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Australian passport plummets to the bottom tier

<p dir="ltr">Australia’s passport has given a remarkably low score, making it one of the least valuable in the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">An analysis by travel website ParkSleepFly looked at the best and worst value for money passports, with the focus placed on the overall cost of the document compared to the freedom of movement it provides.</p> <p dir="ltr">The final result gave Australia's passport a ranking of 43 out of 48 countries - the sixth-worst value for money passport with a passport value score of only 2.56/10.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other countries that unexpectedly ranked higher than Australia included Romania (2.77) and the  Caribbean island Barbados (2.66).</p> <p dir="ltr">Australia did however come in the top 10 for the equal best mobility score, in which passport holders are able to travel to 103 countries visa-free and 53 countries where a visa is required on arrival.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other countries that scored worse than Australia are: Lichtenstein (1.06), San Marino (1.92), Mexico (1.92), Canada (2.13) and Chile (2.13).</p> <p dir="ltr">New Zealand’s passport did a lot better than Australia’s after being given a ranking of 29 out of the 48 countries. </p> <p dir="ltr">The world’s top 10 best value passports are:</p> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">United Arab Emirates</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sweden</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">South Korea</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Spain</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Luxembourg</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hungary</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Slovakia</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Austria</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Latvia</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Germany</p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Bank's worrying forecast for when housing prices will plummet

<p>According to the lastest NAB forecast, property prices in Australia are expected to take a turn for the worst this year, before plunging by 11 percent by 2023. </p><p>After the Reserve Bank flagged that interest rates could be on the rise at some point this year, NAB drastically revised their initial outlook on property prices over the next two years.</p><p>In NAB's <a href="https://business.nab.com.au/nab-quarterly-australian-residential-property-survey-q4-2021-51029/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Residential Property Survey</a> for the latest quarter, they have warned, “With our view on rate hikes coming forward, we now expect the turning point in property prices to occur in the second half of 2022.”</p><p>As a result, property is set to rise in value by just three percent this year, compared to a 22 percent boom in 2021 which had not been seen since the mid-1980s. </p><p>While 11 percent seems like a huge drop, the author of the report has reassured that it is a controlled drop. </p><p>“We see this as a relatively orderly decline,” the report noted. </p><p>“It is important to remember this correction comes after a very sharp run up in prices over the last year.”</p><p>As a result of the rising interest rate expectations, NAB brought forward its predictions of a correction. </p><p>“In terms of forecasts, we have brought forward the timing of the correction we expect in house prices to late-2022 as affordability constraints begin to bite and rising mortgage rates place downward pressure on prices,” the bank said. </p><p>“This would offset gains seen in early-2022, so that overall, prices end the year roughly flat. We see this trend continuing through 2023, ending the year around 10 per cent lower.”</p><p>Sydney and Melbourne will be hit hardest, dropping by nearly 12 percent each next year.</p><p>Hobart will face the lowest drop for 2023 at only 4 percent. </p><p>The combined capital city average was forecast to be a 9.4 percent decrease next year.</p><p>NAB have warned that interest rates could be on the rise as early as November this year.</p><p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p><div class="media image" style="color: #000000;font-style: normal;font-weight: normal;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none;text-decoration: none;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;width: 705.3308715820312px;margin-bottom: 32px"> </div>

Money & Banking

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Revamped Footy Show plummets in ratings

