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"Inhumane" sign at airport shocks travellers

A sign at a New Zealand airport has sparked outrage among travellers, with the policy controlling people's emotional farewells. Photos of the sign at Dunedin Airport have gone viral, with the sign reading, "Max. hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells please use the car park,” in an attempt to combat airport traffic congestion. Despite the reasons behind the unusual signage, some users on Facebook slamming the “inhumane” limit on travellers’ allotted time to say goodbye to loved ones. “You can’t put a time limit on hugs! that’s inhumane,” one person wrote. Another person chimed in, “I love it. It shows warmth and compassion. My local airport it would be ‘you can’t stop there’ – there’s a £100 fine if you stop and a minimum £5.00 to drop someone off in the drop-off zone. I love Nice airport – they have ‘Kiss and Fly.’” Others also joined in poking fun at the strange new rule, with one person writing, “I can see the airport worker now … 2:56, 2:57, 2:58, 2:59 OK time to break it up!” Another joked, “In America, they don’t even want you to stop. Just come to a slow roll and push your passenger out.” The airport's CEO Daniel De Bono said that it redesigned its drop-off zone to improve safety and congestion around the terminal, telling New Zealand’s RNZ radio the change was made due to space considerations. He said, “There’s only so much space we have in that drop-off area and too many people are spending too much time on their fonder farewells in the drop-off area. There’s no space for others.” De Bono then citied a study that suggests a measly 20-second hug is enough to get the oxytocin and serotonin release people get from hugging, saying, “We’re not here to tell people how long they should hug for. It’s more a message of, ‘Please move onwards.’ If you’re going to spend however long, sit in the car park. You get 15 minutes free and it provides space for others who only want a 20-second hug.” Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Unimaginable scenes as Baltimore bridge collapses

The tranquil waters of Baltimore's Patapsco River turned tumultuous in the early hours of Tuesday following a catastrophic event that shook the city to its core. The aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse has left a community reeling, with one confirmed fatality and six individuals still missing as rescue efforts persist amid harrowing conditions. The calamity unfolded when a mammoth container ship lost power, careening into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the US East Coast. The impact tore through the bridge's supports, sending vehicles and people plummeting into the frigid river below. In the chaos that ensued, heroes emerged as authorities swiftly responded, managing to halt traffic on the bridge, averting further catastrophe. However, the toll was already significant, with one individual confirmed dead and six others, believed to be part of a construction crew, still unaccounted for. As the day wore on, Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James Wallace provided updates on the situation, indicating that one survivor had been rescued and rushed to a local trauma centre in critical condition. Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard initiated a relentless search for the missing individuals, leveraging sonar technology to scour the depths of the river. The vessel responsible for the devastation, known as the Dali, was under the management of Synergy Marine Group, navigating under the Singapore flag. Although the crew and pilots were reported safe, the repercussions of the collision have reverberated far beyond the immediate vicinity. US President Joe Biden has pledged federal support for the reconstruction efforts: "This is going to take some time," he said. "The people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt." The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge not only claimed lives but also severed a vital link in the region's infrastructure. The Port of Baltimore, a bustling gateway for maritime commerce, now faces significant disruption, with vessel traffic suspended indefinitely. The reverberations of this tragedy extend beyond Baltimore, with logistical challenges expected to ripple along the entire East Coast. As the day progressed, stories of resilience and compassion emerged. Retired Chief Donald Heinbuch, startled from his sleep by the rumbling impact, bore witness to the unimaginable destruction. "Never would you think that you would see physically see the Key Bridge tumble down like that - it looked like something out of an action movie," he said. "And you just think about, most importantly, which is what we all should be thinking about right now, nothing but those families and people that are impacted and those people who are risking their lives right now, for not just Baltimore City and Baltimore County but all over the state, to try to save lives. That should be our focus - the preservation of life. Because no one wants to see that happen, let alone someone in their family someone that they know, be injured in an incident like this." Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott echoed the sentiments of a community in shock, emphasising the paramount importance of preserving life above all else. Images: Streamlive | 9News

Caring

Iconic movie scenes that nearly didn’t happen

There are a multitude of significant changes that get made throughout the creation of a feature film. These iconic movie scenes nearly didn’t happen but thankfully, a spark of genius made these beloved movie moments make it on our screens. 1. E.T. the Extra Terrestrial <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gTVoFCP1BLg?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Originally, Spielberg went for a bleak ending where E.T. dies in government captivity, but people thought this ending was much too miserable. Instead, the ending was famously reworked to see E.T fly across the moon into freedom. Spielberg also ended up making that shot the logo of his production company Amblin Entertainment. 2. Lady and the Tramp <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9gwZC5s2IU0?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> The spaghetti date between Lady and the Tramp is the most iconic moment in the 1955 animation. Walt Disney thought the idea was a bit far-fetched to begin with and so he cut the scene from the first storyboards. “Walt wasn't convinced that that would be a very clean-cut scene," former Disney archivist Steven Vagnini told Yahoo Movies. "As you can imagine, if you have two pets and they eat a plate of spaghetti, it's hard to envision that being too graceful." Thankfully, the adorable scene was included. 3. Rocky The original ending of Rocky was going to feature Sylvester Stallone crowd surfing towards Adrian after his victory. However, there were not enough extras to carry Stallone so instead, a more intimate scene was created where he yells his girlfriend’s name. 4. Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LXVqSa2l6mg?feature=oembed" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Wrath of Khan’s ending was altered after a test audience said Spock’s death was too bleak. A last-minute scene was shot showing his coffin landing on the Genesis Planet, giving a glimmer of hope of his return. Leonard Nimoy only learned of the change when he watched the completed film. Images: Universal Pictures

Movies

Kate Winslet reveals behind-the-scenes secrets on Titanic

Kate Winslet has recounted the time she got Sir Peter Jackson into trouble with security. Speaking to Variety magazine, the Oscar-winning actress says she, her Heavenly Creatures director and his partner, screenwriter Fran Walsh, ran afoul of the authorities on the set of Titanic just over 20 years ago. "I've never told this story," she said of Jackson and Walsh's somewhat brief visit to the Los Angeles set of James Cameron's epic drama. "They were in L.A. and said 'oh, we must come down and see you'. I took them on set on a Sunday afternoon. We got out back, and the security guard said, 'You can't be here'. Until that moment, it hadn't occurred to me. They were my friends. What's lovely now is that James Cameron and Peter Jackson have a lot to do with each other because of Weta and Avatar. 'Of course you [Jackson] wanted to come visit! You're so cheeky. Duh.'" Asked what memories she had of the Titanic shoot itself, Winslet said shooting the scene behind the gate where Leonardo Di Caprio's character loses a key was "genuinely scary". "I didn't like shooting that at all". Confessing that she had no idea how big the movie, which came out in December 1997, was going to be, Winslet said she saw the film for the first time at a regular cinema screening in uptown Los Angeles. Absent for the premiere as she was in Morocco filming, Winslet recounted how she put on a baseball cap "because someone told me I ought to do that". "That was a real thrilling experience, to sit and watch a movie that I was in with a proper audience. I hadn't done that before or since." The 42-year-old English actress, currently onscreen in The Mountain Between Us, also contradicted earlier reports that Heavenly Creatures was the only one of her films she'd seen more than once. She told Variety that in fact it was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, because "my children love it". “That's really the only thing of mine they can actually see without their mother taking off her clothes or dying." Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Images: Getty

