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Beloved author slams Carrie Bickmore for “schoolyard bullying”

<p>New Zealand author and poet Jessica Urlichs has voiced her extreme displeasure with Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little for her radio program "Carrie &amp; Tommy", claiming that she experienced what amounted to "schoolyard bullying" during a recent segment.</p> <p>Bickmore read one of Urlichs’ poems on air recently while speaking to her co-host, Tommy Little. Urlichs, who has nearly half-a-million followers on Instagram, felt that her work was shamefully mocked during the broadcast.</p> <p>"I don’t have any words left to truly articulate the schoolyard bullying you displayed in your recent segment across multiple radio stations," Urlichs wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday.</p> <p>She continued, "You used my heartfelt poem (without permission) as your very weak punchline. Your co-host wasn’t allowing a voice for post-partum women, nor you for that matter, and as a woman who was once post-partum it was very disappointing to see you reduce yourself to his childlike behaviour on such an important topic."</p> <p>In her caption, Urlichs explained she wrote the poem for herself and for mothers who might be offended by the radio segment. She also mentioned that her requests to have the content removed had been ignored.</p> <p>During the radio segment, Bickmore explained to Little that the poems, written from the perspective of a baby to its mother, frequently appeared in her social media feed. Little responded with skepticism and humour, questioning the premise that a baby could write such a poem.</p> <p>Bickmore defended the work, identifying Urlichs as the author and stressing the poem's emotional significance for mothers dealing with sleepless nights. Despite this, Little continued to mock the poem, suggesting it was written by a middle-aged man pretending to be a baby.</p> <p>The segment continued with Bickmore reading the poem aloud, accompanied by background music, while Little laughed and interjected. This tone persisted throughout the reading, leading to further comments from Little that questioned the poem's authenticity and meaning.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Q8DaXPMd9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Q8DaXPMd9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by J E S S I C A U R L I C H S (@jessurlichs)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Following the broadcast, a video clip of the segment was posted on Instagram, where Urlichs expressed her disappointment in the comments. "If you’d asked for my permission to post this and I’d seen how it was mocked throughout I would have said no," she wrote on the post that has now been removed. She added that while she appreciates people sharing her work to support other mothers, she felt her writing was treated as a punchline in this instance.</p> <p>The full text of the remarkable poem can be read below.</p> <p><iframe style="overflow: hidden; border: initial none initial;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjessurlichs%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02jzy9gwBKnMAAX12NYp7XiZ1CpWsgxfd2zyhRaHVQfgLJ3NoB1kCcGXNbhJucZcYNl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Terminally-ill rugby player carried across marathon finish line by his best mate

<p>There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd when best friends Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield crossed the finish line of the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.</p> <p>The two Leeds Rhinos players have been raising money and awareness for people with Motor Neurone Disease since Burrow’s 2019 diagnosis, with the two raising an impressive total in the millions.</p> <p>And now, the pair have raised spirits and warmed hearts with Sinfield’s act at the end of their Leeds race, when he picked Burrow up from his chair and carried him over the finishing line. Before that, Sinfield had been pushing Burrow’s chair for 26.2 miles (42.2 km). </p> <p>The moment was met with cheering and applause as the wo concluded their marathon just after the 4 hour 22 minute mark, both from those who were there to witness it in person and from those who saw footage later when it circulated online. </p> <p>One Twitter user even went on to dub Burrow an “absolute gem of a human”, while another was certain that they were a “pair of absolute heroes”. </p> <p>“What a mate! Unbelievable in a world full of cr*p at the moment there are some genuinely lovely moments. These lads have been into battle together on the pitch for club and country,” one wrote. “It’s choked me up, I’m not going to lie.”</p> <p>“A bunch of legends,” someone else declared. “I’ve properly welled up watching this, this is what friendship is, to the ends of the earth and back.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Beautiful.</p> <p>Kevin Sinfield carried Rob Burrow over the finish line at the end of the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/JFdd9XGgV4">pic.twitter.com/JFdd9XGgV4</a></p> <p>— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1657736670458916865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Prior to the event, Sinfield had spoken about the race to <em>The Sun</em>, and its 12,500 reported participants, as well as the thousands lining the streets to watch, and what it meant to be undertaking the marathon together. </p> <p>“Even if it was just Rob and I, we’d have a great time,” he said, “there’s no better way to do it than with your mate. The fact people want to share in it and do their own little bit is incredible.</p> <p>“This will be with mates, for mates and alongside mates, absolutely. Look across the world at big cities where marathons are run, there’s nothing like this.</p> <p>“We’ve not done any training. We ran a 10km together last July and that’s part of the challenge, doing something neither of us have done before. The unknown adds to the fun of it.</p> <p>“He’s in a custom-made chair but it could be a bumpy ride. I’ll try and find him the safest, comfiest route but if there are hills, there are hills. If it rains, it rains.”</p> <p>And as Burrow himself said to <em>The Guardian</em>, when asked about the seven marathons in seven days that Sinfield had run on behalf of Burrow, his family, and their fight against MND, “we all need a friend like Kevin.” </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Carrie Fisher finally receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

<p dir="ltr">The late star Carrie Fisher is finally being honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.</p> <p dir="ltr">Best known for her role as Princess Leia in original Star Wars films, Fisher was an icon in the industry.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fisher sadly passed away on December 27th 2016, following a sudden cardiac arrest, but is making news again after being honoured with a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.</p> <p dir="ltr">She will be honoured on the most appropriate of dates, May 4th, which is unofficially known as Star Wars Day. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress’ daughter, Billie Lour, will accept the star on her behalf. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Fans will be over the moon to know that their favourite movie princess Carrie Fisher will be honoured with her star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame," Anna Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Carrie will join her Star Wars costars and fellow Walk of Famers Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford on this historic sidewalk.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fisher’s star will be just a few feet away from her fellow Star Wars actor and on-screen brother Mark Hamill, and across the street from her mother Debbie Reynolds. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hamill shared the news on his Twitter, saying “Long overdue &amp; so well-deserved,”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Long overdue &amp; so well-deserved.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CarrieOnForever?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CarrieOnForever</a>❤️ <a href="https://t.co/0pWxcfjoRB">https://t.co/0pWxcfjoRB</a></p> <p>— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1650615522344710144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Her star will serve as a reminder that although she is gone, her influence will remain for years to come. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Movies

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12 items you shouldn’t carry in your handbag

