Search

Placeholder Content Image

UK PM causes outrage over transgender comments

<p dir="ltr">Rishi Sunak has sparked outrage after making very controversial comments about transgender people at his first party conference as leader.</p> <p dir="ltr">The UK Prime Minister, who is campaigning to get people to support his Conservative party ahead of next year’s general election, declared that “we shouldn’t get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be”.</p> <p dir="ltr">At the party’s annual conference, Mr Sunak spoke for more than an hour as he promised that the Tories would break the mould of the last 30 years of government.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite being in power for 13 years, the Conservative party is on the road to defeat the next election, after increasing dissatisfaction among voters. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We will be bold, we will be radical. We will face resistance and we will meet it,” he told delegates at the conference.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many have seen his comments about transgender people as the most bold and radical parts of his speech.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It shouldn’t be controversial for parents to know what their children are being taught in school about relationships,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Patients should know when hospitals are talking about men or women. We shouldn’t get bullied.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His delegates applauded his controversial statements, to which Sunak continued, “We shouldn’t get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be. They can’t.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“A man is a man and a woman is a woman, that’s just common sense.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sunak’s comments quickly went viral online, with many people expressing their concern over such a prominent figure making such divisive comments. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Outrageous hate, which is going to encourage bullying and physical attacks by thugs, utterly vile,” transgender British newsreader India Willoughby wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If a single trans person gets attacked or murdered after today then Rishi Sunak should be arrested and charged,” added another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Never had so many DMs from worried UK trans people and their families,” wrote a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The important thing following Rishi Sunak’s hate speech: IT IS NOT LAW. Nothing has changed. Trans are still legally recognised and protected. Yes it’s scary – but they do not have time to change rules/law.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

"Revolving door of chaos": UK PM quits after 44 days in office

<p dir="ltr">Liz Truss has resigned as UK Prime Minister after just 44 days in the top job. </p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Truss was sworn in as prime minister on September 6 by Queen Elizabeth II. She has now become the shortest-serving prime minister in Britain's history. Previously, this record was held by George Canning, who served for 119 days in 1827.</p> <p dir="ltr">She explained that she tried to deliver on the "vision for a low-tax high-growth economy" but was unable to continue her role following pressure from members of her party. </p> <p dir="ltr">A leadership election will be held in the next week to find Truss’ replacement but until then she will remain Prime Minister.  </p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking in front of Number 10 Downing Street, Ms Truss accepted that she was unable to deliver her promises as leader of the Conservatives Party. </p> <p dir="ltr">Opposition Leader Keir Starmer said the Tory "soap opera" was damaging the country's economy and the issue needed to be sorted. </p> <p dir="ltr">"We can't have a revolving door of chaos," he told the BBC. </p> <p dir="ltr">"We can't have another experiment at the top of the Tory party. </p> <p dir="ltr">"There is an alternative and that's a stable Labour government and the public are entitled to have their say, and that's why there should be a general election."</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Liz Truss’ Full Speech</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Putin's illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And our country had been held back for too long by low economic growth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy – that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I recognise though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This morning I met the Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed in the next week.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country's economic stability and national security.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

"Put it up properly!" PM criticised for public flag blunder

<p dir="ltr">Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire after the Aboriginal flag was hung upside down on the first day of the Jobs and Skills Summit at Parliament House - made worse by the fact that no one in attendance seemed to notice the error either.</p> <p dir="ltr">The incorrectly-hung Indigenous flag was in the background displayed alongside the Australia and Torres Strait Islander flags as Mr Albanese addressed the 140 government and business leaders and was spotted in various selfies and photos taken on the day.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6a78ef78-7fff-2c33-67d8-b5d595a52513">When correctly flown, the black half of the flag, <a href="https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/aboriginal-flag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">representing</a> First Nations Australians, is meant to be at the top, with the red half, signifying the earth, at the bottom.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Loved joining this powerhouse of women speakers on the opening panel at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jobssummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#jobssummit</a>. Equity for women can’t wait ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SenKatyG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenKatyG</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/sammostyn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sammostyn</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/emmafulu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emmafulu</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/June_Oscar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@June_Oscar</a>⁩⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/leonora_risse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leonora_risse</a>⁩<br />⁩ <a href="https://t.co/eVd6kDATfJ">pic.twitter.com/eVd6kDATfJ</a></p> <p>— Michele O'Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/MicheleONeilAU/status/1565152042347180034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">It hung upside down until delegates left for the lunch break and was correctly displayed when they returned.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prominent Indigenous leaders called out the faux pas, including Coalition Senator Jacinta Price and Warren Mundine, a business leader and former Labor Party president.</p> <p dir="ltr">Senator Price, who has previously criticised Mr Albanese’s flying of the flag as empty symbolism, said it was ironic that the government went out of its way to show symbolic respect for Indigenous Australians, yet still made such an error.</p> <p dir="ltr">“With all the virtuous expression of respect for Aboriginal Australians... and all the carry on with strategically placing the flag prominently to express this deep virtue you’d think that this Albanese Government could actually hang it the right way up?” she said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ac92a209-7fff-5a3a-fd3d-4d50441b5373"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Especially at such a significant and groundbreaking event such as the job summit.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/albo-flag1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Various speakers were photographed in front of the incorrectly-hung Indigenous flag, which was corrected during the event’s lunch break. Images: @AlboMP (Twitter)</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Mundine said he was shocked when the saw the flag on TV, describing the mistake as “ignorant” and “pathetic”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How ignorant and pathetic is it that our national flag is treated this way… put it up properly!” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Parliamentary Services Department, which was responsible for the error, later said the flag being upside down was the result of “an unfortunate human error”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The incorrect mounting of the Aboriginal flag was due to an unfortunate human error. Once the error was identified, it was immediately corrected,” it said.</p> <p dir="ltr">While a flag flying upside down can signal that someone is in distress in the US and is sometimes used by protestors at rallies, the act is banned under all circumstances by the Australian flag protocols.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese has been displaying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in parliament and at government events since becoming PM following the May election, with Indigenous MPs and leaders praising it as a long-overdue acknowledgement of First Nations culture and Australia’s history before British colonisation. </p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-34d56c2f-7fff-7b7e-e9a5-06a678a4de7f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @AlboMP (Twitter)</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

