Placeholder Content Image

Cyclist and AusPost worker caught in wild brawl

<p>An altercation between an Australia Post worker and a cyclist has gone viral on social media, with an investigation underway. </p> <p>The video captured by Gold Coast resident Codey Lamos showed the cyclist attacking the postie's van. </p> <p>"I don't want to fight, go away," the driver can be heard saying, as he tries to get into his van, the cyclist pushes the door squishing the driver. </p> <p>After realising he won't be left alone, the driver jumps out and begins throwing punches at the cyclist, while also throwing a small object at him.</p> <p>They then punch at each other for a few seconds, exchanging a few words before the driver hopped back into his van. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBBICoSpsmS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBBICoSpsmS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 7NEWS Queensland (@7newsqueensland)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Australia Post is aware of an incident involving a subcontractor delivery driver, which has also been reported to Police," a spokesperson told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em> on Saturday. </p> <p>"As the footage only shows part of the incident, Australia Post will conduct a full investigation into the matter, however the behaviour shown in the video is not what Australia Post expects of its people."</p> <p>Lamos believed the fight was triggered after the postie reportedly cut the cyclist off and something had been thrown at his face, telling the<em> Daily Mail </em>that the cyclist "followed the postman into complex and that's what I captured."</p> <p>The video gained nearly a million views the day after it was posted on TikTok, with many describing the scene as "embarrassing". </p> <p>However, a few others defended the postie, with one saying: "No stop. This is my postman. He is the kindest person." </p> <p>"I know the postie came out on top but I still feel bad for him. No one should be treated like this at work," another added. </p> <p>“Postie tossed between losing his job or losing his patience,” a third wrote.</p> <p>One person wrote of the cyclist: “I can’t take captain spandex seriously.” </p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Tourism Australia staff caught spending $140k of taxpayers' money on personal travel

<p>Three Tourism Australia employees have been fired after spending $137,441 of taxpayers' money for personal travel expenses, with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) called in to investigate.  </p> <p>Tourism Australia is the government agency in charge of promoting Australia's tourism industry abroad. </p> <p>Tourism Australia chief executive Phillipa Harrison appeared before a Senate committee in Canberra on Tuesday and confirmed the breach of the agency’s travel policy. </p> <p>The spending  had been uncovered in October 2023 when the agency's own staff detected the misuse of funds and “immediately reported and escalated” it. </p> <p>“The three employees undertook personal travel that was booked through Tourism Australia’s corporate travel agent and was invoiced to Tourism Australia,” she told the committee. </p> <p>“Tourism Australia demanded that the three individuals repay the full amount of this travel.”</p> <p>She added that the full amount was repaid to Tourism Australia last December, and the three employees have since been sacked. </p> <p>Harrison also said that Deloitte was hired to do an extensive audit dating back to 2021 “to ensure that we understood the full extent of the issue” but “no further instances of wrongdoing were identified”.</p> <p>“Off the back of the audit I have overseen a strengthening of our travel policy processes to ensure the conduct cannot be repeated,” she said.</p> <p>Tourism Australia have referred the matter to the NACC and are awaiting a response. </p> <p>When asked by New South Wales Nationals senator Ross Cadell about the identities of the staff and whether the agency's chief financial officer was among those involved, she replied: "The NACC has advised me that I'm unable to provide the further details on the roles and the people involved until they have finished their investigations." </p> <p>"To do so may compromise current or potential investigations, and prematurely impact the reputations of individuals in circumstances where the legislation enacted by parliament intends to avoid that by requiring that investigations, generally, be conducted in private and that information concerning them is not to be disclosed."</p> <p>She took a question on notice about how many trips were booked by the staff and the destinations for the travel. </p> <p>Her refusal to answer the questions caught the senator off-guard and he said: “I am shooketh, shaken, by not being able to ask these questions,” before calling a short suspension to discuss the concerns. </p> <p>On return, she officially claimed “public interest immunity” and was told she had to outline the situation in writing. </p> <p>"I have to say, this is the first time in my experience where a direction from the NACC has directed an official not to make a public statement," Tourism and Trade Minister Don Farrell said. </p> <p>"This does present some significant issues which I myself would like to get clarified.</p> <p>"You and I both voted for this legislation and obviously this is how it's being applied. The witness, obviously, has to comply with the direction of the NACC, she has no choice."</p> <p>The matter has not been referred to authorities. </p> <p><em>Image: Tourism Australia/ news.com.au</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