<p><strong>Passwords</strong></p> <p>If you have trouble remembering passwords, you might be tempted to carry them with you in your bag. “Some people feel passwords are safer in their bag than at home because it’s always on them, but nothing could be further from the truth,” says Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of Identity Theft Resource Center. </p> <p>“You’re much more apt to lose your purse or wallet than have a break-in.” Memorising all your login information is the safest, but if that’s not practical, she recommends storing your passwords in a passcode-protected smartphone app.</p> <p><strong>Debit card</strong></p> <p>Without the same protections as credit cards, debit cards put you at higher risk when making purchases. “I’m not a huge fan of always having a debit card with you, because the cash disappears from your account and you have to prove it was you before you get it back, unlike a credit card, where you can stop the charges and the money never leaves your account,” says John Sileo, CEO of cybersecurity group Sileo Group. </p> <p>Swipe a credit card for most purchases, and use an ATM-only card with a PIN to get cash, he recommends.</p> <p><strong>Laptop</strong></p> <p>A computer is probably the heaviest thing in your bag. The weight of a laptop can strain your shoulder, causing imbalanced posture, or even neck, spine, and shoulder injuries, says chiropractor Dr Steven Shoshany. </p> <p>If you need to have your laptop on hand, use a messenger bag or a backpack, which will distribute the weight more evenly, Shoshany suggests.</p> <p><strong>Receipts</strong></p> <p>A crook won’t be able to steal your identity with receipts alone, but pairing them with other documents could make it easier to pretend to be you. “It’s giving a thief a great picture of who you are and where you shop,” Velasquez says. </p> <p>“All fraud analytics look for anomalies in behaviour, and your receipts show where you shop.” With your old receipts, a thief might be able to make more purchases before you can cancel the card, so empty them from your bag once you’re home.</p> <p><strong>Unprotected phone</strong></p> <p>“A lot of people think of their smartphone as a phone instead of a mobile computer that happens to make calls,” Sileo says. Leaving your phone unprotected makes it easy for strangers to access any information you have stored in your apps. </p> <p>Even a four-digit password can be easy for thieves to crack, so use a longer code, or log in using fingerprint, face, or voice recognition, Sileo says.</p> <p><strong>Umbrella </strong></p> <p>You might be prepared for that 30 per cent chance of rain, but a bulky umbrella adds unnecessary weight. “Keep an umbrella in your car, or keep one at work and one at home,” Shoshany says.</p> <p><strong>Cheque book</strong></p> <p>Depending on your bank, getting your money back from cheque fraud could take anywhere from a day to four months, Sileo says. He recommends finding an alternative way to pay because cheques are so easy to steal. </p> <p>If you can’t bear to give up cheque writing, keep just a couple of cheques in your bag, not the whole book.</p> <p><strong>Full-size beauty products</strong></p> <p>Don’t weigh down your back by lugging around big bottles of hairspray. Over time, the repetitive strain of that added weight could start pulling your shoulder out, Shoshany says. “Downsize from full sizes to travel sizes to lighten the load,” he says.</p> <p><strong>Work badges</strong></p> <p>Giving a stranger access to your workplace could cause major problems in your job, Sileo says. Have a separate bag for the weekend or take your work ID out when you leave the office.</p> <p><strong>Gift cards</strong></p> <p>Like cash, you won’t get gift cards back if you lose them, so keep them with you only if you plan to use them in the store, Sileo says. </p> <p>If you’re afraid you’ll forget them when you do get around to shopping there, leave gift cards in your car in a disguised container like a breathmint tin, he says.</p> <p><strong>Medicare number</strong></p> <p>“Your medicare number is the critical piece of information a thief needs to carry out identity theft,” Velasquez says. Unless you need a copy for a new employer or are heading to a medical appointment, leave your medicare card at home in a secure place.</p> <p><strong>Passport</strong></p> <p>Because passports are hard to forge, a real one will be accepted more easily than other stolen documents, Velasquez says. Only carry it when absolutely necessary if it’s your primary identifier.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/tips/12-items-you-shouldnt-carry-in-your-handbag?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Dog found hidden in carry-on bag at airport security

<p>A US Transportation and Security Agency (TSA) officer has discovered a small dog stashed in a traveller's carry-on luggage. </p> <p>The animal was found in a backpack when going through the X-ray machine at the Dane County <a title="Airport " href="https://www.9news.com.au/airport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airport</a> in Wisconsin. </p> <p>TSA told a local news outlet that the passenger was unaware of the screening protocol and did not tell security officers about her dog.</p> <p>After an officer explained the proper process and confirmed she disclosed she was travelling with a pet to the airline, she proceeded to her gate to board her flight. </p> <p>TSA Great Lakes confirmed that the woman's error was an accident on social media, while alerting people to the proper flying rules. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Video: Here’s the proper way to travel with your pet. Note: This is a <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSA</a> PreCheck passenger traveling with a cat. If you think your pet will attempt an escape, ask to speak with a supervisor before removing the animal. Alternative screening options may be available. (2/2) <a href="https://t.co/NL2jNjni2l">pic.twitter.com/NL2jNjni2l</a></p> <p>— TSA_GreatLakes (@TSA_GreatLakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA_GreatLakes/status/1600210121136537600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>"A dog was accidentally sent through the X-ray @MSN_Airport this week," it tweeted.</p> <p>"When travelling with any animal, notify your airline and know their rules."</p> <p>"At the checkpoint, remove your pet from the bag and send all items, including the empty carrier, to be screened in the machine."</p> <p>It then uploaded a video showing "the proper way" to travel with pets.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Cruise ships are back and carrying COVID. No, it’s not 2020. But here’s what needs to happen next

