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Cruise ship forced to turn back after 100 passengers injured in storm

The Spirit of Discovery cruise ship was forced to turn back after around 100 passengers were injured during a massive storm. Cruise company Saga have said that most of the injuries were minor, but five people had to be taken to hospital when the ship returned to England on Tuesday local time. One passenger told BBC News that a few passengers "feared for their lives", when the storm hit the ship in the Bay of Biscay, off the French coast. "People were writing texts to their loved ones in case we capsized," they added. "The tone of voice in our captain... he was physically scared. We had crew crying. We had many passengers in awful states of fear." The passenger also claimed that that injuries included broken bones and cuts, with reports of furniture flying around and people being knocked off their feet, as the ship stopped moving and veered dramatically to one side as part of its safety manoeuvre. Another passenger, 75-year-old Jan Bendall, told the BBC that she and her husband were "holding on for dear life", and that it was overall a frightening experience. "It was quite frightening, I'm not somebody who frightens easily," Bendall said. "We were lucky - we're quite able-bodied, but I think some of the older people and people in their own cabins were quite worried," she added. The ship itself holds almost 1000 passengers and holds cruises for people over 50. Saga told the BBC that there had been "very limited" damage and the ship had "remained safe at all times." "While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to offer our sincere apologies to all those affected who are now safely on their way home in calmer seas," the spokesperson said. Images: Nine News/ Facebook

Travel Trouble

Bluey toast takes the internet by storm

While some have a hard enough time trying to make toast without setting off the fire alarm, others are always dreaming just that little bit bigger. Like the parents who call themselves the Bluey Mums on Facebook, who have found a source of endless entertainment in the form of Bluey toast - or more specifically, Bluey’s younger sister, Bingo. Their inspiration comes from a cookbook titled Bluey and Bingo’s Fancy Restaurant Cookbook: Yummy recipes, for real life. And with an ingredients list that seems simple enough on the surface - toast, some fruit, and a spread of their choice - many set to work trying to spoil their children with a fun-filled breakfast plate. However, as many soon came to learn, it can often be better to stick to what we know. Or at the very least to remember that practice makes perfect, and sometimes our first attempts are better served as a warning. And for the Bluey Mums, sharing became the theme of the day, with members finding bucketloads of amusement in posting their creations with each other. Some were spot on, and others were a little more abstract - but all were valiant efforts, and at the end of the day, came only from the best intentions. “Our ‘attempt’ at Bingo toast,' wrote one mum, Madison, alongside her images of what the toast should have looked like, and what she’d managed to come up with. Her masterpiece wasn’t far off the intended portrait, just a little off in proportion, but it was enough to draw laughter from the crowd, and some good-natured commentary at the shocked character on the plate. “Bingo has seen things,” someone declared. “Looks better than the picture I'd say!” wrote one supportive user. Meanwhile, others were happy just to know what it meant to their children, with one even getting a surprising - and welcome - result out of it all. “I have zero skills to do this stuff! But my daughter loved it and ate all the bread,” she wrote, before adding that her daughter had been “refusing bread for a while”. “My daughter loved it though,” another wrote of her own attempt, “and that’s all that matters.” One parent, who shared her creation to Reddit, was met with similar enthusiasm from commenters, with one writing “expectation vs reality … And the reality ain't that bad! Nice”. “Now do Muffin!” encouraged one, eager for another round of terrific toast. Images: Bluey Mums / Facebook, Reddit

Food & Wine

"This is crazy": Ellen shares worrying update from storm-lashed LA

Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres shared an update on Twitter showing the intensity of the wild storms hitting Los Angeles. The 64-year-old gave an up close and personal look at how the storm was wreaking havoc near her Montecito mansion. "Montecito is under mandatory evacuation. We are on higher ground so they asked us to shelter in place. Please stay safe everyone," she wrote. The video shows DeGeneres bundled up in a grey raincoat and hoodie as the rising floodwaters in the creek raged behind her. "This creek next to our house never flows, ever. It’s probably about nine feet [2.7m] up. It could go another two feet [60cm] up. We have horses ready to evacuate," she said. DeGeneres lives in an affluent area with other A-listers including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Montecito is under mandatory evacuation. We are on higher ground so they asked us to shelter in place. Please stay safe everyone. <a href="https://t.co/7dv5wfNSzG">pic.twitter.com/7dv5wfNSzG</a> — Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) <a href="https://twitter.com/EllenDeGeneres/status/1612591946635284480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2023</a></blockquote> DeGeneres referenced the five-year anniversary of the deadly mudslides that struck Southern California in 2018, leaving 23 people dead and over 160 others injured. "This is crazy, on the five-year anniversary. We’re having unprecedented rain,” she said. DeGeneres ended the video with a friendly reminder that: “We need to be nicer to mother nature, cause mother nature is not happy with us. Let’s all do our part. Stay safe everybody.” Various fans have commented their support and prayers for the former talk show host. "Wow, so sorry you have to go through that. Stay safe," one commented. "It’s 5 years to the day since 23 people died in the Montecito mudslides. Stay safe Ellen and everyone else," commented another. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Pugs and kisses! New London cafe takes the pug world by storm

London has welcomed its very first pug-themed cafe, right in time for Christmas. Adorably dubbed "CuppaPug", seven rescued pugs have been dressed up in an array of cute outfits by the cafe owners, giving customers and super pug fans the chance to spend hours with the beautiful and chunky pups. If that wasn’t enticing enough, you can play with the puggies and give them plenty of cuddles while they’re dressed like Santa and his helpers. The cafe's motto is "pugs' welfare first, café second" and is home to seven resident pugs in descending age. Gaston is the oldest at six years of age, followed by, Bruce, Bowser, Beau, Gizmo, Bebe and finally Baloo – who is just six months old at the time of writing. Co-owner of the cafe, Aaron says that: "Pugmas is so special to us here at CuppaPug! “For Matt and I, "Pugmas" is about bringing festive joy and pugs to people really needing a strong dose of Christmas fun. “We are Christmas-themed with a pink Christmas Santa, pink Christmas trees, lights and decorations and, of course, the pugs in their little Santa outfits. "People walk back from work with a miserable face but once they see the pugs playing, it makes them stop in their tracks and smile, usually taking a heap of photos too. A lot of kids who visit tell us it's the best day of their lives! "The pugs are so well behaved with children and parents often bring children who've had bad experiences with dogs to try to overcome it. Reactions from customers are overwhelmingly positive; we really are a joyous place!" CuppaPug are looking to introduce PugLates, and cocktails will also be available on the menu soon. 10% of their entry fee goes towards rescuing and rehoming pugs, and they have pugs brought in who need adopting, partnering with The National Pug Protection Trust, who provide customers with information and advice. Customers often boast how therapeutic the experience is, especially when the pugs are having quiet time in their beds or on people's laps – but equally, there can be lots of chaotic fun when playing or training with the animals! For more information, head to <a href="https://www.cuppapug.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.cuppapug.com/</a> Images: Instagram

