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That's a wrap on iconic Aussie favourite

<p>Allen's Sweets have confirmed the end of production of the iconic Fantales, after being on Aussie shelves for almost a century. </p> <p>Manufacturer Nestlé made the shock announcement on Tuesday that the chocolate-coated caramels would stop being produced in July. </p> <p>The decision to pull the fan favourite lollies from shelves follows a rapid decline in sales and the need for significant and expensive upgrades to continue to make Fantales at Nestlé’s Melbourne confectionery factory, the company said.</p> <p>“We know our decision to stop making Fantales will be sad news for many people,” Nestlé Oceania Confectionery General Manager Andrew Lawrey said in a statement.</p> <p>“Many of us grew up with Fantales and have fond memories of them."</p> <p>“Despite the sense of nostalgia Fantales evoke, unfortunately people simply aren’t buying them as often as they used to.”</p> <p>Confirming the news that sales of the iconic sweet have dropped, experienced IGA shelf stacker Claudia Byatt says, "I worked at IGA for 5 years. They do not sell. And girl fr [for real], no one is buying Minties either."</p> <p>Despite the lack of sales, experienced Fantales eater Natasha Clarke fired back, "I buy them and i'm who matters!!"</p> <p>Lawrey went on to say the equipment needed to make Fantales needs significant investment.</p> <p>“It’s become increasingly difficult to get the parts we need to maintain it, and with declining sales, replacing it isn’t viable,” Mr Lawrey said.</p> <p>Fantales were first created in 1930, when the Golden Age of Hollywood saw people flocking to the cinema. </p> <p>To ride the wave of movie magic, the delectable chewy caramels were wrapped with ‘fan tales’ of actors and musicians on its wrappers, to the delight of quiz fans and "fun fact" enthusiasts. </p> <p>Mr Lawrey wanted to assure those with a sweet tooth that other Allen's favourites are here to stay. </p> <p>“While investment in the future of Fantales is not sustainable, we’re continuing to invest in our other Allen’s lollies, including fan favourites such as Snakes Alive, Party Mix and Minties,” Mr Lawrey said.</p> <p>The news of the beloved Fantales leaving shelves had Aussies up in arms, with many believing they are a staple of Australian culture. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">WHAT?! Fantales are ending?! I always assumed they'd just exist for the rare occasion I want to revisit my childhood.</p> <p>— Dani (@danikiemel) <a href="https://twitter.com/danikiemel/status/1671311976172228608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">It’s just not a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/straya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#straya</a> without <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fantales?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Fantales</a></p> <p>— creatrixZBD (@zbdEmanuelle) <a href="https://twitter.com/zbdEmanuelle/status/1671320060483493888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dentists retirement plans rely heavily on Fantales, Minties &amp; White Knights. Oh and those little toffees with sprinkles in paper at school fair days! <a href="https://t.co/tywtqeW9BQ">https://t.co/tywtqeW9BQ</a></p> <p>— PolarK (@Karina_Melbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Karina_Melbs/status/1671325235327688704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Goodbye Fantales. You helped me through many boring briefings, meetings, seminars and workshops.</p> <p>— waggacrow | @waggacrow@toot.site (@waggacrow) <a href="https://twitter.com/waggacrow/status/1671309285010321408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>The last production of Fantales will be in mid-July, and Fantales will be available for sale while stocks last.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nestlé</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Mum speaks out after reaction to cling wrap video

<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Warning: This article contains disturbing content which some readers may find distressing. </em></span></p> <p>A TikTok influencer said her son was temporarily taken from her home by child protection authorities after she <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/mum-slammed-for-cruel-cling-wrap-prank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted a video</a> of her husband pushing the child around while he was swaddled from the neck down in cling wrap.</p> <p>The mum, Savannah Glembin, who has 1.1 million followers on TikTok, appeared emotional as she announced in a clip that authorities took her son, Gunner, away following the initial video.</p> <p>“Gunner has been taken from us until CPR can evaluate our home because I posted a video of my husband and son playing," she said.</p> <p>The video of the incident sparked concern among TikTok users, Gunner, who appears to be about two years old, was tightly wrapped in cling wrap while being moved around by his father, Hank.</p> <p>Savannah defended their actions in the video, saying it was “just a funny thing Hank did because Gunner was getting into the stove that day and tried putting a fork in a socket”.</p> <p>Several TikTok users commented how they were left feeling uncomfortable and disturbed by the video, which has since been taken down, with one user @auntkaren0 reposting the video, calling it “feels like abuse”.</p> <p>At one point the boy is placed standing on the bed before he falls forward onto his knees, unable to move his arms as he’s constrained by the cling wrap.</p> <p>“He’s a worm”, his father joked.</p> <p>“If you have a grumpy toddler all day, this is the only way,” the mum is heard saying in the background of the video.</p> <p>Hank, in military uniform, then proceeded to place Gunner face down on the bed before he was flipped over onto his back.</p> <p>User @auntkaren0, who reposted the video, also said, “I don’t see what’s funny here. I don’t understand how putting your toddler in an uncomfortable position is funny and then posting it for views.</p> <p>“Not only did you not just do this for your own entertainment, you thought this was going to be everybody’s entertainment.</p> <p>“This is why I don’t like family channels like this, because they will go to any length for views.”</p> <p>Many other TikTok users shared their concern for the child, one comment said, “My anxiety when he fell forward and I was like omg he’s going to suffocate.”</p> <p>Another comment read, “That gave me anxiety. The feeling of not being able to move! That poor kid.”</p> <p>A third user said, “That gave me anxiety. The feeling of not being able to move! That poor kid.”</p> <p>Addressing the initial video, Savannah appeared tearful, saying, “Right now, we're dealing with a situation where Gunner has been taken from us until CPS can evaluate our home because I posted a video of my husband and son playing.</p> <p>“That video was skewed in a way [that resulted in] people thinking we were abusing our child. But he was laughing and smiling and it was just a funny thing Hank did because Gunner was getting into the stove that day and tried putting a fork in a socket.</p> <p>“Hank playfully wrapped him in cling wrap - he had room to move. He looked like a little worm, like a little cucumber. He was at no point in distress or crying.</p> <p>“We would never hurt our son, we would never hurt our child. He is the best thing that's ever happened to us.</p> <p>“I posted that video two days ago and the response that it had gotten was positive so like I didn't know that someone had thought it was bad until yesterday when cops showed up at our door and separated us, his family.</p> <p>“We went down and made our statements, thinking Gunner was going to be returned to us that day and that CPS would do their investigation and see that our home is safe.”</p> <p>“All I can say is that my son is so loved and cherished. He is my miracle baby, he was my fourth pregnancy after three miscarriages, and he's the light of my life.” She added.</p> <p>“We made a mistake and we don't deserve our child taken away because of it.”</p> <p>The mumfluencer then posted another TikTok that appeared to show the child was back home in the custody of her and her husband.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