<p>Cruise ships carrying passengers with COVID are back in the news. The Coral Princess, with an unconfirmed number of people testing positive on board, is <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7959796/virus-infected-cruise-ship-to-dock-in-wa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set to dock</a> at Fremantle, Western Australia. The Quantum of The Seas, with passengers reportedly testing positive, <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1585194230825246721" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is heading for</a> Brisbane. There have been similar situations at other ports in <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/477429/cruise-ship-with-covid-19-cases-failed-to-follow-current-isolation-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Zealand</a> and <a href="https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2022/10/articles/disease/covid-cruise-ships-return-down-under-with-hundreds-of-infected-guests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Pacific</a>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">FIRST ON 9: A COVID-riddled cruise ship is heading for Brisbane, with passengers reporting hundreds of people are confined to their rooms. <a href="https://twitter.com/Anna_Rawlings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Anna_Rawlings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/ygLdE5FlqG">pic.twitter.com/ygLdE5FlqG</a></p> <p>— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1585194230825246721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>But this isn’t 2020. The cruise ship industry and health authorities have learned much from large outbreaks linked to the Ruby Princess and Diamond Princess cruise ships early in the pandemic.</p> <p>Yet, there’s even more we can do to limit the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) spreading from cruise ships to communities on land.</p> <p><strong>Why are we worried about cruise ships?</strong></p> <p>Cruise ships can have epidemics of a variety of infectious diseases, <a href="https://theconversation.com/cruise-ships-can-be-floating-petri-dishes-of-gastro-bugs-6-ways-to-stay-healthy-at-sea-this-summer-126351" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not just COVID</a>, facilitated by large numbers of people in close proximity, especially during indoor social activities.</p> <p>We know SARS-CoV-2 is spread mainly by <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-pressure-is-on-for-australia-to-accept-the-coronavirus-really-can-spread-in-the-air-we-breathe-160641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inhaling contaminated air</a>, so indoor activities may pose a risk if ventilation is poor.</p> <p>Cruises typically last at least a week, which covers the incubation period for infections such as influenza and COVID. So all it takes is for one infected person to be on the ship to set off an epidemic.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">More than 130 passengers and crew on the first cruise ship to arrive in the country in two years have tested positive for Covid-19.<a href="https://t.co/tA73LTzQad">https://t.co/tA73LTzQad</a></p> <p>— RNZ (@radionz) <a href="https://twitter.com/radionz/status/1584959572342878208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Staff stay on ships much longer than passengers, and can continue to infect new passengers, perpetuating a cycle of outbreaks.</p> <p>But <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0869-5#Fig1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">almost half</a> of infections are transmitted asymptomatically. So, without testing everyone on board (before they board and during outbreaks), infectious people can board a ship without being aware they are infected and cause an epidemic. Infected staff can also infect new passengers, and passengers can infect communities they visit on land.</p> <p><strong>What happened with cruise ships and COVID in 2020?</strong></p> <p>Early in the pandemic, large outbreaks on ships, such as the <a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-australians-on-board-the-diamond-princess-need-to-go-into-quarantine-again-its-time-to-reset-the-clock-131906" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diamond Princess</a> made the headlines. Some 634 of 3,711 (17%) people on board <a href="https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.10.2000180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tested positive</a> for COVID. The ship was quarantined for two weeks.</p> <p>An <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/58699?utm_source=content_alert&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=fulltext&amp;utm_campaign=26-August-20-elife-alert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated 69%</a> of transmissions on board were transmitted asymptomatically.</p> <p>The Ruby Princess had a COVID outbreak in March 2020 with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-12/nsw-ruby-princess-class-action-trial-covid-19-testing-sydney/101527156" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 700 cases</a>. Yet health authorities allowed passengers to disembark in Sydney without testing, who then dispersed around the country at a time we had no vaccines.</p> <p>Our research <a href="http://www.ijtmgh.com/article_119534_550421b9e1139603f85c3fc9af97d25a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showed</a> this resulted in growing community clusters for weeks afterwards.</p> <p><strong>But it’s not 2020</strong></p> <p>We now have vaccines. But vaccination rates vary globally (and cruise passengers are often from many countries). Some vaccines are <a href="https://pmj.bmj.com/content/postgradmedj/98/1159/389.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less effective than others</a>, not everyone is up-to-date with their <a href="https://theconversation.com/millions-of-australians-still-havent-had-their-covid-boosters-what-message-could-convince-them-now-190482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">booster shots</a>, <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj-2022-071113" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vaccine immunity wanes</a> (even after having a booster), and current vaccines are generally <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-in-protection-against-omicron-between-2-doses-and-3-doses-of-vaccine-176447" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less-effective</a> against currently circulating Omicron subvariants.</p> <p>This means people can be infected and infectious despite being vaccinated.</p> <p>Many of us have also had COVID, especially in 2022. But our immunity following infection (whether or not we’re also up to date with our vaccines) wanes too. People who were infected with older variants may also have a <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq1841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dampened immune response to Omicron</a>, which means limited protection.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Australia’s COVID vax program has lost all momentum: booster rates are going nowhere. The $11 million winter booster communication campaign had no impact. An updated Omicron vaccine is on the way, but have we lost the motivation to get a shot? <a href="https://twitter.com/GrattanInst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GrattanInst</a> <a href="https://t.co/DjHeW59ssT">pic.twitter.com/DjHeW59ssT</a></p> <p>— #UnhealthyIndustries (@WePublicHealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/WePublicHealth/status/1575705478461419520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Cruise ships and health authorities have also tightened up their COVID protocols.</p> <p>The New South Wales government, for instance, publishes on its website <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel/cruising-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the COVID risk</a> of in-coming vessels. It places ships in one of three categories according to a number of factors, including the number of COVID cases on board.</p> <p>Cruise ships also have <a href="https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/coral-princess-covid-outbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strict protocols</a> for controlling and managing outbreaks. This includes masks for close contacts, mandatory isolation for infected passengers for five days, and testing of anyone with symptoms.</p> <p>The problem is that transmission can continue because of asymptomatic infections. The ship may need medical evacuations or assistance for severely ill people. There is also the problem of infection being transmitted to communities on shore after people without symptoms disembark.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PrincessCruises?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrincessCruises</a> Majestic Princess had at least 116 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cruise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cruise</a> guests with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> when it arrived in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tahiti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tahiti</a>, according to a local newspaper. <a href="https://t.co/LtvDaVKIaR">https://t.co/LtvDaVKIaR</a></p> <p>— James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/CruiseLaw/status/1585389753591279616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>We can do more</strong></p> <p>People disembarking and unknowingly spreading the virus is especially a problem for small towns.</p> <p>The itinerary of the Coral Princess, which has since been modified, included the Western Australian towns of Broome and Geraldton, both of which have large Aboriginal communities, and other towns, such as Albany and Busselton.</p> <p>Small towns may not have a hospital, may have limited access to health care, and would not have capacity to deal with many severely ill patients. Capacity for medical evacuations are also limited.</p> <p>In the map below, we can see how hospitals are distributed in rural areas around Broome. Most hospitals are near Perth and the southwest coast. Broome has one hospital with about 40 beds. Large hospitals in Perth and Darwin are about 2,000 kilometres away, which would be the destinations for medical evacuations of severely ill patients.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=849&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=849&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=849&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1067&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1067&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1067&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Map showing distribution of hospitals in Western Australia" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Most major hospitals are near Perth, which is about 2,000 kilometres from Broome.</span> <span class="attribution">Samsung Lim, author provided</span></figcaption></figure> <p>So it’s important to monitor for outbreaks in Broome after the Coral Princess docked there this week, and ensure availability of testing to enable early intervention (such as antiviral drugs) to control outbreaks.</p> <p>Cruises with outbreaks on board should ideally <a href="https://ozsage.org/working_group/regional-rural-and-remote/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoid</a> small towns or remote locations with limited health services or vulnerable populations, as the impacts on these communities may be much greater than in a large city.</p> <p>Visiting small towns during an on-board epidemic <a href="https://ozsage.org/media_releases/ozsage-position-statement-cruise-ship-epidemic-and-risk-to-small-towns-in-western-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would be safer</a> if everyone who disembarks is tested first, is negative, and wears a mask on shore.</p> <p><strong>What else could we do?</strong></p> <p>The cruising industry has acknowledged the reality of COVID being a continuing threat. This could be improved by recognising the role of asymptomatic transmission in testing policies.</p> <p>For instance, all passengers and crew should have a negative rapid antigen test at the start of the cruise, and during an outbreak. All close contacts and all disembarking passengers should be tested for COVID, regardless of symptoms. The cost of testing would be much less than the lost costs of large epidemics.</p> <p>During a cruise epidemic, companies also need to consider the locations being visited, how much COVID is already present there (some remote towns have very little COVID) and available health-care systems for locals.</p> <p>Rapid use of antivirals may also help to control epidemics on board as these allow passengers testing positive to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00644-2/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clear the virus faster</a>.</p> <p>The aviation industry <a href="https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/covid-19/12-19_walkinshaw.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">does well</a> in providing safe air in-flight. The cruise industry has also started <a href="https://www.cruisecritic.com.au/articles.cfm?ID=5474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changing ventilation</a> to add fresh air instead of recirculated air indoors.</p> <p>But there is still some way to go before we can say the threat of COVID is over, on-board or on land.<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/193384/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>Writen by C Raina MacIntyre. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/cruise-ships-are-back-and-carrying-covid-no-its-not-2020-but-heres-what-needs-to-happen-next-193384" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

