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Make your kitchen dreams a reality with Dream Doors

If you’re dreaming of a kitchen makeover, <a href="https://www.dreamdoors.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dream Doors</a> is here to turn that dream into a stunning reality. This innovative brand has made waves in the kitchen renovation scene, offering a range of solutions that fit every homeowner’s style and budget. Whether you want a quick facelift or a full renovation, Dream Doors has got you covered. <h2>Versatile kitchen solutions</h2> One of the best things about Dream Doors is their flexibility. They offer both cost-effective kitchen facelifts and full renovations, making it easy for you to choose what works best for your home. Their signature kitchen facelift service is perfect for those who want to refresh their space without breaking the bank. By replacing doors, handles, benchtops and splashbacks – while keeping the existing structure intact – Dream Doors can give your kitchen a brand-new look at a fraction of the cost and time of a complete overhaul. If you’re looking for something more extensive, their full kitchen renovations are tailored just for you. Their expert team can design and create a custom kitchen that fits your needs, whether you want to stick with your current layout or start fresh. <h2>The Dream Doors difference</h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51680" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/10/dream-doors-kitchens-home-banner_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="487" /> Expert Consultation Dream Doors knows that every kitchen is unique, which is why they offer personalised consultations with their specialist Kitchen Designers. You’ll get a free design consultation where you can share your ideas and get valuable insights on how to make your dream kitchen a reality. Their friendly experts will work closely with you to understand your vision, helping you explore different design options that suit your style and budget. With their guidance, planning your kitchen transformation becomes an exciting journey! Quality and efficiency Dream Doors is all about delivering high-quality results without the hassle. Their simple four-step process makes everything easy: <ol> <li>Free Design Consultation: Collaborate with a Kitchen Designer to create your perfect plan.</li> <li>Site Measure: Get precise measurements for a flawless fit.</li> <li>Fabrication: Custom-made elements using top-notch materials.</li> <li>Installation: Professional installation that’s on time and within budget.</li> </ol> Inspiring transformations Want some inspiration? Check out Dream Doors’ impressive <a href="https://www.dreamdoors.co.nz/before-and-afters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">before-and-after gallery</a>! Their transformations speak volumes about their expertise and creativity. These real-life examples show just how amazing your kitchen can look after a makeover. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51681" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/10/Dream_Doors_Stock_Image_00050_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Affordable luxury Dream Doors understands that renovating your kitchen can be a big investment. That’s why they offer flexible financing options, including interest-free finance for up to 24 months (subject to approval). This means you can enjoy your gorgeous new kitchen now while spreading the cost out over time. National recognition Dream Doors has made quite an impression in the media, too. Their work has been featured on national TV shows like Selling in the City on BINGE & Foxtel on Demand. This recognition highlights just how fantastic their kitchen transformations really are. Join the Dream Doors family If you’re an entrepreneur looking to dive into the home improvement industry, Dream Doors also offers <a href="https://www.dreamdoors.co.nz/franchising/franchise-opportunities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exciting franchise opportunities</a>. As a franchise owner, you’ll benefit from their proven business model and established brand recognition, giving you the support you need to build a successful venture in your local area. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51683" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/10/Dream_Doors_Stock_Image_00062_1280.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Start your Kitchen Journey today! Whether you’re eyeing a quick facelift or dreaming of a full renovation, Dream Doors is ready to help make it happen. Their mix of innovative solutions and expert advice ensures that every project is tailored just for you. Ready to take the first step? Get in touch for an obligation-free quote! The friendly team at Dream Doors is excited to guide you through the process, helping you explore all the possibilities for your dream kitchen. With Dream Doors by your side, you’re not just renovating; you’re reimagining the heart of your home. So why wait? Contact Dream Doors today and start your journey toward a kitchen you’ll love. To find out exactly how Dream Doors can help you re-imagine the most important room in your home, <a href="https://www.dreamdoors.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit their website here</a>, or download the entire <a href="https://www.dreamdoors.co.nz/assets/downloads/product-brochure-v9.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dream Doors brochure here</a>. Images: Dream Doors This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Dream Doors

Home & Garden

Cruise passengers share why you never leave your cabin balcony door open

A couple on a cruise ship have learned the hard way why you should never leave the balcony door in your cruise cabin open and unattended for too long. While on a cruise around the US and docked in the port of Orlando in Florida, the couple took to TikTok to share their "horror" experience of when their cabin filled up with birds. In the video, they opened the door to their room and were swarmed by a flock of birds as they captioned the video, "When you go on a cruise and you come back to a bunch of (bird emoji) everywhere." "Felt like we were living in a horror movie scene. I can breathe now because I can (laugh)about it," the passenger added. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: none; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7423175328480136491&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40greedy810%2Fvideo%2F7423175328480136491&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-pu-sign-useast8.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2FoM5JajVJBIUqbExUAiiApxIM8Af9zqBEi0wBCg%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1729123200%26x-signature%3DC%252F8Xte%252FDJymZpHuGaa4Y8zX%252F6AA%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> The video was taken on the Carnival Freedom cruise ship in the USA, with the couple later posting another video of a room steward catching two birds in a cardboard box. Viewers in the comments were a mix of amused and horrified, as one person wrote, "You're not supposed to leave your balcony door open when you're gone." "You have a whole Alfred Hitchcock movie in your room," another commented, comparing the scene with the film, The Birds. Others speculated that the unusual behaviour of the birds could be impacted by the nearby Hurricane Milton. Image credits: TikTok

