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Royal family in mourning after unexpected death of prince

Prince Constantin has died aged 51. The European royal, who is the youngest son of Liechtenstein’s monarch, Prince Hans-Adam II, died "unexpectedly" on Tuesday. “The Princely House regrets to announce that Prince Constantin of Liechtenstein passed away unexpectedly on December 5, 2023,” they said in a statement. His cause of death has not been revealed, but he is survived by his three children with Princess Marie, Prince Moritz, 20, Princess Georgina, 18, and Prince Benedikt, 15. Bishop Benno Elbs, Apostolic administrator paid tribute to the prince in a statement to the parliament. "It was with great sadness that I learned today of the death of SD Prince Constantin of Liechtenstein," he said. “On behalf of the Archdiocese of Vaduz, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to SD Prince Hans-Adam II, the wife of the deceased, Princess Marie, and their children Prince Moritz, Princess Georgina and Prince Benedikt. “I am united with them and the entire royal family in mourning and praying for the deceased. “This afternoon, at 3 p.m., the bells rang in all the parish churches of the archdiocese,” he continued. “I invite all believers in the Principality to join in prayer for Prince Constantin and thus express their solidarity with the Princely House. “I wish Prince Hans-Adam II, Princess Marie, the children and everyone who mourns the deceased a lot of strength and comfort in the hope of resurrection. “You may feel supported by the many people who are praying for the deceased throughout the principality. God grant Prince Constantin eternal rest.” The Prince's death comes just two years after his mother died of a stroke aged 81 in August 2021. Image: Gruppe Liechtenstein/ Action Press/ Shutterstock

Caring

Why guided touring is the best way to travel Europe

As we head into winter and the thermostat reading lowers and the electric blankets come out of storage, your mind is probably wandering to the sun-soaked streets of Europe. Fortunately, <a href="http://www.travelmarvel.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Travelmarvel</a> has an enviable range of European river-cruise itineraries and three decades of experience touring the globes most marvellous destinations. More than likely, you have already considered guided touring, but are not entirely convinced it is the right option for you. Trepidation among travellers trying guided touring for the first time is very common, but once guests have experienced the ease and enjoyment of group touring and cruising, it is hard to imagine travelling any other way. Read on to discover why guided touring could be the right for your next European holiday. Travel worry free Planning a trip can be overwhelming, particularly if you want to visit multiple destinations. Where to begin on planning you itinerary? How do you know which towns and attractions are must-sees, and which you can afford to miss? Combine this with trying to book accommodation, dining and entertainment and you have the perfect recipe for a rather stressful few months before you have even left on your travels. Travelmarvel’s travel experts and guides take the hard work out of planning your holiday, leaving you nothing to do but sit back, relax, and enjoy each destination to the fullest. You will have an expert Tour Director to guide you With an experienced Tour Director with you every step of the way, you will no longer have to waste precious time getting your bearings at each new destination. Ready with a map and a smile – your Tour Director will be there to navigate language barriers, transport and any unexpected difficulties that crop up while travelling, so you don’t have to. Local guides will ensure you never miss a thing Guidebooks and tourist information centres are all well and good – but nothing beats experiencing a new place with a local. Travelmarvel links guests with local guides who will offer more than just the obvious tourist experiences. From recommending the best café to sample a local delicacy, to directing you to a rarely visited local artisan, you can be confident of an authentic slice of every town and city you visit. As Travelmarvel first-time traveller Aaron explained “I did not think I would enjoy following a paddle around a city! However, the local guides were very engaging and were able to include personal storytelling and insider-knowledge in their tours. I feel like I got so much more out of visiting each location because of the local guided touring.” Enjoy a perfect balance of touring and free time The last thing you want to feel on holiday is rushed, which is why Travelmarvel tours are careful to ensure there is plenty of free time built into the day’s itinerary, so you have ample opportunity to explore each destination at your leisure – or perhaps just watch the world go by with a coffee for the afternoon; the choice is yours. First-time river cruiser Trudi particularly loved the freedom of choice guided tours can offer: “I thoroughly enjoyed getting to a new town and doing the walking tour, then enjoying the free time we had to explore each village or city by ourselves. The freedom and design of the trip so you could opt-in to meals and tours, or do your own thing, was delightful to discover.” Make friends for life Many of Travelmarvel’s guests end up staying in touch long after their tour has ended. On a guided tour you will travel in a small group of like-minded individuals, so you are assured to meet people with the same interests as you, and with so many places to visit together – there will never be shortage of things to talk about! Curated experiences just for you One of the main benefits of guided touring is gaining access to places and experiences you wouldn’t be able to if you were travelling on your own. Travelmarvel offers Insider Experiences which will make your time abroad unforgettable. For example, on the Balkan Adventure in Belgrade your Tour Director can arrange for you visit a local family on their farm and sample their home-brewed port, a special experience unique to your guided tour. Great value for money Budgeting for travel is tricky, unexpected expenses pop-up, accommodation needs to be rearranged and when you don’t know the local language or customs – it is easy to get caught out. With a Travelmarvel guided tour, accommodation, transport, and a large portion of your meals are included, meaning your only expenses while travelling will be for souvenirs, sampling delicious local cuisine and treating yourself to an extra-special event or two. Also, you will always have a Tour Director on hand to help navigate the local markets and eateries. It's good to know where you are going to go Book your guided tour today and start getting excited! Travelmarvel provides an enticing glimpse of what you can expect on each tour – from German palaces and wineries you will visit, to the premium accommodation you can expect to return to at the end of each day, locking in a guided tour means you have plenty to look forward to long before you touch down. About Travelmarvel Travelmarvel makes holidaying easy, giving guests the freedom to simply marvel at the world. As a part of Australia’s largest home-grown travel company, The APT Travel Group Travelmarvel delivers a premium holiday experience while offering exceptional value, so guests can enjoy every journey to the fullest. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.travelmarvel.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.travelmarvel.com.au</a> Images: Supplied This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Travelmarvel.