"Let's dance!": Women let loose in support of partying PM

<p>Women all over the world are sharing their support for Finland's partying Prime Minister by sharing videos of themselves dancing online. </p> <p>The Finnish PM, 36-year-old Sanna Marin, made headlines in recent weeks after leaked footage of her dancing at an event with celebrity friends went viral. </p> <p>The videos, which were taken as she danced with friends in two private apartments and then at a nightclub in Helsinki, have led to her being criticised and forced to denounce the use of drugs on her night out. </p> <p>She also was questioned about her alcohol intake on the night in question, and while she denies waking with a hangover or drinking to excess, she said she has as much right to a night out as anyone else, saying, "Everyone needs a fun and relaxed evening out."</p> <p>As the controversy around her party night continues, professional women around the world have been dancing in solidarity, as they stand with the Finnish PM and her right to a night off the top job. </p> <p>A clip shared by the Danish magazine Alt on Instagram showed several women celebrating, with some clubbing or at home to show their support for the Prime Minister. </p> <p>The magazine said they had "leaked" their own dancing videos online, in reference to the video of the prime minister, which was leaked last week. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChcBl-LqcRH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChcBl-LqcRH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by ALT for damerne (@altfordamerne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"SYMPATHY LEAK! In solidarity with Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin (whose party video has been leaked, so that certain types are now questioning what one can allow themselves to do as Prime Minister)," the post's caption read. </p> <p>"We at ALT for the ladies' editorial office have emptied the camera roll of clips that should never have seen the light of day."</p> <p>"And no, you don't become a worse prime minister, director, school teacher...put in a job yourself...by firing it up on the dance floor at the weekend."</p> <p>Others have been posting messages of support with the hashtags #solidaritywithsanna and #istandwithsanna. </p> <p>Comments of support have flooded online spaces, with one woman saying, "I say ALL women across the world need to post videos of themselves dancing and partying with friends!! Let’s blow up the internet women!!"</p> <p>Another said, "Let’s show those with a “crotchety old men mentality” that they can stick it where the sun don’t shine!!!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Hugh Grant trolls outgoing PM Boris Johnson

<p dir="ltr">Actor Hugh Grant has engaged in some hilarious antics against outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid calls for the leader to quit.</p> <p dir="ltr">After several days defying calls for his resignation from Conservative MPs and mass resignations from his cabinet, Mr Johnson finally announced he would resign late on Thursday (Australian time).</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the announcement came with the sounds of <em>Yakety Sax</em> playing in the background - per a request from Grant.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5fa9ef9d-7fff-14c1-c7fc-4f22cc7c8cf6">The<em> Love Actually</em> star requested activists standing outside Westminster to play the famed <em>Benny Hill Show</em> theme song, which activist and anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray honoured at full volume.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Morning <a href="https://twitter.com/snb19692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@snb19692</a> Glad you have your speakers back. Do you by any chance have the Benny Hill music to hand?</p> <p>— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/HackedOffHugh/status/1544953409845043201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Morning [Mr Bray],” Grant tweeted on Thursday afternoon.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Glad you have your speakers back. Do you by any chance have the <em>Benny Hill</em> music to hand?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Bray was all too happy to play the tune, sharing footage of protestors dancing to the wacky tune on the College Green.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-02960a36-7fff-83c2-cb7d-de92ee69ab9d">“Just for [Hugh Grant] as requested here today at the media circus… College Green. The<em> Benny Hill </em>theme tune,” Mr Bray tweeted.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Just for <a href="https://twitter.com/HackedOffHugh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HackedOffHugh</a> as requested here today at the media circus… College Green. The Benny Hill theme tune. <a href="https://t.co/Tazb57gT8e">pic.twitter.com/Tazb57gT8e</a></p> <p>— Steve Bray Activist Against Brexit +Corrupt Tories (@snb19692) <a href="https://twitter.com/snb19692/status/1544998211630383104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The music could even be heard in the background of news broadcasts which aired interviews with MPs, including supporters of Mr Johnson, also held in Parliament Square.</p> <p dir="ltr">Footage of the interviews quickly spread on social media, with many praising Grant and the activists.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Brilliant! Whoever is responsible for the choice of music &amp; the impeccable timing should be given an MBE!!!” one person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You absolute beauties. He’s only gone and done it!” a second fan wrote.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b3645abc-7fff-ab41-bca7-43924f381034"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Don’t know about you, but I’m pretty damn excited with Boris Johnson’s replacement as the new PM,” another said, sharing a photo of Grant in his role as the British PM in <em>Love Actually</em>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hugh Grant tweeted a request at activists protesting outside Westminster to play the Benny Hill theme on their loudspeakers; when they did it became the soundtrack for street interviews with leading Tories trying explain the situation to the British people <a href="https://t.co/V1LxUoxRUE">pic.twitter.com/V1LxUoxRUE</a></p> <p>— Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fritschner/status/1545077380527673344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Your request was Grant’ed Hugh!” another joked. “Bravo Steve! Bravo!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Although Mr Johnson has announced his resignation, he wants to stay until his replacement is chosen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Today I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place,” he said in his speech outside Downing Street.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them’s the breaks.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e0904715-7fff-c9a1-0c72-f82ec641e619"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Japan's former PM shot during public campaign speech

<p><em><strong>UPDATE: </strong></em>Japan's current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has confirmed Shinzo's condition is critical, as doctors are "doing everything they can" to keep him alive.</p> <p><em><strong>EARLIER...</strong></em></p> <p>Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been shot following an attack at a campaign event in Nara.</p> <p>Abe, 67, was reported to be unconscious and unresponsive just after 11:30 am Tokyo time and has allegedly entered a state of cardiac arrested.</p> <p>According to various reports from the event, Abe had collapsed after gun shots were heard, while people at the scene started to perform CPR. Local media sources have also stated that he was bleeding profusely from the neck at the time he collapsed, prompting him to be rushed to hospital.</p> <p>The alleged gunman who made no attempt to run away was then apprehended by police, who confiscated his weapon. The man is believed to be in his 40s.</p> <p>In the past few weeks, Abe had been campaigning on behalf of the Liberal Democratic Party ahead of the House of Councillors election on July 10th.</p> <p>Not only was Shinzo Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, but he was also the most influential Japanese political figure of his generation. He held office in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020, when he was forced to step down due to a debilitating health condition.</p> <p>Australian PM Anthony Albanese has taken to Twitter shocked about the news, keeping Abe’s family and the people of Japan in his thoughts.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shocking news from Japan that former PM Shinzo Abe has been shot - our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time</p> <p>— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1545263750818988032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>There have been no official reports stating Shinzo has gone into heart failure, with an update on his condition yet to be confirmed.</p> <p>More to come.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC News / NHK Japan</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Lismore flood victims dump ruined belongings outside PM’s house