Family & Pets

Toddler killed during massive hail storm

A 20-month-old baby girl has been killed during a massive hail storm on the north-east coast of Spain. The town mayor of La Bisbal d'Empordà Carme Vall told Spanish National Television the baby was with her parents when she was hit by the ball of ice Tuesday. She was taken to hospital for her injuries, but died on Wednesday morning. More than 20 people were treated for injuries after the storm, with the mayor confirming many cars and buildings were damaged by the hail. <div data-component="text-block"> It the largest to rain down on the region since 2002. </div> <div data-component="social-embed-block"> <div> </div> </div> She said that the some of the hailstones measured up to 11cm in diameter, as video footage on Spanish media showed the hailstones bouncing like golf balls on cars in the street. <div data-component="text-block"> "The hail only fell for 10 minutes, but it was 10 minutes of terror," Carme Vall told local radio, according to AFP news agency. </div> <div data-component="text-block"> Catalonia's president Pere Aragones described the accident as a "tragedy". </div> More storms were expected in the region next week. Heavy storms have been predicted for eastern Spain following severe heatwaves during the summer both on land and in the Mediterranean Sea. Image credits: Twitter

Caring

Footage shows terrifying moment mega-storm hits cruise ship

Last year we brought you news about the Royal Caribbean cruise ship that ran into high winds and rough seas while cruising through the Atlantic Ocean. Well, brand new footage of the terrifying ocean incident has emerged, and it’s enough to make even the most experienced ocean farer feel a little upset in the stomach. Check out the video, which has now been viewed 5 million times, below. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o9waSshoWOc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The footage provides an interesting insight into the power of the ocean, and how sturdy these vessels must be to navigate it without any real incident. Have you ever cruised in inclement weather? Hero image credit: Stephen J Burke / YouTube

Cruising

“Turn the cameras off!”: Trump storms out on Piers Morgan

Former US President Donald Trump has erupted at Piers Morgan before storming off the set of an interview that touched on the “stolen” US presidential election. After Morgan lay the blame for last year’s deadly riots at the Capitol squarely at Trump’s feet – largely for his refusal to concede that he had lost the 2020 presidential election – Trump had had enough, and began screaming that Morgan was “dishonest” and “a fool”, before demanding that the shocked TV crew “turn the cameras off!” Trump appears to have been deeply angered by a slew of barbs that Morgan has directed towards him during his time at the White House, despite being friends for at least 15 years. But in this instance, the pair appeared to clash heavily even before the interview had gotten underway – but while the cameras were rolling. Morgan detailed the behind-the-scenes incident to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/donald-trump-piers-morgan-interview-former-president-explodes-at-disloyal-fool/news-story/35a81812a4d93cb3751a60957fcaa424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>, saying that Trump stared at him with “undisguised fury” and was “almost foaming at the mouth”. At one point, the Trump hissed at Morgan: “What the f**k is this?” You’re not real. You’re a fake.” To which Piers replied: “No, I’m just brutally honest.” Morgan revealed further details from the encounter: “Normally, he’d greet me with a cheery smile and the words ‘How’s my champ?’ because I was his first Celebrity Apprentice on the series that made him a TV superstar. But this time, there were no such welcoming niceties. “He was staring at me across his desk with undisguised fury, clutching the document entitled ‘Piers Morgan Comments About President Trump’. “What the f**k IS this?” he snarled. Then he began slowly reading out some of the quotes. “Trump’s a supreme narcissist….” Pause. “His pathetic antics in the past few weeks since losing the election in November have been utterly contemptible.” Pause. “Trump’s now too dangerous, he’s morphed into a monster that I no longer recognise as someone I considered to be a friend and thought I knew.” “Each time he paused, he peered over the document at me, with mounting rage in his eyes. “I’d never seen him so livid or felt so uncomfortable in his presence as I did right now in his office. “He was almost foaming at the mouth and kept shaking his head slowly and menacingly at me, like Don Corleone when he felt he’d been disrespected.” Morgan then went on to detail the moment Trump truly took issue with his questions: “Things took a dramatic downward turn when I finally brought up his refusal to accept defeat in 2020 and the appalling scenes on January 6. “I told him I believe he lost the supposedly “rigged, stolen” election, I repeatedly pointed out his failure to produce any evidence of the widespread voter fraud he insists occurred to rob him of his presidency, and I blamed his refusal to admit defeat for the deadly riots at the Capitol. “Then you’re a fool!” he sneered. “And you haven’t studied!...” “Now abandoning any pretence at cordiality, Trump ranted that he was far more honest than me, and again sneered that I wasn’t ‘real’ before haranguing me for exceeding our 20 minutes which was particularly disingenuous given that during all our previous interviews, he’d invariably decided exactly how long he wanted to keep talking. “Incensed Trump tried to end things by declaring “That’s it!” before I reminded him that we hadn’t discussed his hole-in-one, which he then sat down again and did – briefly – before abruptly jumping to his feet, looking hateful, and barking at the shocked crew: “Turn the cameras off!” “Then he turned on his heels, and sloped angrily off through a side door, loudly muttering “So dishonest…” The world exclusive interview is due to air in Australia as the launch piece for Morgan’s new show Piers Uncensored on Sky News on Tuesday night at 9pm AEST. Image: Piers Uncensored

