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Sapling planted at Sycamore Gap to "restore hope" removed by National Trust

UK resident Kieran Chapman, 27, is "absolutely gutted" after the sapling he planted in memory of the<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-can-t-forgive-that-teen-arrested-after-felling-of-iconic-200-year-old-tree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> felled Sycamore Gap tree</a> was heartbreakingly removed by National Trust. The 27-year-old spent hours on Friday planting the sapling just metres away from the stump of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, but his efforts were in vain, as the sapling had been dug up by the National Trust on Sunday morning. The conservation charity said that they had to remove the sapling because it is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. A National Trust spokesperson told the Newcastle Chronicle that while they understand “the strength of feeling following the events at Sycamore Gap” the site “is a scheduled ancient monument and a globally important archaeological setting, with UNESCO world heritage designation”. “Altering or adding to it can damage the archaeology, and is unlawful without prior consent from government.” But Chapman couldn't hide his disappointment: “It’s just devastating, isn’t it? It genuinely brought people a lot of joy and that’s been taken away," he told the publication. “I honestly thought if it got a good response they might end up keeping it.” Chapman planted the sapling because he wanted to “restore people’s faith in humanity, bring a smile back to people’s faces and just give them a bit of hope”. “I planned to go and take the dog for a walk next weekend there," he added. In a follow up post on Facebook, Chapman added that he was told by the National Trust that his tree will be replanted on another piece of land at the Housesteads Visitor Centre on Hadrian’s Wall. “Too many politics around all this for my liking, the top and bottom of it, it’s a tree, planted in soil. I understand the land is protected, but to protect a tree from being planted in the earth, where they’re designed to be, no matter where it’s location, is crazy,” he wrote. Two people were arrested over the incident, a 16-year-old boy and 69-year-old former lumberjack. Both have been released on bail, with the lumberjack insisting that he had no involvement in the felling. “You’ve got the wrong feller,” he told The Sun. “I’m a former lumberjack and I’ve just been kicked off my property so I can see why people have pointed the finger. “My brother came down to make sure I hadn’t been arrested as he had heard a rumour that I had cut it down. I didn’t do it," he added. Images: Getty/ Facebook

Travel Trouble

Australian War Memorial urged to remove Ben Roberts-Smith’s uniform from display

The Australian War Memorial is being urged to remove Ben Roberts-Smith’s uniform from its display after the federal court dismissed the defamation case initiated by Australia’s most decorated living soldier. However, the Australian Special Air Association has argued it was “a very disappointing day” for veterans who had served in Afghanistan, noting the majority who had done the right thing were being “re-traumatised after having gone through a difficult war”. In the defamation case ruling on June 1, Justice Anthony Besanko found that, on the balance of probabilities, Roberts-smith kicked a handcuffed prisoner off a cliff in Darwin in 2012 before ordering a subordinate Australian soldier to shoot the injured man dead. Besanko also found that in 2009, Roberts-Smith had ordered the execution of an elderly man found hiding in a tunnel in a bombed-out compound codenamed “Whiskey 108”, including murdering a disabled man with a prosthetic leg during that same mission, with a machine gun. The majority of politicians in Canberra were hesitant to weigh in on the implications of the ruling, but the Greens described the judgement as “an important win for fearless journalism in the public interest”. David Shoebridge, the Greens’ defence and justice spokesperson said, “If this judgment stands, the first step in correcting the official record is for the Australian War Memorial to immediately remove Ben Roberts-Smith’s uniform from public display and to begin telling the entire truth of Australia’s involvement in that brutal war. “This is not justice for the families who lost loved ones or for the communities that have been brutalised by war crimes, but it takes us a step closer.” Shoebridge is also calling on the Albanese government to “urgently progress compensation for families of victims of alleged Afghanistan war crimes, one of the key outstanding recommendations of the Brereton report”. He has urged the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, to “step in and end the unjust prosecution of Afghanistan war crimes whistleblower David McBride”. A spokesperson for the defence minister, Richard Marles, said, “This is a civil defamation matter to which the commonwealth is not a party and it would be inappropriate to provide comment.” Speaking to ABC TV, the national chairman of the Australian Special Air Service Association, Martin Hamilton-Smith downplayed the broader significance of the ruling, saying it was not a criminal proceeding. When speaking generally about investigations overseen by the Office of Special Investigator (OSI), he said one person had been charged to date over allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan — and raised concerns that “justice delayed is justice denied”. Hamilton-Smith called on OSI to “get these matters into a criminal court where they can be dealt with properly and the truth can be established”. In 2020, the Brereton report found “credible” information to implicate 25 current or former special forces personnel in the alleged unlawful killing of 39 individuals and the cruel treatment of two others. When asked whether Roberts-Smith should hand over his Victoria Cross, Hamilton-Smith said, “I think the only way you will get the real truth of this is to get it into the criminal court where both sides of the story can be told and beyond reasonable doubt the facts established.” A spokesperson for OSI said defamation proceedings were a “a civil matter between the parties”, adding, “It would not be appropriate to comment on specific allegations or whether they are the subject of investigation.” The Coalition’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, described the defamation ruling as “certainly significant”, and stated it was a legal process “that deserves to be respected”. However, he said it would be “a difficult day for many” of Australia’s current and former defence force personnel. “Australia is a country that applies a standard, in terms of expectations of our serving personnel and the transparency and accountability, that few other nations in the world apply,” Birmingham told ABC TV. “We should be proud of those standards but we should also be proud overwhelmingly of our personnel, of all who have served.” Birmingham was reluctant to make broader comments about the judgement’s implication for press freedom, adding the outcome would “obviously weigh heavily in terms of what proceedings may be initiated by others in future”. The shadow defence minister and former SAS captain Andrew Hastie was subpoenaed by the newspapers to give evidence during the defamation case but declined to comment. Image credit: Getty