<p dir="ltr">Lismore residents have taken their flood-affected belongings to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Sydney residence, calling on him to act on climate change.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nine residents of the area, which has been devastated by recent flooding, brought a truck to Kirribilli House and dumped a number of items, including flood-ruined carpet, toys and furniture, outside the front gate earlier this week.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kate Stroud, who lost her home in the floods, said the group felt compelled to demonstrate after Mr Morrison visited the town earlier in the month but failed to speak to some residents.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Stroud lost her home in the floods, having been rescued by another resident on a jet ski after sheltering on her roof for six hours, and has said she wasn’t the only one looking to speak to the PM.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Everybody that I know has lost their homes, they’ve lost their businesses. We have basically lost our entire town,” she said on Monday morning.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-bb905877-7fff-969f-8c6d-923637249f68"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“We tried to have this conversation with him face to face in Lismore, but he slipped through the back door of our council chambers. If our leaders can’t come at least sit at a table with us and chat to us at times of devastation, what are they doing?”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">At the Prime Minister’s residence, Kirribilli House, standing in solidarity with Lismore flood survivors. Calling on <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottyFromMktg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottyFromMktg</a> to stop funding the climate crisis. <a href="https://t.co/lHYSwZLZ7i">pic.twitter.com/lHYSwZLZ7i</a></p> <p>— Naomi Hodgson (@CrystalNomes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrystalNomes/status/1505653019718737921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Several residents held a ruined, mud-covered door with a message spray-painted on it in red.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Morrison, your climate megaflood destroyed our homes,” it read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other signs read, ‘Lismore now, where next?’ and ‘Your climate inaction killed my neighbour’.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Stroud said residents were calling on the government to take action against climate change.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are so sick of the bottomless promises when there is a bigger picture to look at,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We need to fund the climate crisis [response], this is climate change and this will happen to somebody you love, someone you know, or it could happen to you personally.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Although <em>9News </em>reported that his car was seen leaving shortly before protestors arrived, Mr Morrison was in Queensland during Monday’s protest, according to <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/flood-hit-lismore-residents-dump-debris-outside-kirribilli-house-20220321-p5a6dy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">He responded to questions about the demonstration by referring to the $1.7 billion already committed to flood response and recovery, and that the bulk of the funds were already “out the door supporting people”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These floods [across NSW and south-east Queensland] are the worst we’ve ever seen,” Mr Morrison said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can understand the frustration. But what I can assure you is the commitments [we’ve made] .. means we’ll be there with them to build back.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-83db4994-7fff-c9ba-9311-1dad16a851e2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I think the politicisation of natural disasters is very unfortunate. Everyone’s just doing the best they can.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lismore residents protest at Kirribilli House <a href="https://t.co/d5ciaZPaBd">pic.twitter.com/d5ciaZPaBd</a></p> <p>— Carol Connolly (@carolcarcos) <a href="https://twitter.com/carolcarcos/status/1505682999505219586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Despite his absence, Lismore resident Kudra Ricketts told <em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/lismore-flood-survivors-dump-debris-outside-pms-house/58b54741-e566-4bec-a667-7433b0753c18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a></em> she hoped the message she and the other demonstrators were sending would still reach Mr Morrison.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I hope that he’s able to listen to the media,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s done the same thing as he did when he was in Lismore. He didn’t want to talk to us. He doesn’t want to speak to us again. I can see that. It’s time he starts to listen to us.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. It’s been so traumatic for me and everyone that I love. Climate change is here now.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4abb5dfd-7fff-e287-e932-8fa0fa646e86"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Domestic Travel

Placeholder Content Image

“How dare you”: PM’s ‘apology’ to Stolen Generations slammed

<p dir="ltr">Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe is among many Indigenous leaders who have <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10509713/Aboriginal-senator-Lidia-Thorpe-blasts-Scott-Morrison-Stolen-Generations-speech.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticised</a> Prime Minister Scott Morrison for asking for forgiveness on the anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations.</p><p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison spoke about the anniversary in a speech to Parliament on Monday, marking 14 years since former Prime Minister Rudd made the historic apology.</p><p dir="ltr">The Rudd government issued the Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples in 2008, acknowledging the historic laws and policies that led to the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities.</p><p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison said an apology involves “standing in the middle ground exposed, vulnerable and seeking forgiveness”.</p><p dir="ltr">“And as I said when I spoke in support of the original motion here in this place on the other side of the Chamber 14 years ago, sorry can never be given without any expectation of forgiveness. But there can be hope,” Mr Morrison said.</p><p dir="ltr">“Forgiveness is never earned or deserved. It’s an act of courage. And it is a gift that only those who have been wounded, damaged and destroyed can offer.</p><p dir="ltr">“Forgiveness transcends all of that. It’s an act of grace. It’s an act of courage. And it is a gift that only those who have been wounded, damaged and destroyed can offer.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c5f8afd-7fff-d4c0-859a-a80bbefe60ae"></span></p><p dir="ltr">“I also said 14 years ago, ‘sorry is not the hardest word to say, the hardest is I forgive you’.”</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is outright disrespect to all those effected by Stolen Generations in this country. How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies. That is not an apology. <a href="https://t.co/3VG6OcVGuN">pic.twitter.com/3VG6OcVGuN</a></p>— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorThorpe/status/1493049463166083072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><p dir="ltr">Following Mr Morrison’s speech, Senator Thorpe shared her criticism of the Prime Minister on Twitter, saying he had shown “outright disrespect” to members of the Stolen Generations.</p><p dir="ltr">“This is outright disrespect to all those affected by Stolen Generations in this country,” the Greens member wrote.</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-235a3e56-7fff-fa11-ee29-4a1e1358b648"></span></p><p dir="ltr">“How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies. That is not an apology.”</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Our official* response to what Scott Morrison said today:<br /><br />*polite <a href="https://t.co/DRsrdGvcV1">pic.twitter.com/DRsrdGvcV1</a></p>— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) <a href="https://twitter.com/firstpeoplesvic/status/1493069336940285953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria</a>, the organisation responsible for developing a treaty with the state government, also released a statement on Twitter, simply stating: “Get in the bin.”</p><p dir="ltr">Marcus Stewart, a co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly, later shared a translation of the statement in Taungurung - the language spoken by the Taungurung people whose country encompasses much of central Victoria.</p><p dir="ltr">“Some people have said our media release was rude,” he captioned the photo of the translated statement.</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6fbcbe31-7fff-120c-4a8d-3b240496052a"></span></p><p dir="ltr">“For the haters, is it more poetic in language?”</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Some people have said our media release was rude.<br /><br />For the haters, is it more poetic in language? <a href="https://t.co/rDa4zz7b0p">pic.twitter.com/rDa4zz7b0p</a></p>— Marcus Stewart (@marcusbstewart) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcusbstewart/status/1493128028305903619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><p dir="ltr">Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt also made a statement marking the anniversary in Parliament, where he said that although acknowledging “the wrongdoing can ease some suffering, it will never remove it”.</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2edfe668-7fff-2a64-d1f5-fa7d7615b096"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: House of Representatives</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Legendary band hits back after PM’s ukulele session