Snowed in shoppers spend the night in IKEA

Six IKEA shoppers and two dozen employees have spent the night in an IKEA store in Denmark after being snowed in. Up to 12 inches of snow fell during the blizzard, trapping everyone inside the Aalborg store on Wednesday night. Rather than bracing the harsh weather to get back home, the customers and staff had an impromptu sleepover of a lifetime in the store's inviting showroom. Those trapped inside got to pick from IKEA's extensive range of beds to test out for the night, giving a whole new meaning to 'try before you buy'. Store manager Peter Elmrose told the local Danish newspaper, "We slept in the furniture exhibitions and our showroom on the first floor, where we have beds, mattresses and sofa beds." He said customers were able to pick out which bed they were thinking of buying and try it out for real, as everyone spent the night eating and watching TV. Peter said despite the unusual conditions, the night went "super well" and everyone had "a lot of fun". Denmark's public broadcaster reported that staff from the neighbouring toy shop also joined in on the impromptu sleepover, as they were also stranded too far from home with the bad weather. The toy shop manager Michelle Barrett said, "It's much better than sleeping in one's car. It has been nice and warm and we are just happy that they would let us in." "We just laughed at the situation, because we will probably not experience it again." Image credits: Getty Images / Courtesy of IKEA

Travel Trouble

Marine heatwaves during winter could have dire impacts on New Zealand fisheries and herald more summer storms

The ocean around New Zealand is getting warmer, and extreme warming events have become more frequent over the past years. These marine heatwaves can have devastating impacts on ocean ecosystems. When they happen in summer, they usually receive a lot of attention. But those happening during winter, when the ocean is cooler, are often ignored. Yet, these winter events can affect the spawning and recruitment of fish and other sea animals, and in turn have significant impacts on aquaculture and fisheries. To monitor the occurrence of such extreme events around New Zealand, we developed a <a href="https://www.moanaproject.org/marine-heatwave-forecast">marine heatwave forecast tool</a> as part of the <a href="https://www.moanaproject.org/">Moana Project</a>. The tool has been operational since January 2021 and it forecasts marine heatwave occurrence, intensity and duration for 13 areas defined in collaboration with the seafood industry. It revealed that most coastal areas around New Zealand were warmer than normal during this last winter (June to August 2021), as highlighted in the map showing the difference between winter 2021 average sea surface temperatures and the climatology (daily mean values based on data from 25 years). <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/423715/original/file-20210929-18-37hxt5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Map of ocean warming around New Zealand." /> Temperature anomaly in relation to 25 years of climate data. The boxes show the regions where detailed analysis and detection of marine heatwaves is carried out. Author provided <h2>A warm winter for New Zealand’s waters</h2> Marine heatwaves are defined as periods of five days or more of ocean temperatures in the top 10% of local average values for the time of year. During winter 2021, surface waters were on average 0.3℃ (±0.75) warmer than usual, with peaks occasionally reaching +4.2℃. In contrast, in a few areas, such as the Pegasus and Kaikoura canyons to the north-east of Banks Peninsula, we observed cooler than normal temperatures. Except for the Banks Peninsula and the FMA3 box to the east of the South Island, all other 11 areas experienced marine heatwaves during the winter. The events varied in intensity and duration. While Cape Reinga showed a continuous moderate event, Stewart Island experienced a severe winter marine heatwave that lasted 87 days, with maximum temperatures reaching 1.9℃ above long-term climate data. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/423952/original/file-20210929-65532-1d407vf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="This graph depicts ocean temperature anomalies around Stewart Island." /> Sea surface temperatures for Stewart Island. The blue line shows the daily mean temperatures and the green line the 10% highest temperatures, calculated from a period of 25 years. The shaded red area indicates a marine heatwave. Author provided Both areas are particularly important since they are located at the northern and southern extremities, respectively, of the main currents that hug the eastern coastline of New Zealand. The warm waters in these regions move downstream (southward from Cape Reinga, and north-eastward from Stewart Island) and warm most of New Zealand’s eastern coast. We can expect serious economic impacts from such warming. Recent events in western Canada <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/08/canada-sea-creatures-boiling-to-death/">highlight</a> the devastating impact summer marine heatwaves can have on coastal marine ecosystems and aquaculture. In New Zealand, Fisheries Management Area 7 (FMA7) in the map matches hoki spawning grounds and is, therefore, of critical importance to deep-water fisheries. The hoki fishery is worth about NZ$230 million in export revenue. In 2017, the fishery’s catch shortfall was about 8,500 tonnes, which constitutes a loss to the New Zealand economy of some NZ$13 million. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/423953/original/file-20210929-64991-1q3ju2n.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="This graph shows the ocean temperature anomalies in an area where hoki spawn." /> Sea surface temperatures for the fisheries management area where hoki spawn. The red areas show the occurrence of marine heatwaves this past winter. Author provided While the reasons for this are not yet fully understood, the <a href="https://deepwatergroup.org/">Deepwater Group</a>, which represent quota owners from New Zealand’s deep-water fisheries, suspects warmer-than-usual temperatures resulted in fewer hoki arriving at the winter spawning grounds off the west coast of the South Island. A greater focus on winter marine heatwaves will help us understand how fisheries and aquaculture in New Zealand may be affected and what we can do to minimise economic, societal and biodiversity losses. <h2>Changes across the southwest Pacific affect New Zealand</h2> We know ocean temperatures are warming faster during winter than summer <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-14944-2">around New Zealand</a> and across the wider <a href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/aop/JCLI-D-20-0886.1/JCLI-D-20-0886.1.xml">subtropical southwest Pacific Ocean</a>. The warming has become particularly evident since 2010 and has manifested in the emergence of the “Southern Blob”. This ocean hotspot is centred northeast of New Zealand and has been linked to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/southern-blob-of-unusual-pacific-heat-blamed-for-creating-megadrought-20210826-p58m7p.html">drought</a> in both <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/27/how-a-hot-blob-off-new-zealand-is-contributing-to-drought-in-south-america">South America</a> and New Zealand. The current rate of warming in the Southern Blob <a href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/aop/JCLI-D-20-0886.1/JCLI-D-20-0886.1.xml">exceeds natural variability</a>, implying a contribution from human-induced climate change. Along with changes in the regional atmosphere, this large-scale process increases the likelihood of winter marine heatwaves around New Zealand. Our <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021GL094785">research</a> shows the deepest and longest-lasting marine heatwaves in the Tasman Sea are typically driven by ocean currents — in contrast to shallower summer marine heatwaves, which are driven by the atmosphere. The warmer-than-normal winter ocean temperatures in the Tasman and coastal seas around New Zealand send warning signals about what the summer may bring. On top of impacts on coastal ecosystems, marine heatwaves also affect extreme weather and make floods and tropical storms over New Zealand more likely during the coming summer.<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/167967/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joao-marcos-azevedo-correia-de-souza-1270882">João Marcos Azevedo Correia de Souza</a>, MetOcean Solutions Science Manager of the Research and Development Team. Moana Project Science Lead, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/metservice-te-ratonga-tirorangi-5124">MetService — Te Ratonga Tirorangi</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amandine-schaeffer-1271998">Amandine Schaeffer</a>, , <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-gardner-1271684">Jonathan Gardner</a>, , <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-herenga-waka-victoria-university-of-wellington-1200">Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-smith-1271656">Robert Smith</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/marine-heatwaves-during-winter-could-have-dire-impacts-on-new-zealand-fisheries-and-herald-more-summer-storms-167967">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Woman shot as armed pro-Trump protestors storm US Capitol