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Camilla’s ex-husband carries out official duty on her behalf

<p dir="ltr">Queen Consort Camilla's ex-husband, whom she shares two kids with, has carried out an official duty on her behalf.</p> <p dir="ltr">Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles formally represented the Queen Consort at his cousin John Bowes-Lyon’s funeral at the London Oratory.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is the first official duty he has performed on behalf of his ex-wife and it is believed that it won’t be the last time the 82-year-old former Army officer would represent the Queen Consort.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Andrew is happy to do anything he is asked. He still enjoys a warm relationship with Camilla,” a source told Daily Mail. </p> <p dir="ltr">Camilla and Andrew married in 1973 before they separated in the 1980s and divorced in 1995.</p> <p dir="ltr">They share two children, Tom and Laura. </p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, the Queen Consort spoke candidly about cooking for her children despite not being a great in the kitchen. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I always cooked for the children growing up, and they were good eaters, but I was never the most adventurous of cooks,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I was sent on a cooking course in Sussex when I was young but, really, I learnt from my mother. I’ve never followed a recipe in my life...</p> <p dir="ltr">“I could fill a book with all my cooking disasters. I’m not a natural baker, to say the least. </p> <p dir="ltr">“As for baked potatoes… many a poor, incinerated specimen has been found in the bottom of the Aga, put in, then forgotten about.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Camilla married King Charles III in 2005 following a whirlwind romance and affairs dating back to when Charles was married to Diana. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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The best way to carry travel documents

<p>If something happens overseas and you need to produce an important travel document, you want to be able to do so without having to empty half your suitcase. Keeping your travel documents organised can save you quite a lot of stress when you’re abroad.</p> <p>But what’s the best way to do so?</p> <p>We’ve taken a look at the options for getting your travel documents together, and provided some tips and tricks to do so. Organising ahead of time might be the difference between passing a border easily, and having to deal with an irate customs official.</p> <p><strong>Travel folder</strong></p> <p>There is a range of specialised travel folders on the market at the moment, but even something as simple as a standard A4 folder can do the job well enough, protecting your important documents from the elements while ensuring they all remain in the same place.</p> <p>The advantage of using a travel folder is that it’s a relatively inexpensive solution, but at the same time if it’s not specifically designed for travel, some bulkier items like your passport can be loose.</p> <p><strong>Travel wallet</strong></p> <p>These items are becoming increasingly popular and it’s easy to see why, as they provide a neat little way to store all your important documents. They can also provide a stylish accessory, as we can see in this video which shows how anyone can make their own <a href="../travel/travel-insurance/2016/03/how-to-make-a-diy-travel-wallet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">great DIY travel wallet</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>Travel wallets are lightweight, easy to carry and reliable. The only disadvantage is that they are not really suitable for larger documents like booking confirmations.</p> <p><strong>Money belts</strong></p> <p>Another neat way to carry travel documents around, money belts are generally pretty discreet. Strapped around your stomach, it can be a great way to carry around your important travel documents without running the risk of them being nabbed by pickpockets. That being said, money belts are only so big, and might not be suitable for all of your travel documents.</p> <p><strong>Additional hints and tips</strong></p> <ul> <li>Before you go, take time to make copies of your travel documents such as your passport and airfares, and be sure to carry these around in a separate place.</li> <li>Consider making digital copies of your travel documents as well. Save these on a USB, in an email or on an <a href="https://www.tripit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">itinerary</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> stor</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">age</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> website such as TripIt</span></strong></a>.</li> <li>Review the <a href="../travel/travel-insurance/2015/11/destinations-you-need-a-visa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Visa entry requirements</span></strong></a> of the destination you’re visiting.</li> <li>Be wary when a hotel or travel company asks you to <a href="../travel/travel-tips/2015/12/handing-your-passport-to-a-hotel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">hand over your passport</span></strong></a>.</li> </ul> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Tips

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10 items you MUST carry in your travel medical kit

<p>Health concerns are the last thing you want to be dealing with when on holidays, but unfortunately accidents can still happen when we are travelling.</p> <p>This is why a travel medical kit is one of the most important things you will pack.</p> <p>From simple first aid measures to equipment that will help you in instances where something more serious is occurring, a well-stocked travel medical kit is the hallmark of every sensible traveller. Here are 10 items you must include in your travel medical kit.  </p> <p>We’ve also included some additional tips at the bottom of the article.</p> <p><strong>1. Adhesive dressings (Band-Aids)</strong> – When travelling we’re particularly susceptible to minor cuts. Adhesive dressings ensure these nicks and scrapes don’t get infected.</p> <p><strong>2. Antihistamine</strong> – These are essential, especially if you’re someone who suffers from allergies, as they allow you to control allergic reactions in foreign environments.</p> <p><strong>3. Bandages</strong> – Use bandages to create support structures for strained limbs, reduce swellings, hold dressings in place, and even as a makeshift sling.</p> <p><strong>4. Instant cold pack</strong> – These handy devices are especially useful when it comes time to deal with any swelling issues or untoward skin reactions encountered abroad.</p> <p><strong>5. Antibacterial gel</strong> – If you’re in a situation when you need a pair of clean hands, antibacterial gel makes it possible without the need of water access.</p> <p><strong>6. Oral rehydration salts</strong> – Dehydration can quickly turn into a big issues overseas, so having a few oral rehydration salts on hand can get you out of a serious bind. </p> <p><strong>7. Safety pins</strong> – The practicality of safety pins knows no bounds, especially if you find yourself in a situation where you need to keep bandages or slings in place.</p> <p><strong>8. Thermal blanket</strong> – In an emergency situation a thermal blanket can help control body temperature and ultimately avoid the likelihood of someone going into shock.</p> <p><strong>9. Thermometer</strong> – It’s also quite useful to have a thermometer at hand just in case. Go for a digital design that’s easier to read in an emergency situation.</p> <p><strong>10. Tweezers</strong> – If you ever need to remove splinters when you’re overseas or do running repairs to adhesive dressings, a pair of tweezers becomes quite useful.</p> <p><strong>Additional tips and pointers:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Keep you travel medical kit in a dry, cool storage location if possible.</li> <li>Make sure it’s in an easily accessible part of your suitcase or backpack, and make sure everyone you are travelling with knows where to find it.</li> <li>Before you head off, double check the contents of your kit ensuring any creams are up to date, bandages and dressings are properly sealed and all items are working properly.</li> </ul> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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How to pack your carry-on luggage