Legal

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Mum slammed for cruel cling wrap ‘prank’

<p><strong><em>Warning: This article contains disturbing content which some readers may find distressing. </em></strong></p> <p>Tiktok influencer Savannah Glembin and her husband have come under fire for their decision to wrap their distressed toddler’s entire torso in cling wrap. </p> <p>In the now deleted video, the couple can be seen taking a concerning approach to discipline with their “stubborn” child. While Enya’s ‘Only Time’ plays in the background, Savannah’s husband Hank is standing behind their son, Gunner, as the toddler perches on a bed, his arms trapped against his sides in layers of cling wrap.</p> <p>“Grumpy toddler all day?” Savannah can be heard asking her audience, while over the video the text “this is the only way” is displayed. </p> <p>The family’s dog appears, before Hank lays Gunner on the bed, facedown, and states that “he’s a worm”. Gunner, then on his back, cries as he rolls to his side, unable to move any further. </p> <p>Although Savannah removed the incident from her feed, many accounts stitched the original video (the TikTok equivalent of a repost with additional commentary) beforehand. One user, known on the app as Aunt Karen, offered a trigger warning at the beginning of hers, stating that “this feels like abuse.”</p> <div class="element-embed clear-both" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: roboto_regular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"> <blockquote id="v13272776541841646" class="tiktok-embed" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 605px; margin: 18px auto; line-height: 1.15; overflow: hidden; text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: proxima-regular, PingFangSC, sans-serif; max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@auntkaren0/video/7207105964476992811" data-video-id="7207105964476992811"><p><iframe style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: initial; border-style: none; max-width: 100%; width: 605px; height: 740px; display: block; visibility: unset; max-height: 740px; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important;" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7207105964476992811?lang=en-GB&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvanouvelles.ca%2F2023%2F03%2F07%2Fune-video-tiktok-seme-lindignation-alors-quun-bambin-est-la-proie-du-jeu-lugubre-de-son-pere" name="__tt_embed__v13272776541841646" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin"></iframe></p></blockquote> </div> <div id="magnite_outstream" class="splitbox-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: roboto_regular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"></div> <div id="fsk_splitbox_992_onscreen" class="fsk_splitbox_992_onscreen" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; color: #333333; font-family: roboto_regular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"> <div id="fsk_splitbox_992" class=" fsk_splitbox_992" style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 603px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; height: 0px; text-align: center;"><iframe id="fsk_frame_splitbox" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 602.998px; height: 0px; border-width: initial; border-style: none; margin: 0px;" name="fsk_frame_splitbox" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> <p>"I don't see what's funny here,” Aunt Karen concludes. “I don't understand how putting your toddler in an uncomfortable position is funny and then posting it for views. </p> <p>“Not only did you not just do this for your own entertainment, you thought this was going to be everybody's entertainment. </p> <p>"This is why I don't like family channels like this, because they will go to any length for views."</p> <p>People from all around the world were in agreement, outraged at the treatment of the toddler. </p> <p>The uproar grew so loud that child protective services in the US - where the family reside - got involved, and Savannah was forced to post a tearful ‘apology’ to her account.</p> <p>“I made the biggest mistake of my life posting this video. Genuinely and truly he was laughing and smiling and was out of the plastic in under five minutes,” she said. Many were quick to point out that while Savannah had apologised for posting the content, she hadn’t actually owned up to what they’d done to their son. </p> <p>“Right now, we're dealing with a situation where Gunner has been taken from us until CPR can evaluate our home,” Savannah told followers in another video, “because I posted a video of my husband and son playing."</p> <p>Savannah insisted that her son was not upset, despite his distressed demeanour in the original post. </p> <p>"That video was skewed in a way [and led to] people thinking we were abusing our child,” she said. “But he was laughing and smiling and it was just a funny thing Hank did because Gunner was getting into the stove that day and tried putting a fork in a socket.</p> <p>"Hank playfully wrapped him in cling wrap, he had room to move, he looked like a little cucumber. At no point was he in distress or crying.</p> <p>"We would never hurt our son. He is the best thing that's ever happened to us.”</p> <p>Savannah noted that they hadn’t expected the response their video received, and claimed that they hadn’t realised anyone felt negatively “until yesterday when cops showed up and our door and separated us, his family.”</p> <p>"We made a mistake,” Savannah concluded, “and we don't deserve our child taken away because of it."</p> <p>Gunner has since been returned to the couple, with Savannah captioning yet another TikTok update “home where he belongs”.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Wrapping presents leads to mother's cheeky Christmas discovery

<p>Queensland mother of four Nicole, was wrapping her Christmas presents early this year, when she had to take a second glance at a few images on what she thought was fairly innocent and cute wrapping paper.</p> <p>What she didn’t realise, was that after wrapping a few presents she accidentally selected something a little too inappropriate.</p> <p>The paper, innocently named "Christmas Wrapping Paper Roll" online actually contained X-rated cartoon images. One of an aroused snowman and another of a randy reindeer mounting another.</p> <p>I purchased them online and only noticed when I was wrapping my third present - thankfully the first two were for me and my partner!" she laughed.</p> <p>"When I first saw it I had to send photos to my friend and mother to see if they noticed anything off while wiping laughing tears from my face."</p> <p>Nicole said she wasn't planning on ditching the paper from Typo completely, but with her younger children, she wasn't keen on her kids asking about the birds and the bees over Christmas lunch.</p> <p>"I have only wrapped small presents in it now with strategically placed name labels," she said of her work-around.</p> <p>"I find it hilarious and have showed everyone. I put the post up on social media in case someone hadn’t noticed or may have left it too late to buy more paper ... and to give people a laugh!"</p> <p>Feeling the need to share, Nicole posted snaps of the paper in the Christmas Mums Australia Facebook group, and wasn't the only one to find it funny. Over 340 members of the group commented on Nicole's post.</p> <p>“This is the best!” one person commented.</p> <p>“That’s gold! I love it,” added another.</p> <p>As the laughter and jokes kept coming, many shoppers said that others shouldn’t be so surprised by the images, given Type, the store Nicole purchased from is known for selling cheeky items like this.</p> <p><em>Images: Typo</em></p>