<p>New Zealand band Dragon have hit back at Prime Minister Scott Morrison after his "cynical" cover of their cult classic song on a special interview with <em>60 Minutes</em>. </p><p>In the sit-down interview with Karl Stefanovic, the PM is filmed with his family, strumming a ukulele while singing the band's smash hit <em>April Sun in Cuba</em>. </p><p>In a response to the serenade, Dragon has accused Scott Morrison of using their song to "humanise" himself in the face of the Australian public ahead of the upcoming federal election.</p><p>In a statement released by the band, they accused the PM of dragging the band into the headline for "all the wrong reasons" in what they believe was a "cynical" act of electioneering in order to strike a cord with Australians. </p><p>The band also used their statement to resurface damning criticism of the PM for taking a family holiday to Hawaii during the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, which saw 34 people lose their lives and nearly 3,000 homes destroyed. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statement from the band Dragon after the Prime Minister of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a> appeared on television singing one of their songs. They said it was “a cynical move by a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time”. <a href="https://t.co/85RVXFtF2S">pic.twitter.com/85RVXFtF2S</a></p>— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenMcDonell/status/1493057963753418754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><p>"It is a cynical move for a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time," the band's statement said.</p><p>"Maybe if his trip to Hawaii had not been cut short, he could have learnt the lyrics to the rest of the chorus."</p><p>In the now-viral video of Scott Morrison performing the tracks he repeats one line twice  ("Take me to the April sun in Cuba, oh oh oh"), rather than progress the song along with the original lyrics.</p><p>The song was originally penned in 1977 by two New Zealanders who were living in Australia, and became a smash hit in Australia and New Zealand after placing in the top 10 in both country's music charts. </p><p>When the video of Scott Morrison playing the ukulele first surfaced in a preview for the <em>60 Minutes</em> interview, it was instantly branded as "extremely cringe" by viewers. </p><p>Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, suggested the performance was a cynical ploy to improve Mr Morrison’s image ahead of the federal election.</p><p>“We need to brace ourselves for how far he will go the more desperate they get,” she wrote on Twitter.</p><p><em>Image credits: Nine - 60 Minutes / Twitter</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Country’s first female PM quits on very first day

<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p>Hours after being voted in as Sweden’s first female prime minister, Magdalena Andersson has resigned.</p> <p>Andersson’s ascension was a milestone for Sweden, viewed for decades as one of Europe’s most progressive countries when it comes to gender relations, but which had yet to have a woman in the top political spot.</p> <p>Parliament approved Andersson as prime minister after she recently became the new leader of the Social Democratic party, replacing Stefan Lofven as party leader and PM.</p> <p>However, just a few hours later Andersson was announcing her equally shocking and sudden resignation after suffering a budget defeat in parliament and coalition partner the Greens left the two-party minority government.</p> <p>"For me, it is about respect, but I also do not want to lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy," Andersson told a news conference.</p> <p>Andersson has informed parliamentary Speaker Anderas Norlen that she is still interested in leading a Social Democratic one-party government.</p> <p>She said that "a coalition government should resign if a party chooses to leave the government. Despite the fact that the parliamentary situation is unchanged, it needs to be tried again".</p> <p>Norlen, the speaker of Sweden's 349-seat parliament, said he had received Andersson's resignation and would contact the party leaders "to discuss the situation".</p> <p>He is expected to announce the road ahead today, Thursday 25th November.</p> <p>The government's own budget proposal was rejected in favour of one presented by the opposition that includes the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats. Sweden's third-largest party is rooted in a neo-Nazi movement.</p> <p>"Now the government has voted for a budget that has been negotiated by a right-wing extremist party," Green Party spokesperson Per Bolund said. "That is something we deeply regret."</p> <p>Earlier in the day, when parliament voted to approve Andersson as prime minister, independent politician Amineh Kakabaveh, who supported Andersson, noted that Sweden is currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of a decision to introduce universal and equal suffrage in the Scandinavian country.</p> <p>"If women are only allowed to vote but are never elected to the highest office, democracy is not complete," said Kakabaveh who is of Iranian Kurdish descent.</p> <p>"There is something symbolic in this decision," she added. "Feminism is always about girls and women being complete people who have the same opportunities as men and boys."</p> <p>"I was really moved by what she said. She pinpointed exactly what I thought," Andersson said after her appointment in parliament where she got a standing ovation and a bouquet of red roses.</p> <p>"I have been elected Sweden's first female prime minister and know what it means for girls in our country," Andersson said.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

