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"A free woman": Kathleen Folbigg officially acquitted of her children's deaths

<p>After spending 20 years in prison for the deaths of her children, Kathleen Folbigg has officially been cleared. </p> <p>The 55-year-old was released from jail earlier this year, after she was charged with murder and manslaughter convictions over the mysterious deaths of her four kids, Sarah, Caleb, Laura and Patrick.</p> <p>Folbigg always maintained her innocence, saying her children died of natural causes. </p> <p>On Thursday, Chief Justice Andrew Bell and Justices Julie Ward and Ian Harrison handed down the Court of Criminal Appeal judgement, finding there was reasonable doubt as to her guilt.</p> <p>All of Folbigg’s convictions were quashed and a verdict of acquittal was entered on each count.</p> <p>After the emotional ruling, Folbigg, her best friend Tracy Chapman and her lawyer Rhanee Rego, made a statement outside court.</p> <p>“I’m grateful for the huge efforts of my friends and family, my legal team, scientific professionals,” she told reporters.</p> <p>“The time this has taken in seeing today’s result has cost me a lot, not just financially but emotionally."</p> <p>“For almost a quarter of a century, I faced disbelief and hostility. I suffered abuse in all its forms."</p> <p>“I hoped and prayed that one day I would be able to stand here with my name cleared."</p> <p>“I hope that no one else will ever have to suffer what I suffered. I am grateful that updated science and genetics has given me answers as to how my children died."</p> <div> <p>“However, even in 1999, we had legal answers to prove my innocence — they were ignored and dismissed."</p> <p>“The system preferred to blame me rather than accept that sometimes, children can and do die suddenly, unexpectedly and heartbreakingly."</p> <p>“I think the system and society needs to think before they blame a parent of hurting their children.</p> <p>“My children are here with me today and they will be close to my heart for the rest of my life. I love my children and I always will."</p> <p>In her statement, Rego said Folbigg was finally a “free woman”.</p> <p>“After 24 years, the legal system has finally listened to Kathleen Folbigg,” she said.</p> <p>“Today she is a free woman — a woman who demonstrated courage and resilience to reject the claims made against her."</p> <p>“But this story is about more than just about Kathleen Folbigg."</p> <p>“It is a story about the good in this world, about a large group of people who saw an injustice and did something about it.”</p> </div> <p>Folbigg was first jailed in 2003 after being found guilty of the manslaughter of her son Caleb, maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent to do grievous bodily harm on Patrick and the murders of Patrick, Sarah and Laura.</p> <p>She was initially sentenced to 40 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 30 years. An appeal later reduced her sentence to 30 years, with a non-parole period of 25 years. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Seven News</em></p>

Legal

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7 clear signs you might have an unhealthy gut

<h2>The mighty gut health benefits of bacteria</h2> <p>Your gastrointestinal, or GI, tract is inhabited by microbes collectively called the microbiome, which includes bacteria, fungi, and even viruses. Though it sounds gross and maybe even unhealthy, it’s actually the complete opposite. Gut bacteria perform many important functions in the body including aiding the immune system; producing the feel-good brain chemical serotonin; making energy available to the body from the food we eat; and disposing of foreign substances and toxins, according to dietitian Lisa Dreher. Though most of us have a mixture of good and bad bacteria, sometimes the bad guys get the upper hand, causing dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which can play a role in a number of health conditions.</p> <h2>Your stomach doesn’t feel right</h2> <p>Diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, nausea and heartburn are classic symptoms of problems with gut health. “Gastrointestinal discomfort – especially after eating carbohydrate-rich meals – can be the result of poor digestion and absorption of carbohydrates,” Dreher says. Reflux, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colitis have all been linked to an imbalance in the microbiome.</p> <h2>You have a hankering for certain foods</h2> <p>Craving foods, especially sweets and sugar, can mean you have an imbalance of gut bacteria. Although unproven, some experts believe that if there’s an overgrowth of yeast in the system, which might happen after a course or two of antibiotics where you wipe out all the good bacteria, then that overgrowth of yeast can actually cause you to crave more sugar.</p> <h2>The scale is going up or down</h2> <p>Certain types of gut bacteria can cause either weight loss or weight gain – especially when they colonise in the small intestine, a condition called SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). Too many microbes in the small intestines can mess with gut health by interfering with absorption of vitamins, minerals, and fat. “If you’re not able to digest and absorb fat normally, you can actually see some weight loss,” Dreher says. Other types of bacteria have been linked to weight gain, as certain microbes are able to harvest more calories from foods than others.</p> <h2>You’re anxious or feeling blue</h2> <p>Roughly 80 to 90 per cent of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, social behaviour, sleep, appetite, memory and even libido, is produced in the gut. When less serotonin is produced, it can negatively impact mood. “Gut imbalances of the microbiome can trigger depressive symptoms,” says physician Dr Todd LePine.</p> <h2>You’re not sleeping well</h2> <p>Not having enough serotonin can lead to bouts of insomnia or difficulty getting to sleep, according to Dreher. And Dr LePine says chronic fatigue and symptoms of fibromyalgia can be tied to gut bacteria imbalances as well.</p> <h2>Your skin is acting up</h2> <p>Skin rashes and eczema, a chronic condition characterised by inflamed and itchy red blotches on the skin, can be a sign of poor gut health because they develop when there is an imbalance in gut bacteria, according to Dr Victoria Maizes, a professor of medicine, family medicine and public health at the University of Arizona.</p> <h2>You have an autoimmune condition</h2> <p>An imbalance in the microbiome can cause more than just GI symptoms. According to Dr LePine, diseases affecting the immune system, known as autoimmune diseases, can also indicate an imbalance. “Rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are tied in with imbalances in gut bacteria,” he says.</p> <h2>How to build better gut health</h2> <p>Eating right is the first step in improving gut health. In fact, the types of foods we eat can change our microbiome in as little as 24 hours, according to Dr Ali Keshavarzian, a professor of medicine and director of the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.</p> <p>To feed your good bacteria and starve the less desirable bacteria, swap out processed foods, breads, and pastas for plants, fruits, seeds, and nuts. And consider adding fermented foods into your diet, including yoghurt containing live, active cultures, kombucha, tepache, kimchi, and kefir, which naturally contain probiotics, or healthy bacteria. It’s also a great idea to fill up on prebiotic foods, which actually feed the good bacteria. Try leeks, asparagus, onions, garlic, chicory, oats, soybeans, and Jerusalem artichokes.</p> <p>Lastly, avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. “Any time you take an antibiotic, you’re going to knock out a lot of the healthy bacteria,” says Dr Maizes. If you must take antibiotics, consider taking a probiotic supplement to help maintain a healthy and balanced bacterial community in your gut.</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/7-clear-signs-you-might-have-an-unhealthy-gut" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Body

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Three years into the pandemic, it’s clear COVID won’t fix itself. Here’s what we need to focus on next