News

The trick to removing a stain from any surface

When it comes to household tasks there’s one in particular that makes everyone shudder. I’m referring, of course, to cleaning. No one likes to clean and no matter how often you clean your home it’s never fun. But that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. The following guide will teach you the best way to tackle stains on any household surface. Carpet stains While some people may opt to hire a carpet cleaner, there are actually very few carpet stains you can’t clean yourself. Add a splash of vinegar to the stain and dampen a cleaning cloth. Gently pat at the stain and rinse the cloth at regular intervals. Repeat this process until the stain lifts. Then sprinkle bi-carb on the damp area and work it into the carpet a little. Once the bi-carb dries, use a vacuum to clean it up. If you like, sprinkle some lemon juice to freshen things up. If you’ve done everything right you’ll be left with clean, fresh smelling carpets. Tile and hardwood flooring Add vinegar to a bucket of water and use it to mop up as much of the stain as possible. Apply more vinegar directly to the stain. Combine with bi-carb and wait a few minutes for a chemical reaction. You will notice some bubbling and frothing. Gently scrub at any marks with a brush until clean. Finally, use clean water to either wipe or mop the area again to finish things off. Bathroom surfaces Bathrooms are tough to clean but this mixture makes mould and mildew a thing of the past. Combine 1½ cups bi-carb soda, one cup of liquid soap, ½ cup of water and ¼ cup of vinegar together in a bucket. Use this to clean shower screens, remove mildew and scrub tile grout. For maximum effect use a coarse sponge or hard bristled brush. Kitchen benchtops Most modern kitchen benchtops will not stain due to the materials they are made from. However, anyone with a kitchen knows they still require constant cleaning in order to stay hygienic. Use a cleaning cloth and vinegar to keep benchtops sanitised. You can use bi-carb anytime if something more abrasive is needed. This could be useful for things like dried cereal or food stains. If the vinegar smell becomes too much, deodorise with lemon juice. Concrete and garage floors The same ingredients can be used to make a powerful degreaser. This will clean any oil or scuff stains from concrete and other robust surfaces. Simply add one cup of vinegar to a few teaspoons of bi-carb, along with a drop or two of liquid soap. Add this to a spray bottle and fill to the top with warm water. Shake to combine the ingredients. Use the spray bottle to apply the mixture to any stubborn stain you wish to remove. For the best results, apply liberally and wait several minutes before scrubbing with a hard bristled brush. If you have one available you might also wish to use a pressure washer. Written by Michael Brooke. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain.com.au</a>. Image credits: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

First Nations elder removed from Obama event

A First Nations Elder bas been left “shocked and distressed” after being removed from performing the Welcome to Country ceremony at a Melbourne event hosted by former president Barack Obama. Obama touched down in Melbourne with former First Lady and wife Michelle ahead of the event at John Cain Arena on March 29. In what could have been a special ceremony for her, senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy has been left deeply saddened after she said she was told she was being “too difficult” for making two requests for the event. Aunty Joy asked if the event organisers Growth Faculty were able to provide appropriate accommodations for a support person to accompany her, and made a request to provide a gift to Obama, which is something she said is cultural practice. The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation said Aunty Joy was removed from the event following the requests. "I am 78 years of age. I have never been treated or spoken to in this way in the past," Aunty Joy said in a statement. "I do not want this to be a reflection on President Obama. I am a leader of the Wurundjeri Nation. I asked to be treated as an equal. "I have been shocked and distressed by the way I have been treated by event organisers. "They have always shown me respect and accepted my Welcome as a gift from our people.” Aunty Joy was also removed from performing traditional cultural protocols at a planned lunch with Obama the next day. "The Welcome to Country is a very important ceremony for our people. It is an honour to Welcome people like President Obama and I am upset that I am unable to do this today," she said. Growth Faculty have since issued an apology for the circumstances that led to the last-minute cancellation. In a statement, a spokesperson said changes to the ceremony due to “security requirements” meant a welcome to country was instead delivered by Wurundjeri-Willam woman Mandy Nicholson. “Growth Faculty had been working with Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri community for many weeks ahead of last night’s event,” the statement read. “Due to security requirements, the organisation was unable to accommodate last minute changes to the agreed upon ceremony. “Growth Faculty has apologised to Aunty Joy that last night’s ceremony could not be changed.” The spokesperson also said that Aunty Joy had accepted an invitation to perform the welcome to country at a business lunch taking place in Melbourne on Thursday instead. Image credit: Getty

News

How to remove stains at home 101

If you every had a tricky stain to get rid of in the home and asked for advice from your nearest and dearest, you will likely know that when it comes to ridding stubborn marks, everyone's got an opinion. From removing red wine stains from carpets to food smudges on the couch, here we show you how you can ensure your linens, fabrics and furniture leave no trace of marks that were once there. Carpet Red wine stains would have to be among the most common to dirty carpets – that along with dirt walked in from outside. To remove red wine from carpet, first place paper towel over the stain and absorb as much moisture out of it as you can by standing on it. Then, sprinkle the stain with a small amount of bicarb soda and tap it with your fingers. You will find that the stain goes pale grey. Sponge the bicarb soda out with a cloth wrung out tightly in white vinegar. With heavy stains you may need to do this several times. Sheets To ensure your crisp white sheets stay exactly that, you first need to know what type of fabric you are dealing with. For polycotton, soak your sheets with a small amount of methylated spirits and warm water first, the place two-dessertspoons of Vanish NapiSan into a 12L bucket of hot water and soak overnight. Washing the next day and hang them to dry in the sun. For cotton sheets, simply place two dessertspoons of Vanish NapiSan into a 12L bucket of hot water and soak overnight. Washing the next day and hang them to dry in the sun. Tablecloths and cushions When it comes to tablecloths and cushions, prevention is better than a cure, so simply spray hairspray over the surface of your tablecloths and cushions. Spills can then be wiped away with a paper towel and the hairspray will come out easily in the wash. Outdoor furniture To clean canvas and outdoor furnishing fabric, saturate them with a heavy salt solution (try 1 kilo of un-iodised salt per 9L bucket of water) leave to dry and then just brush off. As the salt water dries the crystals regrow expanding in the fibres and pulling the mould spore out of the fabric with them. Firmly brush the crystals off for a lovely, clean, mould- free finish. Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew’s Remembrance Day wreaths removed