'Boomer' cyclist allegedly caught keying cars

<p>A baby boomer on a bicycle has allegedly been caught red-handed by CCTV footage, which reportedly shows the man keying a series of cars. </p> <p>Residents of the affluent Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba have been terrorised by the anonymous car-keyer since September of last year. </p> <p>Mick Brown, who lives in the area, checked local CCTV cameras after his car had been keyed on September 29th, to try to identify the culprit.</p> <p>The footage showed what Mr Brown described as a “regular, well-dressed elderly man” cycling down Hubert Street.</p> <p>The man then turned around and cycled past 30 seconds later with one arm extended toward the parked cars with something attached to a red lanyard in his hand.</p> <p>Mr Brown told the <em><a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a_NEW&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fnews%2Fqueensland%2Fwoolloongabba-resident-claims-cars-repeatedly-targeted-by-man-on-bike-with-keys-over-period-of-months%2Fnews-story%2Fd6ca80fcd103ff0eaae3bc02e33e8fb4&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-1-SCORE&nk=5bc945873ffec79da7263488711d2aab-1715304777" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Courier Mail</a></em>, “This act cost myself and the owner of the other two vehicles in excess of $10,000 in repairs.”</p> <p>“After repairs were completed on all three vehicles this same person has struck again on Saturday, December 30 (2023),” he said.</p> <p>After being struck by the cyclist three times and paying over $10,000 to fix the cars, Mr Brown said his car was targeted again on May 5th. </p> <p>"These attacks are happening in broad daylight,” he said. “While these appear to be targeted attacks neither myself nor the other victim know or recognise this person."</p> <p>“It is becoming quite distressing and this individual needs to be stopped.”</p> <p>The cyclist has yet to be identified, and no charges have been laid. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Courier Mail </em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

“Is that Snoop Dog?!”: Man caught with fake passenger in carpool lane

<p>A US motorist has been handed a traffic infringement after police found him using a dummy to drive in the carpool lane. </p> <p>Not only did his hilarious attempt to bypass morning traffic with the fake passenger whose goatee was "just a little too sharp" get him fined, he helped authorities answer the common question: “If I have a mannequin in the passenger seat, does that count as a second occupant in the vehicle? </p> <p>"The answer is simple… NO."</p> <p>According to an Instagram post shared by the California Highway Patrol Santa Fe Spring, authorities stopped the unnamed driver for crossing a double line when they noticed the plastic passenger. </p> <p>"Officer Kaplan made an enforcement stop on this vehicle for crossing solid double lines only to realise the driver was the only occupant in the vehicle with their plastic friend," they wrote. </p> <p>The mannequin in question had a human-like mask, sported a hoodie and sunglasses, and was seated upright with his seatbelt buckled in just like any other passenger. </p> <p>And he would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for the fake facial hair. </p> <p>"The goatee was sharp … just a little too sharp," they shared. </p> <p>"We've gotta give it to them, the appearance is next-level modelling but at the end of the day ... plastic is plastic." </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6K7Thkr2CO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/C6K7Thkr2CO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by CHP Santa Fe Springs (@chp_santa_fe_springs)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The driver was issued with a number of citations for carpool violations, but many online commenters shared their amusement at the light-hearted nature of the traffic violation. </p> <p>"Is that snoop dog?!" wrote one commenter. </p> <p>"Leave Stevie wonder alone," joked another. </p> <p>"I really don’t see a problem here because most people are fake and have lots of plastic on them anyways," quipped a third. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Elle Macpherson reportedly caught snapping at airport staff

<p>Elle Macpherson was reportedly overheard snapping at border security staff in Dallas Fortworth Airport, after being forced to double-back through a checkpoint. </p> <p>The 59-year-old Aussie supermodel had to wait for over 20 minutes at the security stop, and a witness reported that Macpherson was visibly frustrated during the incident. </p> <p>The onlooker claimed that Macpherson told the security staff: “Why did you just say I could go through and then tell me I had to come back?” </p> <p>“You just let five people through, I was before them and now I’m at the back again.”</p> <p>Images obtained by  <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/australian-supermodel-elle-macpherson-gets-frustrated-at-dallas-fort-worth-airport-in-texas-c-12525462" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Perth Now</em></a> show a frustrated-looking MacPherson checking her boarding pass while rocking a a fluffy statement vest, cowboy boots and flared jeans with a leopard print Christian Dior bag in hand. </p> <p>In another photo, Macpherson was pictured putting on her cowboy boots after passing through the checkpoint. </p> <p>It is unclear why Macpherson was travelling through Dallas. </p> <p>This news comes after the supermodel recently celebrated her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/elle-macpherson-marks-major-20-year-milestone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one-year anniversary</a> with partner Doyle Bramhall, and 20 years of sobriety. </p> <p>Macpherson and her partner are avid travellers, with the model sharing a bunch of photos from their adventures and describing themselves as “nomadic lovers”. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