<p>On March 11 2020 the World Health Organization classified COVID as a <a href="https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020">pandemic</a>. Three years on, it remains just that.</p> <p>As much as we don’t want it to be, and as much as it is off the front pages, COVID is still very much with us.</p> <p>But how bad has it really been? And, more importantly, what have we learned that could help us accelerate a real and sustained exit?</p> <h2>COVID has hit us hard</h2> <p>There was a <a href="https://theconversation.com/too-late-already-bolted-how-a-faster-who-response-could-have-slowed-covid-19s-spread-160860">slow initial</a> global response to what we now call SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. This allowed the virus to get a foothold, contributing to unexpectedly rapid <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-are-there-so-many-new-omicron-sub-variants-like-ba-4-and-ba-5-will-i-be-reinfected-is-the-virus-mutating-faster-182274">viral evolution</a>.</p> <p>Three years into the pandemic, with the removal of almost all mitigation measures in most countries, it’s clear the virus has hit the world very hard. <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/">So far</a>, almost 681 million infections and more than 6.8 million deaths have been reported.</p> <p>This is perhaps best visualised by its impact on life expectancy. There were <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/padr.12477">sharp declines</a> seen across the world in 2020 and 2021, reversing 70 years of largely uninterrupted progress. </p> <p>The excess mortality driving this drop in life expectancy has continued. This includes in Australia, <a href="https://www.actuaries.digital/2023/03/06/almost-20000-excess-deaths-for-2022-in-australia/">where over 20,000 more lives</a> than the historical average are estimated to have been lost in 2022.</p> <h2>Not just COVID deaths</h2> <p>The indirect impacts on the health systems in rich and poor countries alike continue to be substantial. Disruptions to health services have led to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00079-6/fulltext">increases</a> in stillbirths, maternal mortality and postnatal depression.</p> <p>Routine <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/15-07-2022-covid-19-pandemic-fuels-largest-continued-backslide-in-vaccinations-in-three-decades">child immunisation coverage</a> has decreased. Crucial malaria, tuberculosis and HIV programs have been <a href="https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/2021/2021-09-08-global-fund-results-report-reveals-covid-19-devastating-impact-on-hiv-tb-and-malaria-programs/#:%7E:text=GENEVA%20%E2%80%93%20The%20COVID%2D19%20pandemic,history%20of%20the%20Global%20Fund">disrupted</a>. </p> <p>A paper out this week highlights the <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1107560/full">severe impact</a> of the pandemic on mental health globally.</p> <h2>Then there’s long COVID</h2> <p>Meanwhile, more evidence of long COVID has emerged around the world. At least <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00846-2">65 million people</a> were estimated to be experiencing this debilitating syndrome by the end of 2022. </p> <p>The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/covid-19/long-covid-in-australia-a-review-of-the-literature/summary">estimates</a> 5-10% of people who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 will develop long COVID, with symptoms persisting more than three months. That’s between 550,000 and 1.1 million Australians, based on the more than 11 million cases reported <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/australia/">so far</a>.</p> <h2>COVID highlighted inequalities</h2> <p>The pandemic has also had a huge economic impact, both directly and indirectly. </p> <p>The United States alone spent <a href="https://impact.economist.com/perspectives/economic-development/understanding-economic-consequences-covid-19-pandemic">US$4 trillion</a> on its response. Economists have estimated the pandemic will contribute an average 0.75% reduction in GDP in countries with high infection rates and high productivity in 2025.</p> <p>Studies in the <a href="https://www.local.gov.uk/health-inequalities-deprivation-and-poverty-and-covid-19">United Kingdom</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/04/us-covid-devastating-toll-poor-low-income-communities">US</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/feb/25/disease-of-disadvantage-melbournes-lower-socioeconomic-areas-suffer-most-covid-deaths-amid-omicron">Australia</a> show COVID has had a disproportionate impact – including higher death rates – in disadvantaged communities and ethnic minorities. </p> <p>The causes range from high exposure in low-paid jobs to inadequate access to health care. And <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2021/05/27/covid-19-is-a-developing-country-pandemic/">poorer countries</a> have fared terribly on all fronts from COVID, including inequitable access to vaccines.</p> <h2>There’s no end in sight</h2> <p>We cannot assume there will be a natural exit to the pandemic, where the virus reaches some benign endemicity, a harmless presence in the background. </p> <p>In fact, there is little indication anything like that is imminent.</p> <p>In Australia, since the beginning of January, <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/australia/">more than 235,000 COVID cases</a> have been reported, almost as many as in 2020 and 2021 combined. Since the start of January, there have been 2,351 COVID-related deaths, more than twice as many as in the whole of 2020 and around the same as in the whole of 2021.</p> <h2>What needs to happen next?</h2> <p>The future response can be practically distilled into three overlapping actions.</p> <p><strong>1. Politicians need to be frank</strong></p> <p>Our political leaders need to communicate frankly with the public that the pandemic is not over. They need to stress we still have an exceptional problem on our hands with acute disease as well as worrying concerns about long COVID. It’s crucial politicians acknowledge sufferers and those who have died. They need to do this while delivering the good news that addressing COVID does not require lockdowns or mandates. </p> <p>If our politicians did this, the public would be more likely to have their booster vaccines, get tested and treated, and adopt measures such as improving indoor ventilation and wearing high-quality masks.</p> <p>The health system also needs to be greatly strengthened to deal with long COVID.</p> <p><strong>2. Avoiding infections is still important</strong></p> <p>Suppressing the virus is still important. We still can and should reduce the burden of newly acquired COVID and, therefore, long COVID. We have the tools to do this. </p> <p>We need full recognition that COVID is transmitted largely through the air. As this just-published article in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00642-9">Nature</a> discusses, there are things we can do right now to ensure we all breathe air that is safer, not just from SARS-CoV-2 but from other respiratory viruses.</p> <p><strong>3. Adopt new knowledge and technology</strong></p> <p>We should be focusing on the science and be ready to adopt new knowledge and products rapidly. </p> <p>Just a few days ago we had trials of a <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4375620&amp;utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">promising new approach</a> to treat long COVID with the diabetes drug metformin. </p> <p>There is also intriguing research that has identified <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00846-2">persistent infection</a> as a potential underlying cause of organ damage and disease after COVID and in long COVID. This suggests anti-viral drugs such as Paxlovid may have an important role to play in reducing the impact of chronic disease. </p> <p>Many types of new COVID vaccines are being trialled, such as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02824-3">versions administered by nasal sprays</a>, which may be game changers.</p> <h2>The virus won’t fix itself</h2> <p>As we enter the fourth year of the pandemic, we must not leave it up to the virus to fix itself. </p> <p>The biggest lesson of the past three years is there’s little chance that is going to work, at least without an intolerably high cost. </p> <p>Rather, we can end the pandemic by choice. We know <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-covid-control-to-chaos-what-now-for-australia-two-pathways-lie-before-us-174325">what to do</a>. But we are simply not doing it.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/three-years-into-the-pandemic-its-clear-covid-wont-fix-itself-heres-what-we-need-to-focus-on-next-201181" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Caring

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An emotional Carrie Bickmore clears out her desk

<p dir="ltr">Carrie Bickmore has cleared her desk and bid farewell to her fans as she finished up at The Project.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 41-year-old took to Instagram sharing a video of herself and the items that have piled up on her desk over the past 13 years as co-host of the Network 10 program.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Just cleaning out my Project desk,” an emotional Carrie begins.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m not crying, you are. It's so weird having my life all packed,.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She then proceeds to show off a photo of her son Ollie, who was just three when Carrie started on The Project in 2009.</p> <p dir="ltr">The mother-of-three also shared a photo of pregnancy medication that she used to take when pregnant with her two other children, Evie and Adelaide. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Gold Logie winner shocked fans when she announced that she will be leaving the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her last episode will be on November 30, an incredible achievement for her after appearing on the first episode aired in 2009, alongside Charlie Pickering.</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/CliA25YPz5R/?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/CliA25YPz5R/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Carrie Bickmore (@bickmorecarrie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Holding back tears, Carrie said it was the “hardest decision of my professional life but it’s time for a new challenge and my next chapter”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have some news that I wanted to share... s*** I'm already crying,” she began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have made the tough decision to finish up hosting the show at the end of the year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It's been the hardest decision of my professional life, to make this call, but it's time for a new challenge and for my next chapter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It's no secret that this show has become a second home to me, and I couldn't be more thankful to everyone that has been involved on and off screen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It has been a long journey. I started the show when Ollie, my son, was one, and he's now 15, which is crazy. And I want to spend more time at home.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I want to have more family dinners. I'll watch the show at home with a glass of wine in hand. I just wanted to say an enormous thank you.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It has been an incredible privilege.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Child marriage comes with a heavy cost for young girls in Africa – but there’s one clear way out

<p>650 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday. That’s one of the startling figures contained in a <a href="https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Towards-Ending-Child-Marriage-report-2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 UNICEF report</a> about child marriage. Africa’s sub-Saharan region is home to <a href="https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nine of the ten countries</a> with the highest rates of child marriage in the world.</p> <p>Ingrained traditions and cultural practices typically entrench such early marriages. State or customary laws in <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/MarryingTooYoung.pdf#page=12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">146 countries</a> allow girls younger than 18 to marry with the consent of their parents or other authorities. In <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/MarryingTooYoung.pdf#page=12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">52 nations</a>, girls under 15 can marry with parental consent.</p> <p>Early marriage among boys is <a href="https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/115-million-boys-and-men-around-world-married-children-unicef" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also widespread</a>, though the numbers are far lower than they are for girls and young women.</p> <p>And it is girls and young women who pay the heaviest costs for early marriage. Girls who marry before 18 are <a href="https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Towards-Ending-Child-Marriage-report-2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more likely</a> to be subjected to domestic violence and less likely to continue schooling than their peers. They have worse economic and health outcomes, a burden they almost inevitably pass on to their children.</p> <p>Early marriage has been linked to poorer <a href="https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Events/PDF/Slides/1_khatoon.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cognitive development</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953617303283" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stunting</a> among the children of such women.</p> <p>Today, the practice is declining thanks to national and international policies, global treaties and, since 2016, the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage. But gains have been slow in sub-Saharan Africa.</p> <p>What is it that drives the practice in the region? That’s what we examined in a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0021909620966778" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent study</a>. Using statistical analysis, we looked at the socio-economic and demographic determinants of early marriage among young women the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mali and Niger. Each of the four countries has sought to introduce measures to discourage early marriage, but their challenges remain formidable.</p> <p>We explored several possible explanations and variables: age at first intercourse, education and literacy, women’s current age, region and type of place of residence, family wealth index, ethnicity, employment status, and even mass media exposure.</p> <p>One factor stands out across the four countries in our study: education. Women without formal education are more likely to marry early than those who completed secondary or higher education.</p> <h2>Four study countries</h2> <p>The four countries have a great deal in common, including high poverty levels and substantial under-15 and rural populations.</p> <p>In each country, around 50% of people are younger than 15, and around half of the countries’ respective populations live in rural areas (a full 84% in the case of <a href="https://malawi.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource-pdf/2018%20Malawi%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Main%20Report%20%281%29.pdf#page=23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malawi</a>).</p> <p>Among the four countries in our study, Niger has the highest child marriage prevalence worldwide – 76% of girls are married before the age of 18. The rates stand at 52% in Mali, 42% in Malawi, and 37% in the DRC.</p> <p>For our analysis, we turned to the most recently available demographic and health surveys from each of the four countries. We then applied a framework that seeks to describe the important social-cultural and cognitive variables and their interrelationships that underlie behaviours and decisions around reproductive health.</p> <h2>Statistical variables</h2> <p>The answers we found as to why early marriage is so commonplace in these countries were not always clear-cut. What’s more, there were lots of statistical variations across the four countries and contradictions, as was to be expected.</p> <p>For example, the average age of first marriage ranged from 15.3 in Niger to 17.1 in Malawi. There was also a range in the percentage of women from the poorest wealth category in the countries who had been married by 18: Niger (90.9%), Mali (80%), DRC (70.3%), Malawi (63.1%).</p> <p>Rates of early marriage dropped among women from richer categories, but were still high: Niger (72.7%), Mali (65.4%), DRC (60.3%) and Malawi (42.5%).</p> <p>The study also showed that young women living in rural areas were likely to marry earlier than those from urban areas.</p> <p>These variations’ social, economic, and cultural underpinnings are likely complex and would need some unpacking. In some cultures, for example, girls are married off young as they are considered to be more likely to be virgins still and can thus fetch a higher payment of what’s known as the <a href="https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/child-marriage-brides-india-niger-syria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bride price</a>.</p> <p>Amid the many statistical variables that emerged, we were especially struck by the relationship between educational levels and average age at first marriage.</p> <h2>The role of education</h2> <p>We found that the average age at first marriage in Niger, Mali, DRC, and Malawi increased from young people with no education (15.1, 15.4, 16.2, and 16.4, respectively) to those with secondary and higher education (17.0, 16.6, 17.1 and 18.5 in that order).</p> <p>In addition, we saw that the highest prevalence of early marriage (by 18 years) was found among young women with no education (90.6%, 80.3%, 70.9%, and 70.3%). It was lowest among women with secondary and higher education (64.2%, 62.9%, 58.9%, and 30.2%).</p> <p>Malawi is the only one of the four countries where school education is universal, accessible and compulsory.</p> <p>Education offers young women opportunities in life. In some African cultures, however, allowing girls to finish or even attend school <a href="https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/learning-resources/child-marriage-and-education/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is discouraged</a> as it is feared that an educated girl is less likely to get a husband or be a good wife.</p> <p><a href="https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/learning-resources/child-marriage-atlas/atlas/malawi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In Malawi</a>, less than 15% of women have any secondary school education, and 42% of girls are married before the age of 18 – the twelfth highest rate of child marriage in the world.</p> <h2>Next steps</h2> <p>There is an urgent need for governments in these countries to introduce programmes that promote delaying the age at which girls first have sex and to equip adolescents with knowledge about responsible and safer sex.</p> <p>Policymakers should also work to promote prolonged enrolment in school for adolescent girls. And, crucially, laws are needed – and must be enforced – that criminalise child marriages.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/child-marriage-comes-with-a-heavy-cost-for-young-girls-in-africa-but-theres-one-clear-way-out-190924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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"You acted out of love": Judge says no jail for man who killed his wife

