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"No-brainer": Call for Jack's law to be introduced nationwide

<p>A Queensland father whose son was stabbed on a night out is pushing for Jack's Law to be introduced nationwide in the wake of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/family-of-bondi-killer-break-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bondi Junction attack</a> and <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/teenage-boy-in-custody-after-stabbing-at-sydney-church" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wakeley Church stabbing</a>. </p> <p>Brett Beasley is urging NSW premier Chris Minns and other states to introduce the anti-knife law which allows police officers to conduct random searches for knives at public transport hubs and Safe Night precincts using metal detecting wands.</p> <p>“It’s an absolute no-brainer,” he told <em>news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>“It’s absolutely extraordinary how well it’s working here in Queensland. I believe every single police officer Australia-wide should have the same powers.” </p> <p>Beasly and his wife Belinda have spent years campaigning for the law following the tragic death of their son Jack, who was stabbed by a group of teens outside a Surfers Paradise convenience store during a night out in 2019. </p> <p>It's been three years since the law was introduced in Queensland, and since then 55,000 people have been searched, 800 weapons have been confiscated and 1400 people have been charged. </p> <p>“It’s the same as being pulled over for a random breath test, it’s exactly the same and it’s working,” Beasly said. </p> <p>“I can guarantee the NSW government, if they were to adopt Jack’s Law, then they will start finding thousands of weapons. It’s scary to think how many of these young offenders are walking around actually armed and getting away with it.”</p> <p>Beasly, who was “absolutely devastated” after hearing about the Bondi Junction stabbing spree, said that the NSW premier should waste no time introducing the law. </p> <p>“Chris Minns shouldn’t even contemplate it. He should just say, ‘Absolutely. Let’s do this’.</p> <p>“I get thousands of messages from people in New South Wales who say ‘We want Jack’s Law down here, we need it down here’.”</p> <p>“To lose a child in any way is absolutely horrendous, and to lose a child to murder is the worst way possible. Your child’s life is taken from them.”</p> <p>Beasly is keen to meet with Minns to discuss rolling out Jacks law in NSW saying: “if Chris Minns is open to a meeting with me, I’ll be on the next flight to Sydney because this government need to make this happen. It’s as simple as that." </p> <p>A NSW government spokesperson has told<em> news.com.au</em> that they “need to look carefully at our current policies to ensure the public is safe”.</p> <p> “The NSW Sentencing Council is currently undertaking a review of the sentencing laws for firearms, knives and other weapons offences. The NSW Government will also look at knife laws,” they said.</p> <p>“We will await the review findings and consider all recommendations carefully.”</p> <p>Beasly is also planning to meet with the Governor of Western Australia on Monday and hopes that they will also adopt the law. </p> <p>While waiting for other states to adopt the law, Beasly and the Jack Beasley Foundation are delivering free presentations about knife crime in schools. </p> <p>“Let’s work on this together and bond together and make a change and see if we can stop this,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image: Jerad Williams/ news.com.au</em></p>

Legal

Tragic end for Indi the Jack Russell after he and owner mauled in vicious attack

<p>In a heartbreaking turn of events, a NSW woman by the name of Eleanor Booth faced a horrifying ordeal while trying to defend her Jack Russell terrier from a vicious dog attack along a well-known walking track in southern Sydney.</p> <p>Unfortunately, her courageous efforts were in vain, as her beloved pet, Indi, succumbed to the injuries inflicted during the brutal attack.</p> <p>The incident unfolded on Sunday near the Georges River in Lugarno and concluded with both Booth and her pet being rescued by emergency services after she waded into neck-deep mud to escape from two dogs that had escaped from their home.</p> <p>Booth, who confided in her friends that she feared she would meet her end alone while clutching her lifeless dog, underwent surgery on Monday to treat wounds to both her hands.</p> <p>She also suffered bites to her mouth, throat, and cheek, in addition to a broken arm. Tragically, little Indi passed away at the Sydney Animal Hospital on Monday afternoon, having reportedly experienced several heart attacks.</p> <p>The community rallied behind Booth, and a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-indi-and-elle-after-vicious-dog-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> campaign had already raised nearly $25,000 at the time of writing to aid her recovery from this shocking incident – with the funds now being used "to pay the outstanding bills, and any amount raised over and above will be donated to Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS)".</p> <p>The harrowing ordeal began when Booth took Indi for a routine walk on Sunday morning and unexpectedly encountered two dogs, believed to be Irish Wolfhounds, who launched a ferocious assault on Indi.</p> <p>Booth recounted witnessing a man with the two dogs instructing them to cease the attack. However, when the dogs showed no signs of relenting, the man abandoned the scene.</p> <p>Fuelled by sheer determination, Booth fought desperately to free Indi from the clutches of the aggressors and sought refuge by plunging into the muddy waters of the river. Witnesses attest that the dogs relentlessly pursued Booth into the treacherous terrain.</p> <p>Amidst the chaos, Fire and Rescue NSW personnel came to the aid of Booth and Indi, utilising pepper spray to deter the attacking dogs.</p> <p>In an effort to extricate Booth from the mud, rescuers instructed her to remove her trousers and shoes, facilitating her escape from the perilous predicament. Astonishingly, even two police officers who arrived on the scene found themselves trapped in the thick mud for a daunting 15 minutes.</p> <p>Eventually, thanks to the concerted efforts of firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW, the woman, her dog, and the two officers were successfully liberated from their muddy entrapment and promptly received medical attention.</p> <p>As investigations into the incident continue, NSW Police representative Paul Callaghan emphasised that the owner would likely bear liability, particularly in cases involving dogs attacking one another. The circumstances surrounding the attack and subsequent events will undoubtedly form a crucial part of the ongoing inquiry.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine News / Gofundme</em></p>