International Travel

What’s in a name? Quite a lot if it’s prosecco, parmesan or mozzarella

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-greenland-2064">Steven Greenland</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> Prosecco might evoke warm summer evenings while prosciutto conjures scenes of generous platters at a casual weekend lunch. But would “sparkling wine” or “thinly sliced ham” have the same impact? Australian producers would argue they wouldn’t. They are fighting a push by the European Union to stop them from using these and other terms that indicate the geographical origin of numerous cheeses, wines and other foodstuffs now widely produced in Australia. This stoush over using European names for locally made products has stalled <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-11/european-union-trade-deal-prosecco-feta-geographic-indicators/102583310">this week’s trade talks</a>, with the EU refusing Australia better access to their markets unless Australia agrees to rebrand its products. <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/anthony-albaneses-warning-on-australiaeu-trade-talks/news-story/fa15fa19a945311c21ac1326c1675653">Prime Minister Anthony Albanese </a>said Australia was keen to conclude the trade agreement but would not sign a deal that wasn’t in Australia’s interests. He is strongly backed by the National Farmers’ Federation and food producers. <h2>So why does Europe want to control the use of food names?</h2> Consumers increasingly want to know their foods’ provenance. They also pay premiums for guarantees about origin and quality. There has been a corresponding rise in so-called geographical indicator registrations, with <a href="https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/13128/21">the 3,500th</a> listed earlier this year. Items included on the EU Geographical Indications register cover different foodstuffs that are either applying for or have been accepted for having their geographic origin related name protected from being used for similar foods produced elsewhere. Europe has the highest number of registered products, with most relating to wine, agricultural products and foodstuffs, as well as spirits and beers. Champagne is among those with a widely recognised connection to its place of origin which assures consumers about the regional and cultural values as well as the products’ characteristics and quality. Like high value household product brand names (for example, Coca-Cola which has been valued at US $97.88 billion) geographical indication registered names also attract substantial dollar values. This is because of strong international awareness, familiarity, and appeal among consumers. The geographic indicator name often attracts a price that can easily be double that of a similar but non-registered product. Registered products can therefore bring in significant revenue to the European Union member countries. They contribute to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jwip.12208">regional development </a>by stimulating tourism and by helping to reverse population decline often experienced in rural areas. Like household brands, the names which indicate a product’s origins, are recognised as intellectual property. They have consequently become an integral part of international trade agreements. <h2>What would Australia gain by agreeing to European product names?</h2> In return for complying with European Union demands, Australian producers would gain access to European markets of [<a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/minister-flies-to-brussels-amid-signs-of-eu-trade-deal-breakthrough-20230708-p5dmre">445 million people</a>] with a GDP of $24 trillion. The lost opportunity of non-compliance is best illustrated by Brexit. Since Brexit, UK <a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/12/29/brexit-draft-deal-first-of-many-hurdles-to-a-smooth-exit">exports to Europe have fallen</a> and UK farmers have faced significant challenges finding <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/dec/29/uk-farmers-impact-brexit-trade-deal-losing-common-agricultural-policy">alternative markets</a>. If Australia agrees to the European Union’s conditions to get a trade deal through then producers will need to rename some of their products. This would be a large and costly exercise but might give local producers an opportunity to capitalise on the growing consumer demand for locally sourced food and promote Australia’s unique geographical brand values. Recent research conducted by Charles Darwin University reveals some of the unique brand values of Australian agri-food products, including unique selling points of products from the <a href="https://researchers.cdu.edu.au/en/publications/nt-shelf-stable-food-products-market-opportunity-analysis">Northern Territory</a>. Selling points included the unique climate, soil and traditional community values as selling points. Australia’s reputation for quality and ethically produced goods was also important. Such values may lead to Australia developing more of its own geographical indication registration requirements in the future. Rather than fight the rising tide of European Union registrations, the federal government might embrace the trend, in conjunction with renewed promotion of Australia’s geographical brand benefits. Should the government choose to comply with Europe’s demands then producers will need support to rebrand some of their products. Government and departments such as CSIRO should be keen to support this as it can only strengthen Australia’s agri-food sector’s international reputation.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209505/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-greenland-2064">Steven Greenland</a>, Professor in Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-in-a-name-quite-a-lot-if-its-prosecco-parmesan-or-mozzarella-209505">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

7 travel experiences straight out of a fairytale

Some travel destinations are so beautiful they hardly seem real. We’ve put together a gallery with seven dreamy destinations that look like they are straight out of fairytale. To see them all, scroll through the gallery above. 1. Holland’s Tulip Fields – The Netherlands 2. Sagrada Familia – Spain 3. Lake District – England 4. Lake Sørvágsvatn – Faroe Islands 5. Preikestolen – Norway 6. Neuschwanstein Castle – Germany 7. Krzywy Domek – Poland Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/a-look-inside-first-class-cabins/">Inside 8 first class cabins that will amaze you</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/most-photographed-locations-in-london/">London’s 8 most photographed locations</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/holiday-ideas-for-animal-lovers/">8 holiday ideas every animal lover needs to experience</a> Image credit: Shutterstock

International Travel

Three reasons to visit Stockholm

Stockholm has so much more to offer than bucket loads of beautiful blondes. Known as the cool capital of Scandinavia, from food to fashion and from service to sites, it’s our new “It destination” for a European getaway. Here’s our round-up of must-dos and local treasures. EAT Swedes are so passionate about coffee and spending time in cafés that the activity has its own verb: fika. With excellent cafés and bars almost everywhere, do not miss the opportunity to relax in true Stockholm style. For breakfast, brunch or lunch, head to Urban Deli. One of a few combined grocery shops, seafood bars and restaurants in the city, its menu runs the gamut from breakfast to traditional dishes including shrimp salads. SHOP From one-off boutiques to slick shopping centres like Mood, it’s no wonder the Scandies are so well dressed. Grandpa is a must-visit with fashion, interiors and a basement full of carefully selected vintage items like old lab bottles, school chairs and biology posters. SEE If you’re not drawn to a bike ride around the parks or taking a boat on the archipelago (both of which are utterly serene experiences), then opt for a stroll around The Old Town. It’s especially beautiful in wintertime with all the Christmas decorations. One not to miss is the remarkable Vassa Museum. This 17th-century Swedish warship sadly sank on her maiden voyage with all hands on board, but now sits, 95 per cent intact, in a purpose-built museum. The personal effects and mind-blowing facial reconstructions of the crew are as incredibly moving as they are fascinating and instructive. Image: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Europe warming at double the rate of other continents

Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world, according to a newly released report from the World Meteorological Organization. The State of the Climate in Europe report cites the loss of more than 25 metres of ice loss in alpine glaciers, and 20 metres of loss in Greenland (a Danish territory), as particularly responsible for the rise in ocean levels. Climate change events were also responsible for more than US$50 billion in damages. In its statement releasing the report, the WMO described Europe as the “live picture” of a world burdened by warming climate. Since 1990, Europe’s temperatures have undergone an average rate of temperature increase of 0.5 degrees each decade. That rate is twice as high as the next fastest warming continent. The WMO points to high-impact weather and climate events – nearly 85% of which were floods and storms – as directly affecting around 510,000 people. Extreme heat also took its toll, with provisional record temperatures experienced in southern Italy in August reaching 48.8°C. These temperatures influenced drought and low rainfall across the Mediterranean, leading to deadly wildfires that burned through three times the amount of land area than the region’s 15-year average up to 2020. <h2>But are carbon emissions decreasing in Europe?</h2> Fuel prices and the COVID-19 pandemic were major influences on the continent’s carbon emissions reduction, the WMO found. A 31% decline in carbon emissions between 1990 and 2020 was recorded, although it’s expected to be far less in 2021 due to the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and altered fuel prices. 2021 also marked the introduction of EU legislation to make net zero by 2050 a legally-binding target for member nations. Although temperature data provided by six datasets showed a decrease in 2021 from the preceding year, it still marked one of the 10 warmest years on record. And observers will keenly await the release of next year’s 2022 appraisal, after record summer droughts and heatwaves heaped pressure on European nations. Even now, regions across the continent are recording their hottest temperatures for November on record. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> (2) More November records in Europe. France had 21 records today (left column), the most important were: Aigues Mortes (POR since 1872), Aix en Provence and Valence (1st class stations). In Austria 4 records beaten the highest was 23.3C at Hohe Wand (right column). tb continued.. <a href="https://t.co/DjmR7oR0oR">pic.twitter.com/DjmR7oR0oR</a> — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) <a href="https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1587481854680219653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2022</a></blockquote> “[Europe] reminds us that even well-prepared societies are not safe from impacts of extreme weather events,” says WMO secretary-general Professor Petteri Taalas. “This year, like 2021, large parts of Europe have been affected by extensive heatwaves and drought, fuelling wildfires. In 2021, exceptional floods caused death and devastation. “On the mitigation side, the good pace in reducing greenhouse gases emissions in the region should continue and ambition should be further increased. Europe can play a key role towards achieving a carbon neutral society by the middle of the century to meet the Paris Agreement.” <h2>Future outlook</h2> The release of the report comes ahead of the global climate change conference to be held in Egypt, where delegations from around the world convene to recalibrate efforts to address climate change. Last year’s COP26 conference in Glasgow was criticised for scrubbing language to phase out coal from the final agreement. In its place came language to ‘phase down’ its use. Coal is the leading source of carbon emissions from energy use. Similarly, several nations failed to renew important targets to reduce carbon emissions by the end of the decade, considered an important tipping point if net zero by 2050 is to be achieved. The WMO echoed the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts that weather, climate and water disasters will increase in the future, and that Europe will experience temperature rises at rates exceeding global average increases. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/europe-warming-at-double-the-rate-of-other-continents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Matthew Agius. Image: Getty

Travel Trouble

World's most-loved landmarks ranked

A new study has ranked the world's most-loved landmarks, whittling down a list of 125 iconic spots down to just ten. Travel experts at <a href="https://usebounce.com/blog/best-loved-landmarks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bounce</a> analysed Google search data with a focus on several factors, including annual visitor numbers, TripAdvisor ratings and posts on social media. The US and Canada dominated the list, with Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Golden Gate Bridge and the Statue of Liberty coming in first, third, fourth and fifth respectively. India's Taj Mahal came in second, while the Great Wall of China just missed out on the top five. Though Australia and New Zealand's icons were noticeably absent from the list, the famed Sydney Opera House took out second in Bounce's ranking of landmarks expected to generate the most revenue, coming in behind India's Burj Khalifa. The full list of the top ten most-loved landmarks is: 1. Niagara Falls, Canada 2. Taj Mahal, India 3. Grand Canyon, United States 4. Golden Gate Bridge, United States 5. Statue Of Liberty, United States 6. Great Wall Of China, China 7. Eiffel Tower, France 8. Burj Khalifa, India 9. Banff National Park, Canada 10. Colosseum, Italy Image: Getty Images

International Travel

10 European villages you haven’t been to

Of course everyone has heard about London, Paris and Rome, but sometimes it’s the hidden gems that provide the most memorable experiences for travellers. Travel + Leisure has put together a 10 of the best secret European villages. They might not be as well known, but they’re just as captivating as a place to visit in their own right. To see the villages, scroll through the gallery below. <ol> <li>Giornico, Switzerland</li> <li>Staufen im Breisgau, Germany</li> <li>Aberdour, Scotland</li> <li>Norcia, Italy</li> <li>Folégandros, Greece</li> <li>Marvão, Portugal</li> <li>Terschelling, The Netherlands</li> <li>Hellnar, Iceland</li> <li>St. Mawes, England</li> <li>Plios, Russia</li> </ol> Have you been to any of these secret villages? Do you have a holiday on the cards, and if so where are you going? Images: Getty Images

International Travel

Europe’s 10 tourist rules you never realised you had to follow

When your entire country can be considered a work of art or priceless history, officials sometimes have to go to extremes to protect their national treasures, leading to some pretty surprising rules that you need to follow when you travel. Don't sit on the steps in Rome New tourist laws in Rome make it illegal to sit on the city’s famed Spanish Steps. The explanation: The newly renovated stairs are a centuries-old historic monument, not actually seating. The same goes for other historic stairways in the city; you can walk up and down, but don’t get comfortable by grabbing a seat or you can be issued a fine. It’s also against the law to bump your wheeled luggage and baby strollers down ancient stairs since it can destroy the stone. Even though these rules can sound pernickety, it’s become a necessity to protect the ancient highlights of the city since Italy is the country everyone wants to travel to this year. Don't wear heels in Athens Rome isn’t the only iconic city worried about preserving vintage stone; in Greece, it’s illegal to wear high heels when you’re touring storied monuments like the Parthenon and the Acropolis in Athens, or any other ancient marble and stone historic site. (They’re notoriously slippery, so we wouldn’t recommend it anyway.) Don't jump in the Canal in Venice It’s never OK to swim, or even dunk your toes, in the famous canals and lagoons in Venice; it’s against the law. Honestly, you shouldn’t even want to, it’s not all that clean. Instead, head to lovely Lido Island for beautiful sandy beaches and clean swimming waters. Fountains are not for swimming Forget what you’ve seen in movies, you’ll be in hot water if you try to splash around in Rome’s Trevi Fountain to cool off, or in any other fountain in Italy. Instead, head to the beautiful beaches of Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast to cool off during the summer. Don't swim in the Blue Grotto Speaking of water in Italy, if you see a sign that prohibits swimming, take it seriously. Heidi Klum and her newly betrothed Tom Kaulitz were recently fined more than $6,000 for leaping into the fabled waters of the Blue Grotto in Capri after they tied the knot on a nearby yacht. Don't snack on the go Here’s an Italian law that may catch you by surprise: It’s illegal to eat messy food in historic locations in Rome, Florence, and Venice. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your gelato in a park or while you stroll down a quiet street, but you could be fined (or even removed from the city center) if you try to eat a pizza in a historic piazza or drip your ice cream onto the stones of the Coliseum. And in Greece, you can’t bring drinks, food, or gum into any historic sites, either. And please don’t cook your food in a historic site: two German tourists were actually kicked out of Venice for brewing coffee on the famed Rialto Bridge. Keep your shirt on Taking a dip in the sea in Barcelona? Don’t plan on walking around in your bathing suit once you leave the beach; wearing just a bikini or swim trunks on the street is a fineable offence here and also on the popular Spanish island of Mallorca. And men, keep your shirt on when you’re in Rome, too; it’s against the law to walk around bare-chested. Don't feed the pigeons Want to toss a few breadcrumbs to the infamous flying residents of San Marco Square in Venice? Not so fast! It’s actually against the law to feed the pesky pigeons. Same goes for the birds in Vienna, Austria, where feeding the pigeons has been a fineable offence since 2014. Keep the noise down If you’re visiting Germany, it’s illegal to make too much noise on a Sunday or holidays. And keep things down when you’re visiting Venice, too; a new law says that making too much noise at night or during siesta time (1 pm to 3 pm), is also forbidden. Don't put your mouth on the tap in Rome According to Lonely Planet, tourists will need to be especially considerate about how they drink water from Rome’s historic public drinking fountains, known as nasoni. It’s unacceptable to let your mouth touch the metal spout; instead, cup your hands under the spout to get a drink, or bring a reusable water bottle, and skip the issue altogether. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/travel-hints-tips/europes-10-tourist-rules-you-never-realised-you-had-to-follow?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Travel Tips