<p>A pensioner who slit his wife's throat has been spared jail and cleared of her murder after telling a jury he killed his terminally-ill partner of 40 years in an "act of love".</p> <p>Graham Mansfield, 73, was instead found guilty of manslaughter after he admitted to taking the life of his terminally-ill wife Dyanne, just months after she asked him to take her life "when things get bad for me".</p> <p>The retired airport baggage handler told Manchester Crown Court they were the "saddest words he had ever heard", but that he agreed to his wife's request as long as he could kill himself too.</p> <p>A jury made up of 10 men and two women only took 90 minutes of deliberation to find Graham not guilty for murder, but guilty of manslaughter. </p> <p>He was sentenced to two years in jail, but with two years suspended sentence, meaning he will not be imprisoned.  </p> <p>Graham was arrested in March 2021 after he called emergency services himself and told the operator he had killed his wife of 40 years at 9pm the previous day before trying to kill himself.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/graham-wife-2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p><em>Mrs Mansfield had been suffering with Stage 5 lung cancer. Image credit: Greater Manchester Police</em></p> <p>Mrs Mansfield was found with a "gaping incised would" and her windpipe had been severed. </p> <p>Police found three knives and a hammer near her body, along with two bricks on top of a plastic wallet containing a note written by the defendant for the police.</p> <p>"We have decided to take our own lives," it said, giving instructions on where to find his house keys and how to contact his sister, the court heard.</p> <p>Another note was written by Mr Mansfield and was addressed to his family, which read, "We are sorry to burden you with this but there is no other way. We made a pact that when it got too bad for Dyanne we would end it."</p> <p>"I couldn't bear to live without Dyanne and as the months progressed and as things got worse, it only reinforced our decision that the time has arrived. We hope you all understand."</p> <p>"Don't get too upset. We have had a wonderful and happy life together."</p> <p><em>Image credits: ITV News / Greater Manchester Police</em></p>

Caring

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"The relation between politics and culture is clear and real": how Gough Whitlam centred artists in his 1972 campaign

<p>As we enter the final week of the election campaign with its scrappy debates and breathlessly seized “gotcha” moments, the impact of Gough Whitlam’s electoral reforms can be seen at every stage.</p> <p>From votes for 18-year-olds, senate representation in the ACT and Northern Territory, equal electorates and “one vote one value”, Whitlam’s commitment to full franchise and electoral equity remain central to our electoral process.</p> <p>No less significant is the innovative and dynamic election campaign built around the central theme “It’s Time” which propelled him into office.</p> <p>“It’s Time” was the perfect two-word slogan, encapsulating the urge for long overdue change after 23 years of coalition government, and carrying that momentum into the election itself.</p> <p>This was Australia’s first television-friendly, focus-group driven, thoroughly modern campaign. Its impact on political campaigning in this country <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-22/its-time-gough-whitlam-1972-campaign/5831996">was profound</a>.</p> <p>Behind the glitz of the theme song and the over 200 policies enunciated in the policy speech, a raft of celebrities and leading figures from the arts – authors, artists, actors, musicians – played a major role.</p> <h2>Not just political star power</h2> <p>The presence of well-known identities at the launch in Blacktown Civic Centre lent an air of celebration – of celebrity and even glamour – to the dour set pieces that owed more to the old-fashioned stump speeches of decades earlier, still used by the outgoing Prime Minister Billy McMahon.</p> <p>Led by soul singer Alison MacCallum, household names like singers and musicians Patricia Amphlett “Little Pattie”, Col Joye, Bobby Limb, Jimmy Hannan, actors Lynette Curran from the popular ABC series Bellbird, Terry Norris and Chuck Faulkner generated an immense reach for It’s Time both as a song and as a political moment.</p> <p>Patricia Amphlett <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/timely-campaign-signalled-start-of-whitlams-cultural-sea-change-20121111-296bi.html">recalls, "</a>The ‘It’s Time’ commercial was far more effective than anyone could have imagined. Long before Live Aid, it came as a shock to some people that popular personalities would stand up publicly and be counted for a cause."</p> <p>They were not simply there for added political star power. They were there because the arts had been neglected and constrained by decades of unimaginative conservative government – and they shared a mood for change.</p> <h2>‘Intellectual and creative vigour’</h2> <p>Whitlam harnessed the deep sense of frustration of the arts community after years of “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/timely-campaign-signalled-start-of-whitlams-cultural-sea-change-20121111-296bi.html">stifling conservatism</a>” in arts policy settings. Direct political intervention in literary grants also had a stultifying effect on cultural production.</p> <p>The author Frank Hardy’s successful application for a Commonwealth Literary Fund fellowship in 1968 <a href="https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-674387366/view?sectionId=nla.obj-691244162&amp;partId=nla.obj-674555695#page/n14/mode/1up">had been vetoed</a> by the Gorton coalition government because Hardy was a member of the Communist Party.</p> <p>Whitlam was a member of the committee that had awarded Hardy the fellowship and it drove his determination to ensure arts bodies operated as autonomous decision-makers.</p> <p>He brought arts policy to the fore both in the development of his reform agenda and during the election campaign.</p> <p>He drew <a href="https://west-sydney-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=ROSETTAIE3079&amp;context=L&amp;vid=UWS-WHITLAM&amp;lang=en_US&amp;search_scope=whitlam_scope&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=whitlam_tab&amp;query=title,contains,labor%20and%20literature,AND&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">a direct link</a> between a healthy cultural sector, national identity and a flourishing political sphere, "the relation between politics and culture is clear and real. Political vigour has invariably produced intellectual and creative vigour."</p> <h2>‘Refresh, reinvigorate and liberate’</h2> <p>The rapid elevation of cultural policy as a major area for change soon after Whitlam came to office on December 5 1972 gave voice to his <a href="https://west-sydney-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=ROSETTAIE3079&amp;context=L&amp;vid=UWS-WHITLAM&amp;lang=en_US&amp;search_scope=whitlam_scope&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=whitlam_tab&amp;query=title,contains,labor%20and%20literature,AND&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">pre-election commitment</a> to the arts community “to refresh, reinvigorate and liberate Australian intellectual and cultural life”.</p> <p>Just six days later, in the ninth of the 40 decisions made by the first Whitlam <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Whitlam_ministry">“duumvirate” ministry</a>, the government announced major increases in grants for the arts in every state and the ACT and forecast a major restructure of existing arts organisations.</p> <p>On January 26 1973, Whitlam announced the establishment of the interim Australian Council of the Arts. A range of autonomous craft-specific boards would sit under it – Aboriginal arts, theatre, music, literary, visual and plastic arts, crafts, film and television – with the renowned arts administrator <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/australian-biography-hc-nugget-coombs">H.C. Coombes</a> as its inaugural head.</p> <p>After years of delay, a newly appointed interim council for the National Gallery began work in 1973 on the new gallery, with James Mollison as interim director.</p> <p>This was just the beginning of “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/timely-campaign-signalled-start-of-whitlams-cultural-sea-change-20121111-296bi.html">a cultural sea change</a>” in the arts.</p> <p>There would be reforms in radio with Double J, later Triple J, and the first “ethnic” broadcasting in Australia through 2EA and 3EA.</p> <p>The film industry was rebooted through the establishment of the Australian Film Commission, the Australian Film &amp; Television School and Film Australia, and an increase in the quota for Australian made television and films.</p> <p>The Public Lending Rights scheme was introduced to compensate authors for the circulation of their works through libraries.</p> <p>Kim Williams <a href="https://www.whitlam.org/publications/2019/11/13/whitlam-the-arts-and-democracy">describes</a> the “innovative thinking” behind the close involvement of arts practitioners in policy development and administration as, "a new ground plane for empowered decision making by artists in a profoundly democratic action for the arts."</p> <h2>A new choice</h2> <p>At a time of relentless funding reductions, cost-cutting and job losses, renewal and revival is desperately needed across our most important cultural institutions.</p> <p>The dire effects of this decade of neglect can be seen most starkly in the 25% staff cuts and under-resourcing of the National Archives of Australia which, as the highly critical <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/publications/tune-review">Tune review</a> made clear, has led to the disintegration of irreplaceable archival material including recordings of endangered Indigenous languages. The 2022 budget <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-arts-and-culture-appear-to-be-the-big-losers-in-this-budget-180127">only continued</a> those reductions.</p> <p>We are again at a time when renewal and reinvigoration of the arts is urgently needed – yet it has scarcely featured thus far in this campaign.</p> <p>The Liberal Party’s <a href="https://www.liberal.org.au/our-policies">policy statements</a> do not feature the arts. In contrast, <a href="https://themusic.com.au/news/labor-2022-election-arts-policy-announcement/YT15dXR3dnk/16-05-22">Labor’s Arts policy</a>, announced last night, promises a “landmark cultural policy” which would restore arms-length funding, explore a national insurance scheme for live events and ensure fixed <a href="https://www.alp.org.au/policies/better-funded-abc">five-year funding terms</a> for the ABC and SBS.</p> <p>There is a choice for the arts on 21 May between stasis and renewal. I’ll take the renewal, and hope it becomes a renaissance.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-relation-between-politics-and-culture-is-clear-and-real-how-gough-whitlam-centred-artists-in-his-1972-campaign-181243" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Art