Family & Pets

"Exploring my feminine side": Jack Vidgen's new look

<p>Jack Vidgen has shared the reasoning behind his new look, as he explores his "feminine side" with a radical new style. </p> <p>The former <em>Australia’s Got Talent</em> star has been turning heads with his last few red carpet appearances, stepping out with a full face of perfectly crafted makeup, a selection of hyper-feminine outfits, and towering high heels. </p> <p>In a recent post on Instagram, Vidgen explained that he still uses he/him pronouns, and is "just having fun" breaking down the gender binary rules of fashion. </p> <p>“Just wanted to say a major thank you to everyone who’s been hyping me up/cheering me on while I’ve been glamming it up lately and exploring my feminine side,” he began.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpzVViJJLXy/?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/CpzVViJJLXy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by jack vidgen (@jack.vidgen)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“For everyone wondering I still identify as He/Him. I’m literally just having fun. We as a society have gendered fashion and the more I’m dressing like this, the more I’m uncovering and releasing myself of my own internalised homophobia as a gay man.”</p> <p>While most of his fans have been supportive of his fashion journey, Vidgen admitted he has also copped a lot of negativity online – mostly via his TikTok account – and posted a screenshot showing a selection of the vile comments.</p> <p>“You’re a bloke … stop kidding yourself,” reads one. “FFS this is what’s wrong with this world,” said another. </p> <p>But the singer, who shot to fame at the age of 14 after winning <em>Australia’s Got Talent</em> and appeared on other reality singing shows, said comments about his looks “really don’t phase me at all anymore.”</p> <p>“The media were so vicious about how I looked when I was on <em>The Voice</em> a few years ago, I’ve become almost completely desensitised to it but I think of all the young queer people who see it and that makes me sad.”</p> <p>Vidgen told his followers he would “continue to push the boundaries and break the mould” with how he dresses, not bothering about his public perception. </p> <p>“No one should have to tone themselves down to make the rest feel comfortable. We don’t belong in their boxes!”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

New York Times under fire over "shameful" obituary of Jack Charles

<p>The New York Times has come under fire for their "shameful" obituary of Aboriginal actor Jack Charles.</p> <p>The publication's tribute to the late actor, who died of a stroke on September 13th at age 79, portrayed his life of drugs and crime rather than his long list of achievements in the arts.</p> <p>Furious social media users claimed the post, which has since been removed, was offensive and an example of "racial profiling".</p> <p>The NYT's Twitter post about Jack Charles' death said he "was one of Australia's leading Indigenous actors, but his heroin addiction and penchant for burglary landed him in and out of jail throughout his life".</p> <p>The outrage was widespread online, with one person writing, "No, we are not doing this. He was a leading actor and activist. This isn't presenting a complex person, it's straight up racial profiling."</p> <p>Another said, "Wow. This is … one of the worst ways I've seen his story told. Shame on you."</p> <p>"How to say 'we're a tone deaf racist publication" without saying "we're a tone deaf racist publication'," commented a third.</p> <p>The original post was later deleted and replaced with a tweet remembering Charles as "one of Australia's leading Indigenous actors and activists", and as "the grandfather of Aboriginal theatre".</p> <p>Jack Charles' family announced his death in a statement, saying, "He will live on in our hearts and memories through his numerous screen and stage roles".</p> <p>The Indigenous icon was names NAIDOC male Elder of the year just months before his death.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took to Twitter to say, "Jack Charles lived a hard life and he leaves a joyous legacy. He endured cruelty, he knew pain."</p> <p>"He survived every turn of the vicious cycle, holding on to his humanity. Jack Charles uplifted our nation with his heart, his genius, his creativity and passion."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

Adorable Jack Russell becomes a Ukraine war hero

<p dir="ltr">Originally bought as a pet, the life of Patron the Ukrainian Jack Russell was turned upside down when Russia invaded the country in Feburary. </p> <p dir="ltr">Instead of days snuggled with his owner, two-year-old Patron (which means “cartridge” or “shell” in Ukraine) was trained to sniff out bombs, missiles and other explosive weapons.</p> <p dir="ltr">To date, he has sniffed out more than 150 devices, and saved countless lives in the process.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dressed in his signature State Emergency Service’s vest, Patron works with his owner Misha, from Chernihiv, northern Ukraine. </p> <p dir="ltr">He has appeared on the social media accounts of the country’s SES, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Misha originally bought Patron from a colleague as a gift for his son, however he was formally trained to find traces of gunpowder one month into the invasion. Once he’s detected the scent, Patron alerts Misha, who is then able to defuse the explosive.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[Patron] works 24/7, as does a group of pyrotechnicians, and it will take about a year-and-a-half to clean up the city,” Misha said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“He can inspire anyone with his appearance and eyes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The little dog’s energy is so infectious that he’s even found an enthusiastic international following, with a line of merchandise which includes stickers on Red Bubble and T-shirts from Support Ukraine.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Jack Russell is one of more than 600 de-miners working across Ukraine to dismantle the mines, bombs and missiles left by Russia soldiers.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-95b0d3dc-7fff-a58f-1096-48fd22f6c5a3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Patron’s Instagram boasts more than 187,000 followers, with his dedicated fans sharing drawings of him.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

RECALLED: Popular apple juice pulled from shelves over contamination fear

<p>A popular brand of apple juice sold at Coles supermarkets in Victoria and New South Wales has been recalled over contamination fears. </p> <p>A notice issued by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on Wednesday confirmed that <span>Thirsty Brothers Pty Ltd had recalled the Original Juice Co. Black Label Cloudy Apple Juice 1.5L over fears of microbial (Mycotoxin - Patulin) contamination.</span></p> <p>The notice said, <span>“Food products containing Mycotoxin - Patulin may cause illness if consumed.”</span></p> <p><span>“Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.”</span></p> <p><span>Patulin is a mycotoxin most commonly found in rotting or damaged apples, and may not have been detected before the manufacturing process began. </span></p> <p><span>The impacted items have a use-by date of 07/10/2021 and should not be consumed. </span></p> <p><span>Concerned customers are being urged to contact Thirsty Brothers Pty Ltd for more information and advice. </span></p> <p><span>A second recall notice was also issues for Barossa Fine Foods Pastrami 100g due to non-compliant labelling.</span></p> <p><span>The product was </span>available at a range of independent supermarkets across all states and territories, except Tasmania. </p> <p><span>“The recall is due to non-compliant labelling (incorrect printed ‘Use By’ date). The printed Use By date of 09/12/2021 is incorrect. The correct Use By date is 16/09/2021,” the regulator said.</span></p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020">“The food may cause illness if consumed after 16/09/2021.”</p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020">Customers are advised not to eat the product after September 16, and instead, return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.</p> <p class="css-1316j2p-StyledParagraph e4e0a020"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock/NSW Food Authority</em></p>