‘Gone Girl’ fans can get their fix on killer-themed cruise

For fans of the author Gillian Flynn, the mind behind the thrilling novel Gone Girl, this cruise is for you. Flynn’s award-winning book, about a woman faking her own murder to frame her husband, earned actors Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike a string of accolades for their roles in the blockbuster adaptation. For those who can’t get enough of her stories, which include Sharp Objects and Dark Places, Flynn will be joining passengers on an eight-day cruise down the Danube River. “I am very excited about this,” Flynn told Today Extra. “Along the way I will be telling some stories and doing readings and answering questions about writing, anything about writing in general. “I’m always up to talk about books.” Flynn marked the ten-year anniversary of Gone Girl’s release in May, sharing with fans what a sequel could look like. “Today is the ten-year anniversary of Gone Girl. What am I thinking about?” she wrote on Instagram. “In Gone Girl chronology, Nick and Amy’s child would be close to 16 years old now. I keep wondering what a teenager raised by Amazing Amy would be like… and I’m chilled… in a good way.” Along with spending time with the acclaimed author, passengers on the cruise will be able to take part in various activities and day trips, as the cruise makes stops in Budapest, Visegrad, Vienna, Krems and Grein. The cruise, set to depart on September 15, will set passengers back $4,238 each and includes seven servings of breakfast and dinner, and six lunches. It is one of Avalon Waterways’ series of Storyteller cruises, with upcoming trips featuring comical novelist <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise/storybook-scenery-sarcasm-satire/WZA-T2/?season=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christopher Moore</a> and musical group <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/river-cruise/active-discovery-on-the-rhine-with-sister-hazel-northbound/WWA-T2/?season=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sister Hazel</a>. To find out more about the killer cruise, head <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com.au/europe-river-cruises/active-discovery-on-the-danube-gillian-flynn-WBLT?season=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Images: @thegillianflynn (Instagram)

Cruising

Record-busting droughts are uncovering long-lost relics

As much of the Northern Hemisphere experiences record-breaking droughts, the drying up of lakes, rivers and other bodies of water has exposed more than just dirt and debris. In Spain, a prehistoric circle of stones dubbed “Spanish Stonehenge” has emerged in a drying dam in the central province of Caceres. Since it was first discovered in 1926 and was subsequently covered by floodwaters, the stones have only been visible four times. Elsewhere in Europe, 20 German WWII warships have been exposed, sunken in the Danube River near Serbia’s river port town of Prahovo. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/ww2-ships.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Twenty Nazi warships emerged as the Danue River continues to dry up. Image: Reuters (YouTube) The Nazi German ships were among hundreds that sailed up the Danube while retreating from Soviet forces in 1944, and still hamper traffic traversing the river when water levels are low. In late July, a previously submerged WWII bomb weighing a whopping 450kg was discovered in the River Po, as the country declared a state of emergency in areas around the lengthy river as a result of the low water levels. The ageing explosive was defused in a controlled explosion by military experts earlier this month near the village of Bogo Virgilio, but not before about 3,000 people were evacuated from the area, per <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/20/europes-drought-exposes-wwii-ships-bombs-and-prehistoric-stones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Al Jazeera</a>. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/bomb1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Military experts were deployed to detonate a 450kg bomb uncovered in Italy’s Polo River. Image: Global News (YouTube) Meanwhile, droughts in the US have exposed ancient footprints belonging to dinosaurs, as well as victims of suspected mob killings. In early July, the skeletal remains of a man who was shot in the head, stuffed in a barrel and tossed into Lake Mead, located outside the city of Las Vegas, were uncovered, with experts believing he would have died in the 1980s. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/dino-tracks.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Dinosaur tracks believed to be 113 million years old were found in a state park in Texas. Image: Texas Park and Wildlife Department The lake, along with the Hudson River, provides most of southern Nevada’s drinking water and has reached its lowest point since it was filled 90 years ago, as reported by <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/priyashukla/2022/05/03/drought-reveals-homicide-victim-as-lake-mead-recedes/?sh=6d6c198f3943" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forbes</a>. A discovery of Jurassic proportions was made at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas, after footprints believed to date back 113 million years were found. The tracks belong to the Arocanthosaurus, a bipedal dinosaur with three toes and a claw on each limb, per <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/24/science/dinosaur-tracks-texas-drought.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>. Others that were also uncovered belong to Sauroposeidon proteles, a 15-metre-long dinosaur with a long neck and small head. As the fierce weather continues, experts believe more of these kinds of finds will emerge. Images: Texas Park and Wildlife Department / Reuters (YouTube)