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The gross reason you should steer clear of hotel tap water

<p dir="ltr">You might want to think twice about filling up your glass in your hotel room.</p> <p dir="ltr">The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) – a product testing, inspection and certification organisation with headquarters in Michigan, US, has begun to urge tourists not to drink the tap water in hotel rooms. Two years of little-to-no use could have well and truly led to bugs and germs collecting in the stagnant systems. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jérôme Logie, from the Water Division at NSF, claims that water supplies now pose a real risk to travellers that may not have existed previously.</p> <p dir="ltr">While Logie was quick to remind people of the importance of staying hydrated, he has warned anyone going abroad to assure their water comes from a safe and reliable source. </p> <p dir="ltr">“After such an extended period with low to no travel, hotels and their water supplies now pose a significant risk to travellers, something many aren’t aware of,” he explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Water and good hydration are essential, but there is a real risk from potentially lethal bacteria that can thrive in stagnant water, such as in unused hotel pipes.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Add to that a build-up of germs and varying international standards of filtration, and you can see why travellers must be water-smart to ensure they can enjoy prettier sights than their hotel bathroom.”</p> <p dir="ltr">To help people avoid illnesses, the NSF has put together a list of top tips for staying safe when drinking water abroad when travelling.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Don’t trust the tap water in your hotel bathroom</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No matter how desperate you are for a cool drink of water in the middle of the night, do not resort to drinking from the bathroom tap. Stock up on bottled water from a local supermarket or convenience store. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hotel plumbing is a potential breeding ground for harmful microorganisms such as E.Coli, as water in unoccupied hotel rooms can remain stagnant in pipes for days, weeks or even months.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Hot = good</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Many hotels heat their water to 55 degrees+ to kill any microorganisms that might be present which is why you will often encounter ‘Warning: hot water!’ signs.</p> <p dir="ltr">In larger resorts and hotel chains, companies have their own corporate standards for water management, and some even have water treatment facilities on-site to ensure quality, travellers are still encouraged to exercise caution. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Say no to tap water at restaurants</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">It’s not just in your hotel room you need to be wary, but also the hotel restaurant.</p> <p dir="ltr">To avoid encountering any water woes, play it safe and make simple switches such as asking for bottled drinks rather than a jug of water to accompany a meal.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>If it’s cloudy, it’s contaminated</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Detecting bacteria in clear water is impossible but never, ever drink cloudy water.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you are travelling to a remote location where bottled water is not available, certified devices and equipment can be used.</p> <p dir="ltr">E.g: light strobes can kill bacteria; portable filters can be used to remove heavy metals, as well as bacteria; chlorine pills, although not perfect, can be a convenient way to make drinking water safe.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7827b5a5-7fff-8381-85de-bc1477777669"><br /><em>Image: Getty</em></span></p>

Travel Tips

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7 clear signs you’re in a rebound relationship

<p><strong>Rebound or real love?</strong></p> <p>Whether you were in a 6-month relationship that you thought would go the distance, or a 10-year marriage that didn’t make it to 11, breakups are emotionally difficult. You may find yourself jumping into a new romance quickly and wondering if your rebound relationship can go the distance. Or, you may be terrified that you’ve fallen for someone on the rebound who doesn’t really care for you. “When you’re hurting from a past relationship and want to avoid feeling the pain, [and] you jump into another one right away – that’s a classic rebound relationship,” says relationship expert Audrey Hope. Rebound relationships are defined by more than just speed. A person who is rebounding may be trying to avoid their feelings about the breakup. Fixating on someone new is a great way to do that. “In a rebound relationship, there is no space and time to process the truth of the past love. The rebounder uses the technique of denial, plus moving on quickly, to stop their feelings. They might be moving so fast [that] they never stop to learn or grow from what was left behind,” Hope explains.</p> <p><strong>Your phone has become a lethal weapon</strong></p> <p>If you’re constantly listening for your ex’s special ringtone, or need to stop yourself from sending him/her/them text messages, that’s a red flag that you’re holding on and not ready to connect with someone new. “If you still have your ex’s number in your phone, you may be subconsciously holding out hope that they’ll reach out again. It may also feel too final to delete their number. Either way, keeping an ex’s number handy is a sign you’re still hung up on them, and not present in your new relationship,” says therapist Kimberly Hershenson. While it may be natural to hold on for a short time, this can be a sign that there are issues you need to work through before you can deeply connect with someone else.</p> <p>If you think your new honey is a rebounder, their phone may also provide clues (but don’t go snooping, that’s just creepy). If their wallpaper hasn’t been changed since you’ve been together, and their ex’s face is still the one they gaze at every day on that screen, have a heart-to-heart conversation about the issue, and be ready to move on to greener (more available) pastures.</p> <p><strong>You’re being tortured by social media</strong></p> <p>The internet is forever, but that’s not such great news for relationships that end in the meantime. If your rebounding honey is spending more time sneaking peeks at their ex’s social networks than they’re having fun with you, that’s a clue that they’re rebounding, instead of falling. “If you’re checking your ex’s social media frequently, such as looking at their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts on a daily, or even weekly basis, it’s a sign you’re not over them. The need to see what your ex is up to should not be a priority if you are truly ready to move on in your new relationship,” says Hershenson. It’s common to peek into your ex’s life for a little while, but this behaviour, if it lasts longer than a few weeks, is a masochistic and toxic way of staying connected. It keeps the hurt alive, making it harder to move on.</p> <p><strong>It’s always happy hour</strong></p> <p>One of the more dangerous rebound relationship signs you must look out for is overuse of mind-bending substances. Sharing a bottle of wine is fun and romantic, but if every single date includes drinking, you may be in a dangerous rebound. “A rebounder may have new issues with substance abuse to keep the pain under wraps. They may need pills or alcohol, and this problem may grow. Watch for signs of drug or alcohol abuse that is way more than usual,” warns Hope.</p> <p><strong>Three’s a crowd</strong></p> <p>If your new love wants to keep their old love around, because now they’re ‘just friends’, you may want to put the brakes on the relationship. Ironically, this can also be a healthy sign that the old relationship is truly over. What you want to see is proof of the genuine healing of old wounds. This can occur only if time has passed, and the rebounder has put in the effort that self-examination takes.</p> <p>Arguing with your partner is inevitable. But knowing how to argue constructively with your partner is healthy.</p> <p><strong>Your ex is the main topic of conversation</strong></p> <p>If your new love is starting to feel like your ex-love is haunting them, it may be because you never stop talking about them. This may take the form of how they ‘did wrong by you’, or how awful they were to you, with no introspection about your own role in the breakup. This type of fixation is a sure sign that you’re not truly in your new relationship and still need to process the old one. And if it goes on too long, you may be better off seeking the help of a therapist who can guide you and listen objectively. “If you or your partner think about your ex a lot, or talk about your prior relationship constantly, that’s a sign that there are unresolved issues, which need to be examined,” emphasises Dr Sinh.</p> <p><strong>You never ever mention your ex</strong></p> <p>If your former relationship is completely off-limits as a topic of conversation, this may also be a red flag of a rebound relationship. “The rebounder may never want to have an honest, heart-to-heart talk about their past relationship. They want to skip over the details, just move on, and live in the moment. To them, it is better to avoid, deny, and forget,” says Hope. If your past relationship is painfully tender to the touch for too long, you haven’t moved past it in a healthy way. This is a sure sign that you’ve got some emotional work to do before you can care for someone else.</p> <p><strong>Can it last?</strong></p> <p>So, are rebound relationships always doomed to fail? “Not necessarily,” says Dr Sinh. “If you find that you’re the one rebounding, it means giving yourself time to grieve and mourn your old relationship. This can be hard to do if you’re with someone else. If you really want to make it with the person you’re now with, then you have to work on the issues.” After doing the work, you may find yourself open to love, in a mature, lessons-learned way.</p> <p>But, what if your partner is the one who is rebounding? According to Dr Sinh, “If your partner has just left a past relationship, and you want to make it work, give them the time and mental and emotional space to figure out what they want to do. This is not the time to pester them to make a choice or demand they ‘get over’ their ex. This requires a wiser, more practical approach of pointing out the issues to them, and letting them figure it out. If they can’t do that, despite your patience, maybe it’s time to move on. You really don’t want to be with someone who has one foot out the door.”</p> <p><em><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/7-clear-signs-youre-in-a-rebound-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Relationships