Movies

Cruise worker shares behind-the-scenes look at cruise ship

A cruise employee has given the world a look at the areas strictly for crew members aboard the world’s biggest cruise ship. Bryan James, who works as a musician on board the Royal Caribbean vessel Wonder of the Seas, has shared clips of spaces off-limits to passengers below deck, including shops, bedrooms and areas to socialise away from cruise goers, per The Sun. In one TikTok video, James shows viewers a “secret hang out” located inside the ship’s funnel, explaining that it is a perfect spot to watch sunsets. “I just discovered a new place yesterday,” James said. “It’s like a secret hangout that’s by the funnel of the ship. “And not even by the funnel. I mean, it’s in the funnel and it’s so pretty to be up here and to see the sunset.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/cruise-secrets1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The cruise shop is off-limits to cruise passengers and was vital for workers stuck on ships during the pandemic according to Bryan James. Images: @bryanjames.music (TikTok) Another area James gave a behind-the-scenes look at was the crew shop, which is located below deck and only staff members can visit. He explained that the shop, which is where you can get “pretty much anything” you need, became crucial during the eight-month period during the pandemic where workers weren’t allowed to leave the ship to visit ports. “There was a time when crew weren’t allowed off the ship for eight months,” he recalled. “It was like Christmas morning every single time the store got restocked, there was such a long line.” James also showed off his quarters, described as the “world’s smallest cruise ship cabin”. He demonstrated how he could touch all four of his bedroom walls at the same time, despite a single bed, TV, sink and cupboards somehow being squeezed in. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/cruise-secrets2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Bryan James described his bedroom as the “world’s smallest cruise ship cabin”, complete with an equally small bathroom that he shares with another cabin. Images: @bryanjames.music (TikTok) The musician has an equally tiny bathroom, including a shower that he has to duck under in order to use. To make matters even more cramped, James revealed he shares his bathroom with another cabin. As for what staff eat, James said it was pretty similar to the buffets passengers are treated to during their stays. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/cruise-secrets3.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The tasty buffets passengers enjoyed are a shared experience for cruise employees, with a menu that often changes. Images: @bryanjames.music (TikTok) He added that the food changes frequently for staff, but that there was always a salad bar. In the clip, he also showed the vast array of desserts available, including a crepe station, as well as the meats and cheeses staff members have access to during meal times. Images: Getty Images / @bryanjames.music (TikTok)

Cruising

Sneezing with hay fever? Native plants aren’t usually the culprit

Hay fever is a downside of springtime around the world. As temperatures increase, plant growth resumes and flowers start appearing. But while native flowering plants such as wattle often get the blame when the seasonal sneezes strike, hay fever in Australia is typically caused by introduced plant species often pollinated by the wind. <h2>A closer look at pollen</h2> Pollen grains are the tiny reproductive structures that move genetic material between flower parts, individual flowers on the same plant or a nearby member of the same species. They are typically lightweight structures easily carried on wind currents or are sticky and picked up in clumps on the feathers of a honeyeater or the fur of a fruit bat or possum. Hay fever is when the human immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. It is not only caused by pollen grains but fungal spores, non-flowering plant spores, mites and even pet hair. The classic symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, runny noses, red, itchy, and watery eyes, swelling around the eyes and scratchy ears and throat. The problem with pollen grains is when they land on the skin around our eyes, in our nose and mouth, the proteins found in the wall of these tiny structures leak out and are recognised as foreign by the body and trigger a reaction from the immune system. <h2>So what plants are the worst culprits for causing hay fever?</h2> Grasses, trees, and herbaceous weeds such as plantain are the main problem species as their pollen is usually scattered by wind. In Australia, the main grass offenders are exotic species including rye grass and couch grass (a commonly used lawn species). Weed species that cause hay fever problems include introduced ragweed, Paterson’s curse, parthenium weed and plantain. The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5102629/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">problematic tree species</a> are also exotic in origin and include liquid amber, Chinese elm, maple, cypress, ash, birch, poplar, and plane trees. Although there are some native plants that have wind-spread pollen such as she-oaks and white cypress pine, and which can induce hay fever, these species are exceptional in the Australian flora. Many Australian plants are not wind pollinated and <a href="https://blog.publish.csiro.au/austpollinatorweek/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">use animals</a> to move their clumped pollen around. For example, yellow-coloured flowers such as wattles and peas are pollinated by insect such as bees. Red- and orange-coloured flowers are usually visited by birds such as honeyeaters. Large, dull-coloured flowers with copious nectar (the reward for pollination) are visited by nocturnal mammals including bats and possums. Obviously Australian plant pollen can still potentially cause the immune system to overreact, but these structures are less likely to reach the mucous membranes of humans. <h2>What can we do to prevent hay fever attacks at this time of the year?</h2> With all of this in mind, here are some strategies to prevent the affects of hay fever: <ol> <li>stay inside and keep the house closed up on warm, windy days when more pollen is in the air</li> <li>if you must go outside, wear sunglasses and a face mask</li> <li>when you return indoors gently rinse (and don’t rub) your eyes with running water, change your clothes and shower to remove pollen grains from hair and skin</li> <li>try to avoid mowing the lawn in spring particularly when grasses are in flower (the multi-pronged spiked flowers of couch grass are distinctive)</li> <li>when working in the garden, wear gloves and facial coverings particularly when handling flowers consider converting your garden to a native one. Grevilleas are a great alternative to rose bushes. Coastal rosemary are a fabulous native replacement for lavender. Why not replace your liquid amber tree with a fast growing, evergreen and low-allergenic lilly pilly tree?</li> </ol> <h2>If you do suffer a hay fever attack</h2> Sometimes even with our best efforts, or if it’s not always possible to stay at home, hay fever can still creep up on us. If this happens: <ul> <li>antihistamines will reduce sneezing and itching symptoms</li> <li>corticosteroid nasal sprays are very effective at reducing inflammation and clearing blocked noses</li> <li>decongestants provide quick and temporary relief by drying runny noses but should not be used by those with high blood pressure</li> <li>salt water is a good way to remove excessive mucous from the nasal passages.</li> </ul> Behavioural changes on warm, windy spring days are a good way of avoiding a hay fever attack. An awareness of the plants around us and their basic reproductive biology is also useful in preventing our immune systems from overreacting to pollen proteins that they are not used to encountering. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/sneezing-with-hay-fever-native-plants-arent-usually-the-culprit-190336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Stunning scenes as the Queen arrives home for the final time