A woman was shot on Thursday morning after hundreds of MAGA supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington DC. The Donald Trump supporters made one final bid to overthrow democracy as the president carries out his final days in office. A number of protestors not only swarmed the streets but managed to breach into the US capitol building, breaking through barriers and withstanding tear gas as well as an armed standoff. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A person on a stretcher just wheeled out with what appears to be a serious injury. <a href="https://t.co/wucrpusBzE">pic.twitter.com/wucrpusBzE</a> — Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeDelMoro/status/1346910181075021828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote> Reports said that one woman was in “critical condition” after being shot in the chest, and that resuscitation efforts were underway. It has been suggested that an officer was the one who fired the shot, however the circumstances surrounding the situation are yet to be determined. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGERY <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> BREAKING: Trump supporters have breached the Capitol building, tearing down 4 layers of security fencing and are attempting to occupy the building — fighting federal police who are overrun This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Thousands, police can’t stop them <a href="https://t.co/VVdTUwV5YN">pic.twitter.com/VVdTUwV5YN</a> — ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1346881968819105792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote> House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy confirmed the shooting in an interview with Fox News, saying, "I'm with Capital police, I heard on the radio: 'Shots fired.'" "I have been in this Capitol for more than 10 years and I've never seen anything like this," McCarthy added. Media commentators were audibly shaken up as they likened the “attempted coup” to that of a “third world country” or “civil war”. “This is just Bedlam … this is Trump’s rebellion,” one said, adding the situation was “very, very tense” and “out of control”. Trump, who lost the popular and electoral college vote in the 2020 presidential elections, has continued to dispute the results without evidence. As of Thursday morning, the only message the US president has made is a tweet urging Americans to “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!”

News

International film archives are streaming up a storm during lockdown: Australia’s movie trove isn’t even online

<a href="https://www.cinetecamilano.it/">Cineteca Milano</a> is renowned for its silent film holdings. With a collection of more than 35,000 Italian and international films dating back to the 1890s, it was both coincidental and fortuitous that, in December 2019, the archive began digitalisation. Part of a national <a href="http://www.cinema.beniculturali.it/Notizie/5188/66/contributi-per-il-piano-di-digitalizzazione-anno-2018/">digitalisation program</a>, the Cineteca decided rather than merely deposit their digitised materials into the holdings of the Cineteca Nazionale in Rome, they would release films online. Matteo Pavesi, the director of the Cineteca Italiana, tells me they wanted to “make our oldest archival materials visible; we wanted to publish these holdings for everyone to enjoy”. Since the Cineteca was shut in February, Cineteca’s staff of six have been releasing 20 films a week on their free streaming service. Pre-coronavirus, Cineteca Milano attracted around 300 users to its site each day. In March, the online archive attracted more than 4 million users. Saving history Film archives began to <a href="https://www.fiafnet.org/pages/History/FIAF-Timeline.html">be established in 1933</a> as archivists realised films needed to be safeguarded for their own sake, rather than for military or religious purposes. Nitrate film used from the early 1890s through the mid-1950s, and magnetic tape used from the mid-1940s to the early 2000s, cannot survive the test of time. So, in addition to managing storage environments, archives <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/corporate-information/publications/deadline-2025">preserve films digitally</a>. Commercial streaming services offer access to films, but they do not ensure this content is stored, saved and contextualised. They are not custodians of history or culture. Archives ensure recordings of the past remain meaningfully embedded in our contemporary life. In a time when the audiovisual is our primary mode of communication, the archive as an institution protecting and championing our shared history is more important than ever. Making history Since the <a href="https://www.bfi.org.uk/">British Film Institute</a> (BFI) shut its London doors on March 17, Bryony Dixon, their curator of silent film, tells me they have seen a 200% increase in online traffic. Short, punchy films are popular, and Dixon says these early silent films are like TikTok: “designed to just go ‘Here I am, I look at this’”. The BFI is also working to document the period of the COVID-19 crisis. <a href="https://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/archive-projects/britain-on-lockdown">Britain on Lockdown</a> asks the public to send in videos to chart the national development of the coronavirus crisis. <a href="https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/announcements/these-hands-michael-rosen-poem-nhs">These Are The Hands</a> is a short and emotive found-footage film using archival public health movies and contemporary footage of NHS staff. We see hands touching the newborn, the young, the aged, the disabled, and the sick. At every stage of our lives, the film reminds us health-care workers are essential. These Are The Hands was released the day I spoke with Dixon. “There won’t be a dry eye in the house,” she says. “It is very powerful.” A quiet archive While use of these archives in Milan and London has increased under lockdown, Australia’s <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/">National Film and Sound Archive</a> (NFSA) has not seen a significant change. Meg Labrum, general manager of collections, tells me in Europe people “appreciate, celebrate, use, know about their archive”. In Australia, she says the film archive is “a kind of interesting, slightly odd, cultural provider”. Although the NFSA has a significant collection in Canberra, it does not release 20 films a week like the Milan archive, nor does it boast a dedicated streaming service like the BFI. The NFSA’s online presence is focused on curation, rather than the delivery of streaming material. It frames small samples of screen content into topical themes and exhibitions. With rare exception, users cannot watch films, but they can (for example) listen to producers Jocelyn Moorhouse and Lynda House speak about <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/muriels-wedding">the making</a> of Muriel’s Wedding. Australia was once the <a href="https://apnews.com/e8187ca922bbc63541581ace1535a769">end-of-the-line</a> for global film distribution. Films sent around the globe for viewing would often remain in Australia – it made no financial sense to return bulky film reels to their country of origin. This means the NFSA has an internationally important collection, including items such as the most complete version of the French actress <a href="https://wfpp.columbia.edu/pioneer/sarah-bernhardt/">Sarah Bernhardt</a>’s Camille (1911). As a film historian, I am frustrated by <a href="https://online.ucpress.edu/fmh/article/2/1/135/106359/Interview-in-Melbourne-with-Meg-Labrum-National">licensing issues</a> in Australia blocking our access to film heritage. Local copyright laws and an aversion to copyright risks have meant these <a href="http://www.unswlawjournal.unsw.edu.au/article/digital-access-the-impact-of-copyright-on-digitisation-practices-in-australian-museums-galleries-libraries-and-archives/">legal issues</a> seem to haunt the NFSA far more than they do in comparable institutions abroad. With staff working from home, Labrum sees the COVID-19 crisis consolidating the NFSA’s drive towards the digital: “an experiment […] testing just how far we can keep the collection open in a purely existing digital content context.” While not streaming films, the NFSA has nevertheless focused on digital preservation, continuing the digitisation of magnetic tapes during shutdown. Films to the people Two days after our interview, Dixon was put on furlough, her pay reduced by 20% and unsure about her future employment. For now, her team “split work. […] We’ll cover a skeleton service”. But she remains optimistic about the impact of COVID-19 on the BFI and its operations. The pandemic has “proved the worth of digitising material and putting it online in a massive way,” she says. “If it means that the people don’t go to the films, we need to take the films to the people.” The increased traffic to the BFI and Cineteca Milano shows there is a want to engage with our film histories – coronavirus makes obvious how hampered Australians are in the access to ours. Written by Victoria Duckett. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/international-film-archives-are-streaming-up-a-storm-during-lockdown-australias-movie-trove-isnt-even-online-137169">The Conversation.</a>