Remembrance Day wreaths laid by Prince Harry and his disgraced uncle Prince Andrew have been removed. The wreaths displayed by the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York at the Poppy Factory were “got rid of” while the wreaths laid by senior royals over the years remain. The removal is reportedly another way of “removing” the two from the Royal Family, according to UK media. Prince Harry, who fought in Afghanistan, laid a wreath at the last Remembrance commemoration he took part in, in 2019. “Harry used to have his wreath on display in the centre’s old exhibiting area, but it isn’t any more,” a source said. “We’ve got rid of it – and all the duplicates we kept too.” The Mirror reports that The Poppy Factory and Buckingham Palace declined to comment about what had happened to Harry’s £1,000 wreath. Wreaths from King Charles, the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Princes William and Edward remain on display. Images: Getty

Travel Trouble

How to remove permanent marker from any surface

There’s something heart-stoppingly terrible about seeing a pair of little hands drawing on your walls or floor. It just gets worse when you notice that they’re not using the kid safe textas you gave them – but the permanent marker they found goodness knows where. But never fear, there is a solution to this problem – here are ways to remove permanent marker from just about anything. Not so permanent anymore, is it? Carpet If you have a synthetic carpet, dampen a cloth with a solvent like acetone-free nail polish remover. Lightly dab the stain with this cloth and then leave for about 15 minutes. Then dab the stained area with warm, soapy water and wait for another quarter of an hour. Blot the area dry with a clean cloth or towel, and then blot once more with warm water. Dry again. If there’s still stain remaining, let it dry and repeat the process one more time. If your carpet is made of natural fibres, the process is very similar, but you need to use a consumer-grade dry-cleaning solvent. Make sure you read the instructions carefully before you begin. Walls Use warm, soapy water and your favourite all areas cleaning spray to have an initial pass at the stain. If that method doesn’t work, get out your trusty rubbing alcohol and dab the stain with a cotton ball or paper towel. Use a little water to clean the area once the stain is gone, and then pat dry with paper towel. Ceramic tiles You want to start by wiping the stained area with warm, soapy water and then apply some rubbing alcohol with paper towel or a cotton ball. Wipe the alcohol off with more soapy water, then rinse and dry the tile. If the stain persists, try drawing over it with a whiteboard marker and then rubbing it off. Stainless steel Just like with tiles, you can use a whiteboard marker to draw over the permanent marker before wiping it off with a soft, dry cloth. Failing that, use a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or paper towel. Cotton upholstery If marker has stained your cotton upholstery, gently blot the affected area with rubbing alcohol until it has completely come up. Make sure to test the alcohol in an area that can’t be seen in case the colours of the fabric run. Cotton fabric Place the stain face down onto a couple of layered paper towels. Use a small sponge to apply rubbing alcohol to the back of the stain and you should see it leaching out onto the paper towel. Rinse the fabric with cold water when you’re done to make sure the residue from the marker and the alcohol is gone. Do you have a great cleaning tip for removing pesky stains? We’d love to hear about it in the comments. Image: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

Simple trick to remove tarnish from your silver

A tarnished piece of jewellery or cutlery can cause you to think that you need to call in the professional cleaners. But it’s actually quite simple to make your own homemade remedy to get rid of the black marks. You will need: <ul> <li>A glass dish</li> <li>Aluminium foil</li> <li>Baking soda</li> </ul> How to: <ol> <li>Boil the kettle and pour 1 litre of it into a jug.</li> <li>Mix in 4 tablespoons of baking soda, stirring well to dissolve.</li> <li>Place a sheet of foil on the base of a glass dish and put the tarnished items directly on to the foil.</li> <li>Pour the water over the top of the silverware and leave for a few minutes.</li> <li>Rinse the items under some tap water and then wipe dry with a clean cloth to remove any stubborn marks.</li> </ol> Have you been able to salvage any favourite items using this method? Image: Getty

Home & Garden

Body positivity ad slammed for removing prosthetic limb

A body positivity campaign has hit a poor note after the models featured claimed they weren't compensated and even photoshopped to remove prosthetic limbs or onto another person's body. The advert from the Spanish Ministry of Equality was published last week as part of a campaign to promote body positivity during summer at Spanish beaches, with the caption 'Summer is ours too' displayed over an image of diverse women with non-standard bodies. "Fatphobia, hatred and the questioning of non-normative bodies - particularly those of women, something that's most prevalent in the summertime," the ministry said. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfHmaPUo8WU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfHmaPUo8WU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by S I Â N G R E E N-L O R D (@sianlord_)</a> </div> </blockquote> But, model and activist Sian Green-Lord said she was left "shaken" after friends recognised her in the campaign - despite her not giving permission for her image to be used. Green-Lord suspects her image was taken from her Instagram page. Her prosthetic leg, which she has had since she was hit by a taxi in 2013 and had her leg amputated, had been edited out. "I don't even know how to even explain the amount of anger that I'm feeling right now," the UK model told the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/28/all-bodies-are-beach-bodies-spains-equality-ministry-launches-summer-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guardian</a>. "I'm literally shaking, I'm so angry." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Con que "el verano tambien es nuestro". Al igual que la imágen y manipulación que le han hecho a Sian Green-Lord sin su permiso <a href="https://t.co/zvb0onut0z">pic.twitter.com/zvb0onut0z</a> — Zikade (@zikade_art) <a href="https://twitter.com/zikade_art/status/1553718707049959425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2022</a></blockquote> She isn't the only one whose image was used or altered without permission. Nyome Nichols-Williams, a London model and activist who has worked with Green-Lord previously, said the use of her image by the ministry was "downright disrespectful", after she recognised herself in the advert. "It really is deflating and then on top of that having to fight on my own to get paid," Nichols-Williams said. "Do I not deserve to be paid for the usage of said image?" <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd0S5p9ggX2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd0S5p9ggX2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Nyome Nicholas - Williams (@curvynyome)</a> </div> </blockquote> Juliet Fitzpatrick is the third woman to make the surprising discovery that she was feasted- though only her face seemed to have been used. Fitzpatrick, who has undergone a double mastectomy, found that her face had been photoshopped onto the body of another woman who had undergone a single mastectomy. "I have no breasts," she wrote. "I am furious if the image has been used without my consent." Australian paralympic swimmer Jessica Smith was among those slamming the advert, saying it was "so wrong and so gross on so many levels". She criticised those involved for editing the models' images and for failing to ask for permission to use them. Arte Mapeche, the artist credited with creating the advert for the ministry, was reportedly paid €4,490 ($AUD 6573 or $NZD 7289) to create the image. She has since reached out to the models whose images she used, as well as a graphic design company whose font she used without licensing, and has issued a public apology. "I would like to publicly apologise to the models for having been inspired by their photographs for the "Summer is ours too" campaign and for having used an unlicensed typeface," she wrote. "Given the - justified - controversy over the image rights in the illustration, I have decided that the best way to make amends for the damages that may have resulted from my actions is to share out the money I received for the work and give equal parts to the people in the poster," the artist said. "I accept my mistakes and that is why I am now trying to repair the damage caused." Nicholas-Williams said she was happy to have “inspired” the artwork, but said she should have been contacted beforehand and remunerated, while a trip to Spain for a photoshoot would have been a nice extra. The Spanish government has yet to comment on the matter. Image: The Ministry of Equality