Food & Wine

How kids are getting positive COVID test results with orange juice

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teenagers in the UK have figured out how to “fake” positive results on COVID-19 tests - prompting at least one school to issue a warning to parents.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trick has taken off on social media, as teens use orange juice or soft drinks to generate a false positive result on lateral flow Covid tests.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is not known whether any students have used it to successfully get time off school.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gateacre School in Belle Vale, Liverpool, asked students in years 7-10 to stay home from school after some positive COVID-19 test results were discovered in the school community, and warned parents to be vigilant about the social media trend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Nationally, some school students have discovered that placing droplets of orange juice or other fruit juice on an LFD test gets a false ‘positive’ result,” </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/schools-warning-children-using-fruit-20896618?_ga=2.269013617.1871628857.1625379206-1709235865.1625379206" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the warning email read</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In light of this, can you be extra vigilant when your child is doing their LFD tests. Also, remind them that a positive LFD test must be followed by a confirmatory PCR test.”</span></p> <p><strong>How it happens</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The false positive occurs due to the acidity of the juice or soft drink, rather than the beverage containing the virus, which essentially breaks the test.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Mark Lorch, a professor of science communication and chemistry at the University of Hull, </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/covid-19-kids-are-using-soft-drinks-to-fake-positive-tests-ive-worked-out-the-science-and-how-to-spot-it-163739" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">has said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> it is possible to spot “fake” positive tests by washing them with a buffer solution that restores the correct pH to the testing device. Once this happens, the “positive” line disappears to reveal the negative result.</span></p> <p><strong>A selfish thing to do</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jon Deeks, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Birmingham, has criticised the practice and discouraged teens from trying it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“False positives affect not just that child but their family and their bubble at school, so [it is a] pretty selfish thing to do. There are less harmful ways to fake a day off school,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Professor Lorch instead encouraged students to help him publish his findings.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Children, I applaud your ingenuity, but now that I’ve found a way to uncover your trickery I suggest you use your cunning to devise a set of experiments and test my hypothesis,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Then we can publish your results in a peer-reviewed journal.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Mark Loch</span></em></p>

Body

Australian swimmer Shayna Jack learns fate on career-ending doping ban

<p>Aussie swimmer Shana Jack has been given a suspension of only two years after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to half her four-year doping ban.</p> <p>Jack was dumped from the Australian team for the 2019 world titles after she tested positive in July last year, resulting in a possible four-year ban.</p> <p>The 22-year-old has always maintained her innocence and claimed that the positive test to non-steroid anabolic agent Ligandrol may have been due to cross-contamination.</p> <p>The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday ruled that Jack did not knowingly take the banned drug Ligandrol and elected to reduce her four-year ban to just two years.</p> <p>"The Sole Arbitrator in charge of this matter found, on the balance of probabilities, that Shayna Jack did not intentionally ingest ligandrol and considered that she had discharged her onus of proving that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional," CAS said in its ruling.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHpcdQLgwFY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHpcdQLgwFY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Shayna Jack (@shayna_jack)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"As a consequence, the Sole Arbitrator imposed a reduced period of ineligibility of two years, commencing on the date of her provisional suspension."</p> <p>Jack can continue her career next year but will not be able to take part in the rescheduled Tokyo 2021 Games.</p> <p>"The anti-doping rules are far from satisfactory and can produce results that are far from fair. In my case, I have proven that I have NOT ever cheated, nor used prohibited substances intentionally or knowingly," she wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>"I cannot change the rules and the rules will remain as they are for the time being. Therefore, I accept this decision with a positive attitude and with gratitude that my career as a swimmer will resume next year.</p> <p>"I have never doubted myself for a minute throughout this ordeal and I have never allowed my integrity to be compromised. I walk a little taller tonight with the fact that this ordeal is finally over. I am returning to swimming – the sport that I have loved all my life and the sport that I will cherish just that little bit more ongoing."</p>

News

Most likely names for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s baby

<p>Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting their first child in early 2021, and already speculation is intensifying on what they will name their baby.</p> <p>According to betting odds released by BetVictor in the UK, there are three names people are stuck on for the little royal!</p> <p>They are Alice for a girl and Arthur or Henry at equal odds for a boy.</p> <p>All three are at 9/1 odds.</p> <p>This has changed since the pregnancy was announced when Victoria and Arthur were the frontrunners.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFjXPhpFPpJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFjXPhpFPpJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a> on Sep 25, 2020 at 1:18am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Eugenie and Jack's pregnancy announcement is the good news that royal fans have been desperate to hear all year," Jessica O'Reilly of Ladbrokes said at the time.</p> <p>"The early betting suggests they may opt for Arthur or Victoria, but we can't rule out a slightly more left-field royal name."</p> <p>Alice is believed to have special meaning to Eugenie as it was the name of Prince Philip’s mother.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxAA9otl5c9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxAA9otl5c9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a> on May 3, 2019 at 5:22am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The names Arthur and Henry are both of special significance to the royal family considering Arthur is the middle name of three royals - Prince William, Prince Charles, and Prince Louis.</p> <p>Henry is the real name of Prince Harry and has strong ties with the British Royal Family.</p> <p>Other votes for a girl include Grace at 14/1, Victoria at 14/1, Alexandra at 14/1, Diana at 18/1 and Isabella at 22/1.</p> <p>If the baby is a boy other suggested names include Thomas at 12/1, Godfrey at 14/1, George at 18/1 and Charles at 20/1.</p> <p>Eugenie and Jack may opt for an unusual name as the world saw with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who chose to name their first child Archie.</p>

Family & Pets

"Devastating": Jack Thompson reveals the iconic movie role that got away

<p><span>Jack Thompson is a name many would recognise.</span><br /><br /><span>He can boast a stellar acting career, however he has admitted there is one role that might have changed his whole life if he’d gotten it.</span><br /><br /><span>Appearing on Anh's Brush With Fame on Tuesday, the 80-year-old Aussie screen legend revealed he only just missed out on the lead in <em>Schindler's List</em>.</span><br /><br /><span>The Steven Spielberg-directed film was released in 1994.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837628/jack-thompson-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fdf91a1ce4d54da3aab296670b96dedf" /><br /><span>The iconic movie won seven Oscars, with Liam Neeson ultimately cast in the role.</span><br /><br /><span>The 68-year-old Irish actor also picked up a Best Actor Oscar nomination, but Jack said the role was “almost” his.</span><br /><br /><span>“I'd done camera tests, shot a couple of scenes, and then did a whole afternoon with Spielberg,” he explained to host Anh Do.</span><br /><br /><span>“At the end of it [Steven Spielberg] said, ‘Well, there's not much doubt.’”</span><br /><br /><span>Jack said Steven then told him that he had to catch a flight to New York, and they'd sign the contracts when he returned on the Monday.</span><br /><br /><span>But while he was in New York, the legendary director met up with Liam and had a change of heart.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837629/jack-thompson-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/688a7d12ba824ab8a97d2aeecb70ee7e" /></p> <p><span><em>Liam Neeson in the Schindler's List </em></span><br /><br /><span>Jack said while the news was “a bit devastating”, he was ultimately “OK” with it, due to the complex nature of the business.</span><br /><br /><span>However he confessed that the full impact of what had occurred only struck him ”months and months and months later”.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’m on my farm, I've gone right up to the back hill, and I get off the horse… and [I'm thinking about] what had just happened with Schindler's List and I just [yelled]: ’F***’,” he admitted.</span></p>