EXCLUSIVE: Claudine Ryan talks hormones, PMS and the brain

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have ever had your feelings of anger dismissed because you are dealing with fluctuations in hormones - whether that’s around your period, pregnancy-related or due to menopause - you’re not the only one.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the vast majority of women experience these dips and peaks in hormones without many severe symptoms, the dismissal of symptoms as a side effect of hormones can have severe consequences.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Between 2009 and 2018, suicide was the </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/09/the-chemical-question-does-focusing-on-hormones-undermine-mental-healthcare" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">third-highest cause</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of mortality among women who had recently given birth.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For women entering menopause, the incidence of depression </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/menopause-and-mental-health" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">doubles</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and those who have experienced mental illness in the past may see their symptoms return.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Claudine Ryan is one half of the duo behind the popular podcast </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ladies, We Need To Talk</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, alongside host and co-creator Yumi Stynes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Claudine spoke to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">OverSixty</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> about the pair’s latest book - named after their podcast - which tackles the thorniest of issues relating to women’s health, biology, and sex lives.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In particular, she shared her thoughts on the overlap between hormones, PMS. and mental health, as well as advice for those navigating these issues with friends and family.</span></p> <p><strong>O60: Throughout <em>Ladies, We Need to Talk</em> there’s a core message of opening up conversations on ‘taboo’ topics to improve awareness and help women feel less alone. Do you have particular hopes about how the awareness of and conversations around mental health and hormones will change?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to our hormones and mental health, every woman is different. For reasons that aren't totally understood, some of us can really feel the impact of changing levels of certain hormones at certain times during our cycles or at certain times in our lives. So some of us experience really severe hormonal symptoms (severe insomnia, trouble concentrating, depression and even suicidal thoughts), while others find their hormones have no noticeable impact on their mood. [My] version of PMS looks different to Yumi's. But when we share our stories with each other we can start to see that there is a range of different women's experiences and this can help us to place our own somewhere on this spectrum. One hope is that these conversations foster a rich and diverse community of people who understand each other so that fewer of us feel alone or isolated, and also so we have a better understanding of what this spectrum of normal is. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another hope is that these conversations give women courage to speak out and ask for help when something does seem right for them. We have heard so many stories of women's symptoms being dismissed, or them being what they are living with is in their head. Understanding how your experience fits in with others can help you to know that what is happening for you is real and that if someone isn't listening to you, then you need to find someone who will.  </span></p> <p><strong>O60: In chapter six you both talked about anger and how it surfaces around the same time as other PMS symptoms, how do you feel about the association between anger and other ‘uglier’ emotions with being hormonal?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is very infuriating to have your feelings or frustrations dismissed as being purely hormonal. But it is also very helpful to understand that there might be certain times when your mood might be really low or you might be more inclined to feel frustrated by pee on the toilet seat or a sink full of dishes. For some women, just understanding how their hormones may affect their mood is all they need. But for others, knowing their hormones are making them miserable is the first step in figuring out what their options are to get some relief.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's important to acknowledge, as is the case with many many women's health issues, there needs to be more research for us to better understand the relationship between our hormones and our moods.  </span></p> <p><strong>O60: Do you have any advice for other women struggling with family/friends/partners/colleagues/strangers commenting on their mental health and being hormonal or dealing with PMS?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You could swear at the person, and that is a legitimate response.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You could explain to them these conditions are recognised by leading women's health experts and that for those who experience symptoms on the more severe end there are treatment options available. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You could take the approach of women's health psychologist Professor Jane Ussher, who's spent decades researching PMS. Over the years many women have told her that when they are on holidays or away from the usual stress and pressures of their lives that they are much less likely to have PMS. But when life is as normal, all the crap they normally put up with just becomes too much. Women tell her that it's their real feelings that are coming out when they get PMS. So for three weeks of a month they can play nice and bottle it all up, but then at that point in their cycle they don't have the energy to keep up this front. These women often then ask those around them to help out a bit more so they don't get so worn out and frustrated.</span></p> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/ladies_-we-need-to-talk-by-yumi-stynes/9781743797518" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ladies, We Need To Talk</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, published by Hardie Grant, is now available to purchase.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Supplied</span></em></p>

Mind

Placeholder Content Image

PM urges caution after NSW woman dies from blood clots

<p dir="ltr">Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to avoid jumping to conclusions following the death of a NSW woman who developed blood clots a day after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 48-year old woman received the AstraZeneca vaccine last Friday, developed major blood clots the following day, and was put on dialysis in intensive care until her death on Wednesday,<span> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9473583/NSW-woman-48-dies-week-getting-Covid-19-vaccine-developing-blood-clots.html" target="_blank"><em>The Daily Mail </em>reported</a></span>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Daily Mail</em><span> </span>also confirmed that the woman was diabetic but otherwise healthy, and that preliminary tests had not found a conclusive link between her death and the vaccination.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement confirming that Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is investigating a death in NSW, the TGA also said, ““It has not yet been established whether there is any link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the tragic death reported by NSW health officials.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“NSW Health has said there is no confirmed link but further investigations are underway.”</p> <p dir="ltr">On Thursday, Mr Morrison said the woman’s death will continue to be looked into by state and federal authorities.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is a lot more to understand and learn about that issue and I would caution others in making conclusions about this at this point as well,” he told reporters at a press conference in Western’s Australia’s Pilbara region.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve been very transparent, very transparent, when it comes to information on these issues and people can expect us to do that,” he continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s important, because of the fact that people can have concerns, that we follow that important process, to inform ourselves properly.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYeoGmr2KS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYeoGmr2KS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Scott Morrison (@scottmorrisonmp)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In a statement released on Thursday night, a NSW Health spokesperson said the department would not speculate on or discuss individual cases, but offered condolences to the family of the woman who died.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The death of anyone is always a tragedy and our condolences are with the family and loved ones of the person who has passed away,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for regulating and monitoring the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia.”</p> <p dir="ltr">NSW Health has also noted many “conditions” can arise during normal life, regardless of whether a vaccine has been administered, but that it was important for anyone concerned about any adverse effects they were experiencing after a vaccination to contact their doctor.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Monitoring involves detecting and responding to any emergency safety concerns related to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly any adverse events following immunisation,” the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The TGA also said that the blood clotting disorders connected to the AstraZeneca vaccine “are very rare and differ from common blood clots or venous thromboembolism, which occur in around 50 Australians every day.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The clotting disorder being investigated in connection with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is now referred to as ‘thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome’, has been confirmed in only two cases out of over 700,000 people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbok4Mp-k0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbok4Mp-k0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Scott Morrison (@scottmorrisonmp)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">If a link between the woman contracting blood clots and receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is confirmed, it would be the third case to occur in Australia - including a woman in Western Australia and a man in Victoria who both received the AstraZeneca vaccine and were in their 40s.</p> <p dir="ltr">Australians under 50 have been warned against receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine after a link was established between the vaccine and rare blood clots. Pfizer became the recommended vaccine for anyone under 50<span> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-08/scott-morrison-announces-pfizer-preferred-for-younger-people/100057184" target="_blank">as of last week</a></span>, with use of the AstraZeneca vaccine becoming more limited.</p>