Legal

Princess Mary removes son from high school amid bullying and abuse allegations

Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik have pulled their son Prince Christian from his high school following a bullying scandal that has sent shock waves through Europe. They've also confirmed Princess Isabella will no longer be attending the prestigious Herlufsholm Boarding School. The Royal couple have issued a statement announcing the move, weeks after allegations emerged of a violent culture filled with abuse and bullying at the school. Students have also come forward, accusing the school and its staff of covering up their stories of abuse. "The question about our son Christian's and our daughter Isabella's choice of school has been very important for us, and the unfortunate matter has brought many and strong opinions into play in the public," Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary said in a joint statement. "That is completely understandable when it deals with the well-being of children and young people. At the same time, it has been important to stand by our basic idea that major decisions must be made on an informed basis. We now have that basis." Their message comes after the release of a preliminary decision from Denmark's National Agency for Education and Quality that "directs a particularly harsh critique" of the boarding school. "It has been a difficult process for us as a family, but, based on the overall picture and our special position as Crown Prince Couple, we have chosen that Prince Christian will stop at Herlufsholm and that Princess Isabella will not start in ninth class at the school after the summer holiday. "During the summer, we, together with our children, will make a decision about their future choice of schools. "With thoughts about the many students who will continue at Herlufsholm, it is our hope that the school now gets more peace to ensure the necessary changes and succeeds in creating a culture in which all thrive and feel safe." A documentary has aired, which included claims from a student who described being sexually abused by another student. Another student then spoke of corporal punishment and a third described being assaulted during a party at the school. In November 2021, four students were expelled after being accused of taking part in the abuse and filming a number of incidents. Some students have claimed staff turned a blind eye to these stories. When the allegations came to light, Princess Mary and her husband issued a swift response expressing their shock and disappointment. "As parents of a child who goes to Herlufsholm, we are deeply shaken by the testimonies that have emerged in the current documentary about the school," the Crown Prince couple said. "It is heart-breaking to hear about systematic bullying and about the culture of abuse and violence that many have been a part of. That is completely unacceptable. As parents, we expect the school to effectively ensure a culture where everyone is safe and part of the community, and we will in the coming time follow the changes that are obviously necessary." Herlufsholm was founded in 1565 for Danish nobility and is located 80km outside of Copenhagen in Næstved. The allegations about the school follow earlier claims about tough disciplinary practises at the institution. Herlufsholm School responded to the documentary's claims in a statement, with the school’s rector Mikkel Kjellberg saying many of the allegations contained within the television program were "very old cases have been used from another time - where the culture at Herlufsholm was different". He said the bullying and violence were "not part of the culture at Herlufsholm". "Bullying, violence or sexual abuse is not acceptable at Herlufsholm School," Kjellberg added. Princess Mary's charity issued a separate statement via The Mary Foundation. While they don't normally comment on "individual cases", the allegations contained within the documentary are "very violent and shocking". Image: Instagram

Family & Pets

“It’s emotional and scary”: White Island eruption survivor removes her face mask

A survivor of the 2019 White Island volcano eruption who suffered burns to 70 percent of her body has finally been able to remove her face mask. Stephanie Browitt was visiting New Zealand’s northeastern Bay of Plenty region with her sister and father, who were both among the 22 people who died in the eruption. Her road to recovery has been a long and difficult one, which she has shared on social media with more than 1.6 million followers. Appearing on Nine’s 60 Minutes, Stephanie removed her compression mask for the first time, telling host Sarah Abo that it was a “big deal” and that it felt like “this day would never come”. “It’s emotional and scary. It is actually quite daunting as much as it is exciting,” she said. Looking in the mirror, Stephanie said she saw a woman who was tougher than she ever thought she could be. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/steph8.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="721" /> Image: 60 Minutes “I see a person who has gone through so much more than I ever expected to go through in life. I see a very tormented person,” she continued. As much as this is exciting, it has been a long, hard journey to get here. I am tougher than I ever thought I would be. “I have learnt that the fight for survival is a real thing. I was literally fighting every day to survive, to just get back to being myself. I never knew that I had this in me.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CedLNM1vrna/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CedLNM1vrna/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Stephanie Coral Browitt (@stephaniecoral96)</a> </div> </blockquote> Sunday’s episode also showed never-before-seen photos of Stephanie’s injuries, revealing the extent of the severe burns that covered almost her whole body. Stephanie told the program that she remembers waking up for the first time since the incident, after she was in a coma for two weeks, in bits and pieces. “I was full of tubes and surrounded by medical equipment and in a very small room with lots of noises. Those things will always stay with me, I don’t think they will ever leave. It’s just things you don’t forget,” the 26-year-old said. She said her recovery had been extremely difficult, especially in the early stages. I had to start from scratch like a baby. Sitting upright, getting out of bed, taking my first few steps, even feeding myself – I had to relearn all of those skills from scratch and they didn’t come easy at all,” she said. “It was incredibly difficult. “There have been plenty of moments where I have wanted to give up, or I have just been in tears not wanting to do anything. But I do feel I have come a long way from day one.” Stephanie is now in the process of suing Royal Caribbean, the company that ran the excursion to the island on the day of the eruption, over the physical and psychological injuries she has suffered. Her lawyer, Peter Gordan, claimed that data from the weeks prior showed that the island was a “ticking time bomb”. “It makes me furious. They let down so many people … So many people died needlessly,” he said. “I think Steph’s injuries are the worst I have ever seen. I don’t think I have ever met quite an exceptional person in the way she has battled on.” Despite the hardship she has - and continues - to overcome, Stephanie is looking to the future, telling 60 Minutes she hopes to “go back to as normal a life as possible” and plans to return to working full-time, travelling and her social life. “I know I have got the support of so many people, and that helps me realise that this isn’t as scary as I feel it is,” she said. Image: @stephaniecoral96 (Instagram)