Movies

Why weather forecasts could become more challenging during the coronavirus storm

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted several sectors and meteorology is no exception. The quality and quantity of the observational data that feed into weather forecasting models could well be affected by the pandemic, according to the <a href="https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-concerned-about-impact-of-covid-19-observing-system">World Meteorological Organization (WMO)</a>. Knowing the state of the atmosphere is essential for good weather forecasting. In addition to announcing rain or sunshine, weather forecasts allow us to better prepare for risks and other weather hazards such as <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-communities-across-canada-prepare-for-doubled-crises-of-flooding-in-a/">spring flooding</a> and hurricanes. The pandemic has curtailed a number of these observations in a variety of ways. But scientists around the world are finding ways to fill some of those gaps. International collaboration The <a href="https://public.wmo.int/en/programmes/global-observing-system">WMO Global Observing System</a> provides observations of the atmosphere, such as wind speed, and the ocean surface, namely sea surface temperature. The system comes from the close collaboration between national and international agencies that provide measurements from different observing instruments. <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/330858/original/file-20200427-145566-1ccwtmw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Observing System is composed of a large number of in situ and satellite observing systems. (World Meteorological Organization) The <a href="https://public.wmo.int/en/our-mandate/what-we-do/observations">WMO Global Observing System</a> relies on observations taken on land, in the air, on the ocean and from space. More than 10,000 surface-based stations, 1,000 weather balloon stations, 3,000 commercial aircraft, 7,000 ships, 100 moored buoys, 1,000 drifting buoys, 30 meteorological satellites and 200 research satellites gather information about the Earth. The frequency and spatial distribution of these measurements vary enormously depending on the type of observation. For example, a surface weather station can collect precipitation measurements every five minutes, while the <a href="https://cloudsat.atmos.colostate.edu/education/faq">CloudSat</a> satellite, dedicated to global cloud observation, takes measurements covering the same geographical area every 16 days. How forecasts are made Atmospheric models are a set of equations that describe the changing state of the atmosphere. They require information about the initial state of the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface (land and ocean) in order to provide weather forecasts. Unfortunately, observational data alone are not sufficient to provide a complete picture of the state of the atmosphere because they are distributed irregularly over space and time, and sometimes contain errors. This is where a technique known as “<a href="https://research.reading.ac.uk/met-darc/aboutus/what-is-data-assimilation/">data assimilation</a>” comes into play. It involves combining observational data with data obtained from an atmospheric model to get the best estimate of the state of the atmosphere. In other words, one starts from a weather forecast made with the model and corrects it with the observational data. The result of the data assimilation is a coherent complete image of the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface at a given time. Once the initial state of the atmosphere and Earth’s surface is known, an atmospheric model can be applied to predict its evolution. The impact of the pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a <a href="https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-concerned-about-impact-of-covid-19-observing-system">decrease in observations</a> made by commercial aircraft, due to the decrease in air traffic. In Europe, for example, there has been a <a href="https://www.eurocontrol.int/Economics/DailyTrafficVariation-States.html">90 per cent</a> decline in the daily number of flights. There has also been a drop in manual observations at surface weather stations in several developing countries, which have not switched to fully automated measurements. In the long term, other components of the observing system could be negatively affected if maintenance, repair and replenishment work cannot be done. Each type of observation has a different impact on the quality of forecasts. <a href="https://www.ecmwf.int/en/about/media-centre/news/2020/drop-aircraft-observations-could-have-impact-weather-forecasts">Studies</a> conducted by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) have shown that in the absence of aircraft meteorological data, the quality of short-term wind and temperature forecasts at cruising altitude decreases by 15 per cent, which can affect the prediction of the jet stream and, consequently, forecasts of winter storms and heat waves. The quality of near-surface forecasts also decreases, but not as much. Ironically, the importance of aircraft observation data was highlighted in mid-February 2020 at an ECMWF <a href="https://www.ecmwf.int/en/learning/workshops/workshop-aircraft-weather-observations-and-their-use">workshop on the state of aircraft observations</a>. Fortunately, the impact of satellite observations on forecast quality is greater than that of aircraft meteorological data. Mobilizing scientists The scientific community is trying to ease the impact of the decrease in observational data collected by aircraft. As a result, European national meteorological services are <a href="https://www.ecmwf.int/en/newsletter/163/editorial/ecmwf-and-covid-19">launching more weather balloons</a>. Observations from recently launched satellites can also help to fill the gap left by declining observations. This is the case of the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus/COVID-19_Aeolus_and_weather_forecasts">European Space Agency’s Aeolus satellite</a>, which provides wind data at different altitudes. The declining quality of weather forecasts adds to the many challenges posed by the pandemic. With the <a href="https://tropical.colostate.edu/media/sites/111/2020/04/2020-04.pdf">Atlantic hurricane season</a> expected to be more active than usual, it is even more important to correctly forecast the trajectory and intensity of hurricanes. Indeed, for <a href="https://www.undrr.org/news/covid-19-risks-complicating-caribbean-hurricane-season">Caribbean countries</a>, where the peak of COVID-19 cases is expected just before the start of the hurricane season, the pandemic is a major obstacle in preparing for this meteorological hazard.<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/137585/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marta-moreno-ibanez-819679">Marta Moreno Ibáñez</a>, PhD candidate in Earth and atmospheric sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-du-quebec-a-montreal-uqam-2410">Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)</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/weather-forecasts-could-become-more-challenging-during-the-coronavirus-storm-137585">original article</a>.