Movies

"I stand with you": Jack Vigden apologises for racist comments

<p><em>The Voice</em><span> </span>star Jack Vidgen has used Instagram to apologise for making “racist” comments in the past.</p> <p>Vidgen pledged his support for the Black Lives Matter movement and admitted that he was once “ignorant and uneducated” about systemic racism.</p> <p>He also touched on how being pulled up for a racist comment felt like an attack.</p> <p>“It was a hard pill to swallow when I started being educated about racism and started realising that even though I didn't think I was racist in any way, a lot of things I said and also didn't say were racist,” he wrote.</p> <p>“I was 19 when a friend pulled me up on something I said. Looking back now, I can't believe it came out of my mouth, but at the time I was so ignorant and uneducated, I didn't think it was racist or prejudice.”</p> <p>He also urged his followers to educate themselves about the Black Lives Matter movement.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4i6lNJog-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4i6lNJog-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by jack vidgen (@jack.vidgen)</a> on Jun 1, 2020 at 12:08am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“If you don’t understand/agree with myself and millions of people posting about how BLACK LIVES DO MATTER, please educate yourself. Research. Google. Read books. Talk to friends who you know are anti-racist because I know being told you’re racist or something you say is racist can feel like an attack, but looking back you’ll be so grateful for that educational source.”</p> <p>Vidgen said that he was still learning about “racism and how ingrained it is in society”.</p> <p>“I'm not going to pretend to even begin to understand how people of colour are feeling right now and have always felt but I just want to say I love you and I stand with you,” he concluded.</p> <p>Vidgen’s post comes after protests and riots take over the U.S after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed his knee against his neck for eight minutes.</p>

Music

Jack Vidgen opens up about fillers, veneers and Botox after shocking viewers

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Fans of Jack Vidgen were shocked by his appearance when he competed on<span> </span>The Voice<span> </span>last year, which was roughly 10 years after he rose to fame on<span> </span>Australia’s Got Talent.</p> <p>Compared to the quiet 14-year-old that audiences knew and loved, Vidgen was virtually unrecognisable as he now has lip fillers, botox and veneers.</p> <p>After months of rumours, Vidgen has finally spoken out about the extensive cosmetic work he’s received to<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-style/jack-vidgen-speaks-about-his-fillers-veneers-and-botox/news-story/d61b4c85575b02be37a7d4e0c457acce" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>.</p> <p>Speaking to James Weir on the podcast<span> </span>Not Here To Make Friends, Vidgen goes into detail about the first time he got Botox.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/By7HaXCl8zw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/By7HaXCl8zw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by jack vidgen (@jack.vidgen)</a> on Jun 20, 2019 at 12:45am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I think I got it first when I was 19. I had these two creases in my forehead … I just tried it and they went away.”</p> <p>He also confirmed that he still gets Botox occasionally.</p> <p>“It’s just because I wear makeup, so the makeup doesn’t get in the (forehead) creases,” Vidgen explained.</p> <p>Vidgen first got veneers during his time on<span> </span>Australia’s Got Talent.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6XCBHjJOZT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6XCBHjJOZT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by jack vidgen (@jack.vidgen)</a> on Dec 21, 2019 at 7:37pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Between the semi-final and the final (in 2011) I got a full set of veneers, and then when I came back everyone was like, ‘What the f**k?’” the entertainer said.</p> <p>“It was just something I wanted to do and I could afford it all of a sudden and I was like, why not?”</p> <p>Vidgen spoke to<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.who.com.au/jack-vidgen-admits-having-lip-filler" target="_blank">Who Magazine</a> about the first time he experimented with lip fillers and also explained his blasé view surrounding them.</p> <p>“I’ve been trying to find myself again and I’ve definitely experimented with filler … there’s no denying that,” he said in reference to his lips.</p> <p>“To me, lip filler is like make-up, it’s like doing your hair … it’s not permanent.”</p> </div> </div> </div>

Music

Charging your phone using a public port is dangerous

<p>Have you ever used a public charging station to charge your mobile phone when it runs out of battery? If so, watch out for “juice jacking”.</p> <p>Cybercriminals are on the prowl to infect your mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers and access your personal data, or install malware while you charge them.</p> <p>Specifically, <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/2732198.2732205">juice jacking</a> is a cyber attack in which criminals <a href="https://securelist.com/wired-mobile-charging-is-it-safe/74804/">use publicly accessible USB charging ports or cables</a> to install malicious software on your mobile device and/or steal personal data from it.</p> <p>Even a <a href="https://media.blackhat.com/us-13/US-13-Lau-Mactans-Injecting-Malware-into-iOS-Devices-via-Malicious-Chargers-WP.pdf">60-second power-up</a> can be enough to compromise your phone’s data. This is because USB cables allow the transmission of both power and data streams simultaneously. Victims can be left vulnerable to identity theft, financial fraud, and significant stress.</p> <p>USB charging stations are a common sight in shopping centres, airports, hotels, fast-food restaurants, and even on public transport. While juice jacking is neither <a href="https://securelist.com/wi-fi-security-and-fake-acdc-charges-threaten-your-data-at-the-2014-world-cup/63759/">new</a> nor particularly widespread so far, it was recently highlighted by <a href="http://da.lacounty.gov/about/inside-LADA/juice-jacking-criminals-use-public-usb-chargers-steal-data-ff">Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office</a> as a significant threat, especially to travellers who can easily find themselves caught short and in need of a battery boost.</p> <p><strong>How does it work?</strong></p> <p>First, the attackers tamper with the charging stations or cables in public areas, and install malicious software on them. This software then infects the phones of unsuspecting users who subsequently plug into the tampered charger.</p> <p>The software can invade, damage or even disable your phone. It can also steal or delete data from your phone and possibly spy on your usage activity, to the extent of transmitting your personal information such as account numbers, usernames, passwords, photos, and emails to the perpetrator.</p> <p><strong>How can I tell if I’ve been juice jacked?</strong></p> <p>Hacked mobile devices will often go undetected. But there are a few telltale signs that your device may have been hacked. These include:</p> <ul> <li> <p>a sudden surge in battery consumption or rapid loss of charge, indicating a malicious app may be running in the background</p> </li> <li> <p>the device operating slower than usual, or restarting without notice</p> </li> <li> <p>apps taking a long time to load or frequently crashing</p> </li> <li> <p>excessive heating</p> </li> <li> <p>changes to device settings that you did not make</p> </li> <li> <p>increased or abnormal data usage.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>How do I protect myself?</strong></p> <p>The tampering of USB charging stations or USB cables is almost impossible to identify. But there are some simple ways to guard against juice jacking:</p> <ul> <li> <p>avoid USB power charging stations</p> </li> <li> <p>use AC power outlets rather than USB ports</p> </li> <li> <p>use a portable battery power bank (your own, not a borrowed one!)</p> </li> <li> <p>carry your own charging cable and adaptor</p> </li> <li> <p>use a data-blocker device such as <a href="http://syncstop.com/">SyncStop</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Juice-Jack-Defender-Security-purchased-employees/dp/B00XYTQ4Q8">Juice-Jack Defender</a>. These devices physically prevent data transfer and only allow power to go through while charging</p> </li> <li> <p>use power-only USB cables such as <a href="https://www.4cabling.com.au/portapow-fast-charge-micro-usb-cable-300cm.html">PortaPow</a>, which don’t pass any data.</p> </li> </ul> <p>And finally, if you must use a charging station, keep your phone locked while doing so. USB ports typically don’t sync data from a phone that is locked. Most mobile phones will ask your permission to give the USB port access to your phone’s data when you plug in. If you’re using an unknown or untrustworthy port, make sure you decline.</p> <p><strong>I think I might have been juice jacked – what can I do?</strong></p> <p>If you suspect you have fallen prey, there are several things you can do to protect your device’s integrity:</p> <ul> <li> <p>monitor your device for unusual activity</p> </li> <li> <p>delete suspicious apps you don’t recall installing</p> </li> <li> <p>restore your device to its factory settings</p> </li> <li> <p>install anti-virus software, such as <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity&hl=en_AU">Avast Antivirus</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.antivirus&hl=en_AU%22">AVG AntiVirus</a></p> </li> <li> <p>keep your mobile device’s system software up to date. Developers continually release patches against common types of malware.</p> </li> </ul> <p>A lot of data is stored on our mobile devices these days, and protecting our privacy is crucial. While juice jacking may not be a widespread threat, it is important to ensure the safety of our mobile devices. So, the next time you consider using a public USB charging station or cable, ask yourself if it is worth it, particularly as your personal information is at stake.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/130947/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ritesh-chugh-162770">Ritesh Chugh</a>, Senior Lecturer/Discipline Lead – Information Systems and Analysis, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/charging-your-phone-using-a-public-usb-port-beware-of-juice-jacking-130947">original article</a>.</em></p>