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Single mother’s new home accidentally cleared out

<p dir="ltr">A single mother has been left distraught after her apartment complex’s management mistook her apartment for one destined for eviction, and cleared out all the possessions belonging to her and her three children. </p> <p dir="ltr">Single mother Stephanie Gunia moved into the apartment in the US state of Nebraska last week, and knew something was not right as soon as she entered her new home. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I knew something was wrong, right when I walked in the door and saw my mat was gone,” she told local news channel KETV 7 Omaha. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We walked in and there was nothing in our apartment except for a mattress,” Gunia, 31, told the outlet. “My kids' stuff was gone, their clothes, everything.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When the devastated mother asked why the unauthorised clear-out occurred, Gunia revealed, “They said they got the wrong apartment. They cleaned out the wrong apartment.” </p> <p dir="ltr">All of the family’s belongings were thrown in dumpsters in the carpark of the apartment complex, covering everything in trash and grime. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Our stuff was in five of the seven dumpsters,” said Gunia, who had been living in the apartment for just one week before arriving home with her kids, who she had just picked up from school, to find it cleaned out.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just went grocery shopping the day before, all that food is ruined, food was mixed in with the toys, and there was like beer and trash ‘gooze’ all over my kids' stuff, our clothes,” Gunia said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My kids were crying because they were scared, they don't know what's going on, they don't know why somebody threw their stuff away in a trash can.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The mother called the management of the complex in a panic, with staffers at the organisation telling her to call police to report that she had been burglarised, not realising their mistake. </p> <p dir="ltr">When officers arrived at the scene, they noticed no signs of burglary, as Stephanie’s neighbour informed them they had seen a group of men moving things out and placing them in the garbage. </p> <p dir="ltr">Police eventually discovered that the complex hired a company to clear out an apartment belonging to another tenant - one who owed back rent and was supposed to be evicted from the property that day.</p> <p dir="ltr">The management company has since apologised for the mistake, saying in a statement that “almost all” of the family's possessions had been rescued from the bin and that the group had provided Gunia a $250 gift card. </p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, the distraught mother told <a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/there-was-nothing-in-our-apartment-la-vista-womans-apartment-cleaned-out-by-mistake/39745982">KETV</a> that while the gesture is a start, it does not come close to making good on the oversight, which has left her kids scared and without a bed to sleep on, as she is not comfortable letting them sleep on the sullied mattresses police and staff pulled from the dumpsters.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: KETV 7 Omaha News footage</em></p>

Real Estate

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“A lot of people are hurting”: NT officer cleared of murder charge

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a person who has died.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">The Northern Territory police officer who was charged over the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker has been found not guilty after facing the NT Supreme Court in Darwin.</p> <p dir="ltr">Constable Zachary Rolfe smiled after the verdict was announced and hugged his defence lawyer.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Walker’s relatives and members of the Yuendumu community wept in court.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Rolfe was cleared of the murder charge laid against him, as well as the two alternative charges of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act causing death.</p> <p dir="ltr">He had pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the shooting, which occurred just after 7.20pm on Saturday, November 9, 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>One of three shots deemed to be in self-defence</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Walker was shot three times during an attempted arrest at a home in the remote community of Yuendumu, 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first shot from Mr Rolfe came after Mr Walker stabbed him in the shoulder with scissors, and was followed by a second shot 2.6 seconds later and a third 0.5 seconds after that.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Walker died an hour later at the Yuendumu police station, where he was given first aid.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7998f855-7fff-ea9a-e976-43e1aefc28e5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The Crown accepted the first shot was legally justified through self-defence, but argued the second and third shots weren’t.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/03/walker.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Kumanjayi Walker was shot three times by Constable Zachary Rolfe in 2019. Image: 9News</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Prosecutor Philip Strickland, SC, argued that Mr Rolfe’s second and third shots were proof that he intended to kill or seriously harm Mr Walker, who had been restrained on the ground by his partner by then.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Crown case is that the evidence that the accused gave in court, that he did have those beliefs, was a lie, and the accused lied to justify the unjustifiable; namely the fatal shooting of Kumanjayi Walker,” Mr Strickland <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/zachary-rolfe-not-guilty-of-murder-kumanjayi-walker-northern-territory/258709e8-b63e-4154-a364-dd18fccbe18d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Rolfe’s legal team argued he was defending himself and his partner in line with his training, responding instinctively.</p> <p dir="ltr">“(Mr Walker) was, at all times, non-compliant with violent resistance, even after three bullets had entered his centre body mass, the exact location where Zachary Rolfe had been trained to aim,” Mr Rolfe’s counsel, David Edwardson, QC, told the court in his closing address.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Each time (Mr Rolfe) pulled the trigger, he was acting in good faith.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was acting in the reasonable performance of his duties, and he was acting in self-defence; the self-defence of himself and his partner.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In these circumstances there can be only one verdict and that is one of not guilty to all charges.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The verdict came after five weeks of evidence and testimony from more than 40 witnesses, including footage from police body-worn cameras.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes as Mr Rolfe became the first NT police officer to face trial over the death of an Indigenous person in custody since the 1991 royal commission.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Walker’s death and the laying of charges against Mr Rolfe four days later made global headlines and sparked protests around the country.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>“No winners in this case”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Addressing the media scrum after the trial, Mr Rolfe said he thought it “was the right decision to make”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But a lot of people are hurting today - Kumanjayi’s family and his community … and I’m going to leave this space for them,” he <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-11/zachary-rolfe-not-guilty-murder-kumanjayi-walker-police/100895368" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Edwardson told the media “there are no winners in this case”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A man died and that’s tragic,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the same time, Zachary Rolge, in my view was wrongly charged in the first place.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was an appalling investigation and very much regretted.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-628e97a2-7fff-0738-4a5d-923d83ccf1ac"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 9News</em></p>

News

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"The instructions were clear": Djokovic journo speaks out

<p dir="ltr">The French journalist who interviewed Novak Djokovic while the tennis star was Covid positive, was told not to ask the Serb about his vaccination status.</p> <p dir="ltr">Franck Ramella from French publication <em>L’Equipe </em>interviewed Novak in Belgrade on December 18th, two days after Djokovic had tested positive for the deadly virus.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ramella wrote, “The instructions were clear — no questions about vaccination.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The French journalist said the topic was clearly “very sensitive”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So we didn’t ask him if he had made efforts to get tested. If we had asked him, what would have been the point?” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Writing for the paper on Wednesday, Ramella said the photographer from <em>L’Equipe </em>asked Novak to remove his mask for a photo, to which he refused, before taking a photo unmasked later in the proceedings.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ramella was only made aware of Novak’s positive diagnosis three weeks after the interview, but had luckily tested negative after being in contact with him.</p> <p dir="ltr">Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59958662" target="_blank">BBC</a> that if Novak went out knowing he had a positive PCR result, it would be a “clear breach” of Serbia’s Covid restrictions.<br />“If you’re positive you have to be in isolation,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The maximum sentence under Serbia’s criminal code for failure to act pursuant to health regulations during epidemic is three years imprisonment.</p> <p dir="ltr">During an interview on Wednesday, Djokovic said he made an “error in judgement” in going ahead with the interview in December.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the <em>L’Equipe</em> interview as I didn’t want to let the journalist down but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken,” Djokovic said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“On reflection, this was an error of judgment and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment.”</p> <p dir="ltr">This “error in judgement” from the tennis champion has been described as “deeply concerning” by the International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA).</p> <p dir="ltr">“The news that Novak Djokovic did not tell one of our members — and the rest of the L’Equipe team on the day — that he had tested positive for Covid-19 is deeply concerning,” an ITWA statement read on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As journalists, we take great care to adhere to all Covid-19 rules in place, and we would expect all players to do the same.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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Why Terence Darrell Kelly’s neighbour is clearing out