International Travel

Couple ‘draw’ 7,237 kilometre bicycle in name of climate change

A couple has taken a stand against climate change that can be seen from the skies, having cycled more than 7,000 kilometres to create the image of a bike to encourage others to ditch their cars. UK-based couple Arianna Casiraghi and Daniel Rayneau-Kirkhope first took it upon themselves to “draw” a 956-kilometre-wide bicycle across Europe in 2019, telling the Guardian they did it to “draw attention to the scale of climate breakdown” and get others to think about choosing bikes over cars for shorter trips. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChRmUTSM9j8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChRmUTSM9j8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Arianna🇮🇹 - Daniel🇬🇧 - Zola🐶🇫🇮 (@bicycleswillsavetheworld_)</a> </div> </blockquote> Though a pandemic, injuries, and poor weather made their short trip anything but, the Italian-British duo eventually finished the task. After quitting their jobs in 2019 to start the ride, Casiraghi suffered a knee injury that put a hold on their journey until November, when the cold and rain made it so miserable they had to stop again. Plans to restart the ride in March 2020 were derailed, but Casiraghi said finishing what they had started was both for a sense of accomplishment and so they didn’t let down the people who had been following their progress. Their trip, which totalled 131 days of cycling, finally came to an end on August 15 and the couple took to Instagram to share the news. “We have completed our gps-trace drawing! And what a drawing it is!” they wrote. “We cycled 7237 km through 7 countries to draw our massive bicycle and hopefully encourage one or two people to use their bike instead of the car.” The pair revealed they had also beaten several records, including the Guinness World Record for the largest GPS drawing, the unofficial record for the largest one completed by a bicycle, and “we have definitely drawn the biggest bicycle ever!” As if their feat wasn’t impressive enough, the duo also took their Italian water dog, Zola, along for the ride, using custom-built bikes that had a compartment for the pooch to sit in whenever she wasn’t running alongside. <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CeWkHS1s06U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CeWkHS1s06U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Arianna🇮🇹 - Daniel🇬🇧 - Zola🐶🇫🇮 (@bicycleswillsavetheworld_)</a> </div> </blockquote> "We tried to go on small roads where possible, or off-road, so Zola could walk a bit," Rayneau-Kirkhope said. The planning of their drawing was also a complex task, with their first draft route taking them directly through Charles de Gaulle Airport. Reflecting on their trip, the couple said Casiraghi’s injury proved to be “really quite demoralising”. "We had to stop travelling in order to rest and undertake dedicated physiotherapy sessions, which unfortunately meant that our project got delayed," they said. But, people’s reactions to their journey far outshone the harder moments. "The highlight of the trip has been the incredible support that we have received from people along the road," they said. "Without them, cycling through the cold and rainy winter months would simply not have been possible with our tight budget. "We still are amazed about how open-minded and selfless people can be." As for what’s next, the pair said they would be heading home for a rest before hitting the pedals again - though their next trip won’t be so artistic. "Now, we will go home and rest before going for another cycling trip," they said. "No drawing, just pedalling in whichever direction we bloody well please!" Image: @bicycleswilsavetheworld_ (Instagram)

International Travel

European droughts could jeopardise cruising’s future

With much of Europe and the UK recording devastating droughts, plummeting water levels in rivers and lakes are posing a threat to trade, industry and another sector: tourism. According to the European Union’s European Drought Observatory, around 63 percent of the land across the EU and UK, while the UK declared a drought in eight out of 14 areas shortly after. One body of water hit hard by the hot and drying weather is the Rhine, an important trade route and a popular inclusion on cruise itineraries. A critical juncture of the river at the German town of Kaub recorded water levels of just 36 centimetres over the weekend, sinking below the level at which commercial shipping becomes unprofitable. Clare Weeden, a principal lecturer in tourism and marketing at the University of Brighton, told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/europe-drought-river-cruising/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> that this isn’t news, with low levels on the Rhine and Daube rivers seeing cruise passengers bussed from one destination to another over the past five or six years. "Anybody who operates river cruise boats would have had an understanding of this because of the way the climate has changed in the last 20 years," she explained. But, with the coinciding rise of river cruising’s popularity with the climate crisis, Weeden said Europe’s traditional cruising is “definitely going to suffer”. The situation is similar across Europe, with parts of France’s famed Loire river drying up almost completely and some canals being closed. As for the Danube, emergency dredging is taking place on the lower river, through Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, while the water levels in the Hungary stretch have meant that trade vessels, averaging 1600 tonnes, can only navigate the river without cargo. While some cruises have been unaffected, passengers on some lines have been unable to travel to Budapest by water, instead being bussed or flown from other destinations. In the UK, the source of the Thames has moved downriver by five miles (or eight metres), a first in the country’s history. For those with tours lined up, don’t cancel just yet. Helen Prochilo of Promal Vacations suggests those who have booked their trips make regular calls to their river cruise line to check the conditions. For visitors still considering booking a tour, Prochilo advises to book earlier in the season or simply wait until next year. Susanne Etti, an environmental impact manager at Intrepid Travel, has called this year’s summer “a wake-up call for the entire sector”. “Travel has a front row seat as climate change unfolds in the destinations we visit and, if this becomes a standard summer, it will massively impact our industry,” Etti said. “Unless urgent action is taken on climate change, the reality is that extreme weather is going to have an impact on the destinations and communities we visit.” Image: Getty Images