Technology

Jack Vidgen slammed for Eurovision decider performance

<p>Jack Vidgen has been brutally mocked online after his performance on the Eurovision competition, Australia Decides.</p> <p>His fans have rallied around the Australian star after a number of terrible comments were made against Vidgen, with one person even saying he was so bad that they had “laughed out loud” at his television screen.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8TaGjqJEQe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8TaGjqJEQe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by jack vidgen (@jack.vidgen)</a> on Feb 8, 2020 at 2:53am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The 23-year-old performed on stage on Sunday night on the Gold Coast to battle it out for the prize of representing Australia in the Eurovision on May.</p> <p>He battled Australian singer Montaigne.</p> <p>People took to twitter to fiercely defend the<span> </span><em>Australia’s Got Talent</em><span> </span>star from the onslaught of bullying, with one fan writing: “WTF is wrong with people? Jack Vidgen has emotions like the rest of us. The haters on here ought to be ashamed. Find something productive to do instead.” </p> <p>“Why did I see someone asking why Jack Vidgen wore makeup like a girl? It’s 2020 people,” another person wrote. </p> <p>Others called Jack’s performance ‘Eurovidgen’ and questioned why the singer was copping so much flak online. </p> <p>That didn’t stop people from writing nasty things online after Jack’s performance. </p> <p>“Jack vidgen was just so bad i laughed out loud - dear god make it stop!!,” one person wrote. </p> <p>“Jack Vidgen sounds like me singing along to Mariah after a white wine,” another added. </p> <p>Montaigne was crowned winner after going against 10 other Aussie acts, including pop icon Vanessa Amorosi,<em> Australian Idol</em> powerhouse Casey Donovan and<em> Australia's Got Talent </em>winner Jack Vidgen.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Ts0mCDyaB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Ts0mCDyaB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Montaigne (@actualmontaigne)</a> on Feb 8, 2020 at 5:37am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"THE MOST INSANE NIGHT EVER — I'M GOING TO EUROVISION — LIFE IS CRAZY — THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME," Montaigne posted on Facebook after the results were announced.</p>

Music

“Extraordinary”: Jack Vidgen wows America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell

<p>Australian singer Jack Vidgen has given an electrifying performance on<span> </span><em>America’s Got Talent</em>, as he was showered with praise from the star-studded panel.</p> <p>Supermodel and judge Heidi Klum gave Vidgen a standing ovation for his powerful rendition of Lauren Daigle’s<span> </span><em>You Say</em>, which has only recently aired in the US, while Howie Mandel told him he had everything it took to make it but just “needed the confidence”.</p> <p>But the toughest critic of all, Simon Cowell, was his harshest judge, but also praised the 22-year-old the most.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Overcoming adversity has given <a href="https://twitter.com/JackVidgen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackVidgen</a> an unimaginable talent! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGTChampions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTChampions</a> <a href="https://t.co/ye6c8CpIBH">pic.twitter.com/ye6c8CpIBH</a></p> — America's Got Talent (@AGT) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGT/status/1214364248446390274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>“I think you have an extraordinary voice but that was way too safe,” he told the singer.</p> <p>“I think you are way, way better than that, so I’m hoping the super-fans vote you through to the next round because there’s way more to come from you. Way more.”</p> <p>Sadly, it was Vidgen’s first and last performance on<span> </span><em>America’s Got Talent: The Champions</em>, which features 40 singers who have competed on the show around the world in their home countries in the hopes to be crowned the global winner.</p> <p>Vidgen wasn’t able to win over fans so his future was left in the hands of the judges, along with two other contestants.</p> <p>Cowell picked Vidgen to progress to the next round, but the other judges didn’t seem to agree.</p> <p>But despite missing out, people took to Twitter to shower the young singer with praise, with one describing his voice as “the best I’ve ever heard”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/JackVidgen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackVidgen</a> You'll be getting my vote FOR SURE!! That was PHENOMENAL!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGTChampions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTChampions</a></p> — Valerie Ward (@ValByDesign) <a href="https://twitter.com/ValByDesign/status/1214364946122891264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/JackVidgen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackVidgen</a> has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard <a href="https://twitter.com/AGT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGTChampions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTChampions</a></p> — Wyatt (@Wyatt_fann) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wyatt_fann/status/1214363655279665154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/JackVidgen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackVidgen</a> OMG! I'm in tears from your audition in <a href="https://twitter.com/AGT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGT</a> Champions. You are truly gifted, beautiful, and AMAZING!</p> — Journey Woman 🌊 (@JourneyWoman14) <a href="https://twitter.com/JourneyWoman14/status/1214364655050788864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Vidgen is set to compete for Australia’s Eurovision spot on SBS’s<span> </span><em>Eurovision: Australia Decides</em><span> </span>on February 8.</p>

Music

Why does lemon juice lighten the colour of tea?