Body

Placeholder Content Image

Desperate request from White Island volcano victim’s brother denied by NZ PM

<p>The heartbroken brother of the White Island volcano eruption victim has written to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asking if he could stage his own recovery operation of his sibling’s body.</p> <p>Mark Inman’s brother Hayden Marshall-Inman was the first victim named from the horrific eruption that has also killed seven other Australians with ten others missing or feared dead.</p> <p>Hayden worked as a tour guide on the island and was described as an “energetic young man” who would regularly leave $5 at the local shop for those who needed it for groceries.</p> <p>Mark met the New Zealand Prime Minister after the disaster and sent her an email inquiring about staging his own recovery of his brother’s body.</p> <p>New Zealand police currently say that conditions are too dangerous for emergency services to access the island at present.</p> <p>The email that Mark sent to Ardern reads:</p> <p>"We met yesterday concerning my brother Hayden who is still on White Island 44 hours after the explosions," he wrote, in an email shared with New Zealand's version of<span> </span><em>The Project</em>.</p> <p>"With the current conditions of sunshine baking and decomposing his body, he's going from a situation where we could have an open casket to now more likely not having a body at all – due to your government's red tape and slow decision making."</p> <p>"I am writing to ask for a pardon for my actions of a personal recovery."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Here is Mark Inman's letter to <a href="https://twitter.com/jacindaardern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jacindaardern</a>, requesting a pardon should he attempt a personal recovery of his brother's body <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/jLejGDL2W8">pic.twitter.com/jLejGDL2W8</a></p> — The Project NZ (@TheProject_NZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheProject_NZ/status/1204648066747224064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Staff from Ardern’s office said the message was passed onto police minister Stuart Nash and acknowledging that this must be an “incredibly tough time for you”.</p> <p>"It must be an incredibly tough time for you and your whanau (family). We have passed your email to the Minister of Police's office who will be in touch with you about the situation very soon,” the email said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">And the response: <a href="https://t.co/8UZ5NGslw8">pic.twitter.com/8UZ5NGslw8</a></p> — The Project NZ (@TheProject_NZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheProject_NZ/status/1204648083415433217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Police minister Nash then confirmed that Mark’s request to go to the volcano had been denied.</p> <p>"The last thing we want to do is to have further casualties in what is already a significant tragedy," Nash said without mentioning Mr Inman by name.</p> <p>"We won't give anyone permission to go to the island, we need to understand the risk then we can work to mitigate the chances of anyone else being injured in this.</p> <p>"The last thing we want to do is for people to risk their lives to go out to the island."</p> <p>He also said the request was "foolhardy, but I understand, out of frustration when in fact all they will be doing is putting themselves in greater harm."</p> <p>Mark told the New Zealand version of<span> </span><em>The Project<span> </span></em>that a pilot had seen his brother’s body and moved it onto a rise on the island.</p> <p>"We all know health and safety is important, but when health and safety starts to become a barrier to retrieval, that's when you get frustrated," Mr Inman said.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Controversy over the UK's new PM: Is Boris Johnson really "Britain Trump"?

<p>Donald Trump has praised the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson, describing the new leader of the Conservative Party as “Britain Trump”.</p> <p>“He’s tough and he’s smart,” Trump said of Johnson. “They call him ‘Britain Trump’, and it’s people saying that’s a good thing. They like me over there. That’s what they wanted.”</p> <p>The similarities between the two leaders have often been pointed out – nationalist sentiments, disdain towards Europe, a pledge to bring their country back to the ‘<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.npr.org/2019/07/23/744076619/boris-johnson-britains-next-prime-minister-shares-similarities-with-trump" target="_blank">good old days</a>’, colourful personal life and unkempt blonde hair are some of the things they appear to share.</p> <p>However, there are important differences between the American and the Brit.</p> <p>Unlike Trump, Johnson is a supporter of the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49050937" target="_blank">Paris Climate Accord</a>, the Iran nuclear deal and government-run healthcare system.</p> <p>Trump thrives on racist rhetoric and harsh immigration policy, but Johnson is more <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/07/23/dont-lump-boris-johnson-together-with-donald-trump/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.cfc91e89200c" target="_blank">open and liberal</a>, having advocated for amnesty for illegal immigrants as well as an <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/27/boris-johnson-points-based-immigration-no-10-economic-migrants" target="_blank">Australian-style points-based immigration system</a>. While Johnson once described burqas as “oppressive”, “ridiculous” and making people “look like letterboxes”, he did so in the context of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/05/denmark-has-got-wrong-yes-burka-oppressive-ridiculous-still/" target="_blank">arguing against a ban on the Muslim attire</a>.</p> <p>Johnson has also taken aim at Trump in the past, calling him “unfit to hold the office of president of the United States” and “clearly out of his mind” for proposing a travel ban on Muslims during the American’s presidential campaign in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-usa-trump-johnson/different-kind-of-guy-trump-sees-kindred-spirit-in-boris-johnson-idUSKCN1UI2EM" target="_blank">December 2015</a>.</p> <p>More recently, Johnson condemned Trump after the US president called on four congresswomen – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar – to “go back”, even though three of them were born in the US.</p> <p>“If you are the leader of a great, multi-racial, multi-cultural society, you simply cannot use that kind of language about sending people back to where they came from,” Johnson said in a debate earlier this month. “That went out decades and decades ago and thank heavens for that.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Why are you so Islamophobic?<br /><br />Boris Johnson: “when my Muslim great grandfather came to this country...” <a href="https://t.co/FQmpB3LXtw">pic.twitter.com/FQmpB3LXtw</a></p> — Summar (@Yifrenia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yifrenia/status/1143274704825962496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Johnson has also been open about his family ties to Islam. His paternal great-grandfather was Ali Kemal, a Turkish journalist and politician. Kemal’s son, or Johnson’s grandfather, changed his last name to Johnson during the first World War.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

“Probably going to get criticised”: Lisa Wilkinson doesn’t hold back in interview with NZ PM Jacinda Ardern

<p>Despite the recent popularity of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, veteran news reporter Lisa Wilkinson wasn’t flustered and didn’t hold back in asking the difficult questions in a new interview on<span> </span><em>The Sunday Project</em>.</p> <p>The question was about Ardern’s thoughts on Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s stance on deportations.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Jacinda Ardern was propelled into the world stage because of an unspeakable atrocity, and the way she reacted to it.<br />A lot’s happened since then, and<a href="https://twitter.com/Lisa_Wilkinson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lisa_Wilkinson</a> sat down with the NZ PM to talk life, love, and of course, politics. <a href="https://t.co/3zkgDVV0jm">pic.twitter.com/3zkgDVV0jm</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1152871393006149638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">21 July 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“You’ve described Scott Morrison’s stance on deportations as ‘corrosive’,” Wilkinson started.</p> <p>The question immediately flustered Ardern as she went into damage control mode.</p> <p>“Oh look I think we should be fair the, the deportation policy has existed for a while and…” Ardern stated.</p> <p>Wilkinson helped out Ardern and branded Morrison “the architect” of the policy that Ardern has described as “wrong” and “unjust”.</p> <p>“That is, that is correct,” Ms Ardern said. “When you are friends as we are, you can speak frankly with each other you know.”</p> <p>Ms Ardern added, “I think it speaks to the strength of it that we do speak so openly." </p> <p><em>The Sunday Project</em> interview was filmed shortly after a meeting between Ardern and Morrison, where the two leaders discussed the implications NZ citizens living in Australia have faced since the laws have tightened back in 2014.</p> <p>Ardern spoke candidly to NZ media, according to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-19/dutton-dismisses-ardern-demands-to-stop-deporting-new-zealanders/11324382" target="_blank">ABC</a>.</p> <p>“If something’s wrong and if something is not fair and is unjust, you don’t let it go,” the NZ Prime Minister said.</p> <p>“I totally accept that it is within Australia’s rights to deport those who engage in criminal activity in Australia. But there are some examples that will not make any sense to any fair-minded person.”</p> <p>Luckily, Wilkinson switched to a lighter note and asked Ardern about how she’s going with motherhood.</p> <p>Ardern revealed that she’s not “this Wonder Woman” and gets a lot of help from her fiancé Clarke Gayford.</p> <p>“No one needs to see anyone pretending it’s easy because it’s not and so I’m not going to go around pretending I do everything,” she said.</p> <p>“I’m not, it’s hard and women who are both working and raising children deserve to have help and support and so we shouldn’t pretend it can be done alone.”</p>