Family & Pets

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5 clever uses for Christmas wrapping paper and cards

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After opening presents and reading cards from our loved ones and friends, we’re often left with piles of wrapping paper that need to be dealt with.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rather than throwing it straight into the bin, some can be recycled or repurposed into items that have that little bit of sentimental value.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://pop.inquirer.net/117417/10-diy-tips-for-recycling-your-christmas-gift-wrappers-and-cards" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">five</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> clever and crafty uses for your wrapping paper and cards this Christmas.</span></p> <p><strong>Confetti</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846531/wrapping-paper1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d993d6a78ab74456ac1a7f3e6e5ad702" /></strong></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: One Good Thing by Jillee / onegoodthingbyjillee.com</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An easy and cost-effective way to recycle wrapping paper, you can make the confetti just in time for any New Year’s parties or events you’ve planned. Just run the paper through a shredder or take to it with scissors and it’s ready to be used.</span></p> <p><strong>Drawer liners</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846530/wrapping-paper2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/aeb39c63c2ef4199af0cadba93257641" /></strong></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Making Home Base / makinghomebase.com</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re someone who meticulously unwraps your gifts or you have some spare paper lying around, this hack could be perfect for you. Simply follow </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.makinghomebase.com/how-to-make-drawer-liners/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">this tutorial</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to line your drawers with the paper and give them a bright, new look with minimal effort.</span></p> <p><strong>Book wrappers</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846529/wrapping-paper3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b2c873ce9d28408aa95a3aef003f5dce" /></strong></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Eighteen25 / eighteen25.com</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a similar vein to drawer liners, wrapping paper can also be used to brighten up your stationery. Follow this easy </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://eighteen25.com/wrapping-paper-book-covers/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tutorial</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to give your planners, notebooks, and journals that extra bit of colour and personality.</span></p> <p><strong>Bookmarks</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846527/wrapping-paper4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b064416ccfc045b99b1769b262e9f01d" /></strong></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: The Frugal Girls / thefrugalgirls.com</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With this DIY project, you can turn your Christmas cards and discarded wrapping paper into a bookmark you can gift or keep for yourself. To make them, gather up your cards, a hole punch, and some ribbon, and follow this six-step </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://thefrugalgirls.com/2010/01/how-to-make-homemade-bookmarks-from-cards.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tutorial</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. As for the wrapping paper, you can use it to add some extra decorations to your bookmarks.</span></p> <p><strong>Homemade envelopes</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846528/wrapping-paper5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/234a72cc71a24fed8cf1701e7abe9b7e" /></strong></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Creative Green Living / creativegreenliving.com</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wrapping paper can also be repurposed to make envelopes. Whether you want to send friends letters or save them for birthday and Christmas cards, follow this </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.creativegreenliving.com/2012/12/how-to-make-envelopes-from-magazine.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tutorial</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to make envelopes that are even more personalised.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Family finds 1.3m snake wrapped around mirror

<p><em>Image: Brisbane North Snake Catcher/Facebook</em></p> <p>Checking your rear-view mirrors is essential before driving off. However, one Queensland family has discovered another big reason to perform this important safety check.</p> <p>The family had been off enjoying a picnic north of Brisbane on Sunday. Upon returning to the car – much to their shock – have discovered a large snake wrapped around the rear view mirror.</p> <p>According to Brisbane North Snake Catcher director Josh Castle, this was an unusual place to find a snake. “I’ve never seen it,” he told 7News.</p> <p>“I have pulled them out of car bonnets and stuff like that, which is more to be expected because they can into a bonnet from underneath.</p> <p>“The fact it was actually in the car and soaking in the sun through the window on the mirror is quite weird.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845991/new-project-8.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/44e7a1c59704460f8dd92137545a5f90" /></p> <p>The snake has been identified as a coastal carpet python approximately 1.3.m.</p> <p>“We’ve pretty much found them everywhere now. That pretty much tickets every box on where we’ve found them,” he said.</p> <p>Naturally, the internet absolutely lost its collective mind when photos of the car invader emerged.</p> <p>“Sell the damn car, it belongs to the snake now,” wrote another.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Get wrapping! Aus Post releases Christmas package deadlines

<p>Australia Post is urging all Australians to send their Christmas gifts and cards by mid-December at the latest as record volumes of parcels threaten to create delays.</p> <p>The postal service said 2021 has already seen volume records broken, with this year’s Christmas expected to be the biggest on record for the nation’s couriers and postal workers.</p> <p>With many state boarders still closed and online shopping showing no sign of slowing down, Australia post is anticipating parcel traffic to be extremely high. The organisation has hired more than 4000 Christmas casuals to cope with demand.</p> <p>To ensure Christmas gifts and cards arrive on time, Australia Post has set the following deadlines:</p> <ul> <li>All parcels sent via regular post must be sent by Monday December 13th.</li> <li>All parcels sent via express post must be sent by Monday December 20th.</li> <li>All Christmas cards should be sent by Thursday December 16th.</li> </ul> <p>Customers in Perth, Darwin and regional areas are advised to send their gifts and cards even earlier than the recommended deadlines to avoid disappointed.</p> <p>Australia Post's Executive General Manager of Business and Government, Gary Starr, said the service has been preparing for a bumper Christmas for weeks.</p> <p>"We're seeing record parcel volumes with more than 5.9 million households shopping online a month — that's more than half of all Australian households, and it's showing no signs of slowing as we head into the online sales season and Christmas," Mr Starr said.</p> <p>"That is why we've planned ahead with extra air freight capacity, weekend deliveries and recruitment of thousands of new team members to ramp up our delivery services, parcel sorting and customer care, and we'll be delivering right up until Christmas Eve.</p>