<p>Depending on what luggage you travel with, your baggage can determine how easy you find your travels. Savvy travellers, who often pack light, get through security faster and have an easier time on the plane. Carry-ons don’t have to be used as supplementary baggage for your next trip, you can, in fact use it as your primary bag. It will force you to travel light, save you time at baggage collection, any extra luggage fees - plus, your bag cannot be lost by the airline.</p> <p>Here's a guide to not only packing light, but packing right!</p> <p><strong>Choosing a bag:</strong> Even for carry-on, size matters. Most airlines now have restrictions on the size and weight of your bag. Check with the airline as to what your allowance is. In any case, opt for a bag that is light and has lots of room inside without being too flimsy. You want something sturdy and durable but that doesn’t weigh you down before you’ve packed it. A bag that has wheels and a handle will allow you to get around with ease and quickly if need be.</p> <p><strong>Getting dressed:</strong> Wear your heaviest items on the plane – think denim, heavy shoes and a jacket, if you intend to pack one.</p> <p><strong>Wearable luggage:</strong> This sounds strange but if you want to maximise your carry-on packing space – this is especially useful if you are only travelling with carry-on – then you might want to consider buying some wearable luggage like a bum bag or cross-body bag that sits flat against you. You can put items in here like passport, phone, money and cards and a couple of little items which will free up some space in your bag. Every bit counts!</p> <p><strong>What to pack:</strong> You’ll want to ensure you pack all of your essential items in your carry-on bag. This is not only important to ensure nothing gets stolen, but if your bag is lost at least when you land you will have enough essential items to comfortably get by until alternative arrangements are made or your bag is returned to you. Essential carry-on bag items include: passport, return flight details, accommodation and transport information, cash and cards, pen, home house key, key electronics such a phone and tablet or laptop along with the chargers, change of clothes, mini bag to house your at-seat essentials so you don’t have to get up and down to the overhead compartment, headphones, medication, glasses and possibly a snack and bottle of water.</p> <p><strong>Perfect packing:</strong> Roll your clothes as not only will it allows you to fit them into corners and in between items when packing, but they surprisingly come out almost wrinkle free. Layering is the key technique of master packers. Think of your bag as being divided into three horizontal layers. Place shoes and any other bulky or hard items (like a travel hair dryer) in first as the bottom layer. Fill in the space between these items with smaller things like underwear, T-shirts, toiletries etc. The second layer is for larger clothing items and the third tier is for anything you might to access on your way to your destination. Then the majority of your toiletries (packed in your clear bag) should go in this layer, too. Also anything else that might break or spill – think make-up – should be on top so other items don’t squish them.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Travel Tips

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A list of what you can and can’t take in your carry-on luggage

<p dir="ltr">When it comes to travelling, there are a lot of grey areas when it comes to what you can and can’t take in your carry-on luggage. </p> <p dir="ltr">You often run into inconsistencies with travelling internationally and domestically with the do’s and don’ts of packing, making it difficult to know what you should be taking. </p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to travelling within Australia on a domestic flight, the rules are slightly more relaxed than on international journeys.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <a href="https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/bring-on-a-plane">Australian Border Force</a>, there are no restrictions on how much powders, liquids, aerosols and gels you can carry onboard.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the rules are very different for flights overseas. </p> <p dir="ltr">All liquids, aerosols and gel items must be in containers of 100 millilitres or 100 grams or less. Containers must fit into one transparent and re-sealable plastic bag, like a snap-lock bag, with only one ziplock bag allowed per passenger. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, there is one detail on travelling with liquids that can often catch people off guard at the last minute. </p> <p dir="ltr">Australian Traveller's Quentin Long said, "But the problem that gets us all ... is that it's not based on the actual quantity of liquid, it's based on the container size. So if you have a 120ml size container with liquid in it, that's going to be taken off you."</p> <p dir="ltr">"That has cost me, and a lot of other people, some very expensive fragrances."</p> <p dir="ltr">While you are allowed to take most laptops, tablets and phones in your hand luggage without any worries, you'll need to remove them when going through security.</p> <p dir="ltr">Airport x-ray machine operator Michael Sørensen explained why in a <a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-do-I-need-to-take-my-electronics-out-of-my-bag-at-airport-security/answer/Michael-S%C3%B8rensen">Quora</a> thread, writing, "The main reason that you need to remove laptops especially and tablets sometimes is because the batteries and some electronics are so dense metallic material that they obscure what's beneath.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"So that's why we ask for electronics with large batteries to be next to your bag or in a tray on its own."</p> <p dir="ltr">All batteries must be packed in your carry-on luggage, which includes lithium ion batteries, non-spill batteries like dry cell batteries, and nickel, alkaline, or nickel cadmium batteries.</p> <p dir="ltr">E-cigarettes and personal vaping devices also must be tucked into your carry-on baggage.</p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to miscellaneous items such as umbrellas, razors and alcohol, Long says, "There's different rules for international and domestic, but the general rule for both is don't take anything sharp."</p> <p dir="ltr">So things like scissors, metal nail files and Swiss army knives are a big no-no. Razor blades are also not allowed, but the <a href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/travelsecure-subsite/Pages/Items-you-cannot-take-on-plane.aspx">Department of Home Affairs</a> clarifies that household and personal items such as safety razors are permitted.</p> <p dir="ltr">Umbrellas with metal points are also on the permitted list, along with knitting and crochet needles, perfume, lighter fluid and alcohol.</p> <p dir="ltr">If in doubt about whether an item can be carried onboard, check with your airline prior to arriving at the airport. In some cases, you may be able to pack the item in your checked baggage at the last minute.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

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10-year-old arrested for threatening to carry out mass shooting

<p>A 10-year-old boy has been arrested for threatening to carry out a mass shooting via text message.</p> <p>The 5th grader from Patriot Elementary School in Cape Coral, in the state of Florida, was pictured in handcuffs and being walked to a police car on Saturday evening.</p> <p>He was interviewed and charged with making a written threat to conduct a mass shooting, coming just days after 19 children and two of their teachers were killed in a mass shooting in Texas.</p> <p>“This student’s behaviour is sickening, especially after the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement.</p> <p>“Right now is not the time to act like a little delinquent. It’s not funny. This child made a fake threat, and now he’s experiencing real consequences.”</p> <p>The sheriff’s office’s School Threat Enforcement Team was tipped off about the message and quick to act.</p> <p>“Making sure our children are safe is paramount,” Sheriff Macreno said.</p> <p>"My team didn’t hesitate one second, not one second, to investigate this threat.”</p> <p>While police in Texas were on the scene within minutes of the shooting at Robb Elementary School, officers have come under fire for waiting almost 80 minutes to enter the classroom and kill gunman Salvador Ramos.</p> <p>The Texas Department of Public Safety has since admitted that law enforcement’s response fell disastrously short.</p> <p>“From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course it was not the right decision,” Director Steve McCraw said on the delay.</p> <p><em>Image: Lee County Sheriff's office </em></p>

Legal

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Flight attendant’s hack to get more carry-on luggage