"Safe for now": Hugh Sheridan caught up in horrific Israel attacks

<p>Hugh Sheridan has assured his followers he is "safe for now" after being stuck in Israel at the time Hamas launched a horror attack on the country. </p> <p>The Aussie actor was holidaying in Israel with friends in celebration of the Jewish public holiday Simchat Torah when the attacks broke out, in which Palestinian militant group Hamas launched thousands of rockets from Gaza. </p> <p>Hundreds of people have been killed and a "significant" number of people have been taken captive. </p> <p>Sheridan took to Instagram to share the details of his terrifying ordeal, while reassuring his followers he is safe in the Middle Eastern country. </p> <p>“A few hours ago everyone was living life completely normal in Israel,” Sheridan wrote.</p> <p>“It was a big Jewish holiday yesterday, one week after new year. I met a family who had 150 fly in for their wedding tomorrow. We were at a bbq yesterday with young people who at this very minute are on their way to Gaza to fight."</p> <p>“A few hours later, this country is at war. Their lives have completely changed in an instant. It’s unbelievable how quickly and brutal the attack has been. With no warning. My heart breaks. I’m in the stairwell so safe for now. X love you all.”</p> <p>Sheridan later revealed he was struggling to find a cab to get to the airport to escape the dangerous fighting. </p> <p>“Desperately looking for a cab to the airport to try and get out. The missiles were way too close,” he wrote alongside a video of the “eerily quiet” street.</p> <p>Sheridan again updated his followers to let them know he and his friends had successfully fled the country, and were on a plane to Athens in Greece. </p> <p>Once arriving safely in Greece, Sheridan spoke to Karl Stefanovic and Sarah About on <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/israel-palestine-conflict-australian-actor-hugh-sheridan-narrowly-escapes/59543d35-9e2e-4b29-8861-b18dccfec0ff" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Today</em></a>, admitting he feels guilty leaving after meeting lots of wonderful people on his trip. </p> <p>"I feel sad I'm not there, I feel guilty for getting out but I knew what we had to do but it's really hard thinking about all the wonderful people that we met and how dramatically their lives have changed in one day," he said.</p> <p>"These are such wonderful people - every single person I have met so far has been called or voluntarily going to fight for their lives and it is just incredible to be in a country that feels very much like Australia and see it change within hours."</p> <p>Since the attacks began on Saturday, at least 600 Israelis have been killed and more than 2000 are injured, according to the country’s media, while the Israeli military confirmed a "significant" number of civilians are being held hostage in Gaza.</p> <p>Israel’s Major General Ghasan Alyan said, “Hamas opened the gates of hell on the Gaza Strip, Hamas made the decision and Hamas will bear the responsibility and pay the price.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p> <div class="media image" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 705.202209px; max-width: 100%;"> </div>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Don't get caught out: 6 holiday scams ripping off travellers