Cruising

As Europe burns, Australia needs to “prepare for 50°C” say experts

The UK’s hottest day on record has given local fire services their busiest day since World War II, wildfires blaze across the Mediterranean and July’s unprecedented European heatwave is yet another example of how climate change will challenge nations. These challenges are expected to roll on in the short-term, with over a month left in what is considered the ‘meteorological summer’. For Australia, experts say the tumbling hot weather records in Europe are a warning to a nation famous for its own sizzling summers. <h2>Records shattered in Europe</h2> The headlines coming out of the region paint a concerning picture. A new record temperature for the UK – exceeding 40°C – has been reached at the same time the nation’s first ever ‘code red’ extreme heat warning was issued. Cities along France’s western coast also saw a mass breaking of temperature records on Monday. In some of these towns, the anomaly – or variation in temperature above the average – has exceeded 16°C. The UK has seen some temperatures clear 20°C above the average. And although some Britons have pointed to their nation’s 1976 heatwave as proof these temperatures are nothing new, meteorologists have swiftly pointed to the widespread nature of these excessive temperatures. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> People keep telling me that because the UK had a heatwave in 1976, climate change is overhyped. So here’s the global heat anomaly maps from June 1976 and June 2022. <a href="https://t.co/GGVg46UTcI">https://t.co/GGVg46UTcI</a> <a href="https://t.co/tngiGoEEUl">pic.twitter.com/tngiGoEEUl</a> — Will Norman (@willnorman) <a href="https://twitter.com/willnorman/status/1548547271725240323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> In 2020, the <a href="https://twitter.com/metoffice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@metoffice</a> produced a hypothetical weather forecast for 23 July 2050 based on UK climate projections. Today, the forecast for Tuesday is shockingly almost identical for large parts of the country. <a href="https://t.co/U5hQhZwoTi">pic.twitter.com/U5hQhZwoTi</a> — Dr Simon Lee (@SimonLeeWx) <a href="https://twitter.com/SimonLeeWx/status/1547957062000267267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We have not seen anything like it. We can't compare this looming heat emergency to summer 1976. A warmer world, thanks to human induced climate change, makes it almost effortless to break extreme heat thresholds. We continue to see this across the planet - not just in Europe. <a href="https://t.co/z0FpZ3Mcbb">pic.twitter.com/z0FpZ3Mcbb</a> — Scott Duncan (@ScottDuncanWX) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottDuncanWX/status/1548728369738661891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2022</a></blockquote> Eagle-eyed readers will note these present-day anomaly maps show a ‘redder’ globe to those of 46 years ago – the result of far hotter temperatures than average in most parts of the planet. Now that ominous red patch over Europe extends into Northern Africa – home of nations like Morocco and Algeria – which have also battled blazes along their coasts this week. Although wildfires are known events in Mediterranean regions, the severity of fires blazing across Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece is such that tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and holiday areas. These types of events have been predicted for some time, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2022 adaptation report emphasised heatwaves and wildfires would continue to impact human health, food security and ecosystem survival. Although heatwaves and vegetation fires are nothing new in parts of Europe and Northern Africa, Dr Rachael Nolan, a researcher in fire ecology from Western Sydney University, says the impact of warming temperatures is creating fire-prone conditions in areas unaccustomed to them. “In many places around the world we are seeing wildfires occurring in places that don’t usually see fire,” says Nolan. “This is driven by climate change pushing up temperatures and drying out fuel. During heatwaves, high temperatures and low humidity causes vegetation to dry out, leaving areas primed for fire. “Fires can then spread quickly when there is an ignition. This is what we are seeing in the UK at the moment. “We are also seeing fires in the Mediterranean Basin, and although fires in this region are not unusual, they are also occurring at the moment due to the heatwave.” <h2>The consequences for human health are many</h2> “As is being witnessed, the UK’s building stock is not designed or built for heat,” says Professor Darryn McEvoy, a research professor in urban resilience and climate adaptation from RMIT. Building materials like concrete are effective at retaining and amplifying heat in built-up areas – a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. This can increase the likelihood of heat-related deaths and illnesses, which McEvoy says points to the need to modify towns and cities for the climate of the future. “The heat impacting Europe re-emphasises the need to not only mitigate greenhouse gas emissions as a matter of urgency by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and moving to ‘net zero’, but also to adapt our urban environments for what, inevitably, will be a hotter future,” McEvoy says. Heat effects aside, urban areas are also more polluted that less densely populated ones. This means atmospheric pollutants, particulate matter that degrades air quality and ozone formation from solar radiation are more likely to occur in periods of extreme heat. It’s why the risk of more severe weather events due to global warming is of concern to health authorities around the world. “When a heatwave goes along with high levels of pollution it exacerbates respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and conditions especially in large urban spaces that are not adapted to cope with these high temperatures,” explains Maria Neira, Director of Environment and Health at the World Health Organisation. “We have been alerting for a long time that climate change is severely affecting human health and therefore taking measures to reach the zero carbon and accelerating the transition to clean renewable sources of energy will be extremely important.” Wildfires like those experienced by parts of Europe and the UK add another complication. With heatwaves capable of exacerbating pollution effects, the release of more toxic substances from widespread vegetation burning increases the risks to human health. Research released on Wednesday by Curtin and Murdoch universities, found a direct link between smoke exposures and attendance at emergency departments. Perth, Western Australia, where these universities are located, has endured several particularly damaging bushfire seasons in recent years. Dr Adeleh Shirangi from Curtin’s School of Population Health led the research that found a 7% increase in emergency admissions. The likelihood of hospitalisations was also higher for those over 60 years of age, from socioeconomic disadvantage and those with pre-existing heart and lung issues. For nations with increasingly ageing populations, this could present healthcare providers with a perfect storm as climate change’s impacts are felt in coming years. “Bushfire smoke consists of a complex mix of particulate matter – PM – and gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide and ozone,” explains Shirangi. “And the size of particulate matter that is in bushfire smoke is so small – 2.5 micrometres in diameter – which is about 50 times smaller than the thickness of a strand of human hair. “When we inhale PM2.5, this tiny particulate matter is small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and the bloodstream. “This can lead us to have various, serious diseases affecting the heart, lungs and brain, and during bushfires, the levels of PM concentration in the air are significantly higher than regulatory air quality standards, so it’s become extremely unsafe.” <h2>Northern hemisphere events are an advance warning for Australia</h2> Just as Australia was stunned by consecutive years of record flooding events more often associated with rainy European winters, so has the northern hemisphere been unprepared for heatwaves that have long been part of the Australian psyche. It’s that Australian ‘preparedness’ for heatwaves and bushfire events that may leave the UK and European nations exposed. Tragic drownings of Britons retreating to lakes and streams for respite, as well as increased hospitalisations from heat stress and smoke inhalation, may become more common headlines in the coming years. While more than three in four Australian households have air conditioning, just 1% of UK homes has a cooling system. Just as Australia looks to the potential impacts of climate change on coastline and floodplain communities, so too will European nations need to consider what adaptations are needed to reduce the burden on an already challenged health system – something Dr Sharon Campbell, from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, describes as being caught in “a perfect storm of social, cultural and political factors”. An adaptive response is important for already heat-prone nations like Australia. In January 2022, the mercury reached a continental record of 50.7°C in Onslow – a coastal town in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. So although the global focus this week is on temperature records broken in the UK and France, Australia too must consider the impacts of hotter summers on its built-up areas, and high-fuel vegetation. “These factors combine to make this [UK] event a human and environmental disaster,” says Campbell. “The UK has a health system already at breaking point, a government distracted by leadership battles, and an emergency-fatigued population just wanting to have a summer of fun. “Driven by human-induced climate change, extreme and record-breaking temperatures have hit Australia, the United States and now Europe across successive summers. “Australia needs to actively prepare for 50°C in major population centres like Western Sydney. This takes government leadership and community understanding. “We have seen a shift to greater recognition of these risks with a recent change in federal government, and this needs to be urgently followed by greater investment in research, adaptation initiatives and education.” This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/australia-needs-to-prepare-for-50/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Matthew Agius. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