<p dir="ltr">A flight attendant has shared her own sneaky trick for travellers to get more items through in their carry-on luggage. </p> <p dir="ltr">Most airlines allow passengers to bring one carry-on bag on board the flight that weighs between seven and 10 kilograms, depending on the airline. </p> <p dir="ltr">Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz called it the “duty free hack”, telling the <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1604324/flight-attendant-tips-hacks-how-to-bring-extra-bag-on-board-free-exclusive">Express.co.uk</a> duty free bags don't count as carry-on baggage.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I always do this when I fly as a passenger," Muñoz said, sharing that all you have to do is carry a duty free bag.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Or ask for one at the duty free shop and you place whatever you want in the shopping bag."</p> <p dir="ltr">This also works for when your suitcase might be too heavy at check-in, giving travellers another vessel to put their extra items in at the last minute. </p> <p dir="ltr">"If you ever find yourself in that situation, just put whatever you need in a duty free bag. You are welcome!" Muñoz said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many people praised the woman’s sneaky trick, while also sharing some of their own unique ways they manage to get more out of their carry-on luggage. </p> <p dir="ltr">One person shared another hack they had seen <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-tips/woman-avoids-baggage-fees-with-genius-neck-pillow-hack?fbclid=IwAR3hpuF0Cyf4_K8UPT9WKa6jaWoeEj4e9a-DGAVdhy5vDUcNvRjUVx6F_HE">online</a>, which involves hollowing out a travel neck pillow and shoving it full of clothes. </p> <p dir="ltr">This way, you can bring more items in your carry-on luggage, and still use your travel pillow functionally. </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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Anger after "fan" enters van carrying Shane Warne's body

<p>Thailand police have revealed they will not be charging a mysterious woman who was spotted entered an ambulance carrying the body of Shane Warne, because she did not break the law.</p> <p>There has been widespread outrage after it was discovered that the mystery blonde woman was allowed into the white van as it transported the body of the late cricket great on a ferry from Koh Samui to the Thai mainland on Sunday.</p> <p>Local police in Thailand launched an investigation into why the woman was allowed to spend time with Shane Warne's body ahead of his autopsy, and brought her in for questioning. </p> <p>At a press conference on Monday, they said they have dropped the investigation as they believed she had not broken any rules. </p> <p>The woman, a German ex-pat who lives in Koh Samui, was seen carrying flowers near the van as it sat on the ferry, before speaking with a local immigration officer. </p> <p>The woman then approached the driver's side of the van and spoke to the driver, who left the vehicle, allowing her to get in and then shut the doors behind her.</p> <p>It’s understood she spent more than 30 seconds inside the vehicle.</p> <p>The woman later told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-07/shane-warne-body-incident-thailand/100887050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a> that she just wanted to pay her respects to the cricketer and didn't mean to cause any offence. </p> <p>“I am a big fan of him. It’s very sad that we lost him,” she said.</p> <p>“I just took the flowers to pay condolences."</p> <p>“I am sorry about yesterday but I [did] not mean [any] negative act by that. I am a big fan, he is a great player.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News footage</em></p>

Legal

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How to stay in Carrie Bradshaw's apartment from Sex and the City

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s the ultimate experience for fans of <em>Sex and the City</em>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A stunning recreation of the Brownstone New York apartment that the show’s Carrie Bradshaw character lived in is being put up for rent by Airbnb.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sarah Jessica Parker herself played a role in designing it and will be "virtually" welcoming guests when they arrive.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Carrie Bradshaw character is near and dear to my heart, and revisiting her world for the continuation of the <em>Sex and the City</em> story has been such a joy,” said SJP.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carrie’s brownstone apartment was central to the series and its décor has now been painstakingly recreated by Parker, Airbnb, and a small New York-based production team.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The character’s famous walk-in wardrobe, her writing desk and her bedroom appear almost exactly as they did in the cult series.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Replicas of key props from the original apartment are dotted throughout, such as circa-2000 cordless phone and a blocky black laptop, like the one Carrie used to labour over her writing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After enjoying a virtual greeting from the actress upon check-in, Airbnb says the guests can sip on cosmopolitans – reminiscent of the many cocktail-laden scenes from the series.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A styling session and a photoshoot will also be included in the experience. Guests will get the chance to play dress-up in a recreation of Carrie’s closet, which has been filled with duplicates of some of the iconic looks from the series.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This includes a model of the tutu Carrie wears in the show’s opening credits, which is one of the most famous looks curated by the show’s costume designer Patricia Field. Outfits from Carrie’s favourite fashion designers also line the closet, as well as – of course – rows and rows of shoes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m excited for our audience to experience Carrie’s New York like never before and walk in her shoes, quite literally, for the first time," Parker said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guests will also be invited to leave the apartment and explore Manhattan, traipsing the same streets as Carrie and her entourage would have done.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brunch in Chelsea is part of the experience, which Airbnb describes as a ‘meal where many conversations took place that deepened Carrie’s friendships with the girls’.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Sex and the City, the exterior shots of Carrie's apartment showed 64 and 66 Perry Street in Manhattan's West Village. Meanwhile, the interior scenes were captured in Silvercup Studios in Queens.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the recreation, Airbnb used a different New York apartment that had a similar floorplan to that of Carrie's flat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new Airbnb was designed in honour of next month's premiere of <em>And Just Like That</em>..., a 10-episode revival of <em>Sex and the City</em> that will air on HBO Max and Sky Comedy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon will reprise their roles in the series, but Kim Cattrall - who played publicity dynamo Samantha Jones - declined to take part.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Airbnb project, which was a collaboration between Airbnb and Warner Bros Consumer Products, also marks 23 years since fans were first introduced to the show.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Parker will host two one-night stays for up to two guests each on November 12 and 14 for just $23 a night.</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: AirBnB</em></p>

Real Estate

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10 carry-on items that could save your life