<p>If you’re planning to take a trip across the world soon, then be warned, as there is an influx of new holiday scams affecting tourists as they travel to their dream break.</p> <p>Holiday-makers have money to spend and relaxation on their minds, which is why they are seen as easy targets for con artists.</p> <p>UK-based consumer group <a href="https://www.which.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Which?</a> has listed the six most common frauds travellers need to be aware of, along with tips on how to avoid getting scammed, <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em> reported.</p> <p>So, if you’re planning a trip abroad, here are the things you need to watch out for:</p> <p><strong>1. Accommodation booking scams</strong></p> <p>While the introduction of the internet has been a blessing in terms of ease, it’s also made it easier for scammers to lure you into their traps. With the growth of online holiday bookings, fraudsters often need nothing more than a few fake pictures to lure their victims.</p> <p>A common scam is one that includes picturesque photographs of holiday rentals that don’t seem to exist, advertised at affordable price points. The deals were often advertised on mainstream websites but asked those who were interested in booking to contact them via email, rather than use the site’s own booking system.</p> <p>Bookers were then sent a link to a convincing payment page, which suggested the payment hadn’t cleared. They then ask for a bank transfer instead.</p> <p><strong>How to protect yourself: </strong>Do your research. Google the property to see if it shows up on other reputable websites to check its authenticity. You could use Google Maps and Street View to see if the accommodation actually exists. Also, never pay by bank transfer.</p> <p><strong>2. Dodgy flight deals</strong></p> <p>Con artists have created fake airline websites that advertise budget deals on long haul flights that leave their victims high and dry.</p> <p>The UK government’s fraud agency has reported a recent surge of scams targeting those who are travelling to Asia, Africa and the Middle East.</p> <p>In many instances, tickets were purchased with stolen credit cards and then sold to unsuspecting victims, complete with a reference number.</p> <p>But tickets were then cancelled after the credit card was reported as stolen, leaving the victims out of pocket and nothing to show for it.</p> <p><strong>How to protect yourself:</strong> Book tickets through trusted agencies.</p> <p><strong>3. Wi-Fi hacks</strong></p> <p>It’s become human instinct to try and find Wi-Fi wherever you go, and the same applies when travellers land at airports.</p> <p>While it’s important to stay connected in order to get in touch with friends and family, there is a risk involved. Fraudsters have set up their own free networks in airports and use them to gain free information about anyone that logs on.</p> <p>Many passengers have been tricked into entering their credit card details before logging on.</p> <p><strong>How to protect yourself:</strong> Ask airport staff about the real Wi-Fi connection to make sure it’s the real deal and be on the lookout for connections that don’t ask for passwords straight away. Also, if you are asked for confidential information then provide fake details where possible.</p> <p><strong>4. “Free” holidays</strong></p> <p>This decade-long scam has been one that con artists have perfected throughout the years. Back in the day, people would be pressured into buying timeshares after accepting a complimentary break.</p> <p>Now, the con is conducted through scratch cards and other fake competitions.</p> <p>In one example of the scam, around 500 British travellers in Spain’s Costa del Sol have been scammed of around $27.5 million in the last year alone.</p> <p><strong>How to protect yourself:</strong> Refuse all offers of free holidays because if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.</p> <p>Do you know of any other travel scams? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>5. Document fraud</strong></p> <p>Over the years, the internet has seen a growth in websites selling fake travel visas and other important documents needed to visit foreign countries.</p> <p>A few cases were found to not be conducting illegal activity but were responsible for reselling documents at a huge premium compared to official channels.</p> <p>Some common examples included websites selling the European Health Insurance Card and US visa (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, or ESTA) documents.</p> <p>While the sites looked extremely convincing, they had nothing to do with the governments of the countries they claimed to represent.</p> <p>According to Which?, out of the top 20 search results for “ESTA visa” over half were unofficial.</p> <p><strong>How to protect yourself:</strong> Follow links to official government websites through the Department of Foreign Affairs website.</p> <p><strong>6. Fake tickets</strong></p> <p>It’s no secret that music concerts and major sporting events are on top of the list of potential scams, but travellers are now falling victim to fake packages to international events and are only finding out the true worth of their ticket once they arrive in the country.</p> <p>The FIFA World Cup in Russia was one example where countless websites offered travel packages including tickets when the only tickets that were considered valid and authentic were the ones purchased directly from FIFA themselves.</p> <p>Scammers love to lure desperate fans with fake tickets, as they know the demand is high and it’s easy to trap people who are willing to go the extra mile for a ticket to their chosen event.</p> <p><strong>How to protect yourself:</strong> Make sure the tickets you are purchasing are from legitimate websites and web pages that start with “https” and have the padlock symbol in the URL bar. And if you’re on the hunt for second-hand tickets, then do a quick check if whether or not resale is allowed, as some tickets are only valid for the original buyer.</p> <p>“Criminals are finding ever more sophisticated ways to dupe holiday-makers, both in the booking process and when they’re on the holiday itself,” Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said.</p> <p>“If something seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Don’t hand your money over until you can be sure it’s the real deal.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Iconic Aussie author caught up in bizarre book ban

<p>Australian author Mem Fox, best known for her iconic <em>Possum Magic </em>book, has become the latest writer caught up in Florida’s wave of book bans. </p> <p>Her 1988 release <em>Guess What?</em> is the target, facing the ban in schools throughout Duval County over allegations of “pornography” in its depictions of nudity.</p> <p>The 2022 Florida law, part of the parental rights in conservative governor Ron DeSanti’s education bill, prohibits adults from distributing on school premises any content “of a person or portion of the human body which depicts nudity or sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sexual battery, bestiality, or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to minors".</p> <p>Punishment for not complying includes a third-degree felony, which can mean a prison sentence of up to five years for any individual caught. </p> <p>The book asks children to guess the identity of character Daisy O’Grady with a series of questions - all yes or no - before finally revealing that she’s actually a witch. </p> <p>Illustrations through <em>Guess What?</em> - created by illustrator Vivienne Goodman - see Daisy going about her day-to-day routine, including one key ‘problem’ activity: taking a bath. </p> <p>It’s this scene that caused the trouble for Fox, with some dubbing it “pornographic”. </p> <p>However, it isn’t the first time that<em> Guess What? </em>has come into question for its depictions - past reviews took issue with its images of dead fish in underwear as well. </p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/05/GuessWhat_Embed.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>Fox doesn’t seem too concerned about the ban though, with her agent even telling <em>The Guardian </em>that “Duval County is a county of 997,000 people in Florida. It is not important."</p> <p>As Fox herself said on <em>ABC Radio</em>, “it's pitiful, isn't it? It's like, the Americans keep killing each other with guns and then they do things like this as well.</p> <p>"You just feel sorry for them, you just think, 'people, you're so unsophisticated, you're so pitiful'.”</p> <p>She went on to note that Americans had treated her well in the past, in her 100-plus visits to the country over the course of her career. </p> <p>"They were so kind to me, they were so, so good, so generous, so warm-hearted, so affirming,” she said. “I just grieve for them.”</p> <p>And when it came to the bath time scene, she was firm in her stance that it is “completely appropriate. </p> <p>"She's washing herself, she's sort of sitting in this sink, you can't see any of her private parts at all.</p> <p>"The whole book is about guessing who this person is, it turns out to be a witch in the end."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty, Facebook</em></p>