<p><em>Images: 7NEWS</em></p> <p>The neighbour of accused Cleo Smith kidnapper, Terence Kelly is so scared of what will happen once police leave the area that he’s packing up and leaving.</p> <p>Ever since Cleo was found at the home 18 days after she went missing, there has been a strong police presence at the Carnarvon property.</p> <p>Detectives and forensic officers have been at the Tonkin Crescent house each day, but security guards have also protected the house from vandalism or vigilante attacks while Kelly is in custody and police carry out their work.</p> <p>Kelly’s neighbour believes once police and security presence stops, the duplex could become the target “revenge” attacks and vandalism.</p> <p>“The house will be smashed,” he told 7NEWS.</p> <p>“A lot of people are disappointed and angry about what has happened, so there’s a greater chance that once the police are gone, we expect something will happen.</p> <p>“100 per cent sure they will come here and smash the house.”</p> <p>As he was packing up on Thursday, Kelly’s neighbour showed 7NEWS through his property, which is a mirror image of the home next door where Cleo Smith was held captive.</p> <p>The two bedrooms are positioned away from the common wall, which is hardly sound proofed, with only fibro and a timber frame separating the living rooms of the two properties.</p> <p>“I find it hard to know that it was right next door to me. It took me a while to absorb it.”</p> <p>Kelly was described as the perfect neighbour. He didn’t drink, didn’t smoke or take drugs and the two would occasionally chat when taking the bins out. Kelly would keep an eye on his house if he was away.</p> <p>Kelly’s neighbour has been offered a new place to live in wake of what allegedly happened next door.</p> <p>Police have stripped Kelly’s home gathering evidence, all but the sleeping bag which still remains missing.</p> <p>Police tape is set to come down once a final sweep of the home has been done. Those who have become accustomed to street presence have growing fears about what might happen next.</p>

Legal

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Piers Morgan’s Meghan Markle comments cleared

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Piers Morgan has been cleared by British media regulator Ofcom, after it received a record 58,000 complaints about Morgan’s criticisms of Meghan Markle.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The former </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Good Morning Britain</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> host said he didn’t believe what Meghan said during her and her husband’s controversial Oprah Winfrey interview, prompting the duchess to file complaints with the regulator and ITV.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ofcom said restricting Morgan’s views would be a “chilling restriction” on free expression, though it criticised his “apparent disregard” for the topic of suicide.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In particular, Morgan expressed disbelief at Meghan’s claims of experiencing suicidal thoughts and struggling with her mental health while performing her royal duties.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Royal author Angela Levin claimed the duchess would be “absolutely livid” with the decision and may pursue further legal action.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She can’t cope with someone saying she didn’t tell the truth. Because she is all about compassion and understanding and caring for people,” Ms Levin told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sun</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking outside his home, Morgan said he “wasn’t really sure why I lost [my job] in the first place”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He added that Ofcom had “emphatically endorsed my right to not believe what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were saying”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taking to Twitter, the 56-year-old journalist wrote: “I’m delighted OFCOM has endorsed my right to disbelieve the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s incendiary claims to Oprah Winfrey, many of which have proven to be untrue.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I’m delighted OFCOM has endorsed my right to disbelieve the Duke &amp; Duchess of Sussex’s incendiary claims to Oprah Winfrey, many of which have proven to be untrue. This is a resounding victory for free speech and a resounding defeat for Princess Pinocchios. <br />Do I get my job back? <a href="https://t.co/czhzeejYpa">pic.twitter.com/czhzeejYpa</a></p> — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1432995892353765377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is a resounding victory for free speech and a resounding defeat for Princess Pinnocchios. Do I get my job back?”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a lengthy statement about the ruling, Ofcom said the incident “became a major international news story and we acknowledged it was both legitimate and in the public interest of ITV to broadcast debates featuring presenters such as Mr Morgan scrutinising those allegations”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Consistent with freedom of expression, Mr Morgan was entitled to say he disbelieved the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s allegations and to hold and express strong views that rigorously challenged their account.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The [Ofcom broadcasting] code allows for individuals to express strongly held and robustly argued views, including those that are potentially harmful or highly offensive, and for broadcasters to include these in their programming.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The restriction of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and the audience.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We were particularly concerned about Mr Morgan’s approach to such an important and serious issue and his apparent disregard for the seriousness of anyone expressing suicidal thoughts.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the regulator noted the importance of co-hosts Susanna Reid and Chris Ship challenging his views, which provided “adequate protection for viewers”.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

TV

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Dan Andrews cleared by medical team

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced his return to work at the end of June following his injury at a holiday home in Mornington Peninsula in March.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Premier posted a minute-long video message to Instagram on Saturday night, with the caption: “I’ve got some news to share.”</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/tv/CQBDZ8LFmZ3/?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/tv/CQBDZ8LFmZ3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dan Andrews (@danielandrewsmp)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My vertebra has almost fully healed and my ribs are well on track. The team taking care of me has given me the all clear to get back to work soon,” he wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 48-year-old broke several ribs and suffered an acute compression fracture of the T7 vertebra after slipping on stairs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After being released from the hospital on March 15, Andrews has continued recovering at home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a written statement shared on Twitter, Andrews wrote: “This week I had another round of scans and a meeting with my care team at the Alfred and got some good news.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">This week I had another round of scans and a meeting with my care team at the Alfred and got some good news.<br /><br />I've been given the all clear to return to work soon. <br /><br />On Monday 28 June I'll be back to work – and back to getting things done. I can't wait. <a href="https://t.co/6hDeGqvii2">pic.twitter.com/6hDeGqvii2</a></p> — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1403656531959181312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The broken vertebra has almost fully healed and they’re letting me take off the back brace that I’ve had to wear for the last three months,” he continued.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The six broken ribs will take a while longer to finish healing and doctors tell me that between the ribs and getting used to not having the brace on, the next couple of weeks will be a painful adjustment.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He went on to thank his wife and children in the Instagram post, as well as the medical staff who have taken care of him.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrews also thanked Acting Premier James Merlino for “stepping in to lead the Government and the state” and said “he’s done an amazing job”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“On Monday 28 June I’ll be back to work - and back to getting things done. I can’t wait,” he concluded.</span></p>

News

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Place your bets! Clear favourite for name of Harry and Meghan’s new baby

<p><span>The world is waiting in anticipation for the birth of Meghan and Harry’s second child, especially the name they decide to give their first daughter.</span><br /><br /><span>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their son Archie in May 2019, and are waiting for their second child who is due in the coming weeks.</span><br /><br /><span>Bets have already been placed on the name of the little royal, with betting agent Ladbrokes tipping “Philippa” as the top pick.</span><br /><br /><span>The name is a nod to Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip, who died in April.</span><br /><br /><span>It is paying $4.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841194/meghan-harry-archie-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8534c86b90194ba49f6918fb9ad703d6" /><br /><br /><span>Diana, Harry’s late mother, is closely trailing behind on $6.</span><br /><br /><span>Allegra and Elizabeth are tied third at $11.</span><br /><br /><span>“The support for baby Philippa is showing no signs of slowing down, and we’ve been forced to trim the odds again that it’s the name for Harry and Meghan’s daughter,” Jessica O’Reilly of Ladbrokes told PEOPLE.</span><br /><br /><span>Meghan and Harry shocked bookies when they named their son Archie, as the popular suggestions had been Arthur, Charles and Albert.</span><br /><br /><span>Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie honoured her late grandfather in her first child’s name, after giving birth in February with husband Jack Brooksbank.</span><br /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841195/meghan-harry-archie-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4965ae8759f348b7a2e7dc212f881f20" /><br /><span>They named their son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.</span><br /><br /><span>Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, revealed to Oprah Winfrey in their bombshell interview in March that they were expecting a little girl after announcing their pregnancy on Valentine’s Day.</span><br /><br /><span>Harry earlier told the September issue of British Vogue that the couple would only be having two children “maximum”.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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7 morning brain exercises to clear your mind