<p>Last night, <em>The NRL Footy Show</em> returned to Aussie screens with a new main host and panel layout.</p> <p>However, viewers were left unsatisfied with the many changes that had been made to the show, including the replacement of prior main host Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin with Erin Molan.</p> <p>Disappointed viewers took to social media after the episode had aired to criticise the show, with many fans vowing to never tune in again.</p> <p>NRL player and fan favourite comedian Beau Ryan was even unable to save the dynamic. </p> <p>The backlash of the episode was so intense that an Instagram photo for the Footy Show promoting its return, had to have the comments section disabled.</p> <p>The term “bring back the fat”, a reference to Vautin’s nick name, began to emerge online, while others said the new panel layout reminded them of a councillors meeting.</p> <p>“Watched it, disappointing, boring as hell. Bring back the Fat!!!,” one viewer wrote.</p> <p>Another congratulated Molan on scoring the role but was unimpressed with the delivery.</p> <p>“It's international women’s day but damm @Erin_Molan really? (sleeping emojis).”</p> <p>Other viewers discussed the difference in energy levels, saying that Vautin’s charisma was clearly missing.</p> <p>“I have always watched the footy show but tonight I’m sorry but Erin you are so boring awkward and in no way a capable host. Why do you have a pen in your hand all the time what was with the clip boards the old coffee table that looked like something from the salvos #NRLFootyShow.”</p> <p>“Channel 9 has absolutely butchered both footy shows. NRL footy show did not need change. Was a great show with Fatty. Don’t think I’ll bother watching that dribble again.  </p> <p>“This is the most boring footy show I have ever watched on Channel 9 before I can't believe they let Fatty go. He is the best host on the footy show. I miss his laughter and entertainment on the show. I wish he didn't leave and it's not the same without him,” one viewer wrote.</p> <p>The show also took an awkward turn when Beau Ryan was left without a chair and was forced to kneel next to the other panellists. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/footyshow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#footyshow</a> cringeworthy. poor Beau is kneeling next to the blokes who have chairs...</p> — Adam Williams (@adambou) <a href="https://twitter.com/adambou/status/971705757841289216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816200/1_499x280.jpg" alt="1 (98)"/></p> <p>Molan first joined the NRL Footy Show in 2012 and became a full-time host alongside Beau Ryan in 2015.</p> <p>Vautin began his long stint on the Footy Show in 1994 with Peter Sterling.</p> <p>Last year while he was on a holiday with his family, the 58-year-old received the news that his role on the show would not continue.</p> <p>“In the end nothing lasts forever,” Vautin wrote to WSFM's Brendan Jones.</p> <p>“I had a great run, especially for a short, chubby, red-head who played for both Manly and Queensland.”</p> <p>Did you watch last night’s episode of <em>The NRL Footy Show</em>? If so, share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.</p>

TV

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Man proposes as AirAsia flight plummets 20,000ft

<p><span>A man on board an AirAsia flight that plummeted 20,000ft in a mid-air emergency used the near-death experience to propose to his girlfriend.</span></p> <p><span>AirAsia fight QZ535 was travelling to Bali after departing from Perth on October 15.</span></p> <p><span>The flight to the Indonesian hot-spot soon turned into chaos when cabin crew announced there was an emergency and deployed the oxygen masks as the plane fell 20,000ft.</span></p> <p><span>With their survival uncertain, London lawyer Chris Jeanes turned to his Perth girlfriend Casey Kinchella and popped the question.</span></p> <p><span>“Luckily she said ‘yes',” the British man said.</span></p> <p><span>“We both reconfirmed with each other when we were on the ground.”</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><img width="498" height="275" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/44593/1_498x275.jpg" alt="1 (39)"/></span></p> <p><span>Chris revealed that he was planning to propose in Bali but the brush with death sped up the process.</span></p> <p><span>While the couple had a positive story to share following the disaster, other passengers were not in a good mood.</span></p> <p><span>Passengers said their panic was heightened by the behaviour of the cabin crew who were “screaming, looked tearful and shocked”.</span></p> <p><span>“We look to them for reassurance and we didn’t get any, we were more worried because of how panicked they were,” passenger Clare Askew told 7 News.</span></p> <p><span>Other passengers said the only English instructions they received were “crash position" and “brace”.</span></p> <p><span>Several other passengers said they began messaging their family and friends and began praying.</span></p> <p><span>“I messaged my son saying goodbye," one passenger added.</span></p> <p><span>The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the incident.</span></p> <p><span>In June, an AirAsia flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur had to <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/2017/06/air-asia-plane-forced-to-make-emergnecy-landing/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>return because of an engine malfunction</strong></span></a>.</span></p> <p><span>Have you ever been in an mid-air flight air emergency? Tell us in the comments below. </span></p> <p><em>Image credit: 7 News</em></p>