Caring

“Homophobic” line removed from Spider-Man

A “homophobic” line from the action fantasy 2002 Spider-Man film has been removed following a recent airing on Britain’s ITV2. The first film of the trilogy starring Tobey Maguire aired on TV recently, with one eagle-eyed fan noticing the change. “They removed Peter Parker’s homophobia,” the Twitter user wrote along with a clip of the scene. The scene where the line was cut is at the beginning of the film where Peter Parker is learning about his newfound skills and went to a wrestling match. He is seen hanging on the cage away from pro wrestler Bone Saw and says: "That's a cute outfit. Did your husband give it to you?" However, the scene changed to just say: “That’s a cute outfit”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> THEY REMOVED PETER PARKER'S HOMOPHOBIA <a href="https://t.co/QmbFabVpc7">pic.twitter.com/QmbFabVpc7</a> — PaperPlane (@PaperPlaneTF) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaperPlaneTF/status/1517947398936535040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2022</a></blockquote> The Twitter user however pointed out that the original line was in fact “not homophobic. It's been a joke for a little while now that Spider-Man is insensitive to this man's husband.” Many people praised the change, while others questioned why they couldn’t use something else that doesn’t attack sexuality. “Why cut the joke out entirely? Why not try to change it somehow?” someone asked. “So many things happen in this world, countless deaths, robberies, and many other things. And what makes people mad is a JOKE in a SPIDER-MAN MOVIE. Learn to take a joke. seriously. And the intent behind it wasn’t even bad, y’all just want something to be mad about,” another wrote. “The fact that they removed a joke is baffling guess comedy is hate speech,” someone mentioned. “What was wrong with the joke in the first place?” a user asked. “Everyone can’t seem to understand that Spider-Man says this because Bonesaw is very clearly a big, burly macho man (no pun intended) alpha-male, kinda guy with his own team of 4 beautiful women/cheerleaders at the ringside and implying that he’s gay is a good way to rile him up,” another explained. Image: Twitter

Movies

Time to remove vaccine mandates? Not so fast – it could have unintended consequences