Family & Pets

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What life is like onboard the cruise ship with no destination

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hong Kong has tried several times to resurrect international travel after the devastation on the tourism industry, but to no avail. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pandemic has seen international travel, especially cruises, come to a grinding halt in the country for over 18 months. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Hong Kong, once Asia’s biggest international hub, continues to pursue their zero-COVID policy, many opportunities for travel bubbles with neighbouring countries fell through. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To help locals experience a taste of travel again, Dream Cruises have come up with a fitting alternative vacation option. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Passengers can now book their rooms on the Genting Dream ship, which floats around the country in a big loop before returning to the port. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844295/cruise-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/28b020cbbe2945e5a4eccefb8a8bc2b8" /></p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>Journeys last either two or three nights, with room ranging from $295AUD to $4,160AUD for the experience. </span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>The Genting Dream can normally hold more than 3,000 people, but ticket sales have been capped at half capacity to ensure social distancing measures are able to be adhered to. </span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>To board the vessel, all passengers must be fully vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, as well as undergoing strict pre-boarding checks and health declarations. </span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>Passengers on board are encouraged to book access to the pool on deck, and while the hot tubs were closed, sun loungers and sofas by the deck bars were freely available. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844296/cruise-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6b78c4da0ca647e0be77f8625e68ce6c" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Genting Dream’s medical centre. Image credit: Getty</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are also a range of activities to take part in, including a basketball court, a mini-golf course, a play area with activities for children and an arcade for teenagers, lethally fast water slides twisting down to the main deck, and a hair-raising ropes course with a zip wire jutting out over the open sea.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ship also boasts a dedicated medical centre, fitted with an isolation room in case of any unprecedented COVID-19 emergencies. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The unique cruising experience gives travellers a chance to relax in a brief bubble of normality while overlooking the South China Sea, as a suitable substitute to overseas travelling. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Cruising

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Friendship bubble announced for under-18s

<p dir="ltr">The NSW government has announced the establishment of a “friend bubble” for people under the age of 18 within the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">The “friend” or “playdate” bubble will allow three young people under the age of 18 to meet up for quality social time.</p> <p dir="ltr">The members of each bubble must live within the same LGA, or within five kilometres of each other, and any supervising adults must be fully vaccinated.</p> <p dir="ltr">The new change was signed off by the NSW government and is set to take effect from Tuesday September 21st.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fifteen-year-old school student Alyssa Horan spoke at the daily NSW press conference to celebrate the announcement.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Children and young people definitely want to do the right thing and also be able to socialise because lockdown is incredibly isolating for everyone," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Helping everyone feel connected will undoubtedly benefit their mental health."</p> <p dir="ltr">Deputy Premier for NSW John Barilaro said the new bubble will come as a reward to both parents and children after months of lockdown restrictions and isolating conditions of at-home learning.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We're in school holidays, kids have done it really, really tough, parents have done it tough," Mr Barilaro told <em>Today</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The mental strain, the wellbeing of our kids are important. So the crisis committee made a decision that we'll allow those kids to come together, just like we have the adult single bubbles but that's for the vaccinated.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"For kids you don't have to be vaccinated and we'll allow some kids to come together during the school holidays."</p> <p dir="ltr">The announcement comes as Pfizer confirms their COVID-19 vaccine is safe and works for children between the ages of 5 and 11, as well as Moderna becoming widely available for kids.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Singapore-Australia travel bubble on the cards

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak across eastern Australia, Qantas has announced plans to restart international flights as soon as Christmas.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The national airline has struggled during the pandemic, with CEO Alan Joyce describing trading as “diabolical”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first stop on the airline’s international itinerary will be countries with high COVID-19 vaccination rates, with Singapore coming in first on the list of eligible countries.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Until now, Australia has opened one successful travel bubble with New Zealand, however borders have since closed at the time of writing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, with a Singapore-Australia travel bubble in our future, here’s everything you need to know about how it will work when it opens.</span></p> <p><strong>When will Australians be able to travel to Singapore?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Qantas is planning to restart travel to the nation by mid-December, 2021.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Australian government has also been discussing the opening of a travel bubble with Singapore, though an official date is yet to be set.</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/CQf7JHfBlB4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CQf7JHfBlB4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by VisitSingapore (@visit_singapore)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bubble would allow residents from Singapore and Australia to travel between the countries without undergoing mandatory quarantine.</span></p> <p><strong>Will I need to be vaccinated to enter Singapore?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The short answer: yes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many countries are introducing vaccine passports to travel, with Singapore instituting a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) that only allows vaccinated travellers into the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, Singapore will be requiring potential visitors to apply seven to 30 days before they plan to enter the country, with applications available from September 1, 2021.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the chances of contracting COVID-19 in Singapore are much lower than other destinations, the Delta variant has triggered a surge in outbreaks - highlighting the need for travellers to be vaccinated.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Visit Singapore / Instagram</span></em></p>

International Travel

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Desperate push to restart cruising in Australia

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cruise heads are urging the Federal government to figure out a way to bring cruising back to Australia, however the future remains uncertain. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australians working in the cruise industry are desperate to create a solid “plan” for their lives, the Cruise Lines International Association Managing Director Joel Katz told <em>Sky News. </em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The coronavirus pandemic set the once-booming cruising industry to a crashing halt at the beginning of 2020, but Mr Katz says that considering 1 in 17 Australians opted to cruise before COVID-19 hit; not enough is being done to bring it back. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He went on to say Aussies are certainly itching to set sail again, and he believes the Australian government’s current international border restrictions could help elevate tourism to regional areas. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“18,000 jobs around Australia are dependent on the cruise industry, and what they’re saying is they need some certainty about the pathway forward,” he told Sky News.  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That’s what we’re saying to the government, let’s work out what the framework is for cruise resumption so that all these Australians who are looking [for] the pathway ahead can plan their lives.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We have the opportunity, while our international borders are closed, to offer domestic cruising to the amazing ports and destinations right around Australia, our communities.  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our regional areas are crying out for tourism and cruise has the ability to deliver to those communities while the international borders remain closed safely within the Australian bubble.”</span></p>