As Queen Elizabeth returned home to Buckingham Palace for the final time, thousands of well wishers congregated to pay their respects to Her Majesty. Her coffin had taken days to travel from Balmoral in Scotland where she died, to London's Buckingham Palace, as mourners cheered and clapped in the rain for the late monarch as the hearse travelled around the Queen Victoria memorial before entering the gates of the palace. Outriders stopped with their heads bowed at the end of the journey, while a police officer at the gate saluted. People also cheered "hip hip hooray" after the coffin drove under the arch, with many putting down their umbrellas as a sign of respect. Others could be seen wiping tears from their eyes as phone camera lights lit up the crowds lining the streets in central London. The royal family began the procession, as King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle waited in the Grand Entrance of the palace for the Queen's final return. For one night the coffin, which is draped in the Royal Standard flag, will lie at rest in the palace's Bow Room. Then, the monarch is handed to the nation to allow the public to pay their respects when she lies in state at the ancient Westminster Hall for four days until Monday September 19th - the day of her state funeral at Westminster Abbey and burial at St George's Chapel in Windsor. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Behind the scenes photos of Camilla's cover shoot snapped by Duchess Kate

An exclusive behind the scenes royal photo has showcased Kate Middleton flexing her photography skills as she snapped a portrait of Camilla for the Country Life magazine cover. The Duchess of Cambridge, 40, who was described as a "consummate professional" by the magazine, is a keen photographer, and has taken several official portraits of her three children. Kate can now add magazine photographer to the list of her achievements as she captured the snap that shows the Duchess of Cornwall, 74, relaxing at her at Ray Mill House country retreat in Lacock, Wiltshire. According to Country Life's official Instagram, the behind-the-scenes image was taken by The Duchess of Cornwall’s country dresser, Shona Williams. The photograph taken by Kate appears on the cover of the July edition of the publication, just ahead of Camilla’s landmark 75th birthday on July 17th. <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/CfnxfUwAZhl/?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/CfnxfUwAZhl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Clarence House (@clarencehouse)</a> </div> </blockquote> According to a royal source, it was Camilla's idea to ask Kate to take the photograph, and Country Life's managing and features editor, Paula Lester has said the publication "could not be happier with the results" of the photoshoot. She added, "In fact, the set of images she took was so good that we struggled to choose only three, from which The Duchess of Cornwall made her final selection." According to Paula, Kate took the commission "very seriously" and was "incredibly professional" about the job. "She phoned me to discuss our requirements for the cover and subsequently composed a range of beautifully shot images," Paula explained. Meanwhile, the Country Life editor Mark Hedges said everyone was thrilled by the photos which captured Camilla "magnificently", and added that the magazine would be "delighted" to offer Kate another commission. Image credits: Instagram @countrylifemagazine

Family & Pets

Readers Respond: What is your favourite scene from The Sound of Music?

The hills are alive, with the sound of music Admit it, you sang that line because The Sound of Music is obviously one of your favourite movies. We asked the OverSixty audience what their favourite scene is from the classic and for those of you who didn’t answer “all of it”, you are wrong. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. (Just kidding!) Read your responses below: Lorraine Briggs Lane - The kiss in the gazebo. Chris Howie - The dance in the garden where Maria and the Captain dance a beautiful Austrian folk dance. So romantic. Merle Davis - I loved everything but the wedding was beautiful. Jill Harker - When they declare their love! One of my favourite movies! Lorraine Peters - When he signs you are 16 going on 17. Sandra Wilkins - The first 174 minutes. Leonie Cortez - Love it from beginning to end. Sonia Freeth - The kids saying goodnight and heading off to bed. Rita Sammut - The greatest movie. Love every scene. Ellen Taylor - The Captain singing Edelweiss. Share your favourite scene/s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oversixtyNZ/posts/pfbid02MZeid76sHnJ3XVChh2KMWVLCtwSQoeEfNY1QZqTtnmnMNoxsiMvEp28AitzQREoVl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Getty

Movies

Why scenes of sexual violence should be the exception, not the rule

Content warning: This article discusses sexual assault and rape. Portraying traumatic events in films and television shows, whether it is a grisly death or extreme violence, can be difficult to pull off in a way that sends its intended message and doesn’t spark outrage among viewers. With director Del Kathryn Barton’s Blaze confronting audiences during its showing at the 2022 Sydney Film Festival, depicting a graphic rape and murder scene witnessed by 12-year-old titular protagonist Blaze (Julia Savage), questions of when these scenes are needed and whether “very graphic” equals “very impactul” emerge. Refinery29’s Zahra Campbell-Avenell <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/blaze-2022-del-kathryn-barton-film-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">describes</a> being on the verge of tears for the film’s entirety, while Variety’s Peter Debruge <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/blaze-review-1235290438/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questions</a> whether Barton has “earned” the use of such a graphic scene, suggesting she treats it “as a device” to make a point about a child losing their innocence and navigating trauma. In a talk after Blaze’s premiere at the festival, Barton said it was important for the scene to be authentic, but being authentic to the realities of witnessing sexual assault doesn’t necessarily mean extreme depictions are needed – especially when the film works to address the issue of femicide and abuse. Representing the issues of sexual assualt, gendered violence and the trauma that follows is important, particularly given that, on average, <a href="https://www.ourwatch.org.au/quick-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one woman is killed by a current or former partner every week in Australia</a>, but the way that we achieve that might not be through depicting the event itself, but what comes after. Amanda Spallaci, an assistant lecturer at the University of Alberta, Canada, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0752/8/1/8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writes</a> that portraying the event itself, usually in a way that evokes disgust or empathy, might last while audiences are watching the show or film but “fail to shift popular discourses” by neglecting to focus on effects, such as traumatic memory. She argues that making audiences witness these events fails to challenge common ideas about sexual assault and rape, particularly when it comes to the expectation that the truth of a victim’s story relies on their ability to provide coherent accounts and evidence. In reality, evidence is hard to find, witnesses are uncommon, and cases often come down to testimony from the victim and perpetrator – where beliefs that victims who are emotional during their testimony are more credible, <a href="https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-11/ti611_misconceptions_of_sexual_crimes_against_adult_victims.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">false allegations are common</a>, and that their recollections of the event should be detailed, specific and coherent make it even more difficult for victims to be believed. In comparison, Spallaci says that graphic film depictions mean “the viewer knows that the rape occurred not because they believe the survivor’s testimony, but because they bore witness to the event, adhering to the imperative of truth of the traumatic event and its relationship to the iconic veracity of the (rape scene)”. It’s important to recognise that film and TV shows are shifting towards depicting traumatic events with a focus on memory and what comes afterwards, with I May Destroy You and Sharp Objects being good examples. Both shows rely on flashbacks and characters <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/violence-against-women-on-tv-euphoria-game-of-thrones-unbelievable-cassie-howard-sydney-sweeney-nudity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">piecing together</a> what happened to them in fragments, though they still show scenes of sexual assuault as well. Blaze also deserves praise for its presentation of the struggles that victims (or, in this case, witnesses) face when giving testimony about sexual assault and murder. It also shows that, in the wake of the #MeToo era, changes to how we tackle sexual assault are sinking through, with depictions moving away from the gratuitous scenes used for shock value in Game of Thrones, but that there’s plenty more work to be done to do right by victims. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Lip reader reveals insight into THOSE scenes between Kate and Louis