Several Australian states have used mandates to drive up COVID vaccination rates. Governments justified the mandates on the basis of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=479962466825937&set=pb.100044365632393.-2207520000..&type=3">preventing the spread of disease</a> and <a href="https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/93754">protecting the vulnerable</a>. Now many states are rolling back these mandates, with Queensland <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-05/qld-coronavirus-covid19-vaccination-mandate-eased-april-14/100958850">removing the requirement to show you’re vaccinated</a> before entering cafes, pubs, galleries and other public spaces from tomorrow. It would be nice to think that when mandates have served their purpose, they can be removed. In practice, removing mandates may affect public attitudes about the importance of vaccination and the likelihood of getting boosters. Remind me, what were the mandates? <a href="https://theconversation.com/vaccine-passports-are-coming-to-australia-how-will-they-work-and-what-will-you-need-them-for-167531">Public space mandates</a> involve governments mandating that venues (such as restaurants, libraries and sporting venues) check individuals’ vaccination status and <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-it-time-to-rethink-vaccine-mandates-for-dining-fitness-and-events-we-asked-5-experts-176356">exclude the unvaccinated</a>. This is facilitated by <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-a-france-style-vaccine-mandate-for-public-spaces-work-in-australia-legally-yes-but-its-complicated-165814">vaccine passports and certificates</a>. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X21015309?via%3Dihub">Government employment mandates</a> involve governments requiring workers in specific industries to be vaccinated. Businesses and organisations may also implement their own policies requiring the vaccination of their staff, their clients, or both. Most states and territories embraced public space mandates and all have required vaccination of aged and health-care workers. But many are on their way out. NSW eased its requirements last year. South Australia has recently revoked mandates for police, teachers and transport workers. Queensland’s new policy is noted above. Victoria, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory are sitting with their existing requirements for now. What could happen next? It’s unclear what impact removing vaccine mandates will have in Australia. However, we can learn from other public health measures and COVID vaccine mandates implemented overseas. Seat-belt laws converted a government requirement into a widespread social norm. Car manufacturers reinforced the norm with vehicles that beep at us when we don’t comply. But just because something has become habitual doesn’t mean we can lose the law. If governments removed the seat-belt law now and expected us to comply because we are informed, educated, and socialised, some people would still conclude that seat belts are no longer important. Removal of a requirement can send a bad message. The Italian government learned this when the region of Veneto suspended childhood vaccine mandates for four childhood vaccines in 2007. Officials thought the region’s wealthy and educated population would continue to vaccinate their children if the regional government provided strong education and messaging. They were <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-021-09427-1">wrong</a>. Their strategy worked until there was a national vaccine scare in 2012. Vaccination rates in Veneto plummeted faster than anywhere else in the country. Eventually, the national government <a href="https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/recent-vaccine-mandates-in-the-united-states-europe-and-australia">mandated more vaccines</a> for the whole country. Other countries have already experimented with introducing, removing, and sometimes re-introducing mandates. Some, such as <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00063-7/fulltext">Austria</a> and the <a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/vaccine-mandates">United Kingdom</a>, have flip-flopped, providing little opportunity to study the impact of their mandates’ introduction or removal. Israel, which vaccinated its population promptly with Pfizer to the envy of the world, used a “public space” mandate (with an opt-out of a negative COVID test). The mandate has been <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8582817/">switched on and off</a> depending on the disease situation at the time. Unfortunately, Israelis’ uptake of subsequent doses has <a href="https://datadashboard.health.gov.il/COVID-19/general">dropped over time</a>, but its government still <a href="https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/global/israel-rolls-back-green-pass-as-prime-minister-declares-the-covid-wave-is-breaking/news-story/b6f9ce495359166126b16c477af062b3">ended the mandate</a> in February. Mandates are also not without <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2021/215/11/policy-considerations-mandatory-covid-19-vaccination-collaboration-social">risks and costs</a>. They can provoke reactance, making those who are reluctant to vaccinate more determined not to do so. They may also prompt activism against vaccines and mandates. High vaccination rates help contain COVID One of the biggest challenges is nobody knows what the next phase of COVID will look like. Neither infection nor the current vaccines provide long-lasting immunity. We don’t know whether the next strain will continue the trajectory towards less serious symptoms started by Omicron (and helped by high vaccination rates). Whether we continue to be able to stay on top of COVID and whether the disease continues to remain less severe in most people infected will depend on maintaining high vaccination coverage rates. Governments across the nation and the world have struggled to get third doses into populations at the same level and with the same enthusiasm people showed towards the first two. Uptake in paediatric populations is also lagging in Australia – and there are no mandates. Now adults are being asked to prepare for and accept our fourth doses. Leading the way Western Australia has one of the highest rates of uptake in the country, with 76.7% of people aged over 16 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=533610064794510&set=a.263657845123068">triple dosed</a>. This compares with the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/04/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-update-8-april-2022.pdf">national average</a> of 52.3%. It’s no coincidence the state’s employment mandates, which cover 75% of the workforce, require workers have their third dose within a month of becoming eligible. The WA mandate did not contain three doses to begin with, but it was very easy for the government to build it in. Faced with rolling back the mandate or keeping it operational for the fourth dose, the government will have to grapple with whether the population continues to support these measures – and there are definitely people who reluctantly accepted two doses and are not prepared to keep having more. WA’s public space mandate only covers two doses for now. WA’s COVID vaccination experience has shown that mandates, including for third doses, drive high levels of uptake, and are <a href="https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4210.html">easy for governments to implement</a>. However, much of the rest of Australia is moving in an opposite direction to WA in removing its mandates. As we live through the continued natural experiment of living with COVID – and not allowing it to defeat us – we now move into a new phase of making sense of what to do with the policy instruments governments used.<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/180781/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katie-attwell-94905" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Katie Attwell</a>, Associate professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The University of Western Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/time-to-remove-vaccine-mandates-not-so-fast-it-could-have-unintended-consequences-180781" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

A comprehensive guide to removing mould from household items

Due to the humid conditions, including the wet and rainy seasons mould is popping up everywhere. There’s nothing like decluttering your wardrobe and discovering spores all over your favorite jackets and sneakers. Instead of throwing everything out, why not try salvaging them? Here are the four common household items that will remove mould: <h3 dir="ltr">1. Hot water</h3> One of the simplest ways to remove mildew from fabric is to wash them in hot water. Before washing anything, check the care labels first to see if a hot wash is suitable. Then set the water temperature on your washing machine as high as you can for at least 10-30 minutes. Although a hot wash will kill the mould and mildew, it won't remove the stains or prevent the mould returning. Its best to remove the stains before you dry the clothes as once dried the stains are harder to move. <h3 dir="ltr">2. Vinegar and baking soda</h3> A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is quite effective at killing mould and works as a great stain remover too. Mix 2 parts baking soda to 1 part of white vinegar and add this to a bucket of hot water and soak the clothes in it before washing them. However, do not mix vinegar and bleach as this combination can release a dangerous gas. 3. Borax Borax not only kill mould, but is water soluble, making it an easy addition to a load of washing. Check your garments' care labels, especially on any delicate clothing items to make sure they won't be damaged. Also, best to do a small spot test first before adding to the whole wash. <h3 dir="ltr">4. Bleach</h3> Bleach is known as an effective mould killer and stain remover. But as bleach tends to cause clothes to fade quickly, a spot test is recommended. Pre-soak the clothes in bleach for 30 minutes to an hour before adding them to a regular hot wash. It should be noted that bleach may be effective at killing mould spores hidden deep in the fabric, but it does weaken the cloth fibres and will shorten the lifespan of your clothing. Also, bleach should only be used in well-ventilated areas and never be mixed with other chemicals or vinegar. <h3 dir="ltr">Tips to prevent your clothes from getting mouldy</h3> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Don't leave damp clothes and laundry at the bottom of washing machines or the laundry basket. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> When you do a load of laundry hang it out as soon as possible to dry in the sun. </li> </ul>