Books

Placeholder Content Image

Woman “sickened” over tradie’s gross act caught on CCTV

<p dir="ltr">CCTV inside a Brisbane woman’s home has captured the shocking moment a plumber was snooping through her bedroom, and the “sickening” act he committed.</p> <p dir="ltr">The plumber, who was recommended by the woman’s friend, was called in to fix the bathroom’s toilet and shower.</p> <p dir="ltr">But when the woman checked her security cameras, she found out that instead of doing his job, he was up to no good.</p> <p dir="ltr">Footage shows the man in the woman’s bedroom, allegedly going through her drawers, before heading to the kitchen and taking utensils from there.</p> <p dir="ltr">The plumber then allegedly used a wooden rolling pin to fix the toilet before putting the dirty utensil back, unwashed.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm really upset by this… how many other people has he done this to?" she told <em>9News</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm sickened by him using my utensils on my toilet," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman also said that the lack of hygiene could make someone “desperately ill” and that she’s mostly “sickened about the cleanliness issues”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The distressed homeowner also alleged that a pair of earrings located near her bedside table also went missing after the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s so personal, your bedroom drawers are so personal and there’s a camera like half a metre from his face,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The incident has since been reported and the tradie, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Channel 9/ 9News</em></p>

Real Estate

Placeholder Content Image

Outrage after Aus Post driver caught parking in disability spot

<p>A Queensland Australian Post worker has sparked outrage after parking his car at a shopping centre car park, leading to a quick response from the company.</p> <p>A disgruntled Karalee local saw the Aus Post van parked in the disability spot and said the contractor’s “unacceptable” act led to an elderly woman missing out on the much-needed spot.</p> <p>Posting to the Australian Disability Parking Wall of Shame Facebook page, the woman wrote, "Driver’s laziness led to elderly lady with a permit having to park opposite and hobble across the road."</p> <p>The van was parked outside the Karalee Chempro Chemist.</p> <p>The post prompted many to weigh in, with some users bringing up other Australia Post parking concerns they’ve seen around their local areas.</p> <p>“At my local shops here in Perth one of the thatched areas besides an ACROD bay is marked that Australia Post vehicles are permitted to park in it which I also believe is wrong and this is definitely inexcusable," one man wrote.</p> <p>The Facebook post has since been deleted.</p> <p>Australia Post issued an apology as soon as they were made aware of the situation.</p> <p>"We sincerely apologise for the actions of this delivery contractor and any inconvenience caused," an Australia Post spokesperson said in a statement.</p> <p>"This lapse in judgement falls well below the high standards we expect of our team members.</p> <p>"It’s especially disappointing given Australia Post prides itself on its commitment to inclusion and diversity both across our workforce and within our communities. We’ve spoken to the contractor and taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”</p> <p>According to <em>Yahoo</em>, both the man driving the van and all Australia Post contractors copped a strong reminder that they cannot park in disability spots without a permit.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Cruise ship employee caught filming women in bathroom

<p>Some people are determined to ruin everything for everyone, but these adamant cruise ship passengers were not about to let that be the case for their holiday. </p> <p>While onboard what should have been a relaxing cruise with MSC, female passengers made the horrific discovery that a member of staff was hiding in a women’s bathroom stall and recording those who were in there. To make matters worse, the bathroom was located next to the ship’s Kid’s Club. </p> <p>One of the passengers, a woman named Saja, shared footage of the moment she and some others - along with a member of the ship’s housekeeping team - confronted the Peeping Tom.</p> <p>In the clip, the housekeeping employee can be seen knocking on the stall’s door, but after backing away, another passenger took it upon herself to continue the work of trying to lure the man out. </p> <p>It worked, and the man - dressed in an MSC employee uniform - eventually cracked open the door, admitting “I was wrong.” </p> <p>“You need to call security,” one passenger said, “because he’s an employee.” </p> <p>“He was filming you?” another passenger, who had come upon the scene, asked. Saja confirmed that he had been. </p> <p>“I just saw a camera pointing at me,” she went on to explain, before the footage wraps up after it was suggested she “get the guy’s name”. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to the text across the video, this was the third incident of unauthorised filming to occur that evening.</p> <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620.262px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7204687670193163563&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40sajac4%2Fvideo%2F7204687670193163563&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F465b5429788641eaa988928e37f0ba1d_1677472083%3Fx-expires%3D1679050800%26x-signature%3DVsmd8k6pQzjCJ97oY%252FPC5fkh9H8%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">Saja later shared an update to her TikTok account, writing that the man had been removed from the ship, and that her goal had not been to bring shame down upon the cruise line, but instead to raise awareness, in the hope of protecting anyone else who might consider such a situation on their next trip.</p> <p>“I have been contacted by authorities and have been informed that the gentleman in the video has been deported. My goal is NOT to disgrace a cruise line for the acts of one of their employees,” she stated, before going on to stress that she and her companions had had a great time otherwise, and that the rest of the ship’s crew had been wonderful, as “some of the best staff I had the privilege of meeting.”</p> <p>“I have not been compensated in any way shape or form, or had contact with the cruise line,” she wrote for the update, “nor am I interested. Just wanted to spread awareness.”</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Cruising