<p>1. Hair Ties </p> <p><span>For anyone with hair long enough to be pulled back into a ponytail, a hair tie can be a lifesaver, figuratively speaking. However, American medico Dr Patricia Quinlan used her hair tie to literally save someone’s life in 2015. When a passenger lost consciousness, according to NBC 10, Dr Quinlan determined that his blood pressure was “dangerously low” and he had an irregular heartbeat. The cabin crew supplied 16 ounces of saline solution (commonly found in airplane medical kits), and the good doctor used her hair tie as a tourniquet and whiskey to disinfect the needle so she could administer the solution to stabilise him.</span></p> <p><span>2. Multi-purpose tool </span></p> <p><span>Planning for the unexpected feels impossible because, well, it’s the unexpected. And a compact, all-in-one tool may make you feel as crafty, but will it make it through airport security? Maybe, maybe not. The Geekey Multi-Tool, however, is TSA-compliant, encompasses more than 16 tools, and is only a little bigger in size than the average house key, making it ideal for travel. What can it do? Geekey can act as a can opener, wire stripper, bottle opener, file, imperial and metric ruler, screwdriver tip, and more.</span></p> <p><span>3. Rechargeable flashlight</span></p> <p><span>In many an uncomfortable situation, light is your friend. Not having access to light can make any event more frightening. Saurabh Jindal, who runs the start-up Talk Travel, is always on the go. Because of that, a rechargeable flashlight has become a mainstay in his carry-on. “It’s simple and easy to carry,” says Jindal. “It helps a lot when you are in an unknown place and it is dark, and also when hiking through trails.”</span></p> <p><span>4. Rescue Blanket </span></p> <p><span>You might feel like you’re preparing for doomsday whenever you pack one of these, but a mylar rescue blanket could be key to survival in the event of an emergency. They certainly don’t look cozy and comfy, but they do help reduce bodily heat loss in a pinch. Plus, they’re affordable, compact, and lightweight—meaning there’s virtually no reason why you can’t stash one in your carry-on for those “just in case” moments.</span></p> <p><span>5. Personal alarm</span></p> <p><span>When you’re traveling alone, particularly to an unfamiliar place, it’s important to give yourself peace of mind in terms of safety. “A wearable personal safety alarm is a great idea,” says Namita Kulkarni, who runs the yoga and travel blog Radically Ever After. “It added to my sense of control on many a dark street and crowded public space. I slept with it under my pillow no matter what country I was in.”\</span></p> <p><span>6. Portable charger</span></p> <p><span>With our phones acting as our lifelines, traveling with one at low battery can be stress-inducing and, if an emergency occurs, even dangerous. Keeping a portable charger on hand to give your phone the juice it needs to be useful is important, and it won’t take up much space in your bag at all. The peace of mind is worth it. If you’re in a pinch, here’s how to charge your phone as quickly as possible.</span></p> <p><span>7. Hand Sanitiser </span></p> <p><span>You don’t have to be a germophobe to be put off by the concept of just how many germs reside on airplanes and in airports. Plus, they can get you really sick if you’re not careful, ruining your trip or even landing you in the hospital. For this reason, seasoned traveller David Wills, author of <em>World Citizen: Allen Ginsberg as Traveller</em>, always carries hand sanitiser. “It’s small enough that you barely notice it in a pocket of your bag, and it’s totally fine to take through any airport,” he says. “When it comes to hygiene-related emergencies, you really can’t beat it.” Believe it or not, alcohol-based hand sanitiser can even help you get a fire started, which could, of course, be essential in a survival situation.</span></p> <p><span>8. Water purification tablets</span></p> <p>If you’re headed somewhere without easy access to drinkable water and a filtered water bottle is too cumbersome for your carry-on, Thrifty Points founder and CEO Ben Packard suggests carrying water purification tablets. “These are small and never questioned,” he says. “Having the ability to purify water in a survival situation can mean the difference between life and death. They can be kept in your pocket, which is handy since you’re not supposed to take anything with you in an emergency situation on a plane.”</p> <p>9. Reusable bottle with filter</p> <p><span>As anyone who’s travelled in the past two decades knows, most airport security points around the world will confiscate liquids above the 100ml limit at the security checkpoint. This is problematic considering the way in which flying dehydrates the body. What’s a traveller to do? Carry a reusable water bottle that includes a filter. “Easy access to water in case you are short of it, especially in emergency or when in secluded areas, is a lifesaver,” says Jindal.</span></p> <p><span>10. First aid kit</span></p> <p><span>A no-brainer item that most of us likely overlook is a travel-size first-aid kit. It’s equipped with useful items for any number of situations. “You can buy kits that are quite small and just leave them in your carry-on bag at all times,” says Michael Anderson, founder of the adventure travel blog Passport Explored. “There’s no need to take them out for security checks or do anything special before bringing one onto the flight. These first aid kits should include items such as band-aids, gauze, disinfectant cream, bug-bite cream, aspirin, and tweezers.”</span></p> <p><span><em>This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/flightstravel-hints-tips/10-carry-on-items-that-could-save-your-life?pages=2">Reader’s Digest.</a> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></em></span></p>

Travel Tips

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Queen Elizabeth watches Lady Louise carry on Prince Philip’s passion

<p><span>The Queen watched on as her granddaughter partook in a tribute related to her late husband, Prince Philip.</span><br /><br /><span>The royal was able to see Lady Louise Windsor, who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, use her grandfather’s carriage for a special event.</span><br /><br /><span>The 17-year-old is likely to have inherited the carriage from Prince Philip after his death, as it was included in the list of the Duke’s funeral procession on April 17.</span><br /><br /><span>It had been designed by the royal eight years ago, with Lady Louise finding a closeness to her grandad for their love of carriage riding.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842227/daily-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d65a1c1240064225b8d23a55721fbb40" /><br /><br /><span>The Countess of Wessex told <em>BBC Radio 5</em> back in June, that Lady Louise and her beloved pop had a real connection.</span><br /><br /><span>"He was so pleased when she took the sport up because I took it up - I was at the beginning of my carriage driving career and I fell pregnant with Louise so I had to hang up the reins," she revealed.</span><br /><br /><span>"So I was really delighted when she decided that she wanted to have a go and my father-in-law was always so good at encouraging.</span><br /><br /><span>"He was really encouraging of Louise and when she not only said can I have a go, but then showed a flair for it, he was just brilliant with her."</span><br /><br /><span>The Dukes would often take his team of fell ponies to ride around Windsor Great Park.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842228/daily-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7ea494b195de4eab8d95587e3b6303f8" /><br /><br /><span>"They used to chat away about it and he would always turn up if she was competing in the Great Park, he'd always turn up to watch her training days."</span><br /><br /><span>The Royal Windsor Horse Show is the largest outdoor horse show in the UK and takes place annually.</span><br /><br /><span>Queen Elizabeth was pictured driving herself to the event on its first day, right after she got back from her Scotland trip.</span><br /><br /><span>Her Majesty was adorned in sunglasses and a green headscarf, patterned with images of various dog breeds, while she sat in the Royal Box.</span><br /><br /><span>She was seated near Prince Edward and his son Viscount Severn, 13.</span><br /><br /><span>The Royal Windsor Horse Show was first staged in 1943 to help raise funds for the war effort.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

News

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These five carry-on items could save be life-saving