Prince Louis’ adorable antics certainly stole the show at the Platinum Jubilee, however, it seems not everyone was fond of his behaviour. A lip reader captured a serious parenting moment between the Duchess of Cambridge and young Louis, as the family were sitting in the royal box on the final day of celebrations. The Cambridges were enjoying the colourful floats at the pageant and Louis was seen pulling faces and getting tired and restless. According to lip reading expert Jeremy Freeman, Kate had some stern words for her youngest during his grumpy moment. Jeremy says when Kate spotted Louis picking his nose and put his hand down, she said to her son: "You have to." "I don't want to," Louis reportedly answered, before cheekily covering his mum's mouth. Kate then replied: "I said no hands!" and gave him another serious look. The lip reader says Kate once again told Louis to stop with his antics after he stuck his tongue out. "Stop doing that," she said. A sweet moment between Prince Louis and his older cousin Mike Tindall was also caught on camera. While Louis was misbehaving, Mike was seen jokingly warning the young Royal that he was watching him from the seats above, gesturing to his eyes. There were other moments when Louis sat in the lap of dad Prince William and granddad Prince Charles. The Prince of Wales was seen bopping his grandson with his legs and also pointed out parts of the display to him. Prince Louis was also spotted having a great time dancing along to the music as the floats went by. Kate's relatable parenting moment captured the hearts of millions as they watched the Cambridges enjoy the Jubilee carnival. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made light of Louis' cheeky behaviour in an Instagram, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/kate-and-will-respond-to-haters-with-unseen-snap-of-louis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sharing ten unseen photos from the Jubilee celebrations</a>. Freeman also caught a precious exchange between the Queen, and her great-grandson during their balcony appearance at Trooping the Colour. Reportedly, Prince Louis looked up to his great-grandmother and asked: "Are the Red Arrows coming?" The Queen replied, "I hope so." At one point, the Queen told Louis to "look at the smoke". The young royal also expressed amazement at the Armed Forces jets, turning to his mother and saying: "Woah." At the end of the display, the monarch told her great-grandson: "Let's go, it's finished now." Body language expert Judi James told the publication that the monarch and Prince Louis shared "childlike excitement" on the balcony. She explained: "Louis stepped in front of the Queen before tilting his head back to engage her in some animated conversation as they waited for the Red Arrows. "Louis made this conversation look like the most natural thing in the world and his lack of anything bordering on fear suggested these two might share a rather close friendship based on shared fun behind the scenes, too." Image: Getty

Family & Pets

Emotional scenes as NSW passes law on Voluntary Assisted Dying

The NSW parliament has legalised voluntary assisted dying (VAD), with Thursday's historic vote meaning terminally ill people can now choose the timing of their death. NSW joins the rest of Australia’s states in making VAD legal with a final vote of 23 MPs in favour and 15 opposing. Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, who introduced the bill to parliament late last year, told members that the “entire diversity” of parliament were involved in passing the bill, with 28 co-sponsors from all parties - the highest number in Australian parliamentary history per <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/voluntary-assisted-dying-legalised-in-nsw-20220519-p5amo0.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Mkorning Herald</a>. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "We are celebrating this historic day" "Compassion has won" says Independent MP <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexGreenwich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlexGreenwich</a>, flanked by the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill's co-sponsors and advocates. It's been 20 years since the first attempt to pass a law like this in NSW. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nswpol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nswpol</a> <a href="https://t.co/8wNpjSEZP3">pic.twitter.com/8wNpjSEZP3</a> — Sarah Navin (@SarahNavin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahNavin/status/1527131431163797505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></blockquote> “For those wondering what happened with the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill last night; the bill was debated till midnight and almost all amendments were dealt with,” Mr Greenwich explained on social media at 6am on Thursday morning. “There is one more amendment this morning to vote on and then a final vote in both the Upper and Lower House.” MPs debated nearly 100 amendments on Wednesday, with the sitting ending at midnight. The majority of amendments, including the push to allow aged care and residential homes to block VAD from occurring in their facilities, were voted down during the debate according to the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-19/voluntary-assisted-dying-laws-pass/101079940" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. At midday, it was announced that the bill had passed the upper house. The lower house then approved the bill approximately an hour later. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Proud to be sitting in the NSW parliament to watch the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill finally pass into law. This will make such a difference to the lives of so many, allowing people to choose to live the end of their lives as well as possible and to die with dignity. ✨❤️ — Abigail Boyd (@AbigailBoydMLC) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbigailBoydMLC/status/1527120671498588161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></blockquote> Finance Minister Damien Tudehope, an opponent of the bill, told the upper house that it was a “dark day” for the state. “It was a sad day because it was an opportunity for NSW to say ‘we can be better than this’,” Mr Tudehope said. He added that it would be judged by history as a “dreadful mistake”. However, advocate groups such as Go Gentle Australia and Dying with Dignity, as well as individual supporters of VAD, have welcomed the decision. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Voluntary assisted dying set to become law in NSW. Congratulations and thank you to all the advocates, especially those who fought for their right to die with dignity, and died waiting and the 28 MPs who co-signed the Bill, tabled by my MP, <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexGreenwich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlexGreenwich</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/voluntaryassisteddying?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#voluntaryassisteddying</a> — Kimberley Ramplin (@Kimbo_Ramplin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kimbo_Ramplin/status/1527130066349481985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></blockquote> “VAD is now legal in NSW, the culmination of 50 years of advocacy. Congratulations to all involved,” Go Gentle Australia tweeted. “Congratulations to everyone involved in this campaign!” Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi wrote. “I was part of the Working Group on Assisted Dying in NSW Parliament, which introduced the first bill. I’m proud to have played a role so that people can die with dignity.” “Genuinely stoked,” Scott Phillips, the director of City Recital Hall, said. “I have no idea if my old man would have taken the option, in his final days as he battled cancer. “But I am so pleased that the choice will be available to others in NSW as a result of this bill.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> At long last. Choice & dignity for terminally ill patients in NSW. Congrats to all who fought so courageously for this change. Now legalised in every State, the Federal Government need to stop blocking the NT & ACT from debating this reform. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ausvotes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ausvotes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nswpol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nswpol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vad?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vad</a> <a href="https://t.co/UAwfar1O4X">https://t.co/UAwfar1O4X</a> — JillHennessyMP (@JillHennessyMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JillHennessyMP/status/1527130639816093696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></blockquote> According to <a href="https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstSyd/status/1527133466181005312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 News First Sydney</a>, the bill allows for people to choose to end their life if they have suffering that can’t be relieved and are likely to die of a disease within six months, or within a year in the case of neurodegenerative disease. The news comes just days after Sara Wright, a nurse who has long advocated for VAD to be legalised, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/terminally-ill-nurse-caught-in-desperate-waiting-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke out</a> about waiting for the decision to be made while being “virtually paralysed” as a result of motor neuron disease - estimating she has months left to live. “I don’t think that I will live for more than another six to eight months, as my breathing capacity is reducing very fast and I do not wish to have a tracheostomy (an operation where a breathing hole is cut into the front of the neck and windpipe),” she told 7News. “I know that all my family, my parents, my brothers, my ex-husband are all in support of voluntary assisted dying and helping me relieve my suffering. “But none of us want to break the law or risk anyone being imprisoned if they helped me.” Image: @DWDnsw (Twitter)