Placeholder Content Image

SA board member quits after allegedly caught shoplifting

<p>A prominent figure in South Australia has been captured on CCTV appearing to steal a handbag and a jumper.</p> <p>Leah York, the Australian Education Union state branch secretary, can be seen picking up a $280 handbag and walking out with it in CCTV footage released.</p> <p>Three minutes before she snatched up the bag, she can be seen adding a jumper to the bag, which is still visible on CCTV under the handbag as she left the shop.</p> <p>York’s team said she meant to pay for the bag, and she did so after footage was released on the store’s social media.</p> <p>The store uploaded the footage alongside the caption, ”After receiving more information about your theft, we took a closer look at the footage and discovered you failed to mention before you left the store the first time, that you had already stolen an orange knit,"</p> <p>"This footage speaks volumes. You have impacted our staff greatly."</p> <p>York, who reportedly earns more than $200,000 a year, told 9News she had taken leave for health reasons and resigned from her position on the board of Funds South Australia.</p> <p>The board is responsible for the state's $30 billion superannuation fund for public sector workers.</p> <p>Police have not charged York with any crime but are investigating the alleged incident.</p> <p>Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said reporting alleged theft was up to the "individual businesses”.</p> <p>"We would certainly encourage people to report to police and provide those videos to police so we can investigate and hold people accountable," Stevens said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Jennifer Lopez caught chastising “miserable” Ben Affleck

<p>The prestigious Grammy Awards are never without their share of drama, and the 2023 show has proven to be no exception.</p> <p>American singer, actress, and dancer Jennifer Lopez was there to present the award for Best Pop Vocal Album, and brought her husband Ben Affleck along as her date. But it was their time in the audience that caught the attention of eagle-eyed viewers, and propelled an exchange between the pair to viral heights.</p> <p>Affleck, who is no stranger to being the subject of “miserable” internet memes, became the focus of such attention all over again with his attendance at the ceremony. While he was there to support his wife and celebrate the other artists at Crypto.com Arena, Ben spent his night appearing as though he’d rather be anywhere else.</p> <p>As one Buzzfeed editor put it, “however bad of a day you’re having, I promise you’re not as miserable as Ben Affleck at the Grammys right now.”</p> <p>“Someone please check on Ben Affleck,” Chicks in the Office podcast tweeted.</p> <p>Later in the night, that same podcast suggested a save for the struggling actor, “Ben Affleck, blink if you're okay.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ben Affleck, blink if you're okay <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Grammys?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Grammys</a> <a href="https://t.co/qO6xBPAbXl">pic.twitter.com/qO6xBPAbXl</a></p> <p>— Chicks in the Office (@ChicksInTheOff) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicksInTheOff/status/1622415690052272128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>As social media got to work making the most out of Ben’s bad situation, another clip from the evening was set to overshadow them all.</p> <p>The video, shared across Twitter and TikTok, sees Ben lean in to whisper something in Jennifer’s ear. While it’s unclear what was said, Jennifer can be seen jumping in her seat, tense, before she responds and ushers her husband back to his own chair. She quickly turns her attention to Trevor Noah, the show’s host, who was nearby with cameras.</p> <p>“Her face when she saw the camera,” a viewer wrote of Jennifer’s response, “LOL.”</p> <p>While some called for a little help from lip readers in figuring out what had transpired, most were in agreement: Jennifer was not impressed.</p> <p>Ben’s situation wasn’t set to improve, with viewer commentary following his journey on what seemed to be a long, long night for the actor.</p> <p>“Ben Affleck is every introvert everywhere,” tweeted one fan, “you can see his batteries draining in real time. Man is already at 23%.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ben Affleck is every introvert everywhere. You can see his batteries draining in real time. Man is already at 23% 🪫 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GRAMMYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GRAMMYs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveBen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveBen</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yv5zmzbPhr">pic.twitter.com/Yv5zmzbPhr</a></p> <p>— Dr. Kinda Decent Human (@amsi81) <a href="https://twitter.com/amsi81/status/1622426018265944069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Ben Affleck is so consistent in his misery,” one noted, sharing a clip of J-Lo dancing by a dour Ben, “I almost have to admire it.”</p> <p>“Ben Affleck wants to go home, Jen,” another agreed, adding that “everyone in this video looks like they are vibing to a different song.”</p> <p>“Whoever keeps cutting to Ben Affleck as he gets more and more exasperated,” one viewer tweeted on behalf of the masses, “thank you.”</p> <p>The couple, who have been together on-and-off since 2001 and married since 2022, skipped the event’s red carpet. But if Ben’s attitude is anything to go by, that isn’t all he would like to have missed out on.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Karl Stefanovic and Michael Clarke caught in public scuffle over cheating claims