Cruising

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Woolworths sends shoppers wild over $8 beverage

<p>Woolworths shoppers have gone into a frenzy after a video posted to TikTok revealed the supermarket now stocks bubble tea kits for just $8.</p> <p>New Zealand brand Avalanche are the ones behind the DIY Bubble Tea Kits, with Woolworths across Australia exclusively stocking them in Milky (Original), Strawberry, Peach, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Mango, Matcha and Taro flavours. Each pack comes with five servings.</p> <p>Adelaide food TikToker Brittany Boyle was the one who shared the clip, saying her experience with the popular beverage was "fantastic".</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 279.1666666666667px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841822/screen-shot-2021-06-16-at-110436-am.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ccca23ab1df4440286575893023960e4" /></p> <p>“PSA for all my bubble tea lovers,” Boyle posted. “Woolworths now sell bubble tea kits.”</p> <p>Speaking to Pedestrian TV, Boyle said the taro and peach flavours were "delicious".</p> <p>“But I’d definitely recommend using milk instead of water for the milky teas and instead of microwaving the pearls soak them in hot water,” she added.</p> <p>“[It] tastes so much better that way.”</p> <p>In a statement, Woolworths Merchandise Manager, Cormac Deery, told news.com.au they “love seeing customers enjoy the new Avalanche Bubble Tea and sharing their excitement online”.</p> <p>“Customers are clearly enjoying the product and flavours available too as there’s been a noticeable spike in demand on the range, particularly over the weekend,” he added.</p> <p>“We have no doubt TikTok has played a large part in the awareness of the range.”</p> <p>The range has hit shelves in all states and territories bar Western Australia. But there's no need for concern, as shoppers can expect to find it within the next 24-48 hours.</p> <p>Boyle’s video was viewed by close to two million people, many of them commenting how excited they were about getting their hands on the product.</p> <p>“Looks like I’m taking a trip to Woolworths in the morning then,” one of the 15,000 people to comment wrote.</p> <p>“I’m so mad that it’s 11.45 pm now and I have to wait till tomorrow to get some,” said another.</p>

Food & Wine

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Australia and Singapore agree on plans for travel bubble

<p>Scott Morrison has reached a deal with Singapore to work on the conditions for a travel bubble that would initially allow students to return.</p> <p>The Prime Minister visited Singapore on Thursday to speak to his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.</p> <p>It was the first stop on his way to Cornwall for the G7 leaders' summit, as well as trade and security talks in London and Paris.</p> <p>Over the past week, Singapore has recorded an average of four local COVID-19 cases a day, with its vaccine rollout well underway, restrictions easing and rapid test kits about to go on sale to the public in pharmacies.</p> <p>Morrison said Singapore had done a "tremendous" job in tackling the virus and it was time to put systems in place to enable the two countries to open up in a similar way to the Australia-New Zealand bubble "when we are both in a position to do so".</p> <p>"There is nothing impeding us - as we discussed today - from getting on with the job of putting systems in place that will enable such a bubble to emerge between Singapore and Australia," he said.</p> <p>Students from Singapore would get priority when the bubble is established.</p> <p>At an int media conference, Mr Lee said the world was now transitioning into the "next phase of the fight", in relation to the pandemic.</p> <p>The "safe and calibrated" air travel bubble would start with mutual recognition of vaccine certificates, he said.</p> <p>"When ready then we can start small with an air travel bubble to build confidence on both sides," he said.</p> <p>The two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding on health care and health technology and agreed to begin talks on a "finch bridge" which would make it easier to cooperate on financial technology.</p> <p>After the G7 summit, Morrison will meet with British PM Boris Johnson in London and hold talks in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron.</p> <p>"There has never been a more important time for Australia to be at the table with the world's largest liberal democracies and advanced economies," Mr Morrison said in a statement.</p> <p>"The global pandemic and the recession it has caused means like-minded countries and businesses need to work together to lead the global recovery to restore lives and livelihoods.</p> <p>"There is a lot at stake for Australia, the region and the world."</p>

International Travel

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Humpback whales have been spotted ‘bubble-net feeding’ for the first time in Australia