Caring

Incredible scenes of panic after US tourists pack unexploded shell as souvenir

Chaos erupted at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv after a family of American tourists tried to take an unexploded ordnance through airport security. The tourists found the shell while travelling in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, according to a statement from Israel Airport Authorities, before declaring the shell to airport security when they arrived at the luggage drop-off. Video footage of travellers running for safety or cowering on the ground after staff announced the evacuation quickly spread on social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Chaos at Ben Gurion Airport in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a> Israel after an American family on holiday attempted to check in an unexploded shell they found while visiting the occupied Golan Heights <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiddleEastEye?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiddleEastEye</a> <a href="https://t.co/5qsqnK23wM">pic.twitter.com/5qsqnK23wM</a> — Randa HABIB (@RandaHabib) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandaHabib/status/1520466409456873473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2022</a></blockquote> Though the shell didn’t explode, one person was reportedly injured and hospitalised after he attempted to run along a luggage conveyor belt. The family told agents that one of their children made the discovery while they were sightseeing in the Golan Heights - an area 150 kilometres northeast of Jerusalem which was annexed from Syria in 1967. According to local media, the family said they were taking it home as a souvenir and were unaware of just how dangerous it was. After the family was questioned by security officials, the evacuation was cancelled and they were allowed to board their flight. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> ⚠️A huge panic broke out at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport/TLV (Israel)🇮🇱 after one American family had an unexploded bomb packed in their luggage which they wanted to take home as a "souvenir"🙈. The bomb was found by child while visiting the Golan Heights🇮🇱 <a href="https://t.co/sPX3h8NEEc">https://t.co/sPX3h8NEEc</a> <a href="https://t.co/j74k6EhXzB">pic.twitter.com/j74k6EhXzB</a> — Tomáš Semrád (@Tomas40916602) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tomas40916602/status/1520848958536441863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2022</a></blockquote> Israel Airport Authorities have said the incident is “currently under operational investigation”, as reported by <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/israel-airport-unexploded-shell-american-tourists/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>. The discovery of the ordnance comes as mine-clearing operations continue along the borders of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon, as the Israeli government works to promote tourism and population growth in the Golan area, per <a href="https://www.traveller.com.au/chaos-at-israels-ben-gurion-airport-after-us-tourists-pack-unexploded-shell-as-souvenir-h23h6u" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Traveller</a>. Though the family were lucky enough to not set the shell off, unexploded ordnances are particularly dangerous because they can still be detonated, with the Australian Government’s Department of Defence <a href="https://defence.gov.au/UXO/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> urging anyone who finds one to contact police and avoid disturbing it. Images: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Wild scenes after No.1 seed slaps opponent at the net

A tennis player has been caught on camera slapping his opponent - so, is this Will Smith’s match? Michael Kouame, 15, lost to Raphael Nii Ankrah, 16, 2-6 7-6 6-7 in the first round of an ITF juniors tournament in Accra, Ghana’s capital. The pair met at the net to shake hands before Michael slapped Raphael in the face before a brawl ensued amongst attendees. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/4B0NjVI5zv">pic.twitter.com/4B0NjVI5zv</a> — SHARP SHOOTER 🔫 (@Kwesi_Gibson) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kwesi_Gibson/status/1511083902382792716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></blockquote> Footage of the incident was shared to Twitter with many pointing out that Michael should not have slapped Raphael and tried to run away. “I think he forgot his location..how can you slap someone in his own country,” someone pointed out. “Kid was running ? You can’t start sh*t and then run away,” another commented. “The coward ran away? Disgraceful behavior!” another wrote. Image: Twitter

Legal

"Round 1" goes to Novak as ugly scenes unfold on Melbourne streets

Novak Djokovic has claimed victory in “Round 1” of his legal battle with the Australian government over his cancelled visa. However the tennis champion may still be forced to leave the country, with Australia’s Immigration Minister still considering whether to cancel his visa for a second time. His hearing through the Federal Court of Australia - which he viewed via a live stream while at his lawyers’ offices - ended with the overturning of the government’s decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa on health grounds, ending his five days in detention. Judge Anthony Kelly said it was “unreasonable” to cancel Djokovic’s visa and ordered that the World No.1 be released from immigration detention within 30 minutes of the verdict. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/australian-open/novak-djokovic-australian-open-2022-court-hearing-live-verdict-updates-latest-deported-covid-vaccination-australia/news-story/229a81a296bfe1e20feefcc5c6cfda15" target="_blank">Djokovic will be allowed to stay</a> in Australia and have his passport returned to him, despite the federal government’s strict requirements on foreign arrivals for the past two years. Australian taxpayers will also foot the cost of Djhokovic’s legal team. The Serbian tennis star posted a photo on social media following the verdict, showing him standing with his entourage on Rod Laver Arena after finishing his first training session. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened,I want to stay and try to compete <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustralianOpen</a> I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans. 👇 <a href="https://t.co/iJVbMfQ037">pic.twitter.com/iJVbMfQ037</a> — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/1480529173789696001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2022</a></blockquote> “I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete (at the) Australian Open,” he wrote. “I remain focused on that. “I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans.” Djokovic’s family also spoke to the media in Serbia after he shared his update, thanking fans for their support and praising the judge for his verdict. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> From Djokovic's brother Djordje <a href="https://t.co/q7T4CvdEYi">https://t.co/q7T4CvdEYi</a> — Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) <a href="https://twitter.com/christophclarey/status/1480458045167521792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2022</a></blockquote> “The whole process was not about tennis or the Australian Open, it was about justice for what was done to him,” his younger brother, Djordje Djokovic, told media. “Novak is only fighting for the liberty of choice.” “We are grateful for [the] justice system for Australia.” Djokovic’s father - who led protests in the Serbian capital of Belgrade after his son was detained - said his son’s human rights had been taken away, while his mother Dijana said he was subjected to “torture”. “This is his biggest win in his career, it is bigger than any grand slam,” she said. “He has done nothing wrong, he hasn’t broken any of their laws. “He has been subject to torture, to harassment.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/PGzegChaRo">pic.twitter.com/PGzegChaRo</a> — Laura Jayes (@ljayes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ljayes/status/1480456839770750979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2022</a></blockquote> After the verdict, Djokovic’s fans congregated outside his lawyers’ office and chanted “Free Nole”, believing he was being detained once again due to a heavy police presence and false reports of his arrest. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Djokovic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Djokovic</a> supporters have arrived at his location amid reports that he may be imminently re-detained <a href="https://t.co/JCMPdSLETW">pic.twitter.com/JCMPdSLETW</a> — Michael Miller (@MikeMillerDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeMillerDC/status/1480465888994213891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2022</a></blockquote> Chaotic scenes soon broke out, including clashes between fans and police, while fans mobbed a black Audi attempting to make its way through the crowd. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-11/novak-djokovic-breaks-silence-family-attacks-aus-government/100748736" target="_blank">Officers used pepper spray</a> to disperse the crowd as fans began banging on the windows and one man jumped onto it. It was later discovered that Djokovic was not in the vehicle, with police confirming he had already left the building. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic was treated “the same as everyone else”. The 34-year-old was detained after touching down at Victoria’s Tullamarine Airport last week, where his visa was revoked. According to the court’s finding, read out in the online hearing, Djokovic was interviewed overnight and told he had until 8.30am to reply to the proposed cancellation of his visa. Instead, a border agent cancelled it at 7.42am. In a transcript from the airport interview, Djokovic expressed his confusion about why he wasn’t being allowed to enter the country. “I just really don’t understand what is the reason you don’t allow me to enter the country,” he told the border control agent, according to the transcript. But, lawyer Christopher Tran - representing the federal government - told Judge Kelly that, despite Djokovic’s victory, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke may still decide to use his “personal power of cancellation” to order his removal from the country. By doing so, Djokovic would be banned from coming into Australia for three years. Image: @djokernole (Instagram)