<p>Australian cricket legend Michael Clarke and TV personality Karl Stefanovic have been filmed in a fight over cheating claims while holidaying in Noosa.</p> <p>The incident occurred on January 10 and was released to <em>The Daily Telegraph</em> on Wednesday.</p> <p>Clarke and Stefanovic were having dinner with their partners, Jade and Jasmine Yarbrough, when their friendly dinner was cut short as Jade confronted Clarke after she reportedly contacted the former cricketer's ex-partner Pip Edwards.</p> <p>“You f**ked her on December 17 … You f**ked her, you’re a f**king dog,” Jade screamed.</p> <p>Clarke vigorously denied the accusations, saying that he was with their celebrity accountant friend Anthony Bell.</p> <p>"Baby, baby, Belly was at the house. I swear on my life, I swear at my life… That's not true, it's not true," he continued.</p> <p>Jade refuted, saying that his ex-partner told her about it: "You're f**king lying to me. You are a piece of s**t. I just spoke to her. What is wrong with you?"</p> <p>At this moment, her sister Jasmine and Stefanovic tried to intervene, which led to Clarke taking his anger out on the TV show host.</p> <p>"Karlos, I can tell you now c**t, don't you f**king walk away. She can, she can punch me, but not you, you c**t," Clarke said.</p> <p>Jade continued to yell at Clarke and hit him.</p> <p>“You piece of s**t, don’t you f**king speak to him,” she defended her brother-in-law.</p> <p>Clarke insisted that Jade was wrong, to which Jade retorted: "Oh am I wrong? You f**ked her [Edwards] on December 17, you f**ked her… you're a f**king dog… I'm going to show her every f**king message you ever f**king sent me".</p> <p>The video footage ended with Jasmine and Bell separating the couple.</p> <p>In a statement to <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>, the former cricketer accepted full responsibility for his actions.</p> <p>“I’m absolutely gutted I’ve put people I hold in the highest regard in this position,” he said. “My actions in the lead-up to this altercation were nothing short of shameful and regrettable.</p> <p>“I am shattered that because of my actions I’ve drawn women of class and integrity, and my mates, into this situation.”</p> <p>“I own this fully and am the only one at fault.”</p> <p>Clarke’s ex, Edward, also released a statement, hitting back with: “This is not my circus"</p> <p>“Yet again, Michael in his true nature has not taken responsibility for his actions and I was blatantly lied to," she said.</p> <p>Karl Stefanovic has yet to release a statement, with the topic being ignored on today's segment of <em>The Today Show</em>.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty, The Daily Telegraph, 7News</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

James Cameron caught giving fans the bird after being booed

<p dir="ltr">Legendary director James Cameron has been caught flipping off the fans who booed him for not signing autographs over the weekend.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the famed director attended a screening of his new film, Avatar: The Way of Water, in LA, he refused to stop for a crowd of autograph-seeking fans.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cameron, 68, powered past the group of people asking him to sign their items, which caused the crowd to turn on him and shout.</p> <p dir="ltr">“F**k Avatar,” one person yelled, as Cameron was escorted into a black car.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the cheering and jeering continued, the Titanic filmmaker slightly rolled down his tinted window to reveal his middle finger.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans were divided over the interaction, with some calling him a “jerk” and “annoying.” Others dubbed him “a legend” and argued that the people booing him weren’t real fans.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They were fake fans ready to resell autographed stuff 100%. The embarrassing way they reacted to his refusal proves that. Jim was right for ignoring them let’s be serious,” one person wrote on Twitter.</p> <p dir="ltr">Check out the footage and see for yourself. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">James Cameron flips off crowd who boos him for not signing autographs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AvatarTheWayOfWater?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AvatarTheWayOfWater</a> <br /><a href="https://t.co/frDDoY4alM">pic.twitter.com/frDDoY4alM</a></p> <p>— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) <a href="https://twitter.com/CultureCrave/status/1604621184611471360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Movies