Home Hints & Tips

Why over-cleansing can do more harm than good

As we all know, taking off your makeup and sunscreen at the end of the day is a vital part of anyone’s skincare routine.This process not only helps you feel fresh and relaxed to get a good night’s sleep, but is also an essential step to remove dirt, oil and dead skin cells that can lead to skin feeling congested, breakouts and lasting dullness. While most people opt for a makeup remover, such as wipes or cleansing serums, it turns out this process could be doing more harm than good - especially with ageing skin. According to Dr Mike Bell, Head of Science and Research for the holy grail UK skincare brand No7, “The over-cleansing of skin - sometimes with harsh high surfactant foaming cleansers or high alcohol-based toners - can be as harmful as the over-use of make-up or ineffective removal of make-up.” “The skin’s essential barrier can become stripped of important ceramides and lipids, leaving it more sensitive and vulnerable to the environment."Dr Bell’s solution? Turn to a cleanser that gets the job done, without all the harsh ingredients. "Effective removal does rely on cleansers with mild but effective surfactants as well as the right type of emollient oils that together can dissolve even the most stubborn make-up.”“Branched ester emollients like isononyl isononanoate are particularly effective as is dimethicone for dissolving some of the higher waterproof make-ups. These are combined with olive oil-based emulsifiers to take your make-up off seamlessly without harming the skin," he says. Luckily, No7 offers a huge range of cleansers for all skin types, with tested formulas that will help remove makeup with ease, and not damage your skin in the process. <a href="https://www.priceline.com.au/no7-biodegradable-cleansing-wipes-30-wipes">No7 Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes</a> are a tested favourite, with the soft and gentle wipes helping to clear pores and banish all traces of impurity with ease. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/cleansing-No7.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />Image credit: Supplied - No7For a gentle eye makeup remover that won’t leave behind traces of your favourite mascara, look no further than <a href="https://www.priceline.com.au/brand/no7/no7-radiant-results-revitalising-eye-make-up-remover-100-ml">No7 Radiant Results Revitalising Eye Make-Up Remover</a>.<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/eye-No7.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />Image credit: Supplied - No7A gentle pre-cleanse is essential for any deep clean, with<a href="https://www.priceline.com.au/no7-radiant-results-revitalising-micellar-cleansing-water-200-ml"> No7 Radiant Results Revitalising Micellar Cleansing Water</a> working to capture make-up, impurities and pollutants, drawing them away from the skin in an instant. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/micellar-No7.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />Image credit: Supplied - No7Available at <a href="https://www.priceline.com.au/brand/no7">Priceline</a>, these three holy grail products are available for under $20 each, making them a must have to everyone’s skincare regime. Image credits: Getty Images / No7

Beauty & Style

"It's for the kids": Cafe owner and daughter arrested and removed by police

Mother and daughter cafe owners have been dragged out of their own restaurant in handcuffs for failing to comply with Western Australia's Covid vaccination rules. Topolinis Caffe co-owner Jodie Jardine, 51 and her daughter, 22, were arrested in their family-run Italian restaurant after a dozen police officers descended on the property. They were charged under the Emergency Management Act for allegedly working despite not being vaccinated.Under Western Australia's Covid jab mandate that was introduced on January 31st, all hospitality workers in the state must be double dosed or face harsh fines and even jail time.Ms Jardine claimed that by not being vaccinated while on the job, she’s “standing up for the future of our children”.After a tense stand-off between the cafe owners and police, the unvaxxed duo were eventually led outside by officers and taken away. Footage from independent media shows that, later in that night, the mother and daughter were dropped at the restaurant to the applause of an awaiting crowd.“It’s a mother and daughter and we were in the cell,” Ms Jardine said.“We’re going to have to tell my grandchild … we were arrested for her or him because we’re standing up for our children and my grandchildren, that’s what I am doing. I am standing up for the future of our children and if we don’t, we’re not going to have a future."“[My daughter] was braver than me, but you know, it’s for the kids, we’re doing it for the kids, it’s always been about the kids.“I’m not sure what’s going to happen with the restaurant and my staff, my 20 staff that I have rely on me for their pay, I don’t know I am going to have to get a lawyer and see what our next step is.”Police allege they had they had attended the restaurant earlier in the day to warn about staying open with unvaccinated staff. Premier Mark McGowan made no apologies for the tactics of police saying, “Well that’s the law and people need to comply with it.”Ms Jardine’s husband Phil told The West Australian unvaccinated West Australians are “being segregated like the Jews in Germany”.The maximum penalty for breaching the Emergency Management Act is 12 months behind bars and a fine of $50,000, with the penally being up to $250,000 for corporations. Image credits: Youtube

Legal

Neil Young demands his music is removed from Spotify

In an open letter to his management team, record label, and Spotify executives, Neil Young has demanded his entire music catalogue be removed from the streaming service. His reasoning behind the demand stems from Spotfiy giving a platform to podcasters who spread vaccine misinformation and dangerous rhetoric about the Covid-19 pandemic. He wrote, “I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them.” “I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform,” he continued. “They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both.” Neil’s callout directly targets right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan, who regularly pedals an anti-vaccine sentiment on his show Joe Rogan Experience, and even claimed he used livestock medication ivermectin to “cure” his bout of coronavirus. “With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, JRE, which is hosted exclusively on Spotify, is the world’s largest podcast and has tremendous influence,” the letter reads. “Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, though the company presently has no misinformation policy.” Just 48 hours after Neil Young issued his public demand, Spotify confirmed they would be removing his music from their platform. The company said they regretted the turn of events and hoped to “welcome him back soon”. “We want all the world’s music and audio content to be available to Spotify users,” it said in a statement. “With that comes great responsibility in balancing both safety for listeners and freedom for creators. We have detailed content policies in place and we’ve removed over 20,000 podcast episodes related to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.” Neil Young responded to Spotify’s move, saying he was willing to take the hit to his yearly revenue, and urged other artists to contemplate a similar move. “Spotify represents 60 per cent of the streaming of my music to listeners around the world. Almost every record I have ever released is available – my life’s music. (It is) a huge loss for my record company to absorb,” he said. “I truly want to thank the many, many people who have reached out to me thanking me for taking this position – people who are health professionals on the front lines, people who have lost loved ones to Covid or who are worried for their own children and families. I have never felt so much love coming from so many,” said Young. “I sincerely hope that other artists and record companies will move off the Spotify platform and stop supporting Spotify’s deadly misinformation about Covid.” Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Artist demands her work be removed from 10 Downing Street