News

Touching scenes at sorrowful farewell for Hillcrest victim

Image: Pinegrove Funerals Zane Mellor, one of the victims of the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle incident in Tasmania's north, has been remembered in Devonport as a loving teenager and a passionate gamer. The 12-year-old was one of six students killed last Thursday while celebrating the last day of school, when a gust of wind lifted a jumping castle and some zorb balls into the air, causing children to fall from a height of about 10 metres. Two children remain in hospital a week after the incident but have been moved out of intensive care. At the service, at Pinegrove Funerals in Devonport, Zane's casket was draped in his PlayStation console, controllers and a poster of one of his favourite games. Speakers spoke fondly of his love of the hobby and other gamer friends he played with all over the world sent in messages of condolences. Officiator Tracey Bruce said Zane had some challenges in life with "both ADHD and autism". "But these quirks made him the character he was and certainly didn't stand in his way," she said. "He also had a love of animals, he was the chicken whisperer, the cat whisperer, and his support dog Peanut the dachshund was very loved," she said. Ms Bruce said Zane enjoyed spending time with his family. "Zane was kind, loving and caring to his little brothers and sisters until they got to around the age of five, then it turned into your typical sibling love-hate relationship," she said. "As a young boy he liked to head off on adventures and exploring with his dad. "His pop also told me that Zane had a fascination with hammering nails and cutting wood with a handsaw. "He was intrigued about building and Zane may have followed this path as he got older." Zane's mother, Georgie Mellor, gave a tearful tribute to her son, recalling his first breath and how he was always there for her as a young mum. "I was so young when I had you — only 15 — and now I know why," she said. Zane had twin passions — dinosaurs and gaming — which combined to form his online player name Jurassic Zane. Ms Mellor said her son "knew every dinosaur name" and "exactly what period they came from". He was said to have often corrected family members about the pronunciations. She said she spoiled her son rotten "and I have no regrets". "Everyone told me to get you off that PlayStation, but I let you play until your heart was content, until your eyes got sleepy and you fell asleep," she said. "I would come in, take your headset off, turn the PlayStation off and kiss your head goodnight. "The past year you have grown into a man that finally grew his wings. "I love you Zane, no matter what the weather, we're together. I love you Zane," she finished. At the end of the funeral Zane's casket was carried to the waiting hearse, and mourners, led by close family members, walked behind it as it left the funeral home.

News

Why dingoes should be considered native to mainland Australia – even though humans introduced them

Dingoes are <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cz/article-abstract/57/5/668/5004458">often demonised</a> as a danger to livestock, while many consider them a natural and essential part of the environment. But is our most controversial wild species actually native to Australia? Dingoes were brought to Australia by humans from Southeast Asia some 4,000 years ago. Technically, this means they are an introduced species, and an “alien” species by <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-abstract/68/7/496/5050532">classic ecological definitions </a>. By contrast, most legal definitions consider dingoes native, because they were here before Europeans arrived. Though it sounds academic, the controversy has real consequences for this ancient dog lineage. In 2018, the Western Australian government declared dingoes <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-the-wa-government-is-wrong-to-play-identity-politics-with-dingoes-102344">were not native fauna</a> due to crossbreeding with domestic dogs. This potentially makes it easier to control their numbers. In a <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-abstract/41/3/358/472935/An-eco-evolutionary-rationale-to-distinguish-alien">new research paper</a>, I find dingoes do indeed fit the bill as an Australian native species, using three new criteria I propose. These criteria can help us answer questions over whether alien species can ever be considered native, and if so, over what time frame. <h2>Why does alien or native status matter?</h2> Humans have been moving animal species around for millennia. Thousands of years ago, neolithic settlers <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2907.1992.tb00129.x">moved rabbits</a> to Mediterranean islands, traders unwittingly took black rats from India to Europe and Indigenous Southeast Asian people took pigs to Papua New Guinea. The rate of species introductions has ramped up with the movement and spread of people, with many recent arrivals posing a major threat to biodiversity. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435486/original/file-20211203-25-eianud.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435486/original/file-20211203-25-eianud.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Pigs were introduced to Papua New Guinea by Indigenous people thousands of years ago. Does that make them native? Shutterstock Researchers often distinguish between alien and native using the year the species was introduced. There are obvious problems with this, given the dates used can be arbitrary and the fact perceptions of nativeness can be based on how much <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0309132507079499">humans like the species</a>, rather than its ecological impact. For example, there has been strong opposition to killing “friendly” hedgehogs in areas of Scotland where they are introduced, but less cute animals like American mink get no such consideration. For conservationists, alien status certainly matters. <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rspb.2006.0444">Alien species act differently</a> to native species in their new environments, which can give them an advantage over locals in terms of competition for food, predation and spreading new diseases. This can cause native population declines and extinctions. As a result, species considered alien in their ecosystems are often targets for control and eradication. But species considered native are usually protected even if they have extended their range significantly, like eastern water dragons or the Australian white ibis. Native status is, of course, a human construct. Past definitions of nativeness have not directly considered the ecological reasons for concern about alien species. This is what <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-abstract/41/3/358/472935/An-eco-evolutionary-rationale-to-distinguish-alien">my new research</a> seeks to address. <h2>An ecological definition of nativeness</h2> What I propose are three staged criteria to determine when an introduced species becomes native: <ol> <li> has the introduced species evolved in its new environment? </li> <li> do native species recognise and respond to the introduced species as they do other local species? </li> <li> are the interactions between introduced and established native species similar to interactions between native species (that is, their impacts on local species are not negative and exaggerated)? </li> </ol> For dingoes on mainland Australia, the answer is yes for all three criteria. We should consider them native. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435474/original/file-20211203-23-1o19jql.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435474/original/file-20211203-23-1o19jql.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Dingoes on mainland Australia meet the criteria for native status. Peter Banks, Author provided Firstly, dingoes are not the same dogs first brought here. Dingoes are now <a href="https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4564.1.6">quite different</a> to their close ancestors in Southeast Asia, in terms of behaviour, how they reproduce and how they look. These <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-14515-6">differences have a genetic basis</a>, suggesting they have evolved since their arrival in Australia. Their heads are now shaped differently, they breed less often and have better problem solving skills than other close dog relatives. Second, it is well established that native prey species on mainland Australia <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rspb.2018.0857">recognise and respond to dingoes</a> as dangerous predators – which they are. Finally, dingo impacts on prey species <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-abstract/41/3/338/447847/Introgression-does-not-influence-the-positive?redirectedFrom=fulltext">are not devastating</a> like those of alien predators such as feral cats and foxes. While hunting by dingoes does suppress prey numbers, they don’t keep them as low (and at greater risk of extinction) as do foxes and cats. Of course, dingo impacts were unlikely to have always been so benign. Dingoes are <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1191/0959683603hl682fa">linked to the extinction</a> of Tasmanian tigers (Thylacines), Tasmanian devils and the Tasmanian flightless hen, which disappeared from mainland Australia soon after the dingo arrived. In my paper, I argue such impacts no longer occur because of evolutionary change in both dingoes and their prey. We can see this in Tasmania, which dingoes never reached. There, prey species like bandicoots still show <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0161447">naiveté towards dogs</a>. That means we should not consider dingoes to be native to Tasmania. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435484/original/file-20211203-23-101r65w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435484/original/file-20211203-23-101r65w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Native prey species on the mainland recognise and respond to dingoes. Shutterstock <h2>Alien today, native tomorrow?</h2> This idea challenges the dogma alien species remain alien forever. This is an unsettling concept for ecologists dealing with the major and ongoing damage done by newer arrivals. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-abstract/62/3/217/358332">Some argue</a> we should never embrace alien species into natural ecosystems. This makes no sense for long-established introduced species, which might now be playing a <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-dingo-fence-from-space-satellite-images-show-how-these-top-predators-alter-the-desert-155642">positive role</a> in ecosystems. But it’s a different story for recently introduced species like cats, given not enough time has passed to get past the exaggerated impacts on local species. These ideas are not about considering all species present in an ecosystem to be native. Introduced species should still be considered alien until proven native. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435482/original/file-20211203-27-1atm2p2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435482/original/file-20211203-27-1atm2p2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Cat sitting in the outback" /></a> Cats are a bigger threat to Australian wildlife than dingoes. Shutterstock This approach suggests ways of classifying species which might be native to a country but have moved to new places within the country through mechanisms like climate change or re-wilding. For example, we can’t simply assume returning Tasmanian devils to <a href="https://theconversation.com/bringing-devils-back-to-the-mainland-could-help-wildlife-conservation-43121">mainland Australia</a> more than 3,000 years after dingoes drove them extinct there would count as reintroducing a native species. Defining nativeness in this ecological way will help resolve some of the heated and long-running debates over how to distinguish alien and native species. How? Because it targets the key reason conservationists were worried about alien species in the first place – the damage they can do.<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/172756/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-banks-7272">Peter Banks</a>, Professor of Conservation Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-dingoes-should-be-considered-native-to-mainland-australia-even-though-humans-introduced-them-172756">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