<p><strong>I’ve always wondered what happens when pouring a few drops of lemon juice into a cup of tea (no milk added). Why does it lighten the tea’s colour? – Michel, Paris</strong></p> <p>To answer this question, we need to think about the molecules that give a cup of tea its colour - and how lemon juice affects them.</p> <p>Tea is typically made from the plant <em>Camellia sinensis</em>.</p> <p>It is one of the most consumed beverages (second only to water) globally and is ranked as the <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4480e.pdf">most consumed manufactured drink</a>. The origins of its consumption were first recorded more than 5,000 years ago, so it is also one of the world’s oldest drinks.</p> <p>Tea has been used for a variety of health conditions in China since ancient times, and it took time (around 1,000 years) to change from being seen as a medicine to today’s “every day drink”. Some of the health benefits of tea are now receiving <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-five-reasons-to-put-the-kettle-on-and-have-a-cup-of-tea-42419">renewed attention</a>.</p> <h2>The colour of tea</h2> <p>Today, tea varieties are heavily dependent on the processing techniques after harvest. These include oxidation and fermentation of tea leaves, which change their colour and flavour. Use of these manufacturing techniques provides six distinctive categories of tea, based primarily on colour: green, yellow, dark, white, oolong, and black.</p> <p>Black tea and green tea are often (but not always) obtained from the same plant but their chemical makeup is vastly different.</p> <p>The leaves used for green tea production are heated either by steam, pan frying, roasting or baking immediately after harvesting. This process stops chemical reactions driven by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase that would otherwise oxidise coloured chemicals such as polyphenols (catechins).</p> <p>This results in tea keeping its familiar yellow-green colour. Once the leaves are “fixed” they are soft – and are then rolled and dried to become the product we see on supermarket shelves.</p> <p>The production of black tea depends on the enzymes being allowed to oxidise the catechins completely to form new chemicals – these are pigments (theaflavin and thearubigin) that provide the characteristic dark colour.</p> <p>Although thearubigins are less common in your black teabag (around 10-20% of the dry weight), they are more soluble – so when you make a brew these compounds can account for up to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080453828001088">60% of the solids</a> suspended in the solution.</p> <p>In broad terms, all other colour categories of tea fit between green and black. So categorisation of teas based simply on colour mostly depends on the type and amounts of these compounds found in the brewed product.</p> <h2>What happens when lemon juice is added?</h2> <p>The thearubigins in brewed tea are highly coloured (red-brown) molecules that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030881460100108X">change according to the acidity of the liquid used</a>.</p> <p>If the water used for the tea infusion is relatively alkaline (for example, due to limescale found in “hard” water), the colour of the tea will be darker and deeper.</p> <p>However, once an acid such as a slice of lemon or lemon juice is added, tea changes colour because of an increase in acidity (reduction in pH) of the beverage itself. Lemon juice is quite strong as a food acid – a few drops are enough to alter the theaurbigins, resulting in a dramatic change in colour. Interestingly, theaflavins are not that affected by the change in acidity, and still retain their normal dark red colour.</p> <p>In a case of green tea, the addition of lemon juice will also affect the colour through a similar process. This results in a much paler beverage - beyond the level that would occur just by initial tea suspension.</p> <h2>Does lemon juice make your tea healthier?</h2> <p>The beneficial health effects of tea are linked to its total polyphenol content, mainly the catechins. However, one of the problems with these compounds is that they are rather unstable. When alkaline (hard) water is used, they break down relatively quickly (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814603000621">within a few minutes of brewing</a>).</p> <p>Even if they do remain in solution, the absorption of these compounds is low (less than 2%), and can also be inhibited by the <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/4/2/373">food consumed with your cuppa</a>.</p> <p>Increasing the acidity of drinks has been shown to improve the stability of catechins in beverages. This is one of the main reasons why drinks such as iced teas tend to be quite acidic. However, to make them more palatable, relatively high levels of sweeteners (mainly sugars) are also added.</p> <p>So, all up, although the key compounds in your cup of tea tend to degrade quickly, the addition of lemon does protect them temporarily from this breakdown. But it’s not a huge effect. Adding lemon can enhance the flavour and enjoyment of tea, and change its colour, but its best not to expect any extra boosts to your health.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91324/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Nenad Naumovski, Asistant Professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Canberra and Duane Mellor, Senior lecturer, Coventry University</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/ive-always-wondered-why-does-lemon-juice-lighten-the-colour-of-tea-91324" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Food & Wine

What is Ligandrol – the drug swimmer Shayna Jack had in her system?