International Travel

Are you a frequent flyer? Solar storm radiation can be harmful

Space weather <a href="https://theconversation.com/solar-eruption-could-help-earth-prepare-for-technology-melt-down-18747">impacts</a> many modern-day technologies. But one of the most concerning – and least reported – space weather effects is the increased radiation exposure to passengers on commercial long-distance flights during so-called “<a href="http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/srs.html">solar radiation storms</a>”. The NASA-funded Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation System (<a href="http://sol.spacenvironment.net/~nairas/">NAIRAS</a>) is the computer system tasked with providing a real-time data-driven climatology of the aviation radiation environment. Recently, a series of papers published in the journal [Space Weather] estimate that when NAIRAS was turned off during the US government shutdown last year – which went into effect just as a solar radiation storm began – <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013SW001015/abstract">500,000 people</a> received increased radiation doses. It has also been estimated that this event is likely to eventually result in four cancer-related deaths. What is a solar radiation storm? Disturbances on the surface of the sun are commonly the cause of geomagnetic disturbances here on Earth; such as power grid faults/failures and increased errors in GPS navigation and positioning. Associated with some of these solar disturbances is the ejection of extremely fast plasma into the solar wind that, when aimed directly towards the Earth, causes the onset of increased geomagnetic and ionospheric activity. The Earth-bound solar energetic particles ejected into the solar wind eventually penetrate into the Earth’s magnetosphere. When inside the magnetosphere, they orbit the planet across the Earth’s magnetic field lines until they are scattered by various complicated magnetospheric processes and interactions. Once scattered, these solar particles then travel down the magnetic field lines until they impact the Earth’s upper atmosphere, where they are effectively absorbed. The penetration depth of these particles primarily depends on their kinetic energy, which is governed by their mass and velocity. The less energetic particles are stopped by the Earth’s atmosphere typically between 100 and 400km altitude, causing the well-known <a href="http://spaceweathergallery.com/aurora_gallery.html">aurora</a> in the northern and southern high-latitude regions. The atmosphere increases in density exponentially as the particle falls. This normally prevents particles penetrating to lower altitudes where they are harmful to living organisms. The more energetic particles, called “solar energetic particles”, caused by these solar disturbances can <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~barrel/index.html">penetrate</a> to below 10km, near of commercial flights. During such events, the danger posed by the increased radiation levels is easily averted by decreasing the cruising altitudes of the aircraft. Pilots can also divert their flight paths to areas less affected by the increased radiation levels (more equatorward latitudes). Several chest X-rays worth of radiation The aviation radiation monitoring performed in real-time by computer systems such as NAIRAS can effectively be used to issue such warnings to aircraft. This will help remove the threat posed to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe during such space weather events. The geomagnetic activity levels associated with the solar radiation storm that occurred during the US government shutdown were only minor (a minimum <a href="https://theconversation.com/solar-eruption-could-help-earth-prepare-for-technology-melt-down-18747">Dst</a> of -54nT). This means the technologies normally classified as being <a href="https://theconversation.com/divert-power-to-shields-the-solar-maximum-is-coming-11228">vulnerable</a> to extreme space weather events are not likely to have been significantly affected. The solar energetic particle levels observed by <a href="http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/satellite/goes/index.html">geostationary satellites</a> classifies this as an <a href="http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/srs.html">S2</a>solar radiation storm. It lasted more than 24 hours, and took about four days to fully subside (see video below). Some controversy exists around the exact method used by the scientists of the first <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013SW001015/abstract">study</a>into this event. There has been doubt around the estimation of the number of eventual cancer fatalities related to this solar radiation storm. Even though the radiation levels air travellers were exposed to during this event are much higher than they might have been had an appropriate warning been issued, they were still comparatively low – on par with the dose that one would receive from a number of chest X-rays. Arguments put forward by some <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014SW001074/abstract">researchers</a> err on the side of caution. They indicate that some people who would be considered more vulnerable to increased radiation exposure (such as frequent flyers and unborn children) should have access to this radiation monitoring information. This would enable them to make educated decisions about appropriate air travel times in much the same way that non-urgent X-rays may be postponed during pregnancy. <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014SW001061/abstract">Other researchers</a> have erred on the opposite side, with the view that the radiation doses during this event were too small to be considered a serious threat. Independent of whether or not this particular space weather event exposed air travellers to dangerous levels of radiation, these studies are in clear agreement that increasing radiation monitoring is a must in the future. This is especially important for the aviation industry, and the provision of such information must not be hindered by short-term political partisan interests. Written by Brett Carter. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-you-a-frequent-flyer-solar-storm-radiation-can-be-harmful-28775">The Conversation</a>.