<p>If you gaze at the ocean this winter, you might just be lucky enough to spot a whale migrating along Australia’s coastline. This is the start of whale season, when the gentle giants breed in the warm northern waters off Australia after feeding in Antarctica.</p> <p>This north-south migration happens every year, but the whales can still surprise us. Thanks to a <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-citizen-science-16487">citizen scientist</a> and his drone, humpback whales were seen feeding in a mass super group and “bubble-net feeding” off the New South Wales coast last year.</p> <p>As my new <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.3621">research paper</a> confirms, this a big deal for two reasons: it’s only the second time a super group of humpbacks has been observed in the southern hemisphere (a first for Australia) and the first time bubble-net feeding has been seen in Australia.</p> <p>So what is bubble-net feeding, and why are these observations so important?</p> <p><strong>Blowing bubbles, catching krill</strong></p> <p>Bubble-net feeding is when whales deliberately blow bubbles from their noses to encircle their food — <a href="https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/krill/">krill</a> and fish — like a net, concentrating their prey into a tight ball. Then, the whale or group of whales swim together from beneath, rise to the surface opening their mouths, and gulp up their prey.</p> <p>It remains a mystery as to why the whales feed in this way and how they learned to do it.</p> <p>2020 was a year full of unprecedented events, and the humpback whales certainly didn’t disappoint.</p> <p>Humpback whales in this eastern Australian population are usually observed lunge feeding on their side, or feeding below the surface. Bubble-net feeding, on the other hand, is mostly documented in some <a href="https://youtu.be/Q8iDcLTD9wQ">Northern Hemisphere populations</a>.</p> <p>But we know there are individual whales in the eastern Australian humpback population who bubble-net feed in Antarctic waters. This means the unique behaviour in Australian waters may have evolved independently, or through <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/114/30/7775">cultural transmission</a> (learning new behaviours from different whales).</p> <p>The drone footage and observations made in September from whale-watching boats was the first to document bubble-net feeding. To add to the excitement, citizen scientists also documented bubble-net feeding behaviour further south of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-04/unprecedented-humpback-whale-sightings-tasmania-migration-season/12844702">Tasmania</a> a month later.</p> <p>Using stills from the September drone footage, an estimated 33 humpback whales can be seen feeding at the same time. Unfortunately, it’s not known exactly what the whales were feeding on.</p> <p>Until then, humpback whale congregations this large had never been observed in Australian waters.</p> <p>In fact, the only other time a mass humpback feeding event has been seen in the Southern Hemisphere was off <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0172002">South Africa</a> in 2011 (this now occurs regularly there). This was the first time the term “super group” was used to describe a group of 20 or more whales feeding this way.</p> <p><strong>But why were they feeding in ‘breeding waters’ anyway?</strong></p> <p>The majority of the east Australian humpback whale population spends the summer months feeding in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-30748-4">Antarctic waters</a>. They then head north to warm breeding waters in the Great Barrier Reef during winter (June-August) to mate and give birth.</p> <p>They forego feeding for love — humpbacks can go for months without eating, relying instead on energy reserves in order to reproduce. Animals that do this are called <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19739368/">capital breeders</a>.</p> <p>From August to November, humpbacks migrate southward back to Antarctica. Along the way, they sometimes take a “pit-stop” on parts of Australia’s east coast <a href="http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v541/p231-244/">to feed</a>.</p> <p>It was originally thought this population never fed along the migratory route. However, we know they do now to possibly supplement their energy intake as they migrate.</p> <p><strong>So why are these observations important?</strong></p> <p>Whales play important an important role in the <a href="https://youtu.be/2PXgFoTtwi0">ecosystem</a> of the ocean because they feed in one area and poo in another.</p> <p>This action — known as the “<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0013255">whale pump</a>” — moves nutrients around the ocean. Their poo feeds tiny organisms, such as <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/plankton/">plankton</a>, which are eaten by krill, and then eaten by whales.</p> <p>Seeing these super group feedings highlights changes in our marine environment we might not have otherwise been aware of.</p> <p>One possible explanation for this behaviour could be favourable environmental conditions. A combination of ideal water temperatures and nutrients may have resulted in an abundance of food, which saw large numbers of humpback whales feeding in the same area.</p> <p>Or perhaps it has something to do with the recovery of the east coast humpback whale population, which has been increasing in numbers since whaling ended in the 1960s.</p> <p>Regardless, it’s important to understand how changes in the marine environment influence the extent humpback whales depend on feeding opportunities along their migratory route.</p> <p>This will help to predict how whale populations respond to future changes in the ocean. This includes climate change, which will warm ocean temperatures and alter when and where the prey of humpback whales are found. As a result, humpback whales will also move to different locations.</p> <p>One thing, at least, is abundantly clear: more eyes on land and sea through <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12651">citizen science</a> will provide a valuable opportunity to document such exciting future events. So keep your eyes peeled for whales this season, and be sure to tell a scientist if you see something unexpected.</p> <p><em>Written by <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vanessa-pirotta-873986">Vanessa Pirotta</a>, Macquarie University. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/humpback-whales-have-been-spotted-bubble-net-feeding-for-the-first-time-in-australia-and-we-have-it-on-camera-157355">The Conversation.</a> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

Cruising

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The travel bubble loophole that could land you in jail

<p>Travellers who are considering using the newly-opened travel bubble to New Zealand to head to other countries risk receiving massive fines and even jail time.</p> <p dir="ltr">With quarantine-free flights now available between New Zealand and Australia, news of a ‘loophole’ appeared that could enable Australian travellers to enter other international destinations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Current COVID restrictions mean that Australians have been banned from leaving the country unless they have an exemption.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, since Aussies can now travel to New Zealand, our kiwi neighbour could act as a stepping stone to other foreign countries.</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/CN1YbWXDwFT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CN1YbWXDwFT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by New Zealand (@purenewzealand)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">To prevent unnecessary travel, Health Minister Greg Hunt signed off on a new amendment to the Australian Government’s<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00456?fbclid=IwAR1laL3vGPRQAr_JErYR1Uf59sHszZ15SjuCjd0YIN-HCyoR628MXhSOhyk" target="_blank">Biosecurity Legislation (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential)</a>, which comes into effect on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The change will see Australian citizens and residents penalised if they travel to a foreign country beyond New Zealand unless they have an exemption to travel for a compassionate reason, such as the death or serious illness of a close family member, or they require medical treatment that isn’t reasonably available in Australia or New Zealand.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the document, those who break the rules “may contravene a civil penalty provision’ set out in section 46 of the Biosecurity Act.</p> <p dir="ltr">The minimum penalty for failing to comply with entry and exit requirements in the Biosecurity Act starts at $6300.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the penalty listed on the Australian Parliament website is much harsher, with people who intentionally disobey the rules facing up to five years’ jail time and a $63,000 fine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite still being in its early days, a new community COVID case in Auckland has Australian health authorities concerned that the trans-Tasman bubble could pop.</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/CGYrBcPj2eH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CGYrBcPj2eH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Aussiepomm (@aussiepomm)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">New Zealand’s Ministry of Health announced the case just a day after the quarantine requirements were lifted for those travelling between Australia and New Zealand.</p> <p dir="ltr">The case is believed to have contracted the virus from a passenger who arrived on an international flight from a ‘red zone’ (high risk) country.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the new case shouldn’t impact the trans-Tasman travel arrangements.</p> <p dir="ltr">‘These are the kind of scenarios where we would anticipate movement continuing,’ she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">‘Our Minister of Health has kept in touch with his counterpart. They’re directly communicating and so are our officials.’</p>

Travel Trouble

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Pack your bags: The trans-Tasman bubble is officially open