<p>Australian freestyle swimmer Shayna Jack tested positive to the <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/science-medicine/prohibited-list-documents">banned substance</a> Ligandrol in <a href="https://theconversation.com/drafts/121097/edit">late June</a>, before competing at the <a href="http://www.fina.org/event/18th-fina-world-championships">world swimming championships</a> in South Korea this month.</p> <p>Jack said she <a href="https://7news.com.au/sport/swimming/shayna-jack-issues-new-statement-over-failed-drug-test-c-370056">did not knowingly take Ligandrol</a> but noted it could be found in contaminated supplements.</p> <p>Ligandrol can help repair and build muscles. While it has been studied as a treatment for cancer and other conditions where patients experience muscle weakness and wastage, it is banned for use by professional athletes.</p> <p>So how long has this drug been around, and how does it work?</p> <p><strong>History of Ligandrol</strong></p> <p>Ligandrol, which is also known by the development codes LGD-4033 and VK5211 and the name Anabolicum, was initially developed by the company <a href="https://www.ligand.com/">Ligand Pharmaceuticals</a> in the United States. It was <a href="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/19/a8/9e/13c920a3dad32f/WO2009082437A2.pdf">patented in 2009</a>.</p> <p>The results of the first human clinical trial were published in 2013, where taking <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4111291/">Ligandrol was found to increase muscle mass</a> without also putting on fat.</p> <p>The drug rights have since been licensed to the company <a href="https://www.vikingtherapeutics.com/">Viking Therapeutics</a>. In 2018, it completed a clinical trial which examined <a href="http://ir.vikingtherapeutics.com/2018-10-01-Viking-Therapeutics-Presents-Results-from-Phase-2-Study-of-VK5211-in-Patients-Recovering-from-Hip-Fracture-in-Plenary-Oral-Presentation-at-ASBMR-2018-Annual-Meeting">Ligandrol for people aged over 65 who were recovering from a hip fracture</a>. The results showed patients who took Ligandrol significantly increased their muscle mass and could walk further than patients not on the drug.</p> <p>The drug has also been examined for <a href="https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2050052118301100?token=DE618D928D8A7ECDEDBA37D3BB4BBB726AFD01C434FC7DE90430B108A4883C4E0EBE70D6B84A52B46128CE84B2FB4DE6">other conditions</a>, including as a possible treatment for cancer-related weight loss, enlarged prostates, for patients who have a diminished function of testes and ovaries, and as a potential cure for breast cancer.</p> <p>Ligandrol is still considered an experimental drug, and as such, is not approved for sale by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).</p> <p><strong>How Ligandrol works</strong></p> <p>Ligandrol is taken orally as a tablet at doses between 0.5 and 2 milligrams.</p> <p>The drug is what pharmacists call a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30503797">selective androgen receptor modulator</a> (SARM). These drugs bind at specific sites on skeletal muscles. There, they initiate a cascade of processes which change the expression of different genes in the DNA of muscle cells. The end effect is an increase in the repair and growth of muscle.</p> <p>This means Ligandrol works in a similar way to testosterone and anabolic steroids, although SARMs typically have fewer side effects. The typical side effects of anabolic steriods can include short-term aggression and violence, acne, and sleeping difficulties, and long-term effects such as damage to the liver and kidneys, depression, and high blood pressure.</p> <p>In contrast, in clinical trials of patients taking Ligandrol, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4111291/">the rate of side effects was similar to those in the placebo group</a> and included headache and dry mouth. While clinical trial participants on Ligandrol did have a higher rate of throat infections, it was concluded this was not due to the drug.</p> <p>Ligandrol <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.2512">can be detected for up to 21 days</a> in the urine of those who take it.</p> <p><strong>In the news</strong></p> <p>Because Ligandrol can potentially be used to gain an advantage in competitive sports, the <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/">World Anti-Doping Agency</a> (WADA) placed the drug on its <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/science-medicine/prohibited-list-documents">prohibited list</a>.</p> <p>Shayna Jack’s hypothesis that it must have entered her system through contaminated supplements is not without merit. The TGA regularly bans the import of supposedly natural supplements for <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/overseas-weight-loss-products">weight loss</a>, <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/liangzern-dietary-supplements">erectile dysfunction</a>, and body building because they contain prescription-only medicines.</p> <p>While there have been no instances of body building protein or sports supplements being adulterated with Ligandrol, there are reports of some <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12173">dietary supplements being spiked with anabolic steroids</a> and similar drugs.</p> <p>For safety and security, athletes should only use supplements from reputable brands bought from reliable stores in their home country. The risk of accidentally taking a banned substance is significant if an athlete buys supplements online.</p> <p><em>Written by Nial Wheate. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-ligandrol-the-drug-swimmer-shayna-jack-had-in-her-system-121097"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Body

"I applaud the decision": Mack Horton responds to Shayna Jack's positive drug test bombshell

<p>Mack Horton has welcomed the decision to pull fellow Aussie swimmer Shayna Jack out from competition before the World Swimming Championships in South Korea.</p> <p>Horton, who sparked a debate over doping in swimming after staging a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/mack-horton-s-controversial-refusal-to-share-podium-with-drug-cheat-causes-furore/" target="_blank">protest against Chinese swimmer Sun Yang</a> last week, said he was disappointed upon learning that his teammate tested positive to a banned substance.</p> <p>“I was disappointed to learn late yesterday that a fellow Dolphins team member had recently returned a positive A sample,” Horton told <a rel="noopener" href="https://wwos.nine.com.au/swimming/swim-ceo-s-distress-for-horton-and-jack/e0e36958-60fb-42fe-a171-e0632f8bbf94" target="_blank">Seven Network</a>.</p> <p>“I applaud the decision to immediately withdraw the athlete in question from further competition until this matter is resolved.</p> <p>“My position remains firm — clean sport must be a priority for all athletes, all sports and all nations.”</p> <p>The comment came after Jack linked a two-page statement to her Instagram account explaining that the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) found the drug Ligandrol in her system.</p> <p>According to ASADA, Ligandrol is claimed to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.asada.gov.au/news/blog-rise-lgd-4033" target="_blank">induce muscle growth</a> but has not yet been cleared through clinical trials.</p> <p>“I was in complete shock, asking myself how and why is this happening to me. My brain repeated over and over: ‘I have always checked my substances’, ‘I didn’t do this’, ‘why is this happening to me?’, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong’,” Jack said in the statement.</p> <p>After receiving the news on July 12, Jack left the world titles team training camp in Japan and returned to Australia. Horton and other Australian team swimmers were not informed of Jack’s positive drug test result until the Swimming Australia’s announcement on Saturday.</p> <p>Jack maintained that she did not take any drugs knowingly and “will continue to fight to clear my name”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0abPFnAmwW/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0abPFnAmwW/" target="_blank">They say a picture is worth a thousand words, in this case a picture can not describe the amount of pain and vulnerability I am feeling right now. It is with great sadness and heartache that I had to leave due to allegations of having a prohibited substance in my system. I did NOT take this substance knowingly. Swimming has been my passion since I was 10 years old and I would never intentionally take a banned substance that would disrespect my sport and jeopardise my career. Now there is an ongoing investigation and my team and I are doing everything we can to find out when and how this substance has come into contact with my body. I would appreciate if you respect my privacy as this is very hard for me to cope with</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/shayna_jack/" target="_blank"> Shayna Jack</a> (@shayna_jack) on Jul 27, 2019 at 1:06am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell said she felt “distressed” by Horton’s podium protest.</p> <p>“I absolutely support Mack,” she said. “He’s entitled to say and do on an issue that he is passionate about and we are too. This has not changed our thinking on a zero-tolerance approach or our policy.</p> <p>“But I certainly was watching Mack [protest], distressed about what would befall both Shayna and Mack in the coming days and week.”</p>

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Jack Vidgen out: Fans shocked at mass elimination on The Voice