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Space in a carry-on bag is precious, and even for seasoned travellers who know the smartest ways to pack one, deciding what to bring can be tricky. There are the things you need, the things you’d like to have, and then those little “what if” luxuries that you may not use but sure could come in handy. But what about packable products that could actually help in the event of an emergency? We all hope to complete our travel smoothly and safely, but things happen. Here are the items that are worth the real estate in your carry-on — not just because they’re pragmatic but because they could actually save your life.</span></p> <p><strong>Portable charger</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With our phones acting as our lifelines, traveling with one at low battery can be stress-inducing and, if an emergency occurs, even dangerous. Keeping a portable charger on hand to give your phone the juice it needs to be useful is important, and it won’t take up much space in your bag at all. The peace of mind is worth it. If you’re in a pinch, here’s how to charge your phone as quickly as possible.</span></p> <p><strong>Hand sanitiser</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You don’t have to be a germaphobe to be put off by the concept of just how many germs reside on airplanes and in airports. Plus, they can get you really sick if you’re not careful, ruining your trip or even landing you in the hospital. For this reason, seasoned traveller David Wills, author of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">World Citizen: Allen Ginsberg as Traveller</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, always carries hand sanitiser. “It’s small enough that you barely notice it in a pocket of your bag, and it’s totally fine to take through any airport,” he says. “When it comes to hygiene-related emergencies, you really can’t beat it.” Believe it or not, alcohol-based hand sanitiser can even help you get a fire started, which could, of course, be essential in a survival situation.</span></p> <p><strong>Water purification tablets</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re headed somewhere without easy access to drinkable water and a filtered water bottle is too cumbersome for your carry-on, Thrifty Points founder and CEO Ben Packard suggests carrying water purification tablets. “These are small and never questioned,” he says. “Having the ability to purify water in a survival situation can mean the difference between life and death. They can be kept in your pocket, which is handy since you’re not supposed to take anything with you in an emergency situation on a plane.”</span></p> <p><strong>Reusable water bottle with filter</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As anyone who’s travelled in the past two decades knows, most airport security points around the world will confiscate liquids above the 100ml limit at the security checkpoint. This is problematic considering the way in which flying dehydrates the body. What’s a traveller to do? Carry a reusable water bottle that includes a filter. “Easy access to water in case you are short of it, especially in emergency or when in secluded areas, is a lifesaver,” says Jindal.</span></p> <p><strong>First-aid kit</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A no-brainer item that most of us likely overlook is a travel-size first-aid kit. It’s equipped with useful items for any number of situations. “You can buy kits that are quite small and just leave them in your carry-on bag at all times,” says Michael Anderson, founder of the adventure travel blog Passport Explored. “There’s no need to take them out for security checks or do anything special before bringing one onto the flight. These first aid kits should include items such as band-aids, gauze, disinfectant cream, bug-bite cream, aspirin, and tweezers.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Kelly Bryant. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/10-carry-on-items-that-could-save-your-life">Reader’s Digest</a>. Find more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="https://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</span></em></p>

International Travel

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The touching mementos the Queen carried at Prince Philip's funeral

<p>The Queen sat alone at Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday, but she reportedly carried two touching reminders of her husband with her.</p> <p>Her Majesty and Prince Philip spent 73 years together and most likely exchanged countless gifts and mementos over that time period.</p> <p>But the monarch is said to have chosen two simple items to carry with her as she lay her husband to rest.</p> <p>In her small, black handbag, the Queen kept one of Philip's pocket squares and a photo of them from the earliest years of their marriage, according to reports.</p> <p>Speaking to the Daily Mail, a royal insider said the Queen carried one of Philip's white handkerchiefs, which he used to use as pocket squares.</p> <p>The handkerchiefs were made by his Savile Row tailors Kent &amp; Haste, and the Queen kept one on her during the funeral service.</p> <p>The second item was a photograph of her and Philip during their honeymoon in Malta, which was taken sometime between 1949 and 1951.</p> <p>"The years the Queen spent in Malta were said to be among the happiest of her life," 9Honey's royal columnist Victoria Arbiter wrote in 2019.</p> <p>"And the Mediterranean archipelago was the only place outside the UK she ever called home."</p> <p>She and Philip even returned to Malta in 2007 to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary, and it is said to hold a special place in the monarch's heart.</p> <p>It's understandable, then, that the Queen would choose a photo of her and Philip there – at one of their happiest moments – to carry with her at his funeral on Saturday.</p> <p>The Queen also addressed a handwritten letter to her late husband, which was placed alongside a wreath of white lilies, small white roses, and white freesia chosen by her.</p> <p>The contents of the note have been kept private.</p> <p>In the past, the Queen honoured her husband with loving comments, remarking when Philip turned 90: "He has, quite simply, been my strength and my stay all these years."</p> <p>And it seems Philip was just as in love. In the early days of their relationship, he wrote in a letter: "Cherish Lilibet? I wonder if that word is enough to express what is in me?"</p>

Caring

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5 carry-on items that could save your life

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Space in a carry-on bag is precious, and even for seasoned travellers who know the smartest ways to pack one, deciding what to bring can be tricky. There are the things you need, the things you’d like to have, and then those little “what if” luxuries that you may not use but sure could come in handy. But what about packable products that could actually help in the event of an emergency? We all hope to complete our travel smoothly and safely, but things happen. Here are the items that are worth the real estate in your carry-on—not just because they’re pragmatic but because they could actually save your life.</span></p> <p><strong>1. Hair ties</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For anyone with hair long enough to be pulled back into a ponytail, a hair tie can be a lifesaver, figuratively speaking. However, American medico Dr Patricia Quinlan used her hair tie to literally save someone’s life in 2015. When a passenger lost consciousness, according to NBC 10, Dr Quinlan determined that his blood pressure was “dangerously low” and he had an irregular heartbeat. The cabin crew supplied 16 ounces of saline solution (commonly found in airplane medical kits), and the good doctor used her hair tie as a tourniquet and whiskey to disinfect the needle so she could administer the solution to stabilise him.</span></p> <p><strong>2. Multipurpose</strong><strong> tool</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Planning for the unexpected feels impossible because, well, it’s the unexpected. And a compact, all-in-one tool may make you feel as crafty, but will it make it through airport security? Maybe, maybe not. The Geekey Multi-Tool, however, is TSA-compliant, encompasses more than 16 tools, and is only a little bigger in size than the average house key, making it ideal for travel. What can it do? Geekey can act as a can opener, wire stripper, bottle opener, file, imperial and metric ruler, screwdriver tip, and more.</span></p> <p><strong>3. Rechargeable flashlight</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In many an uncomfortable situation, light is your friend. Not having access to light can make any event more frightening. Saurabh Jindal, who runs the start-up Talk Travel, is always on the go. Because of that, a rechargeable flashlight has become a mainstay in his carry-on. “It’s simple and easy to carry,” says Jindal. “It helps a lot when you are in an unknown place and it is dark, and also when hiking through trails.”</span></p> <p><strong>4. Rescue blanket</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You might feel like you’re preparing for doomsday whenever you pack one of these, but a mylar rescue blanket could be key to survival in the event of an emergency. They certainly don’t look cozy and comfy, but they do help reduce bodily heat loss in a pinch. Plus, they’re affordable, compact, and lightweight—meaning there’s virtually no reason why you can’t stash one in your carry-on for those “just in case” moments.</span></p> <p><strong>5. Personal alarm</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you’re traveling alone, particularly to an unfamiliar place, it’s important to give yourself peace of mind in terms of safety. “A wearable personal safety alarm is a great idea,” says Namita Kulkarni, who runs the yoga and travel blog Radically Ever After. “It added to my sense of control on many a dark street and crowded public space. I slept with it under my pillow no matter what country I was in.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Kelly Bryant. This article first appeared in </span><a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/10-carry-on-items-that-could-save-your-life"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Find more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a href="https://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here’s our best subscription offer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></em></p>

International Travel