<p><strong>How can I sharpen my brain?</strong></p> <p>It can be mentally exhausting to try and resume your “normal” schedule during coronavirus. You may be working remotely, helping your children adapt to hybrid learning, keeping your family safe from coronavirus, or all of the above. Add trying to practice self-care in this mix of endless responsibilities. All this stress can zap your concentration, make you irritable or depressed, and potentially damage your professional and personal relationships.</p> <p>However, brain exercises, especially before work, can help get you through your day. “Working out areas of the brain before a full day can set us on a path of increased agility and flexibility in our thinking and enable us to communicate more calmly and effectively with our colleagues,” says Dr Jennifer Wolkin, a clinical neuropsychologist. Fold a mix of these brain exercises into your morning routine and you’ll find yourself working smarter and more efficiently from the get-go.</p> <p><strong>Relax with a good read</strong></p> <p><span>In today’s fast-paced day and age, it’s hard to remember to unplug and take time for the simple things that relax and stimulate the mind. Reading is certainly one of those—be it a chapter book, newspaper, or online article. “Some of the best activities to perform are ones that enrich the brain with new information, like reading,” says neurosurgeon Dr Jason Liauw. “Taking in a good book or the morning paper is not only a calming way to start your day, but it also can help you reorient your priorities, taking you momentarily out of the daily grind from yesterday before today’s begins.” Most importantly, reading can also cause a frameshift in your mind, so that when you’re in the middle of your day, you may be able to look at your routine and tasks through a different lens.</span></p> <p><strong>Do exercise</strong></p> <p><span>You probably know how important of a role exercise plays in your health and mood, but there are some additional brain-boosting reasons to sneak in a workout before work. “Exercise actually alters brain chemistry and has even been likened to the effect of taking antidepressants,” says Wolkin. “It signals the release of several key neurotransmitters, many of which play a vital role in keeping our brain sharp as we age.” Exercise also helps pump blood flow and oxygen to the brain, allowing your grey matter to work to its highest capacity, which translates to better and sharper decision making, judgment, and memory.</span></p> <p><strong>Practise meditation</strong></p> <p><span>“Studies have found that the amygdala, known as the brain’s ‘fight or flight’ center and the seat of our fearful and anxious emotions, decreases in brain cell volume after mindfulness practice,” says Wolkin. “The impact mindfulness exerts on our brain is born from routine—a slow, steady and consistent reckoning of our realities, and the ability to take a step back, become more aware, more accepting, less judgemental and less reactive.” Meditators also show a greater ability to recall information faster, leading researchers to believe that the ability to quickly “screen out” mental noise, allows the working memory to search and find information needed more quickly and efficiently, says brain expert Daniel Amen, double-board-certified psychiatrist, physician, and author of </span><em>Time for Bed Sleepyhead</em><span>.</span></p> <p><strong>Play classical music in the background</strong></p> <p><span>The gentle, peaceful sounds of classical music from the likes of Mozart and Beethoven have long been touted as beneficial to the brain and productivity in general. “Listening to classical music while getting dressed in the morning or exercising is a one-two punch of neural circuitry that’s been shown by researchers to significantly improve verbal fluency, cognitive functioning, and overall focus and concentration,” says Dian Griesel, entrepreneur and business and health spokesperson.</span></p> <p><strong>Play a fast logic-based game</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Lifelong learners are definitely onto something, as continued education—not just higher education—promotes brain health and creates new neural connections. “Even just taking a stab at a crossword puzzle or taking online quizzes that challenge your mind, can help build cognitive reserves,” says Wolkin. The best tasks for the brain are not only challenging, but are varied and novel—think Sudoku, or memory-recall games or apps.</p> <p>“It’s important to keep brain-boosting activities constantly changing with increasing complexity as well as cross-training brain activities that use different parts of the brain,” says Dr Kristin M. Mascotti. “Consistency is key, and many of these techniques can be done in just a few minutes every day with different skills tested on different days.”</p> <p><strong>Make a gratitude list</strong></p> <p><span>When you bring your attention to the things in your life for which you’re grateful, your brain actually works better, especially with a gratitude list. “Brain imaging studies show that negative thought patterns change the brain in a negative way, but that conversely, practicing gratitude literally helps you have a brain to be grateful for,” says Dr Amen. Every day, write down five things you’re grateful for—whether that’s your dog, your job, or that the football season has started back up again.</span></p> <p><strong>Get a good night's rest</strong></p> <p><span>It sounds obvious, but between 33-45 per cent of adults report they get insufficient sleep at least one night per month, according to the Sleep Health Foundation. “Sleep is proven in countless studies to help our ability to recall—which directly affects our capability to control both our behaviour and learning,” says Griesel. “Sleep deficits actually result in performance comparable to intoxication.” The best way to prime your body for a great work performance the following day is to stick to a sleep schedule. Make sure that it doesn’t change much on the weekends. Also, remember to practice a relaxing bedtime ritual, like reading a book. Make sure your room is dark and cool at an ideal temperature of around 19 degrees celsius.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Jenn Sinrich</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This article first appeared in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/7-morning-brain-exercises-to-clear-your-mind" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Find more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here’s our best subscription offer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></em></p>

Mind

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7 morning brain exercises to clear your mind

<p>It can be mentally exhausting to try and resume your “normal” schedule during coronavirus. You may be working remotely, helping your children adapt to hybrid learning, keeping your family safe from coronavirus, or all of the above. Add trying to practice self-care in this mix of endless responsibilities. All this stress can zap your concentration, make you irritable or depressed, and potentially damage your professional and personal relationships.</p> <p>However, brain exercises, especially before work, can help get you through your day. “Working out areas of the brain before a full day can set us on a path of increased agility and flexibility in our thinking and enable us to communicate more calmly and effectively with our colleagues,” says Dr Jennifer Wolkin, a clinical neuropsychologist. Fold a mix of these brain exercises into your morning routine and you’ll find yourself working smarter and more efficiently from the get-go.</p> <p><strong>Relax with a good read</strong></p> <p>In today’s fast-paced day and age, it’s hard to remember to unplug and take time for the simple things that relax and stimulate the mind. Reading is certainly one of those—be it a chapter book, newspaper, or online article. “Some of the best activities to perform are ones that enrich the brain with new information, like reading,” says neurosurgeon Dr Jason Liauw. “Taking in a good book or the morning paper is not only a calming way to start your day, but it also can help you reorient your priorities, taking you momentarily out of the daily grind from yesterday before today’s begins.” Most importantly, reading can also cause a frameshift in your mind, so that when you’re in the middle of your day, you may be able to look at your routine and tasks through a different lens.</p> <p><strong>Do exercise</strong></p> <p>You probably know how important of a role exercise plays in your health and mood, but there are some additional brain-boosting reasons to sneak in a workout before work. “Exercise actually alters brain chemistry and has even been likened to the effect of taking antidepressants,” says Wolkin. “It signals the release of several key neurotransmitters, many of which play a vital role in keeping our brain sharp as we age.” Exercise also helps pump blood flow and oxygen to the brain, allowing your grey matter to work to its highest capacity, which translates to better and sharper decision making, judgment, and memory.</p> <p><strong>Practise meditation</strong></p> <p>“Studies have found that the amygdala, known as the brain’s ‘fight or flight’ centre and the seat of our fearful and anxious emotions, decreases in brain cell volume after mindfulness practice,” says Wolkin. “The impact mindfulness exerts on our brain is born from routine—a slow, steady and consistent reckoning of our realities, and the ability to take a step back, become more aware, more accepting, less judgemental and less reactive.” Meditators also show a greater ability to recall information faster, leading researchers to believe that the ability to quickly “screen out” mental noise, allows the working memory to search and find information needed more quickly and efficiently, says brain expert Daniel Amen, double-board-certified psychiatrist, physician, and author of Time for Bed Sleepyhead.</p> <p><strong>Play classical music in the background</strong></p> <p>The gentle, peaceful sounds of classical music from the likes of Mozart and Beethoven have long been touted as beneficial to the brain and productivity in general. “Listening to classical music while getting dressed in the morning or exercising is a one-two punch of neural circuitry that’s been shown by researchers to significantly improve verbal fluency, cognitive functioning, and overall focus and concentration,” says Dian Griesel, entrepreneur and business and health spokesperson.</p> <p><strong>Play a fast logic-based game</strong></p> <p>Lifelong learners are definitely onto something, as continued education—not just higher education—promotes brain health and creates new neural connections. “Even just taking a stab at a crossword puzzle or taking online quizzes that challenge your mind, can help build cognitive reserves,” says Wolkin. The best tasks for the brain are not only challenging, but are varied and novel—think Sudoku, or memory-recall games or apps.</p> <p>“It’s important to keep brain-boosting activities constantly changing with increasing complexity as well as cross-training brain activities that use different parts of the brain,” says Dr Kristin M. Mascotti. “Consistency is key, and many of these techniques can be done in just a few minutes every day with different skills tested on different days.”</p> <p><strong>Make a gratitude list</strong></p> <p>When you bring your attention to the things in your life for which you’re grateful, your brain actually works better, especially with a gratitude list. “Brain imaging studies show that negative thought patterns change the brain in a negative way, but that conversely, practicing gratitude literally helps you have a brain to be grateful for,” says Dr Amen. Every day, write down five things you’re grateful for—whether that’s your dog, your job, or that the football season has started back up again.</p> <p><strong>Get a good night’s rest</strong></p> <p>It sounds obvious, but between 33-45 per cent of adults report they get insufficient sleep at least one night per month, according to the Sleep Health Foundation. “Sleep is proven in countless studies to help our ability to recall—which directly affects our capability to control both our behaviour and learning,” says Griesel. “Sleep deficits actually result in performance comparable to intoxication.” The best way to prime your body for a great work performance the following day is to stick to a sleep schedule. Make sure that it doesn’t change much on the weekends. Also, remember to practice a relaxing bedtime ritual, like reading a book. Make sure your room is dark and cool at an ideal temperature of around 19 degrees celsius.</p> <p><em>Written by Jenn Sinrich. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/7-morning-brain-exercises-to-clear-your-mind">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p>

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Clear signs you may suffer from “overactive bladder”