<p>The dream is over for fan favourite Jack Vidgen and four other contestants on <em>The Voice Australia</em>.</p> <p>Vidgen, who was a former <em>Australia’s Got Talent</em> winner, had quickly become a fan favourite as he announced that he was returning to his origins by going on another reality singing show.</p> <p>Vidgen impressed the coaches and audience with an emotional performance of <em>You Are The Reason</em> by Calum Scott, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the competition as public votes fell short.</p> <p>After host Sonia Kruger announced his shock departure, Vidgen insisted that he has no regrets from the experience.</p> <p>“This has just honestly been the most incredible experience of my life. It’s just been so healing and it’s just — there is no words to describe it. I just want to thank everyone, the whole team, Guy, all of you, just everyone,” he said, according to <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.com.au/jack-vidgen-eliminated-from-the-voice-australia" target="_blank">Who</a></em>.</p> <p>“It’s honestly changed my life, and I’m never going to stop singing ever again.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzaiMkyltDQ/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzaiMkyltDQ/" target="_blank">Grateful. That’s all i have to say. So grateful. My heart is full. This journey has been incredible and i can’t thank you guys enough for the support you’ve given me. Thank you @guysebastian for believing in me, you’ve changed my life and you’re family to me. Thank you to the WHOLE team at @thevoiceau for this special experience. Thankful and so at peace 💙 see you all v soon 😏</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/jack.vidgen/" target="_blank"> jack vidgen</a> (@jack.vidgen) on Jul 2, 2019 at 5:36am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Vidgen got emotional as he continued:</p> <p>"I'll just be singing this to my future partner. My last relationship, it just didn't work out. We've both moved on and, like, we're friendly. So I look back at that and it's, like, it was really beautiful experience for me. The most important thing is to make people feel something and I definitely want to try and melt people's hearts with this performance."</p> <p>Fans of the star were not pleased, taking to Twitter to voice their opinions.</p> <p>"AUSTRALIA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ON THE VOICE. I MEAN, SHELDON AND JACK VIDGEN ELIMINATED AT THE SAME TIME? MY HEART BLEW UP," one user wrote.</p> <p>Other contestants who didn’t make it onto the grand final round included Mitch Paulsen, Chynna Taylor, Sheldon Riley and Lee Harding.</p> <p> </p>

Why Jack Vidgen keeps “bursting into tears randomly”

<div> <div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>When it was announced that Jack Vidgen would be taking the stage on the current season of <em>The Voice Australia</em>, the young musician knew people could react either way.</p> <p>But after the 22-year-old’s groundbreaking rendition of Adele’s <em>Hello</em>, which has been viewed over a million times on YouTube, the singer told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/tv/the-voice-australia-jack-vidgen-knockout-performance-interview/a9fc002c-04ad-48da-94b6-f181c9c309db" target="_blank">9Honey</a> </em>that he keeps “bursting into tears randomly” due to experiencing “so much overwhelming love and kindness and positivity”.</p> <p>“It’s honestly been so crazy. I had no idea what to expect,” he said. “It’s just been so amazing. Everyone’s comments have been so lovely.”</p> <p>This isn’t Jack’s first time on a reality show, as when he was 14, he took home the title of <em>Australia’s Got Talent</em>, which landed him a record deal with Sony Music and $250,000 in prize money.</p> <p>After releasing two albums, he moved away from the spotlight, only coming back once he rediscovered his passion for music.</p> <p>He may not have had a mentor when he was 14, but Vidgen has one now, and who better to guide him than his coach on <em>The Voice</em>, Guy Sebastian.</p> <p>“I think I do really need this time of being mentored,” Jack said, when talking about the difference between <em>AGT</em> and <em>The Voice</em>. </p> <p>“I’ve kind of gone through similar situations before without a mentor, and I think looking back, if I could do it again with a mentor, I 100 per cent would, and I think Guy’s such an amazing person to do that.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByxCYWqFvvE/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByxCYWqFvvE/" target="_blank">So so so thankful i get to keep going on this journey on @thevoiceau 🖤 stripping back the song was such a challenge for me, i’m so not used to just singing the lyrics straight and being so vulnerable. You guys have no idea how nervous/excited i am for my battle round that’s airing TOMORROW (sunday) night 😦♥️ 7:30pm ch9 !!</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/jack.vidgen/" target="_blank"> jack vidgen</a> (@jack.vidgen) on Jun 16, 2019 at 2:49am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>It was one of the reasons Guy chose Jack after his Knockout performance, despite being up against Jordy Marcs and Lara Dabbagh in a Rihanna-themed sing-off.</p> <p>For him, the “nerves were high” as he watched his fellow contestants take the stage before him.</p> <p>“I was thinking, ‘S***!’” he said through laughter. </p> <p>“It was really nerve-wracking, they’re both just such incredible singers, just like everyone on the show.”</p> <p>Before singing Rihanna’s <em>Love the Way You Lie</em>, Vidgen had to bring out those emotions from a deep place. </p> <p>“I think I was nervous because it does have such a deep meaning, and it is a heavy, pretty dark song,” he said. </p> <p>“And I guess you’ve got to find that place in your own journey where you can draw from that, and that was nerve-wracking for me because I think, just over the years, I’ve tried to work past those things, obviously, and I think going back to those places it can be hard to draw from those emotions.”</p> <p>He also had to “strip back”.</p> <p>“In my audition, I wanted to show who I was, but I also wanted to try and impress the coaches, and I wanted Australia to hear my voice,” he said. </p> <p>“With this performance, I tried to strip it back as much as I could, and strip back the runs and the vocal tricks, and really get to the meaning of the song.”</p> <p>Now the next obstacle to conquer is to make it through the battles. “Just the word ‘battle’ kind of makes you s*** yourself a bit,” he said through a laugh. </p> <p>“Just the thought of battling against someone else is scary, because for me – and I’m sure for everyone else – this is such an emotional time, and when you think of growth and being emotional, and then put a battle into the mix, that’s super nerve-wracking.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

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Information

Keep up to date

Search

"No-brainer": Call for Jack's law to be introduced nationwide

Tragic end for Indi the Jack Russell after he and owner mauled in vicious attack

"Exploring my feminine side": Jack Vidgen's new look

New York Times under fire over "shameful" obituary of Jack Charles

Adorable Jack Russell becomes a Ukraine war hero

RECALLED: Popular apple juice pulled from shelves over contamination fear

How kids are getting positive COVID test results with orange juice

Australian swimmer Shayna Jack learns fate on career-ending doping ban

Most likely names for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s baby

"Devastating": Jack Thompson reveals the iconic movie role that got away

"I stand with you": Jack Vigden apologises for racist comments

Jack Vidgen opens up about fillers, veneers and Botox after shocking viewers

Charging your phone using a public port is dangerous

Jack Vidgen slammed for Eurovision decider performance

“Extraordinary”: Jack Vidgen wows America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell

Why does lemon juice lighten the colour of tea?

What is Ligandrol – the drug swimmer Shayna Jack had in her system?

"I applaud the decision": Mack Horton responds to Shayna Jack's positive drug test bombshell

Jack Vidgen out: Fans shocked at mass elimination on The Voice

Why Jack Vidgen keeps “bursting into tears randomly”

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