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Set your sights on New Zealand, as our kiwi neighbour welcomes Aussie travellers once again.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trans-Tasman bubble has officially opened, allowing visitors to fly between the two countries without needing to quarantine before or after travel.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrew Waddel, Tourism New Zealand’s General Manager, told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> there would be “emotional scenes” in New Zealand today as friends and families reunite following border closures last March.</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/CNT6ru9AGpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CNT6ru9AGpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by New Zealand (@purenewzealand)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Building from that, there are going to be business travellers and holiday arrivals,” Mr Waddel said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“New Zealand gets to welcome back our Australian friends and vice-versa, New Zealanders coming back to Australia as well.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s been a long time coming, but Mr Waddel said, “We’re really excited. It’s a great buzz here in the airport.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As well as seeing family and friends reunite, the trans-Tasman bubble would also offer a large economic return and create jobs according to Mr Waddel.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He recommended that Australians eager to travel to “plan ahead” and do their research ahead of their trip.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’re encouraging people to visit websites like New Zealand.com or COVID19.gov.nz and they’ll provide good travel advice,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Download the COVID app, plan ahead and have contingencies in place as well.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There’s so much to offer … which we’re looking forward to sharing soon. We’re really excited.”</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/CN0ysmujaJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CN0ysmujaJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the night of Sunday, April 18, the first quarantine-free flight between the two countries touched down in Auckland, just minutes after the trans-Tasman bubble officially opened.</span></p>

International Travel

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Qantas boss hints at four more travel bubbles

<p><span>Australians are being given the opportunity to travel overseas for the first time in more than a year, in just days.</span><br /><br /><span>The highly anticipated New Zealand travel bubble will open for reciprocal quarantine-free travel on Monday.</span><br /><br /><span>However, impatient Aussies are already wondering when they can set their sights further, and go to next.</span><br /><br /><span>Qantas boss Alan Joyce has given a hint as to where we may be able to go.</span><br /><br /><span>On Thursday, Joyce suggested there are four countries that could be in line for a travel arrangement.</span><br /><br /><span>“It all depends on what level of COVID is in an individual country, and what level of restrictions and testing will be put in place,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>“There are clearly a lot of countries in the region, especially in the Asia-Pacific, that have had a tight control on COVID.</span><br /><br /><span>“They give us market opportunities for Singapore, like Japan, markets like Taiwan for us to potentially open up.</span><br /><br /><span>“But we’re also actively looking at the Pacific Islands because there are really good opportunities in places like Fiji and the Pacific Islands to open up.”</span><br /><br /><span>Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also hinted at possibly opening up the travel bubble arrangement a little more.</span><br /><br /><span>“These things are regularly assessed by the Chief Medical Officer and we have looked at places like Singapore and Japan and South Korea, and countries like this,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>“But at this stage, we are not in a position to move forward on any of those at this point.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840759/qantas-jacinda-ardern-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/839b26b4d61e4c19a0b9415f1623e95f" /><br /><br /><span>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also revealed that their government is considering whether the Cook Islands could be incorporated into a travel bubble.</span><br /><br /><span>She says the travel bubble announcement is “world-leading” however stressed that it is fragile.</span><br /><br /><span>Ardern said three responses are in place should a COVID outbreak happen in Australia or a coronavirus case.</span><br /><br /><span>They said their process would be to continue, pause or suspend flights.</span><br /><br /><span>“For instance, if a case is found that is quite clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, you’ll likely see travel continue in the same way as you could see life continue if that happened here in Australia,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>“If, however, a case was found that was not clearly linked to the border, and a state responded by a short lockdown to identify more information, we’d likely pause flights from that state in the same way we would stop travel into and out of a region in New Zealand as if it were going into a full lockdown.</span><br /><br /><span>“And if we saw multiple cases of unknown origin, we would likely suspend flights for a set period of time.”</span></p>

International Travel

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BREAKING: Overseas travel date announced for Aussies

<p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has just made a huge announcement, telling Aussies they will be able to fly to their nation without having to quarantine in less than just two weeks.</p> <p>Appearing in front of media on Tuesday afternoon, the New Zealand leader announced that the trans-Tasman bubble would be going ahead after more than a year of closed international borders.</p> <p>She said that the new travel opportunity across the ditch will start at 11.59 pm April 18.</p> <p>Airlines including Qantas and Air New Zealand will be allowed to take bookings from April 19.</p> <p>“Managing COVID and keeping it out of New Zealand over the last year has been a massive team effort,” she said from the Beehive in Wellington.</p> <p>“One sacrifice that has been particularly hard for many to bear over the past year has not been able to see friends and family who live in Australia.</p> <p>“Cabinet was presented with advice today that conditions for opening up quarantine-free travel with Australia had been met.</p> <p>“The Director-General of Health considers the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from Australia to New Zealand to now be low, and that quarantine-free travel would be safe to commence.”</p> <p>Ms Ardern went on to sat that the bubble was a world first, and an “important step” in post-pandemic recovery.</p> <p>“This is an important step forward in our COVID response and represents an arrangement I do not believe we have seen in any other part of the world,” she explained.</p> <p>“That is, safely opening up international travel to another country while continuing to pursue a strategy of elimination and a commitment to keeping the virus out.”</p> <p>People who travel from New Zealand are able to fly to most parts of Australia without having to undergo mandatory quarantine.</p> <p>However, the trans-Tasman bubble allows people from both countries to be exempt from quarantine restrictions.</p> <p>Ms Ardern made clear that there would be scenarios where the bubble might burst, including if there were to be an outbreak in an Australian city.</p> <p>She also said it would depend on a number of circumstances, including the number of cases and contacts, or whether the source of the virus could be linked or not.</p>

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Qantas announces first international destinations Aussies can travel to