Travel Tips

Passengers shocked as plane starts leaking after massive storm

A couple who was travelling with British Airways were left terrified after they realised their plane was leaking before their journey home. The eight-hour flight home started off easy enough before the duo realised that the emergency exit door was leaking water. The couple had booked the seats for the extra leg room and were worried that the door wasn’t sealed properly due to the excess of water. Nicola Agius explained to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/9462067/british-airways-leaking-plane-storm/">Sun Online Travel</a>: “I was on the flight home from Orlando which was already delayed due to a huge thunderstorm. “As we took our seats together in the emergency exit, I realised the plane started to leak. Water was literally gushing out of the door.” Nicola took a video of the incident and said that staff came over to inspect it. “I have a fear of flying at the best of times. The fact that none of the staff noticed the door was leaking made me even more nervous. “The staff said it was normal, but I’ve never heard of a plane leaking before. “I don’t understand why five air hostesses were gathered around with the pilot if it was completely normal.” The crew mopped up the area with blankets and as the plane was empty, Nicola and her husband were able to move seats. “We did take off and land safely, but it was scary, and I’ve never seen that before. It was just so terrifying. “No wonder they have life vests on-board!” A British Airways spokesman explained that the leaking was normal given the rough conditions. “Although rare, this is normal when an aircraft is in a depressurised state when on the ground in very bad weather. “The safety and security of our customers is our top priority, and we would not operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.”

Travel Trouble

"I am more than Ashleigh Barty": Rafael Nadal starts sexism storm at Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal has weighed in on the Wimbledon court debate as he rejected suggestions that Ash Barty deserved to play on Centre Court over him on Monday. Despite her world number one status, Barty only played one of her four Wimbledon matches on Centre Court this year. The French Open champion was also assigned to play on the 4,000-capacity Court 2, the third-ranked court at the All England Club, for two rounds – including her last match against Alison Riske on Monday night, where she suffered a shock loss 6-3 2-6 3-6. In the same evening, men’s world number two Nadal defeated 69th-ranked João Sousa on the 15,000-seater Centre Court in a straight-sets win described by a leading tennis journalist as a “snoozer”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Rafael Nadal through 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 over Joao Sousa in a snoozer match that, once again, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> probably shouldn't have put on Centre Court, especially with strong women's options (like Barty-Riske, Halep-Gauff) available. — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1148231794489274368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2019</a></blockquote> When asked by a journalist if the more competitive women’s match involving the world’s number one should have been staged on Centre Court instead of his, Nadal said, “I am the world No. 2 and I won 18 grand slams.” Nadal said there was no way to predict whether one match will be more exciting than the other. “Can we predict the future or not?” he said. “My answer is not no or yes. My answer is they make a decision. You are putting Ashleigh Barty in front of me. For me, both decisions are good.” Nadal said he felt that his standing in the sport is ahead of Barty’s. “In the world of tennis today, honestly, my feeling is today I am little bit more than Ashleigh Barty, even if Ashleigh Barty is the first player of the world and she already won in the French Open and she is playing unbelievably good,” the 33-year-old said. “But we can’t create problems every single day about decisions that they have to take. At the end of the day they have to make a decision. “Court No. 2, okay, they have to make decisions. Today they probably decided that. They have another girls playing on the Centre Court now.” Barty said the court assignment does not affect the way she plays her match. “Scheduling is out of my control. I’ll play on any court I’m scheduled on,” the 23-year-old said. “I think obviously scheduling is very difficult. There are so many incredible matches all the fans and all the people want to watch, and players want to be a part of. “No matter what court you’re scheduled on, it shouldn’t matter how you approach the match or play. It certainly doesn’t for me. “Court 2 is a beautiful court here. We played on that court earlier in the rounds and for a doubles match, as well. It’s a beautiful court. I enjoyed my time out there.”

News

Travelling during a storm: 4 things you need to know

It was a week of natural disasters recently when the Philippines and Hong Kong had to deal with Typhoon Mangkhut, and the Carolinas in the USA had to deal with Hurricane Florence. The storms left a trail of destruction in its wake, as well as deaths and injuries. If you’d been scheduled to travel to those destinations when the storms were taking place, you may have been anxious trying to decide what to do. Here’s some advice on the steps you should take if future travel plans become affected by natural disasters such as storms or volcanic eruptions. <div class="view view-article-slider view-id-article_slider view-display-id-article_slider_block view-dom-id-24ffe0424e99039ecbcf5083a01bcbf6"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even">1. Has your embassy issued a travel advisory?</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <a href="https://safetravel.govt.nz/">Safetravel</a> may issue a travel notice advising that non-essential travel to the affected area should be postponed. For example, if you have a family emergency, you may still consider going ahead with the journey, but if it’s for a holiday, you should postpone your trip, or look for alternative destinations. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even">2. Get in touch with your airline</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> Airlines will likely cancel flights during the affected period, such as the time the storm is predicted to make landfall. Affected passengers will likely be allowed free rebooking for a certain period so do get in touch with the airline to find out the details. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even">3. Call your accommodation provider</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> If you’ve booked rooms or accommodation that have flexible cancellation schemes, you can easily make changes to your booking. However, it may get trickier if you’ve booked a room that has strict non-cancellation policies. In this case, try getting in touch with them directly to work out a solution. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even">4. Check your travel insurance</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> This is one of those times when you will be pleased that you have purchased travel insurance. Just make sure you’ve read all the fine print to see what coverage the policy offers for trip postponement, disruption or cancellation. Written by Siti Rohani. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/tips/travelling-during-storm">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

International Travel

Man tries to storm cabin in mid-flight rampage

Passengers on an EgyptAir flight from Muscat to Cairo have found themselves caught in the middle of a terrifying mid-flight rampage, as a disgruntled passenger tried to storm the cabin a mere 26 minutes into a four-hour flight. <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank">News.com.au reports</a> the passenger in question was not armed and the plane, which was carrying 78 people, returned to Muscat after he was apprehended by the crew. The passenger was handed over to local police. At this stage, it is still unclear whether this incident is terrorism-related or not. Authorities are believed to have questioned the crew and other officials about the incident, who spoke to media on the condition of anonymity. What are your thoughts?