International Travel

Placeholder Content Image

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern reveals how Clarke Gayford proposed to her

<p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed more details about her surprise proposal from long-term partner Clarke Gayford, as well as explaining why she doesn’t wear her engagement ring on her left hand.</p> <p>Despite her best attempts, a coy Ardern wasn’t able to dodge reporters’ questions about her recent proposal in a post-cabinet press conference in Wellington.</p> <p>Naturally, she was reluctant to spill too many details.</p> <p>“There are some things I don't mind keeping for ourselves,” Ms Ardern told reporters.</p> <p>“This is a very public job and I'm quite happy to put quite a bit of ourselves out there. But there are some things I wouldn't mind keeping to ourselves.”</p> <p>However, Ardern was more than happy to confirm where the proposal happened. It took place with a beautiful backdrop at the top of Mokotahi Hill in Mahia, which is on North Island’s east coast.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BhKwza3Fwta/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BhKwza3Fwta/" target="_blank">A post shared by Jason Lau (@meetjasonlau)</a> on Apr 4, 2018 at 5:11pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ardern revealed who was on site when the proposal took place.</p> <p>“It was Clarke, myself, a member of the DPS (Diplomatic Protection Squad), a couple of locals from Mahia and a dog which tried to eat the chocolate that Clarke bought me at the same time, so it was very romantic,” she explained.</p> <p>She also admitted her partner didn’t get down on one knee, so the DPS member wasn’t aware of what was happening.</p> <p>"The DPS had no idea what had happened so that should be a giveaway," she said.</p> <p>As for why she doesn’t wear her new engagement ring on her left hand's ring finger?</p> <p>“I have not been trying to hide our news from anyone," Ardern explained.</p> <p>“It simply doesn't fit on the right finger, so that's why it's sitting in the middle.”</p> <p>Ardern, who welcomed her daughter Eliza, 10 months with Clarke in 2018, has also said she has “absolutely no idea” when she will walk down the aisle.</p> <p>"I was surprised by the question and as with probably many other couples we haven't made any plans at all," she said.</p> <p>She was quick to end personal questions at the conference, saying “I think we’re done? Good."</p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

Outrage over the PM sending a plane to pick up Prince Charles and Camilla

<p>Next month, Prince Charles and Camilla will arrive in Australia for the Commonwealth Games but the way that they are arriving down under is raising some eyebrows.</p> <p>Last month, it was confirmed that Camilla would be joining her husband for two short days despite the fact that she finds long flights “gruelling”.</p> <p>The solution, to make Camilla’s flight a little easier, is thanks to Australian taxpayers' money, according to Peter FitzSimons in the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/charles-camilla-first-class-flight-fitzsimons-20180302-p4z2l9.html" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sun Herald.</span></em></strong></a></p> <p>“Why is the Australian government – led by Malcolm Turnbull of all people – sending a plane to pick them up from Singapore?” FitzSimons wrote.</p> <p>Reportedly, a RAAF jet will be sent to their halfway point to pick them up, and some Aussies are not happy with this idea.</p> <p>“So: If it’s too gruelling for Their Royal HMs to trudge all the way out here, perhaps we should give the job to a local and spare them the pain,” one person wrote on Twitter.</p> <p>“Why aren't they paying for themselves, they can afford it?” another asked.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Regarding the royals, why aren't they paying for themselves, they can afford it? They want to rule us, surely they could put some effort in. Or they could make the suggestion that we become a Republic. As for Camilla, if she is into it, we can stop right now. No harm done.</p> — Huw Merlin (@Huw_Merlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Huw_Merlin/status/970210923913687041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>In January, it was reported that Camilla was unable to come on the trip due to her travel sickness on long-haul flights.</p> <p>However, it was later confirmed that she will be in Australia from April 4 until April 6.</p> <p>When it was announced, Mr Turnbull said in parliament that their trip was “an opportunity for the royal couple to share an important national moment".</p> <p>“The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit Brisbane, before travelling to the Gold Coast, where His Royal Highness will represent Her Majesty The Queen at the Games,” he said.</p> <p>After Camilla leaves, Prince Charles will visit other parts of Queensland followed by the Northern Territory.</p> <p>Prince Charles and Camilla last toured Australia in November 2015.</p> <p>Their visit is the first of two royal tours that will happen in Australia this year. In October, Prince Harry will visit Sydney for the 2018 Invictus Games. It is speculated that Meghan will also attend. </p> <p>What do you think about the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sending a plane to pick up Prince Charles and Camilla from Singapore? Share your thoughts in the comments below. </p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Why this 60 Minutes interview has PM Jacinda Ardern fuming