The world's best restaurants for 2022 have been revealed

The cosmopolitan city of Copenhagen has had another incredible culinary year after a restaurant in the Danish capital was crowned best on the planet for the second year in a row. Geranium, which serves a meat-free, seasonally based Scandi menu, located in the unique location of the eighth floor of Denmark's national soccer stadium. It's open four days a week, a choice made by head chef Rasmus Kofoed and co-owner Søren Ledet in order to keep to an ethos of work-life balance. The two friends hugged joyfully as they celebrated winning their award at a lavish ceremony held in London's Old Billingsgate, a Victorian building that was once the world's largest fish market. Hollywood actor and CNN presenter Stanley Tucci hosted the ceremony, in a white tuxedo jacket on one of the UK's hottest days on record. Restaurants are only permitted to scoop the awards' top prize once, after which they're entered into a separate "Best of the Best" program. Members of that elite group include Geranium's Copenhagen neighbor Noma, as well as New York's Eleven Madison Park, The Fat Duck near London, Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, and Mirazur in Menton, France. South American restaurants fared well. In Lima, chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León's Central climbed two places to the second spot, while Maido, which serves Japanese-Peruvian fusion, slipped down to No. 11. Brazil's A Caso do Porco – a celebration of all things porcine has climbed 10 places to No. 7. Spain's presence on the list this year was solid with Barcelona's Disfrutar at No. 3, while Madrid's Diverxo shot up to 4th place. Larrabetzu's Asador Etxebarri – where all dishes, even dessert, are flame-grilled has slipped down to No. 6. Mexico City was represented by fifth place winner Pujol this year's Best Restaurant in North America and Quintonil, which climbed all the way from last year's No. 27 has landed in a No. 9 spot. Italy's Lido 84 and Le Calandre also moved up the rankings this year. Uliassi, in Italy's Senigallia region, was at No. 12, this year's Highest New Entry. It's not until No.20 that an Asia-based restaurant makes an appearance, with Den in Tokyo earning the highest place on this year's list. In the 20 years the awards have been running, no restaurant outside Europe or North America has ever won the World's 50 Best prize. All winners so far have come from Spain, the United States, the UK, Denmark, Italy and France. Here are the world’s best restaurants: 1. <a href="http://www.geranium.dk/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geranium</a> (Copenhagen, Denmark) 2. <a href="http://centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central</a> (Lima, Peru) *Best Restaurant in South America* 3. <a href="http://www.disfrutarbarcelona.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disfrutar</a> (Barcelona, Spain) 4. <a href="https://diverxo.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diverxo</a> (Madrid, Spain) 5. <a href="https://www.pujol.com.mx/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pujol</a> (Mexico City, Mexico) *Best Restaurant in North America* 6. <a href="http://asadoretxebarri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asador Etxebarri</a> (Axpe, Spain) 7. <a href="https://acasadoporco.com.br/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Casa do Porco</a> (São Paulo, Brazil) 8. <a href="https://www.ristorantelido84.com/en/home-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lido 84</a> (Gardone Riviera, Italy) 9. <a href="http://www.quintonil.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quintonil</a> (Mexico City, Mexico) 10. <a href="https://www.alajmo.it/en/sezione/le-calandre/le-calandre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Le Calandre</a> (Rubano, Italy) 11. <a href="http://www.maido.pe/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maido</a> (Lima, Peru) 12. <a href="https://www.uliassi.com/homepage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uliassi</a> (Senigallia, Italy) 13. <a href="https://www.steirereck.at/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steirereck</a> (Vienna, Austria) 14. <a href="http://www.parrilladonjulio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Don Julio</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 15. <a href="https://www.nikoromito.com/reale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reale</a> (Castel di Sangro, Italy) 16. <a href="https://www.restauranteelkano.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elkano</a> (Getaria, Spain) 17. <a href="https://www.nobelhartundschmutzig.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nobelhart & Schmutzig</a> (Berlin, Germany) 18. <a href="https://alchemist.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alchemist</a> (Copenhagen, Denmark) 19. <a href="https://www.piazzaduomoalba.it/it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piazza Duomo</a> (Alba, Italy) 20. <a href="http://www.jimbochoden.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Den</a> (Tokyo, Japan) *Best Restaurant in Asia* 21. <a href="http://www.mugaritz.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mugaritz</a> (San Sebastian, Spain) 22. <a href="http://www.septime-charonne.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Septime</a> (Paris, France) 23. <a href="https://www.thejaneantwerp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Jane</a> (Antwerp, Belgium) 24. <a href="https://www.thechairmangroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Chairman</a> (Hong Kong) 25. <a href="http://www.restaurantfrantzen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frantzén</a> (Stockholm, Sweden) 26. <a href="https://tim-raue.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Restaurant Tim Raue</a> (Berlin, Germany) 27. <a href="https://www.hofvancleve.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hof van Cleve</a> (Kruishoutem, Belgium) 28. <a href="https://www.le-clarence.paris/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Clarence</a> (Paris, France) 29. <a href="https://www.st-hubertus.it/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St. Hubertus</a> (San Cassiano, Italy) 30. <a href="https://www.aoyama-florilege.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florilege</a> (Tokyo, Japan) 31. <a href="https://www.alain-passard.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arpège</a> (Paris, France) 32. <a href="https://www.maytalima.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayta</a> (Lima, Peru) 33. <a href="https://www.atomixnyc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atomix</a> (New York City) 34. <a href="https://www.hisafranko.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hiša Franko</a> (Kobarid, Slovenia) 35. <a href="http://thecloveclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Clove Club</a> (London, UK) 36. <a href="http://www.odetterestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Odette</a> (Singapore) 37. <a href="https://fynrestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fyn</a> (Cape Town, South Africa) 38. <a href="https://restaurantjordnaer.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jordnær</a> (Copenhagen, Denmark) 39. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sornfinesouthern/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sorn</a> (Bangkok, Thailand) 40. <a href="https://schauenstein.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schloss Schauenstein</a> (Fürstenau, Switzerland) 41. <a href="http://www.la-cime.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Cime</a> (Osaka, Japan) 42. <a href="https://en.quiquedacosta.es/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quique Dacosta</a> (Dénia, Spain) 43. <a href="https://www.borago.cl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boragó</a> (Santiago, Chile) 44. <a href="https://www.le-bernardin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Le Bernardin</a> (New York City) 45. <a href="http://www.narisawa-yoshihiro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Narisawa</a> (Tokyo, Japan) 46. <a href="https://belcanto.pt/index.php?lang=pt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belcanto</a> (Lisbon, Portugal) 47. <a href="http://www.oteque.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oteque</a> (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 48. <a href="http://www.restauranteleo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leo</a> (Bogotá, Colombia) 49. <a href="https://ikoyilondon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ikoyi</a> (London, England) 50. <a href="https://www.singlethreadfarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SingleThread</a> (Healdsburg, California) Image: Eatweek

Food & Wine

Carrie Bickmore on the iconic bumbag

Much to the dismay of her family, there is one accessory Carrie Bickmore cannot do without when travelling and that is – the famous bumbag. The Project host shared a snap of herself in a stylish, yet casual matching cream blazer and pants. Under the jacket she wore a blush pink top and showed off part of her much-loved black bumbag. “It’s a vibe……(and not a good one according to my family),” she said about the small pouch accessory. Carrie said she bought the bumbag for family adventures while in the UK and has worn it out every day since, describing it as a “game-changer”. “Free hands, easy access, and not to mention how stylish it makes you,” she joked, adding the hashtags ‘dontknockituntilyoutryit’ and ‘style icon’. She’s not the only one who loves the look with fellow celebrities also praising the handy and stylish bumbag. “Smart. Very smart,” fellow TV journalist Angela Bishop wrote. “All about it,” presenter Sarah Harris said, while fellow The Project host Lisa Wilkinson also agreed it’s a “vibe”. “Bumbags ROCK! Seriously ahead of their time. And you look SUPER SMART innit Bickers,” Grant Denyer’s wife, Chezzi added. It comes as Carrie headed off to Europe in April with her husband Chris and three kids, Oliver, 14, Evie, 7, and Adelaide, 3, and is sharing snippets of their adventure on her Instagram account. Image: Instagram