What caused the deadly scenes at Astroworld

Warning: This story contains graphic content which may distress some readers. What is Astroworld? Astroworld is an annual festival held by 30-year-old rapper Travis Scott in his native Houston, Texas. The festival, named after his critically acclaimed album, has been running for three years after being founded in 2018 (there was no 2020 show due to the pandemic). The festival sees young rap fans from all over the country come to enjoy their favourite artists, but the 2021 event was vastly different to the years prior. What happened? On the first night of the festival on Friday night in Houston, the festival began with over an estimated 50,000 people in attendance. During the course of the evening as Travis Scott took to the stage as the final performer of the night, the crowd began to be crushed by each other. Fans were squeezed in so tightly between other festival-goers and a series of barricades that they could not breathe or move their arms. As fans started to jump around and dance to the music, people began to fall to the ground and become trapped under a sea of bodies. Fans became compressed towards the front of the stage, as people began to pass out from a lack of oxygen, as paramedics were unable to get to everyone who needed help due to the overwhelming capacity of the crowd. Houston police have reported that at least 8 people have died in the mass casualty event, and hundreds more people were gravely injured. How did this happen? Throughout the beginning of the festival, people began posting photos and videos to social media of people storming the barricades and by-passing security to make it into the event. Fans recounted their time trying to make it into the venue, saying they noticed many people come into the event who didn’t have tickets or the required wristbands to the sold-out concert. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> As we were arriving to the Astroworld Festival at NRG Park right at 2:00, a stampede burst through the gates. Hundreds of people destroyed the VIP security entrance, bypassing the checkpoint. People were trampled. Some were detained. (Excuse any language you may hear) <a href="https://t.co/d0m2rjqAAk">pic.twitter.com/d0m2rjqAAk</a> — Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) <a href="https://twitter.com/MycahABC13/status/1456704812456845316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Fans just broke through the fence to get into <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstroWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstroWorld</a><a href="https://t.co/mpi70ZzTOs">pic.twitter.com/mpi70ZzTOs</a> — XXL Magazine (@XXL) <a href="https://twitter.com/XXL/status/1456724589560598537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote> As fans knocked down the barricades, many got stuck under the sea of people storming the venue. Many people believe that as people without tickets pushed their way into the show, the venue quickly rose to maximum capacity, and was filled with people at an unsafe number. Why did the concert continue? As the majority of the injuries and deaths happened while Travis Scott, the main performer of the night, was on the stage, many in the crowd tried to start a chant of “Stop the show”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Fans urged and pleaded with Travis Scott to stop the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASTROFEST?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASTROFEST</a> show amid the mass casualty event. He continues to sing. <a href="https://t.co/xsBdX2Ew3x">pic.twitter.com/xsBdX2Ew3x</a> — Drama For The Girls (@dramaforthegirl) <a href="https://twitter.com/dramaforthegirl/status/1456974764879269890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2021</a></blockquote> Due to the overwhelming noise of the concert production, these cries went underheard by the performer and by concert officials. Two concert-goers even climbed on a platform where a cameraman was filming the event, as they tried to get someone to notice what was happening. The young woman, Seanna, posted her detailed recount of the event to her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CV7NkBiLf3L/">Instagram</a>, as another person captured her pleas to the cameraman, saying “Someone is dead in there”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> “There is somebody dead.” “Stop the show. Stop the show. Stop the show.” And the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AstroWorld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AstroWorld</a> show continued<a href="https://t.co/uHJKGiSosX">pic.twitter.com/uHJKGiSosX</a> — David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Leavitt/status/1457017187038908424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2021</a></blockquote> In her recount, Seanna said that as she desperately asked the cameraman to do something, the cameraman told her “he would push me off the 15ft platform if I didn’t get down” because “they were live-streaming the show”. At one point throughout the show, Travis stops performing and says “Who asked me to stop?” before ignoring the cries of his audience and continuing the concert. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> tw/// astroworld the screams for help oh my God <a href="https://t.co/W1RMyxbE2z">pic.twitter.com/W1RMyxbE2z</a> — ★Reena★ (@harujukoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/harujukoo/status/1457053492049285125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2021</a></blockquote> Has anything like this happened before? Yes. At the 2019 Astroworld festival, three people were <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-astroworld-2019-three-people-trampled-20211106-ulo2z6uderci5edpsqbz7s37e4-story.html">trampled and hospitalised</a> as fans rushed to the entrance of the music event. Crowd crushings have long been deadly and led to casualties, as <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/rock-roll-tragedy-why-11-died-at-the-whos-cincinnati-concert-93437/">11 people died in 1979</a> as fans scrambled to enter an Ohio venue for a concert by The Who. At Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/how-the-big-day-out-lost-its-innocence/11606956">teenager Jessica Michalik died</a> after being crushed in a mosh pit at the Big Day Out festival in 2001. What now? Houston officials are investigating the events that led to the devastating concert, as Travis Scott says he is “absolutely devastated” by what happened at Astroworld. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/ijXKslw7E2">pic.twitter.com/ijXKslw7E2</a> — TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) <a href="https://twitter.com/trvisXX/status/1457018948109705217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2021</a></blockquote> Following the deaths of 8 people, the second day of Astroworld was cancelled and the investigation remains ongoing. Image credits: Getty Images / Twitter

