a knowledge gap</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, with more people attempting the mountain following pandemic-induced lockdowns, the knowledge held by the Fell Top Assessors is more crucial than ever.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We know how important the Lake District is going to be in the coming months to help with people’s health and wellbeing,” said Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority. “Our message is whether coming for the first or 50th time, is plan ahead; try to discover something that’s new to you; and enjoy your time here, but please leave no trace.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Fell Top Assessors</span></em></p>

International Travel

Downton Abbey movie sneak peak: The King and Queen are coming!

<p>It’s 1927 and the King and Queen are coming to stay. Welcome back to <em>Downton Abbey</em>.</p> <p>Much to fans disappointment, the wildly successful show ended its reign in 2015, but now, four years later, the trailer for the highly anticipated movie has been released, and it’s everything you hoped for and more.</p> <p>The trailer gives a sneak peak into what you can expect, showing Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham, reading a letter from the royal family, announcing that George V and Queen Mary are staying over.</p> <p>With all the magic and original cast returning, the movie is sure to be a hit. Dame Maggie Smith will reprise her role as Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot and Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tu3mP0c51hE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The movie seems to include all of the banter and wit of the original TV series, with the announcement met with plenty of excitement and sarcasm from Lady Violet – “Here we go …” she says.</p> <p>Despite the film heavily focusing on the royal visit, <em>Downton Abbey</em> isn’t complete without romance and secrets.</p> <p>The trailer shows a moment where Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is kissing a mystery man, adding intrigue to the entire story.</p> <p>Guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the movie plays out.</p> <p><em>Downton Abbey<span> </span></em>the movie will be premiering in Australian cinemas on September 12.</p>

Relationship break-ups peak during this month

<p>Relationships experts say June is the month many Australians call it quits in their relationships.</p> <p>Shorter, colder winter days that force couples to spend time together inside, combined with the stresses of the financial year’s end are an unhappy couple’s recipe for disaster.</p> <p>Relationship psychologist Peter Charleston, from Channel 7’s show Seven Year Switch, told news.com.au that June was his “peak time of the year” for couples to split.</p> <p>“They realise half the year has gone and they haven’t addressed some issues with their relationship,’’ he said.</p> <p>“We are spending more time inside during winter and more time together, we are less likely to go out and have fun, we are more likely to be sitting by the fire.</p> <p>“But at some point we are going to have to talk to each other and so we are confronted with what the relationship is really like and whether we are emotionally connected or not.”</p> <p>Jennifer Douglas, a Relationships Australia’s counsellor, agreed that June and July were the peak times for relationship troubles.</p> <p>“It’s the thicker time of the year with family life, usually at this time of year there are parent/teacher interviews and by this stage of the year people have tabled if there are difficulties,’’ she said.</p> <p>“Particularly anyone in business, there’s all the financial issues at the time of year ... people might be busy and working back late to get things through so the repair opportunities with each other may not be so accessible at this time of year too.”</p>

Relationships

The ages you peak at everything through life revealed

<p>Like a fine wine, we all like to think we simply get better with age. Now, a new article from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-age-for-everything-2017-3/?r=AU&IR=T" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Business Insider</span></strong></a> has distilled dozens of scientific studies into a handy infographic showing the ages we peak at everything throughout our lives, and it’s utterly fascinating.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="558" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36232/age-you-peak-at-everything-graphic_500x558.jpg" alt="Age You Peak At Everything Graphic"/></p> <p>While your body may decline in the second half of life, it has been found that older people are much more psychologically strong. Beyond 60, there are a number of key life perks to look out for.</p> <ul> <li>At the age of 69, you reach peak life satisfaction.</li> <li>At 71, your vocabulary is at its richest.</li> <li>Around the age of 74, you’re most happy with your body.</li> <li>At 82, your psychological wellbeing peaks.</li> </ul> <p>So, there you have it! Growing older isn’t all doom and gloom – there’s always something to look forward to. Tell us in the comments below, do you agree with these findings?</p> <p><em>Source: Skye Gould/<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-age-for-everything-2017-3/?r=AU&IR=T" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Business Insider</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

Mind

10 pictures of peak hour in countries

<p>Cities are world renowned for two things; their bustling nightlife and even more bustling peak hour. It immediately brings thoughts to mind of large masses of people, a huge congregation of cars and sulky faces that are on the rush to be at home-or anywhere but gridlock traffic.</p> <p>Is it really the same everywhere though? Decide for yourself with this gallery of various cities of the world during their busiest periods. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 24px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background: transparent;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: #20831d; background: transparent;" href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/16-countries-to-visit-in-2016/"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bolder; background: transparent;">16 best countries for travel in 2016</span></a></em></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 24px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background: transparent;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: #20831d; background: transparent;" href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/photos-capture-annual-migration-of-crabs/"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bolder; background: transparent;">Incredible photos capture annual migration of 120 million crabs</span></a></em></span></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/shibuya-pedestrian-crossing-japan/">The busiest pedestrian corssing in the world</a></strong></span></em><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: #20831d; background: transparent;" href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/16-countries-to-visit-in-2016/"> </a></span></em></p>

News

A peak at “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”

<p>90s TV show, <em>Absolutely Fabulous</em>, is making a comeback, and this time it’s hitting the silver screen.</p><p>BBC and Fox Searchlight recently announced that the show, featuring Edina and Patsy has begun filming and is set to grace theatres in 2016.</p><p>To celebrate the announcement, the studio pair has released photographs of the leading ladies, played by Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley toasting champagne glasses on a yacht, as you do.</p><p>The actors will be reprising their roles accompanied by the original cast to bring to life a script written by Saunders herself.</p><p>"I am thrilled and excited to finally start filming. We are all taking our medication and hoping for the best," Saunders said in the announcement, according to <em>Entertainment Weekly.</em></p><p>The audience can also allegedly anticipate cameos from several film, TV and fashion stars, though no names have yet been dropped.</p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/08/facts-about-sound-of-music/">6 little known facts about The Sound of Music</a></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2014/11/loveable-movie-families/">The most loveable families on TV</a></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/family/2014/08/5-reasons-why-we%E2%80%99ll-always-love-the-funny-family-guy,-robin-williams/">5 reasons why we’ll always love the funny family guy, Robin Williams</a></span></em></strong></p><p> </p>

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A peak at “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”

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