<p><span>Qantas has shared the first routes it plans to fly to once international travel starts back up again.</span><br /><br /><span>The airline announced on Thursday that it was planning for a “restart” as soon as October 2021.</span><br /><br /><span>CEO Alan Joyce said there had been a “significant” loss of $1 billion in the first half of the 2020-21 financial year.</span><br /><br /><span>“These figures are stark, but they won’t come as a surprise,” Joyce said.</span><br /><br /><span>“Border closures meant we lost virtually 100 per cent of our international flying and 70 per cent of our domestic flying.”</span><br /><br /><span>Joyce went on to reveal the countries the airline would be flying to as soon as Aussies were allowed to jump back on to planes.</span><br /><br /><span>Qantas is planning to resume flights to 22 of its 25 destinations, including Los Angeles, London, Singapore and Johannesburg from October 31.</span><br /><br /><span>The outstanding destinations are New York, Santiago and Osaka, and they do not feature as part of the airline’s immediate plans.</span><br /><br /><span>Joyce said the vaccine rollout has raised hope for the future of international travel.</span><br /><br /><span>“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve updated our assumptions on international travel restarting,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>He acknowledged that a surge of COVID cases worldwide combined with new strains of the virus had made things difficult.</span><br /><br /><span>“We’re now planning for international travel to restart at the end of October this year, in line with the date for Australia’s vaccine rollout to be effectively complete.”</span><br /><br /><span>He also has hopes for a trans-Tasman travel bubble.</span><br /><br /><span>“We’re still targeting July for a material increase in New Zealand flights.</span><br /><br /><span>“We’re in close consultation with government, and if things change, so will our dates. But with the vaccine rollout already underway, we’re on the right track.”</span></p>

International Travel

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Budget bubbles: Australia's Top 10 tasty champagnes

<p>Valentine's Day is fast approaching and what could be better than popping open a bottle of Champagne to celebrate the occasion.</p> <p>But if you're on a budget, you can get that Champagne taste on a sparkling wine budget - with some options coming in at less than $7.50.</p> <p>Speaking to 9Honey, a number of wine experts recommended their favourite sparkling under $20. Here's what they recommended:</p> <p><strong>Claire Creek Sparkling Moscato Rosa NV, $3.99</strong></p> <p>"Whether enjoyed as an aperitif or over a cream layered fruit Pavlova, sparkling moscato is a great way to freshen up the palate after a meal. Lifted, light red fruits of musk, fairy floss and strawberry tropical fruits, bring freshness and a balanced sweetness to the mouth. Best served chilled." -<span> </span><em>Jason Bowyer, Wine and Sparkling Buying Director, ALDI</em></p> <p><strong>Veuve-Olivier Sparkling Brut NV 750ml, $7.49</strong></p> <p>"If you can't go past a French bubbly, particularly a sparkling under $10, then look no further than this Gold Medal-winning bottle. This wine is a fresh, dry, and fruit-driven bubble full of citrus and toasted honey flavours. Available as part of our everyday range, this is the perfect bottle for a Valentine's Day toast."<span> </span><em>- Jason Bowyer, Wine and Sparkling Buying Director, ALDI</em></p> <p><strong>Yellowglen Chardonnay Pinot Noir &amp; Prosecco NV 750ml, $7.99</strong></p> <p>"This refreshing pinot noir and prosecco is exclusive to ALDI with fresh citrus and stone fruit flavours and a creamy finish."<span> </span><em>- Jason Bowyer, Wine and Sparkling Buying Director, ALDI</em></p> <p><strong>Yellowglen Chardonnay Pinot Noir Prosecco &amp; Rose NV 750ml, $7.99</strong></p> <p>"A pale pink, refreshing rose sparkling that is perfect for any celebration, with aromas of strawberries and white pear."<span> </span><em>- Jason Bowyer, Wine and Sparkling Buying Director, ALDI</em></p> <p><strong>Corte Carista Prosecco NV 750ml, $9.99</strong></p> <p>"This classic prosecco from the Veneto Fruilli Venezia Giulia region is fresh and dry, with flavours of white pear, acacia flowers and elegant perfume."<span> </span><em>- Jason Bowyer, Wine and Sparkling Buying Director, ALDI</em></p> <p><strong>Vallee Des Secrets Sparkling Cuvee NV, $12.99</strong></p> <p>"This masterful Grande Cuvee exudes freshness, vibrancy and subtle complexity. Another award winner available in stores every day, the Cuvee features flavours of white stone fruits, grapefruit and light red fruits."<span> </span><em>- Jason Bowyer, Wine and Sparkling Buying Director, ALDI</em></p> <p><strong>Amelia &amp; Trent Burge Versus Cuvee Brut, $14.99</strong></p> <p>"The perfect bottle of bubbles for lovers who like their sparkling wine on the crisp and dry side. This Chardonnay Pinot Noir sparkling is full of summer fruits with complex notes on the nose followed by a rich mouthfeel and a light, crisp finish."<span> </span><em>- Mathew Young, Champagne and Sparkling Wine Category Manager, Dan Murphy's</em></p> <p><strong>Villa Conchi Brut Selection Cava, $16.99</strong></p> <p>"For the woman in your life! With the aim of paying homage to Conchi, a woman who loved French sparkling wines, Villa Conchi Cava is a tribute to women around the world. A careful selection of vineyards in the heart of Catalunya, protected by the mountain of Montserrat, has been the main focus for the production of Villa Conchi. Their Cavas aim to present a fresher style from a Mediterranean climate."<span> </span><em>- Mathew Young, Champagne and Sparkling Wine Category Manager, Dan Murphy's</em></p> <p><strong>Belvino Prosecco DOC, $17.99</strong></p> <p>"With its eye-catching packaging, Belvino is sure to impress your Valentine. But this Prosecco from Italy is not just about the packaging! The finest grapes were chosen to create an intense sparkling wine with a rich bouquet and pronounced flavours of fresh cut pear and crisp apple. The mousse is soft and caressing and the flavours linger attractively."<span> </span><em>- Mathew Young, Champagne and Sparkling Wine Category Manager, Dan Murphy's</em></p> <p><strong>Dean &amp; Monroe King Valley Prosecco, $18</strong></p> <p>"If you are going for a stylish Valentine's Day picnic or table setting, this is the perfect bottle. This refreshing Prosecco from the renowned King Valley region is full of lovely flavours of melon and white peach."<span> </span><em>- Simon Wilson, BWS Learning Partner</em></p> <p>But if you do decide to splurge a little on a bottle of bubbly…</p> <p><strong>Monsigny Champagne Brut NV 750ml, $22.99</strong></p> <p>"This award winner offers great value for money and is available in stores every day. With a dried apple and nutty flavour, it's a signature of high-quality Champagne."<span> </span><em>- Jason Bowyer, Wine and Sparkling Buying Director, ALDI</em></p>

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