Beauty & Style

Project hosts react to Europe’s new travel restrictions for Australians

The European Union has announced that Australia, Canada, and Argentina are no longer on their travel ‘white list’ amidst rising case numbers of COVID-19 thanks to the Omicron variant. The European Council advised member states to block visitors from Australia, which it singled out as a “Covid danger zone” due to high case numbers, which means Australian travellers will likely face restrictions for non-essential travel. The US now also considers Australia high risk, advising residents to not travel here. Not all European countries agree with the Council’s recommendations, however, with Greece, Cyprus and Italy relaxing restrictions on visiting Australians. The Project hosts were less than impressed by the news, with Steve Price saying, “Fancy these (people) over there callings us dirty, filthy, Aussie Covid carriers.” Meanwhile, Peter van Onselen crunched the numbers and worked out that a number of countries labelling Australia dangerous actually had higher daily case numbers. He said, “On the numbers, it's ridiculous. Not only in overall terms for the size of the population have they had been two and three times as many cases, but even on current daily cases related to population size, European countries like France, Spain and Italy all are having more cases per day than we are. “So are they advising their citizens to don't go to Australia, and are they also saying leave Europe, leave your own country.” Chief executive of Flight Centre Graham Turner believes the move will have “minimal effect on vaccinated Australians travelling to Europe”, however. Talking to The Guardian, he said, “Each EU country has their own protocols and if you are vaccinated most do not require pre-departure testing and isolation at arrival. I believe the indications are that within three to six weeks Australians will be able to fly to North America and UK/Europe without pre-departure tests and tourists will be able to fly here under the same conditions.” Australia currently has some of the highest Covid case numbers per capita in the world, coming in just behind France. Despite this, Australia still has very low death rates, while the US has the highest. Image: Network Ten

Travel Trouble

TikTok shows bird inside cabin on flight from Europe to US

A passenger on a flight from Europe to the US has shared a video of a bird that was trapped inside the cabin during her flight. Brooke Frazier uploaded a video to TikTok of a bird flying throughout the cabin of the plane she was on, writing, "Bird stuck on our eight hour flight from Europe lil guy about to be so confused.” In the caption, she wrote that the bird had “hopped on” the flight in Belgium and was “going crazy” during the flight to the US. <div class="embed"><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7051627241830403374&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40totallychillfemale%2Fvideo%2F7051627241830403374&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F7dd3104a4c624e7ebda67ae7affa603c_1641834912%7Etplv-tiktok-play.jpeg%3Fx-expires%3D1642078800%26x-signature%3D26FoJY0C1LvfiLhbFiJa3bTZQBc%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" scrolling="no" title="tiktok embed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div> The video has received almost 12 million views, almost 2 million likes, and over 20,000 comments. Commenters were quick to see the humour in the situation, with one suggesting it was something out of a movie, writing, “Pixar movie. European bird runs away cuz all his family bullied him for being small. now he's raised by a bunch of pigeons from Jersey”. Brooke herself responded with her own movie synopsis, saying, “migrant bird opens a bakery in jersey to show his pursuit of the american dream while going back to his roots with family recipes”. Another commented “Omg I hope he speaks English,” while another said, “He’s gonna have to learn to fly on the right side.” Brooke posted a followup video once they’d touched down, asking, “Does anyone know if Pfizer protects against bird flu?” Many users wanted more information on the bird’s fate, with one person writing, “They should provide a free return trip for him”, while another said, “It’s gonna be so lonely without its friends”. Brooke herself commented, “I started tearing up bc it's whole family is in Belgium and it's gonna get off and have to make new friends." Image: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Entire family found dead inside luxury hotel sauna

Police are investigating the highly suspicious death of an entire family in a five-star holiday hotel sauna. Police have suggested they may have been murdered, according to reports citing local law enforcement. The family all died minutes apart from what was initially described as “asphyxia”. Sergey Burenkov, 60 and his wife Natalya Burenkova, 58, from Moscow, Russia were holidaying in Albania with their daughter, Katya, 31, and her partner Nikita Belousov, 37, Initially, attention was focused on the ventilation system of the sauna complex. There were also claims that Chlorine in a pool may have caused these deaths, but was dismissed as a “fabrication” by the Russian embassy in Tirana, the capital of Albania. Other claims that alcohol poisoning may have been responsible have all been rejected amid claims the family members do not drink. Reports say no fault has been found with the sauna or its ventilation system. The family died soon after going for a sauna after arriving at the luxurious Gloria Palace Hotel on the 15th of October. One local report said there are now “suspicions among persecutors that we may be dealing with murder, but it is still too early to come to an accurate conclusion on how it was committed.” If this is true, it is unclear why the tourist family were targeted. Reports say they had ordered drinks and food to sauna complex but by the time a waiter delivered it, they were all dead. “I shouted several times that the drinks and fruit were ready,” the hotel employee said to the Albanian media. “No one answered so I walked inside and saw them all.” “One person was lying on a sunbed, two were on the (sauna) benches. The last one was sitting with his legs in the pool.” “They have all suffocated.” The Russian embassy is working with local police to establish the cause of their deaths

Travel Trouble

How Aussies can experience a European summer cruise at home

Instead of experiencing a European summer cruise, most Australians are stuck inside due to lockdown restrictions. COVID-19 rules have seen many Aussies having to abandon their travel plans and stay at home during peak cruising seasons. To cure the travel bug, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.celebritycruises.com/au" target="_blank">Celebrity Cruises</a> are offering locked down Aussies a chance to experience the European summer of their dreams from their homes. They have shared a detailed list of wine and food pairings that would make anyone think they were living it up on the Amalfi Coast. Their top wine picks have been crafted by experts to give those in a lockdown a unique experience with wines from all over the country. The selected wines include a Prosecco from the region of Veneto in Italy, a crisp white wine from the south of Italy, and a Bordeaux blend red wine that is among the top 3% of wines in the world. Celebrity Cruises holds more awards from the world’s leading authority on wine than any other cruise line, with 89 awards in just nine years. They also boast an impressive collection of sommeliers at sea to help guests pair their wines with perfect meals. Their impressive wine collections can be found on their website, which is the perfect solution for any Aussie who is desperate to experience a life of luxury, while still in lockdown. Cheers to that! Image credit: Shutterstock

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