British artist Tracey Emin has formally requested for her 2010 artwork to be removed from 10 Downing Street: the official residence of the UK Prime Minister. The artist took to Instagram to share the request with her followers, posting a picture of the neon sign art that reads More Passion. “I am now in the process of requesting that my artwork be removed from 10 Downing Street,” wrote Emin in her post. “I feel More Passion is the last thing this present government needs. This current situation is shameful.” Her request comes as recent revelations of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s flouting of the Covid-19 restrictions in May 2020, as he reportedly held a garden party at the residence when the country was in lockdown. <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/CY6af0ooksi/?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> <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/CY6af0ooksi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Tracey Emin CBE RA (@traceyeminstudio)</a> </div> </blockquote> Despite overwhelming backlash, Boris Johnson maintains that the gathering was a work event instead of a party, and has apologised for his attendance. In an interview with the <a href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/01/20/tracey-emin-demands-her-work-be-removed-from-10-downing-street-after-boris-johnsons-shameful-lying-over-lockdown-party">Art Newspaper</a>, Tracey Emin said she finds the hypocrisy of the situation completely baffling. “I think lying to people is shameful,” she said. “People have suffered so much through Covid. They’ve looked to the government for advice, and it turns out that the government has been telling us to do one thing and not doing it themselves.” Tracey originally donated the work to the Government Art Collection in 2010 when then Prime Minister David Cameron commissioned the work from her. Tracey clarified that she would like the artwork to remain in the government collection, but for it to be relocated from the residence. Image credit: Instagram @traceyeminstudio

Art

A supermarket in Britain has removed use-by dates in favour of the 'sniff test'

Image: Getty Grocery chain ‘Morrisons’ is being slammed after announcing a decision to scrap “use-by” dates on milk, instead asking customers to use a “sniff test” to determine if the milk has gone bad. The supermarket will switch to using “best before” dates on 90% of its home brand milk packaging from the end of January, The Sun reports. The date will remain the same but Morrisons is asking customers to not automatically assume the milk is off, but instead sniff to see whether it has expired first. Best before dates indicate that a product will have a better quality if consumed before that day, but use by means food might not be safe to eat after that point and runs the risk of making the customer sick. Morrisons said the move is intended to reduce food wastage, as millions of litres of milk are thrown away each year. It is estimated that 48 million litres of milk are wasted due to customers following “use-by” labels. Research shows milk is often fine to be used days after the use-by date the supermarket said. So yes, customers are being encouraged to smell their milk to check if it has actually gone bad before throwing it away. A sour aroma or curdled consistency are both signs milk has been spoiled. Shoppers took to Twitter to complain about the decision, with many asking how they can smell the milk while in store. However, Morrisons said that won’t be necessary because it won’t sell milk that is near the best before date. One customer said: “So, Morrisons – can we open the bottle in order to sniff it before purchase? Or do we have to go home, sniff it, then bring it back if it’s off?” Another added: “I can open the milk whilst still in Morrisons to check then I guess?” Others pointed out that one of the main symptoms of Covid is losing your sense of smell. “Generations before us have always used the sniff test – and I believe we can too” According to Ian Goode, senior milk buyer at Morrisons.

Food & Wine

"Stuck for hours": Removal of stairs traps woman in her home

Image: TikTok A woman was shocked to find the stairs for her apartment complex had been removed without warning, leaving her, and other tenants trapped inside. She shared her story on TikTok, shocking over 1.2 million people over the strange decision that left her “stuck for hours”. Olivia Crump thought it was just an ordinary morning, opening her door to start her day, however as she peered outside, she realised something was terribly wrong. The stairs were gone. Olivia lives on the third floor of her apartment building with no way to leave without climbing over the ledge. She grabbed her camera to film the incident, later posting it to TikTok where it went viral. Olivia said in the video: “When your apartment removes the stairs without warning and you’re stuck for hours.” She posted it alongside the song ‘hell to the no’ and comments were quickly encouraging Olivia to contact a fire marshall. In an interview with the Daily Dot, the TikToker explained that “it was impossible to get down without climbing over the ledge with a ladder or scaling the side with a decent drop below”. “My apartment complex didn’t notify any of the residents beforehand (and still hasn’t reached out since this happened),” she said. Olivia revealed that she and her neighbours were stuck for nearly four hours before a worker granted her permission to go down the unfinished steps. The TikToker shared that she called her neighbours and they too were unaware the stairs were being removed. Olivia wrote in reply to a comment, “these complexes run by huge housing companies just mess with people’s lives and get away with it because people need places to live”. Comments were filled with people sharing similar stories and encouraging Olivia to take action. “Definitely a fire hazard. They should have had everyone leave or made a temporary alternative route,” one user wrote. “Building Code, Fire and Lease Violations. Hefty, hefty fines,” another said.

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"It's for the kids": Cafe owner and daughter arrested and removed by police

Neil Young demands his music is removed from Spotify

Artist demands her work be removed from 10 Downing Street

A supermarket in Britain has removed use-by dates in favour of the 'sniff test'

"Stuck for hours": Removal of stairs traps woman in her home

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Sapling planted at Sycamore Gap to "restore hope" removed by National Trust

Australian War Memorial urged to remove Ben Roberts-Smith’s uniform from display

The trick to removing a stain from any surface

First Nations elder removed from Obama event

How to remove stains at home 101

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew’s Remembrance Day wreaths removed

How to remove permanent marker from any surface

Simple trick to remove tarnish from your silver

Body positivity ad slammed for removing prosthetic limb

Princess Mary removes son from high school amid bullying and abuse allegations

“It’s emotional and scary”: White Island eruption survivor removes her face mask

“Homophobic” line removed from Spider-Man

Time to remove vaccine mandates? Not so fast – it could have unintended consequences

A comprehensive guide to removing mould from household items

Why over-cleansing can do more harm than good

"It's for the kids": Cafe owner and daughter arrested and removed by police

Neil Young demands his music is removed from Spotify

Artist demands her work be removed from 10 Downing Street

A supermarket in Britain has removed use-by dates in favour of the 'sniff test'

"Stuck for hours": Removal of stairs traps woman in her home

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