Travel Trouble

Prince Charles and Camilla cook up a storm on breakfast TV

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla cooked up a storm during a visit to British breakfast TV show This Morning to mark the show's 30th anniversary celebrations. Anchor Phillip Schofield explained that the future King is the patron for The Royal Television Society, which just marked their 90th year. "As a patron to charities headed by both The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cambridge, I'm really thrilled to welcome them to the This Morning studio," he told viewers. "It's a fantastic way for us to celebrate our 30th anniversary.” Co-host Holly Willoughby added, "It's been wonderful to welcome Their Royal Highnesses to This Morning. It's an exciting year for us here, and it's lovely to share with them some of our highlights." <img width="402" height="536" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267800/1_402x536.jpg" alt="1 (6)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> As there’s nothing better than a cooking segment on breakfast TV, Camilla got to show off her finesse around the kitchen as she helped chef Phil Vickery prepare mutton hot-pot with honeyed parsnips. Prince Charles was no doubt impressed as he’s stated many times that mutton is his “favourite dish”. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FThisMorning%2Fvideos%2F10156274232237122%2F&show_text=0&width=476" width="476" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> The segment took a rather hilarious turn when the royal couple were introduced to Digby, the show's guide dog in-training. Digby literally stole the show after grabbing a reporter’s microphone! During the visit, Charles and Camilla also met with UK journalist Piers Morgan, who took the opportunity to tease the prince about his recent interview with US President Donald Trump. Charles, who notably doesn't share the same views on issues such as climate change with Trump, asked the Good Morning Britain host about his interview with the 45th president. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FODN%2Fvideos%2F1757394997640461%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Piers cheekily told the Prince of Wales: "President Trump, he sends his regards". In footage of the royal visit, Charles and Piers share a laugh before the royal was ushered into the studio to meet hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

News

Stomach-churning footage shows plane struggling to land in intense storm

Terrifying footage shows a number of planes struggling to land at airports across Europe as they face 144km winds. One clip reveals the moment a propeller plane is blown from side to side by the storm as it landed at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. Despite the harsh weather conditions, the pilot safely landed the plane using a technique known as “crosswind landing”. The Eurowings Dash 8 Q400 plane was battered in all directions by the wind but the pilot successfully landed it sideways. <iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CI9YthsaL6g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The plane was flying from German island Sylt and held between 70 and 78 passengers. Two other clips show aborted landings. One propeller plane was skidding along the tarmac when the pilot decided to ascend into the air again. The harsh storm, named Friederike, left nine people dead across Europe and shut down transportation in parts of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The storm had winds reach up to 202km as it disrupted the schedules of millions of people.

Travel Trouble

Cruise hell as ship hits storm: “Are we going to die?”

Footage has emerged showing a Norwegian Cruise ship carrying around 4,000 passengers encountering a “bomb cyclone”. The ship was heading to the Bahamas on a two-week voyage to celebrate the New Year, departing from New York on December 29. The footage shows the fierce weather conditions that left passengers struggling to walk and caused flooded hallways. <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/norwegianbreakaway?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#norwegianbreakaway</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CruiseNorwegian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CruiseNorwegian</a> <a href="https://t.co/2q7hmnaS4i">pic.twitter.com/2q7hmnaS4i</a> — Jason George (@JasonGeorge0614) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonGeorge0614/status/948817232431403018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote> As the ship battled the huge waves and strong winds for three days, some passengers vomited, and many said they felt terrified. “Sincerely, it sounded as if the boat was just going to break in two,” passenger Brenda Walsh-Matias told <a href="http://wnep.com/2018/01/09/vacationers-recall-terrifying-cruise-through-noreaster/" target="_blank">WNEP</a>. “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. The waves were over 40 feet (12m) and it was continuous — children crying, people seasick, vomiting all over the boat.” Cruise-goer Christina Mendez told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/norwegian-cruise-line-breakaway-passengers-bomb-cyclone-winter-storm-2018/" target="_blank">CBS New York</a> of her experience on the ship. “It was hell for me,” she said. “Water started leaking and then it became so cold we had popsicles inside our room. Flooding [started] in the bathroom because we were at a tilt. The water just gushed out.” As the situation worsened, passenger Sara Kouri told <a href="http://myfox8.com/2018/01/09/are-we-gonna-die-winston-salem-family-relives-cruise-through-bomb-cyclone/" target="_blank">FOX8</a> that fear quickly spread amongst the travellers. “(A woman was) asking me, ‘Are we gonna die?’” Kouri said. “I just kept saying ... ‘We’re gonna be fine,’ and I had no idea if we were gonna be fine.” Passengers also claimed they were kept in the dark throughout the ordeal, only receiving vague updates from the captain. <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <a href="https://twitter.com/CruiseNorwegian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CruiseNorwegian</a> this is constant noise heard from our balcony room as the storm tried to suck the door completely off our room. The winds and suction were so strong we couldn’t even push our stateroom door open. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorwegianBreakaway?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NorwegianBreakaway</a> .. Any credits being issued? <a href="https://t.co/fHWALZ4BSR">pic.twitter.com/fHWALZ4BSR</a> — robert gear (@robertgear7) <a href="https://twitter.com/robertgear7/status/950430570919669761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2018</a></blockquote> “He never told us where we were, how far from New York, how many miles per hour,” Mendez said. On January 6, the ship returned to New York without any major incidents except the passengers' nightmares from the experience. Norwegian Cruise Line apologised to guests for the experience and has said the company is talking to individual passengers regarding compensation. “We sincerely apologize for your discomfort. The weather along the ship's course was stronger than forecasted. All guests and crew are safe and conditions are improving. The ship’s captain will continue to provide frequent updates to all guests. Feel free to DM us for more info,” wrote the cruise line on Twitter.

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Cruise hell as ship hits storm: “Are we going to die?”