<p><em>60 Minutes</em> by its very nature is <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/2018/02/robbie-williams-stuns-60-minutes-reporter-with-shocking-admission/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>designed to cause a bit of controversy</strong></em></span></a>, and last Sunday’s episode was no different after an interview with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and veteran reporter Charles Wooley left the Kiwi leader fuming.</p> <p>The interview has opened a raft of controversy both here and across the pond, after Wooley’s interview with the 37-year-old was criticised as “creepy” and “sexist”.</p> <p>“I’ve met a lot of prime ministers in my time,” says Wooley, during the opening, “But none so young, not too many so smart, and never one so attractive.”</p> <p>Wooley’s comments continue to be eyebrow-raising as the interview progresses, with the 60 Minutes journo saying like the rest of NZ he is “smitten” with the PM, describing her as a leader “like no other”, who is “young, honest and pregnant”.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F60Minutes9%2Fvideos%2F1536004706468839%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>“Admittedly, although somewhat smitten just like the rest of her country, I do know, that what’s really important in politics has to be what you leave behind,” Wooley says.</p> <p>“How did a nice person like you get into the sordid world of politics?” Wooley asked Ardern at one point.</p> <p>“Nice people go into politics,” replied Ardern, smiling.</p> <p>The questioning took an especially awkward line when Wooley asked about Arden’s pregnancy, making Arden and her partner Clarke Gayford, visibly uncomfortable.</p> <p>“One really important political question that I want to ask you,” Wooley said. “And that is, what exactly is the date that the baby’s due?”</p> <p>Arden said her baby was due on 17 June.</p> <p>Wooley replied: “It’s interesting how many people have been counting back to the conception... as it were.”</p> <p>Gayford laughed uncomfortably, responding, “Really?”</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F60Minutes9%2Fvideos%2F1537972866272023%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>Wooley continued: “Having produced six children it doesn’t amaze me that people can have children; why shouldn’t a child be conceived during an election campaign?”</p> <p>Ardern appeared to roll her eyes, responding: “The election was done. Not that we need to get into those details.”</p> <p>Wooley has been widely criticised for his archaic interview style, but he defended the piece in an interview with New Zealand radio station <em>Newstalk ZB</em>.</p> <p>“It’s a bit Orwellian, you know I think. You’ve got to be so careful now with newsspeak and thought crime and everything else. We suffer the same thing in Australia. It’s not a good time to be a journalist,” he said.</p> <p>“If you say somebody is attractive, my thesaurus defines it as 50 choices from good looking to gorgeous to likeable, there is so many different meanings.”</p> <p>What do you think? Did Wooley go too far with his questions?</p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Winston Peters' decision on a coalition with Jacinda Ardern as PM puts us in new territory

<p>The price of power. Deputy Prime Minister, four ministers in Cabinet, one more outside Cabinet. And some big policy wins, including immigration.</p> <p>It was a price Jacinda Ardern was prepared to pay, and one that Bill English judged as too high. Over the coming days and hours we will find out more about what finally tipped Winston Peters hand in Labour's favour. But for now we know enough. After days of hard ball negotiation, and talks that Peters dragged out till the 11th hour, Ardern just wanted it more than English.</p> <p>So what can we expect from a Labour - NZ First Government? It won't be the Government many of its supporters thought they were voting for - the Greens are sidelined by Peters', who made it abundantly clear they won't be equal partners in a Labour-NZ First government.</p> <p>But Labour's supporters will take it regardless. Nine long years in the political wilderness is more than enough. And Ardern has sweetened the pill by giving the Greens a proportionate number of ministerial portfolios - though outside, rather than inside, Cabinet.</p> <p>So what was the tipping point? National was not prepared to go as hard or as far on curbing immigration as Labour - that much was made clear by English in a gracious concession speech. </p> <p>And while it's likely National was prepared to offer Peters the same plum roles - foreign affairs and deputy prime minister - it may have found some of NZ First's more interventionist economic demands harder to stomach.</p> <p>The deal with Labour is understood to put NZ First's hands on the economic tiller with a super-sized economic development portfolio, and responsibility for industries such as forest and fisheries, as well as transport and infrastructure. Economic development will likely go to former Labour minister Shane Jones, while NZ First deputy Ron Mark will likely pick up defence. NZ First education spokeswoman Tracey Martin will be the other Cabinet minster, while Fletcher Tabuteau is tipped for a ministerial portfolio outside Cabinet.</p> <p>There were cheers and tears of joy in the Labour caucus rooms when Peters streamed his announcement live. The mood in National would have been grim. But the dragged out negotiations and constant delays suggests they were in it till the end. So why did National not go the extra mile? </p> <p>Peters had tested the patience of National MPs - its demands sought influence disproportionate to NZ First's  result of 7 per cent  to National's 44 per cent. There was also wariness about history repeating after the disastrous 1996 coalition deal, which sparked National's defeat and nine years in Opposition. Some MPs had openly debated whether National should just sit this one out rather than cosy up to NZ First again.</p> <p>A decision to go with a four-term National government would have weighed just as heavily on Peters; the mood for change would likely have swept them both out. Peters is banking on NZ First being part of a generational change in New Zealand politics and sharing in some of Ardern's inevitable honeymoon.</p> <p>But that is not a given; if there is a honeymoon, it will be for the next generation of political leaders and the change of direction a Labour government and younger leader promises.</p> <p>Ardern will need every bit of that honeymoon to manage a Government that is a first under MMP - nearly one in two voters wanted National, which will enter Opposition with more resources and more MPs than its Labour opponent.</p> <p>It won't just be in the House where Ardern's mettle will be tested - she will need to lead an inclusive enough Government to manage the large number of National - and Green - voters who may feel robbed by Thursday's outcome.</p> <p><em>Written by Tracy Watkins. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></a>. </em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Theresa May to be first PM to grace cover of Vogue

<p><em>Vogue</em> may be synonymous with haute couture, glamour and waif-like models, but next month, the US edition will go for something completely different. While Margaret Thatcher appeared several times in British <em>Vogue</em>, Theresa May will become the first ever Prime Minister to grace the cover of the iconic US magazine.</p> <p>It’ll be the perfect fit for the UK leader, who has long been a lover of fashion, even describing to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/23/may-be-may-be-not-home-secretary-gives-little-away-on-desert-island-discs" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs</span></strong></a> that a lifetime subscription to <em>Vogue</em> would be her desert island luxury item. And the feeling appears to be mutual with the magazine recently praising her bold choices for “pushing the boundaries of prime ministerial attire.”</p> <p>However, some of her fashion moves have also lead to backlash from critics, including Conservative MP Nicky Morgan who slammed the 67-year-old Prime Minister after she was pictured wearing £995 designer trousers. “I don’t have leather trousers,” Morgan said. “I don’t think I’ve ever spent that much on anything apart from my wedding dress.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.vogue.com/article/british-prime-minister-theresa-may-interview-brexit-political-views" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Her shoot has already taken place</span></strong></a>, with legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz behind the camera – flip through the gallery above to see some of the first stunning pictures. The issue will go on sale later this month.</p> <p><em>Images: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue.</em></p>

News

Over 60

© Copyright 2024 OverSixty.All Rights Reserved.