<p><span>What is an overactive bladder? Overactive bladder (OAB) is a very common condition that affects one in three Australians, according to the Continence Foundation of Australia. It causes a combination of symptoms related to involuntary urination. Here are the signs and symptoms you should know.</span></p> <ol> <li><strong><span> You get sudden urges to go</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>One of the classic overactive bladder symptoms is a sudden, uncontrollable urge to go. </span></p> <p><span>“We spend our younger years learning how to have our brains control our bladder, letting us empty our bladders when it is socially acceptable,” says urologist, Dr Aisha Khalali Taylor. “As we age as women, our bladders become defiant and start to want to overrule the brain, causing bladder contractions or spasms at times when it’s not socially acceptable.”</span></p> <p><span>Pregnancy and childbirth, as well as lower levels of oestrogen after menopause, can contribute to OAB in women. And although OAB is more common with age, it should not be considered a “normal” part of ageing.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong><span> You have to go all the time</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Along with a sudden urge, you may feel like you have to urinate constantly. This happens for one of two reasons, “Either the nerves that provide information about sensation [sensory nerves] receive, or think they receive, information about being full or irritated; or the nerves that send signals to the muscle of the bladder are too active, and the muscle contracts,” explains urogynecologist, Dr W. Thomas Gregory. </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong><span> You often go only a little bit</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>With overactive bladder, even though you may feel the urge to hit the bathroom all the time, not much comes out. </span></p> <p><span>“Sudden urge to urinate occurs because the muscles of the bladder start to contract involuntarily, even when the amount of urine in the bladder is low,” Dr Taylor says. “This involuntary contraction makes women feel an urgent need to urinate, which signals OAB, as the bladder lining becomes ‘hypersensitive’ to the smallest volumes of urine.” </span></p> <p><span>Note: this particular symptom could also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). “The only way to truly tell the difference between a UTI and OAB is to obtain a urine culture to see if bacteria is growing in the urine,” Dr Taylor says. A urine culture is a very easy test that can be done in most labs.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong><span> You feel like you have to go even if you’ve just gone</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>You’ve just used the bathroom, but there it is again – that feeling of “gotta go”, so you turn around and head back in. If that happens to you, it could be OAB. </span></p> <p><span>This constant need for the bathroom can be disruptive, but luckily, there are natural remedies for overactive bladder that can help. </span></p> <p><span>“Sometimes we have to use our brains and emotions to retrain our bladder what is the right amount of urine to hold before going to the bathroom,” Dr Gregory says. </span></p> <p><span>Pelvic floor exercises called Kegels can help you control those muscles, especially if they’re done with a qualified pelvic floor therapist using a device such as InTone, which offers feedback on your progress. Then you can attempt bladder training, which involves “training yourself to delay urination when you feel the urge to urinate,” Dr Taylor says. </span></p> <p><span>“You start with small delays such as five to 10 minutes, and work your way up to three to four hours.”</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="5"> <li><strong><span> You wake up to go to the bathroom</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>It can be normal to wake up to go at night, but if your sleep is constantly disrupted due to multiple trips to the toilet, it can affect your cognitive function the next day. Disrupted sleep can even lead to depression. You might think not drinking before bed will resolve the problem, but reducing your total fluid intake is a bad idea. That will only make your urine more concentrated, which is irritating and can make overactive bladder symptoms worse. What’s more, “the kidneys produce urine all the time, even if you haven’t had anything to drink. “This is especially true at night when you lay down to go to sleep,” Dr Gregory explains. <br />“Fluid in your body has an easier time getting back to the heart because it doesn’t have to work as hard against gravity.”</span></p> <p><span>High urine output at night could also indicate other conditions such as congestive heart failure, sleep apnoea, diabetes, or poor kidney function, so see a urologist if you’re constantly waking up to pee to make sure it’s not something else.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="6"> <li><strong><span> You have accidents</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>All of a sudden having to go may mean that you end up going when you don’t want to – even if it’s just a few drops of urine. </span></p> <p><span>“The amount of urine one leaks is not necessarily correlated with severity of OAB,” Dr Taylor says. “What counts the most is the level of bother a patient feels. Some women are comfortable wearing pads and leaking large amounts of urine, while some are very bothered by the slightest drops.” </span></p> <p><span>Triggers for such accidents may be touching or hearing running water, drinking a small amount, or even briefly being in a cold environment, such as reaching into the freezer at the grocery store. </span></p> <p><span>To identify your personal triggers, keep a bladder diary. “If you leak urine, marking down what you were doing and feeling can help you and your provider understand that better,” Dr Gregory says. </span></p> <p><span>Retraining the bladder by scheduling bathroom trips at regular intervals can also help. “As infants we learn to control our bladder and go to the bathroom when it is socially acceptable,” Dr Gregory says, and you may need to do the same thing again now.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="7"> <li><strong><span> It doesn’t necessarily happen when you cough, sneeze or jump</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>You may think you don’t have OAB because you don’t leak when you sneeze or cough – but that isn’t a symptom of OAB. Instead, “stress incontinence” is actually a different type of bladder issue caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, according to the Australian Government Department of Health. </span></p> <p><span>“Leaking a few drops at a time can be a sign of stress urinary incontinence, when moving, coughing, sneezing, standing up, jumping and jogging put stress on the bladder to cause the leakage,” Dr Gregory says. </span></p> <p><span>But it’s possible to have both urgency incontinence, a symptom of OAB, and stress incontinence together. “Some women have a disorder called mixed incontinence when leakage occurs with both urge and coughing/straining activity,” Dr Taylor says. “It is important to discuss these concerns with a physician to tease out what is going on.”</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="8"> <li><strong><span> Certain foods and drinks trigger symptoms</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Spicy or acidic foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeine can all be irritants, so you might notice your overactive bladder symptoms getting worse after you consume them. </span></p> <p><span>“Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing more urine to be filtered through the kidneys, increasing subsequent urine production and the feeling of OAB,” Dr Taylor explains. “Caffeine acts as both a diuretic and also makes the bladder more sensitive by lowering the threshold at which a bladder contraction will occur.” </span></p> <p><span>Dr Gregory says that some people just have a lower tolerance for certain foods that irritate the bladder’s lining. “If you have that type of sensitivity, then a good strategy is to identify and avoid your trigger foods,” he says. Culprits often include hot peppers, tomato sauce, wasabi, and even cranberry juice.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="9"> <li><strong><span> You don’t have pain, burning or blood</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Another way you can tell if it’s OAB or something else is whether you have pain, burning or blood in your urine in addition to your other symptoms. Having to go all the time is a real pain, but it shouldn’t actually hurt. If urinating causes pain, it could be a urinary tract infection, a sexually transmits infection, bladder or kidney stones. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor ASAP. If you don’t have these symptoms, it could be OAB.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="10"> <li><strong><span> You’re always scoping out bathrooms</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Studies have shown that overactive bladder symptoms can really affect your quality of life. You may become reluctant to be in public situations where you’re unsure if there will be a bathroom readily available; and when you are out and about, you might find yourself always on the lookout for a restroom. </span></p> <p><span>“If you have any of the quality of life issues – knowing all the bathrooms, afraid to be in social settings – it’s time to talk with a doctor,” Dr Taylor says. </span></p> <p><span>Many OAB sufferers are often embarrassed to bring up the subject, but overactive bladder treatment is available, and there are completely natural remedies such as exercises and bladder retraining. If those don’t work, there are medications and procedures as a next step. </span></p> <p><span>“If you are changing the way you live – not seeing friends or family, not exercising or doing the things you like – then you should seek assistance,” Dr Gregory says. “These problems can often be addressed and improved.” </span></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Tina Donvito</span></em><em>. This article first appeared on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/10-clear-signs-you-could-have-an-overactive-bladder" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Image:</strong> Getty Images</p>

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New evidence could clear Kathleen Folbigg of killing her daughters

<p>Fresh genetic evidence which raises new questions about the conviction of Kathleen Folbigg for killing all four of her children have been unveiled.</p> <p>The new genetic findings, discovered by a team of 27 scientists from Australia, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the United States and France have been peer-reviewed and published in top international cardiology journal, Europace.</p> <p>The scientists studied a never-before reported genetic mutation found in Folbigg’s children Sarah and Laura that they inherited from her.</p> <p>Scientists in Denmark, who carried out biochemical experiments say the results show the mutation, known as the CALM2 G114R variant is “likely pathogenic” and “likely” caused the girls’ deaths.</p> <p>And despite the boys not being the focus of their experiments, the team also discovered a different genetic mutation found in Folbigg’s two sons, Patrick and Caleb, that could explain their deaths too.</p> <p>Senior author of the recent paper Professor Peter Schwartz said: "The significance of our evidence is that there is a strong possibility that the two female Folbigg children died a natural death, due to a lethal arrhythmia favoured by the presence in these two children of a disease-causing mutation inherited from the mother.</p> <p>"This mutation causes a 'Calmodulinopathy' — an extremely severe arrhythmic disease that can manifest in three main clinical variants, all predisposing to sudden cardiac death in infancy and childhood, or also later in life."</p> <p>Professor Schwartz added: "The two girls with the Calmodulin mutation fit the pattern well known in genetic disorders and — more likely than not — they both died a natural arrhythmic death due to their disease.</p> <p>"It goes without saying that this important finding does not explain the death of the two boys.</p> <p>"That's another story and I cannot comment on it."</p>

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