Placeholder Content Image

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caught out in another lie

<p dir="ltr">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have once again had to bite their tongues after being caught out in another lie.</p> <p dir="ltr">At the beginning of their six-part Netflix series <em>Harry and Meghan</em>, a disclaimer hit the screen to say that all interviews were completed by August 2022 and that the royal family declined to comment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“All interviews were completed by August 2022. Members of the royal family declined to comment on the content within this series,” the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, sources have come out swinging to deny the claims, explaining that the royal family weren’t given an opportunity to comment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Palace sources confirm Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace nor any Members of the Royal Family were approached for comment on the content of the series,” royal editor Robert Jobson tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nor will be making any further comment on this or any other aspect of it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Netflix claimed at the beginning of the series that they were.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Other family members who were targetted in the Netflix series include Prince William and Kate Middleton.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Duchess of Sussex was describing the first time she met the pair and how her outfit was “jarring” to them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Even when Will and Kate came over and I met her for the first time. I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot,” Meghan said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m a hugger. I've always been a hugger. I didn’t know that could be jarring for a lot of Brits.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside, carried through on the inside.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That there is a forward facing way of being then you close the door and you go phew, great we can relax now.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But that formality continues on both sides and that was surprising to me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Harry also took a dig at his sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales saying how it was ideal for the men of the family to marry someone they approved of.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think for so many people in the family, especially men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould as opposed to somebody who you are perhaps are destined to be with,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Harry also then attacked his father, King Charles, after claiming that he has a “second family” following the death of his mother Princess Diana.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was brought up by friends in Africa,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve got a second family out there. A group of friends that literally brought me up.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Netflix</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Caught in the act: supermassive black hole 8.5 billion light years away enjoys violent stellar snack

<p>A supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy some 8.5 billion years way has ripped apart a nearby star, producing some of the most luminous jets ever seen.</p> <p>When stars and other objects stray too close to a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/how-big-is-a-black-hole-watch-how-it-eats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supermassive black hole</a> they are destroyed by the black hole’s immense gravity.</p> <p>These occurrences, known as <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/a-star-is-torn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tidal-disruption events (TDEs)</a>, result in a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/the-sleeping-giant-black-hole-that-awoke-to-destroy-a-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">circling disk of material</a> that is slowly pulled into the black hole and very occasionally, as in the case of supermassive black hole AT2022cmc, ejecting bright beams of material travelling close to the speed of light.</p> <p>Luminous jets are produced in an estimated 1% of cases and are known as a type of astronomical occurrence known as a transient, because they are short-lived.</p> <p>Bright flashes from the jets were spotted in data from the <a href="https://www.ztf.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF)</a> in <a href="https://astronomerstelegram.org/?read=15232" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">February this year</a> using a special new technique which can comb through the equivalent of a million pages of information every night.</p> <p>Due to the rapid results produced by the novel data analysis method, a research team in the US was able to swiftly follow up on the transient event with multiwavelength observations of the system from different observatory facilities.</p> <p>The jets were visible across many wavelengths, from X-rays to radio, and follow-up observations enabled the European Southern Observatory’s <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/australia/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Very Large Telescope</a> to place AT2022cmc at a whopping distance of 8.5 billion light years away, while optical and infrared observation from NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble telescope</a> were able to precisely pinpoint AT2022cmc’s location.</p> <p>“The last time scientists discovered one of these jets was well over a decade ago,” said Michael Coughlin, an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and co-lead on the paper <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05465-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published in <em>Nature</em></a>. “From the data we have, we can estimate that relativistic jets are launched in only 1% of these destructive events, making AT2022cmc an extremely rare occurrence.”</p> <p>Exactly why this behaviour is so rare remains an enigma, however, the research team believe that AT2022cmc’s rapid spin powers the jets, adding to the current understanding of the physics of these behemoth dead stars at the centres of galaxies.</p> <p>This detection – and the method used to discover it – are valuable as a future models for astronomers as they scour the skies for more events. “Scientists can use AT2022cmc as a model for what to look for and find more disruptive events from distant black holes,” says lead author Igor Andreoni, from the Department of Astronomy at UMD and NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre.</p> <p>This includes using ground-based optical surveys, as opposed to gamma-ray observatories in space – how previous jets were primarily discovered.</p> <p>“Our new search technique helps us to quickly identify rare cosmic events in the ZTF survey data,” says Andreoni.</p> <p>“And since ZTF and upcoming larger surveys such as <a href="https://www.lsst.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vera Rubin’s Large Synoptic Survey Telescope</a> scan the sky so frequently, we can now expect to uncover a wealth of rare, or previously undiscovered cosmic events and study them in detail. More than ever, big data mining is an important tool to advance our knowledge of the universe”.</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=226753&amp;title=Caught+in+the+act%3A+supermassive+black+hole+8.5+billion+light+years+away+enjoys+violent+stellar+snack" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/supermassive-black-hole-stellar-snack/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on Cosmos Magazine and was written by Clare Kenyon. </em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Technology

Our Partners