International Travel

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Woman texts husband to tell family "I love you" as plane nosedives

<p>As her flight home from holiday plummeted towards the ocean, Nickola Tye reached for her phone. </p> <p>Moments earlier, a screeching alarm had sounded and the captain of the Jet2 plane told passengers to "prepare for an emergency descent", <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4066912/jet-2-flight-plane-plunges-sea-ibzia-holiday-uk-video/" target="_blank">The Sun</a></strong></em></span> reported. </p> <p>Tye said "all hell broke loose" as the plane – en route from Ibiza to Leeds, England – nosedived and passengers put on the oxygen masks that dropped from the ceiling. </p> <p>"Because we were getting lower I was able to write a text to my husband. I said, 'The plane is dropping and the oxygen masks have dropped down. If anything happens, I love you'."</p> <p>The 39-year-old mum from Sheffield thought it was her last chance to tell her family how she felt about them. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39930/in-text-plane_497x280.jpg" alt="In Text Plane"/></p> <p>"I didn't have my two young children or husband with me and all I could think was I'm not going to see them again," she said. </p> <p>The plane – carrying about 180 people – levelled out and was diverted to Barcelona airport, where Tye said the full force of what had happened hit home. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zw8MEefoK54?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>"That's when people stated crying. There was a woman at the front who could not be consoled."</p> <p>Fellow passenger John Hatfield said he and his girlfriend panicked when their oxygen masks failed to drop down.</p> <p>"Everyone's masks came down apart from the one on our row," the 33-year-old said. </p> <p>"My girlfriend was really upset and crying."</p> <p>The couple called for help but the flight crew had already sat down and put their own masks on, he added. </p> <p>"Eventually we managed to get the masks on but it was quite terrifying."</p> <p>Tom Miller, another passenger aboard the plane, which was about 30 minutes into the flight when the incident occurred, said he sent a message to his wife saying, "I love you babe," as the plane dropped. </p> <p>After four hours in Barcelona, passengers were flown to Leeds on a replacement aircraft, but many were too afraid to board. </p> <p>Jet2, a low-cost British airline, attributed the incident, which occurred on July 16, to a "minor technical issue".</p> <p><em>First appeared on <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a></strong></span> Image credit: Nickola Tye via Facebook. <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></strong></em></p>

Travel Insurance

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Temperatures set to plummet this weekend

<p>A series of cold fronts are sweeping towards the east of the country bringing huge drops in temperature.</p> <p>On Sunday, Sydney is forecasted to see its coldest morning in almost two years. Hobart and Melbourne will face even colder temperatures.</p> <p>Areas such as Orange, in the NSW Central West, are expected to be hit by the cold fronts with temperatures plummeting to -6C on Sunday, while Canberra is expected to have a low of -7C.</p> <p>The wind chill factor could also reduce temperatures by 10C.</p> <p>Jordan Notara from the Bureau of Meteorology said, “It's going to be a chilly morning, with temperatures expected to be on the cooler end of the scale.”</p> <p>"The reason behind the drop is because Sydney will experience a series of fronts, with one coming down on Sydney on Saturday night.</p> <p>"A high pressure system will also cover the whole state, with clear skies and air measures giving it a cool change."</p> <p>On Saturday, Sydney will see a mostly sunny day with a minimum of 10C and a top of 18C, before plummeting to 5C and a top of 17C on Sunday.</p> <p>Melbourne is expected to have showers all weekend and face a minimum of 4C on Sunday morning and a top of 13C.</p> <p>Hobart will face the cold this weekend with both Saturday and Sunday morning’s forecasted to be 3C. Canberra will be Australia’s coldest capital city with Sunday morning facing a low of -7C.</p> <p>Adelaide will see a low of 3C on Saturday but will struggle to get above 11C making it the chilliest day.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Sky News Weather</em></p>

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