News

Cuddly Kate and William share affectionate behind-the-scenes photos

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared a handful of rare behind-the-scenes photos from the Earthshot Awards that took place in London earlier this week, and they are stunning. The photos were taken by photographer Chris Jackson at the first annual Earthshot Awards on Sunday, and they show Prince William and Kate interacting with each other in a way the public rarely gets to see: naturally. One photo shows the couple laughing with each other, while another shows William with his head bent towards Kate, who has her hand on his back. A third photo shows William cloaked in shadow before taking to the stage to introduce the event. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Behind the scenes at the first ever <a href="https://twitter.com/EarthshotPrize?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EarthshotPrize</a> Awards 📸 <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisJack_Getty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisJack_Getty</a> for The Royal Foundation <a href="https://t.co/9ReGuKcgVH">pic.twitter.com/9ReGuKcgVH</a> — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1450796943169499140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2021</a></blockquote> Though the couple have been married for more than a decade, and have three children together, the public is rarely privy to such private moments between them. The couple drew attention as they appeared on the ‘green’ carpet at the Awards on Sunday, with William sporting a green velvet blazer and Kate an Alexander McQueen gown made from lilac chiffon. In keeping with the evening’s theme of environmentalism and dress code that requested guests not buy anything new to wear to the event, Kate’s gown was one she has worn previously; she was photographed in it for the first time in 2011. The evening saw five out of 15 finalists awarded with a $1.8 million prize for their work on creating new solutions to ongoing environmental challenges, including climate change, reducing waste, and protecting the environment. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are particularly passionate about environmentalism and combatting climate change, with William recently <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/an-absolute-disaster-prince-william-calls-out-billionaires-space-race" target="_blank">making headlines</a> for criticising billionaires engaging in the new Space Race; in an interview with the BBC, William said, “We need some of the world’s greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live.” Image: Chris Jackson

Relationships

Netflix forced to cut Squid Game scene for bizarre reason

The popularity of Netflix's new show Squid Game is breaking international records, and is on track to become the most popular show of all the on the streaming service. The show is a violent and dystopian Korean drama that sees 456 destitute 'players' enter a game arena to win a hefty sum of prize money upon the completion of six children's games. In the first episode of the show however, Netflix have made a grave mistake that has had very interesting consequences. When the 'players' were approached to take part in the game, they were given a business card and told to call the number. The number was in fact a real person's phone number, and the owner has been inundated with phone calls from strangers since the show's release on September 17th. The real-life owner of the phone number told the Korean publication <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mt.co.kr" target="_blank">Money Today</a> that she has been receiving "endless" calls and texts, as well as offers to buy the phone number. “It has come to the point where people are reaching out day and night due to their curiosity. It drains my phone’s battery and it turns off,” the woman, who is from the Gyeonggi province of South Korea, said. “At first, I didn’t know why, then my friend told me that my number came out [in the series].” The woman, who is a small business owner and is unrelated to Netflix or the Squid Game production, has been assured by Netflix that measures will be taken to protect the woman's identity. “Together with the production company, we are working to resolve this matter, including editing scenes with phone numbers where necessary,” Netflix told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/squid-games-netflix-phone-number-b1931823.html" target="_blank">The </a><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/squid-games-netflix-phone-number-b1931823.html" target="_blank">Independent</a>. Certain regions have had the scene altered to no longer feature the phone number. Netflix even offered to buy the woman's number for a measly $1,000AUD, which the woman rejected as the number has been tied up in her small business for almost twenty years. The production crew upped the compensation to almost $6,000AUD which was also rejected, before a new offer from an unlikely source was offered. Presidential candidate for South Korea Huh Kyung Young <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.koreaboo.com/news/squid-game-phone-number-controversy-presidential-candidate-buy-100-million/" target="_blank">offered the woman over $116,000</a> for the number, in a bid to win the position of high office. The issue the mystery phone number is not the first backlash Netflix's Squid Game has received. Due to its explosive popularity, a Korean internet service provider announced they were suing Netflix for clogging up the internet with traffic. Check out the trailer for Squid Game here. Viewer discretion is advised. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oqxAJKy0ii4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credits: Netflix

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"Inhumane" sign at airport shocks travellers

Unimaginable scenes as Baltimore bridge collapses

Iconic movie scenes that nearly didn’t happen

Kate Winslet reveals behind-the-scenes secrets on Titanic

Cruise worker shares behind-the-scenes look at cruise ship

Sneezing with hay fever? Native plants aren’t usually the culprit

Stunning scenes as the Queen arrives home for the final time

Behind the scenes photos of Camilla's cover shoot snapped by Duchess Kate

Readers Respond: What is your favourite scene from The Sound of Music?

Why scenes of sexual violence should be the exception, not the rule

Lip reader reveals insight into THOSE scenes between Kate and Louis

Emotional scenes as NSW passes law on Voluntary Assisted Dying

Incredible scenes of panic after US tourists pack unexploded shell as souvenir

Wild scenes after No.1 seed slaps opponent at the net

"Round 1" goes to Novak as ugly scenes unfold on Melbourne streets

Touching scenes at sorrowful farewell for Hillcrest victim

Why dingoes should be considered native to mainland Australia – even though humans introduced them

What caused the deadly scenes at Astroworld

Cuddly Kate and William share affectionate behind-the-scenes photos

Netflix forced to cut Squid Game scene for bizarre reason

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Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

"Inhumane" sign at airport shocks travellers

Unimaginable scenes as Baltimore bridge collapses

Iconic movie scenes that nearly didn’t happen

Kate Winslet reveals behind-the-scenes secrets on Titanic

Cruise worker shares behind-the-scenes look at cruise ship

Sneezing with hay fever? Native plants aren’t usually the culprit

Stunning scenes as the Queen arrives home for the final time

Behind the scenes photos of Camilla's cover shoot snapped by Duchess Kate

Readers Respond: What is your favourite scene from The Sound of Music?

Why scenes of sexual violence should be the exception, not the rule

Lip reader reveals insight into THOSE scenes between Kate and Louis

Emotional scenes as NSW passes law on Voluntary Assisted Dying﻿﻿

Incredible scenes of panic after US tourists pack unexploded shell as souvenir

Wild scenes after No.1 seed slaps opponent at the net

"Round 1" goes to Novak as ugly scenes unfold on Melbourne streets

Touching scenes at sorrowful farewell for Hillcrest victim

Why dingoes should be considered native to mainland Australia – even though humans introduced them

What caused the deadly scenes at Astroworld

Cuddly Kate and William share affectionate behind-the-scenes photos

Netflix forced to cut Squid Game scene for bizarre reason

Emotional scenes as NSW passes law on Voluntary Assisted Dying