Cruising

“I told him not to open it": Flight attendant forced to hold plane door shut

A flight attendant was forced to hold an emergency exit door shut after an allegedly drunk passenger tried to open it shortly after takeoff. Footage shows a female flight attendant with one hand on the plane’s roof and another holding the lever of the emergency exit, after a man allegedly tried to pull it open during their flight from Qingdao, China on Saturday, according to the New York Post. “I told him not to open it,” the flight attendant said to another colleague in Chinese, according to JAM Press. Her colleague then asks the passenger: “Sir, did you open this?” The male passenger looked confused as he started gesturing at the lever. “Why did you open it? Didn’t you know it is prohibited to open this kind of thing?” the flight attendant asked again. But the passenger ignored him and looked down at his phone, as the male flight attendant continued to question him. The passenger eventually admitted that he had been drinking before he tried to grab the lever, and the man eventually had to change seats with another passenger sitting in the same row. He was allowed to remain on the flight, which managed to land safely at Harbin, China without incident. Images: New York Post

Travel Trouble

Huge fallout after panicked passenger opens exit door midflight

Asiana Airlines has immediately stopped offering its emergency exit seats after a passenger opened a door during a flight over South Korea on May 26, sparking panic inside the plane. Passengers will no longer be seated in emergency exit seats on its 174-seat A321-200 aircrafts and the 195-seat A321-200s, as a safety measure. According to airline officials, the man, 33, who opened the door was seated near the emergency exit. During preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old told investigators that he felt suffocated and tried to get off the plane quickly, police reported. Twelve people suffered minor injuries as a result, with air blasting in the cabin and terrifying passengers. Some testified they suffered severe ear pain and saw others screaming and crying. A video shared on social media shows passengers’ hair being whipped by air blowing into the cabin. The emergency exit doors usually cannot be opened mid-flight due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the plane. However, the 33-year-old managed to open the door likely because the plane was flying at a low altitude while preparing to land and there wasn’t much difference to pressure, Asiana Airlines officials report. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> (warning: distressing) A man traveling on an Asiana Airlines flight opened the plane's cabin door minutes before it came in for its planned landing. <a href="https://t.co/QUIUXuVDgD">pic.twitter.com/QUIUXuVDgD</a> — NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1662179612804149249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2023</a></blockquote> The Transport Ministry said the plane was at 213 metres when the man pulled the door open. The aircraft, which was flying to the city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju was carrying 200 passengers and landed safely. Passengers onboard included teenage athletes on their way to a track and field competition, according to Asiana Airlines. The 33-year-old told authorities that he had wanted to get out of the plane because he felt suffocated, Yonhap news agency reported, citing police. Yonhap said the man told police he had suffered stress after losing his job recently. A district court in Daegu has since approved a warrant to formally arrest him. "I wanted to get off the plane soon," the man told reporters at the court ahead of his arrest warrant review. "I'm really sorry to kids," he said, likely referencing the teenage athletes. Daegu police said they have up to 20 days to investigate the man before determining whether to send him to prosecutors for a possible indictment. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for breaching the aviation security law that bans passengers from handling entry doors, emergency exit doors and other equipment on board, according to the Transport Ministry. Those who were taken to hospitals were primarily treated for minor issues such as breathing difficulties. Image credit: Twitter

Travel Trouble

"His door remains open": King Charles "eager" to reconcile with Prince Harry

King Charles is reportedly "eager" to reconcile the fractured relationship with Prince Harry, despite the Duke of Sussex's recent claims. A source close to the monarch shared that King Charles has always shown a willingness to have a healthy and supportive relationship with both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, regardless of the rumours that have frequently been shared. “Those close to the King insist that he has always made clear how much he loves both of his sons, keeping communication channels open throughout the last few years, despite the many barbs from California,” the UK <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/01/03/duke-sussex-wrong-claim-king-charles-has-shown-no-willingness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegraph</a> said, citing sources close to the royal family. Insiders told the British newspaper that Harry’s side of the story was “wrong” adding that Charles, 74, and his younger son, 38, have remained in contact and met up several times during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Their relationship has “occasionally been tense” but the monarch has “reiterated that his door remains open and that the Duke and [Meghan Markle] are welcome at any time,” according to the report. In a recently released trailer for an upcoming interview with Prince Harry, he <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/i-would-like-to-get-my-father-back-prince-harry-s-desperate-plea-to-his-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> the royal family have shown "no willingness to reconcile" the fractured relationship. Harry told ITV’s Tom Bradby in the explosive trailer, “It never needed to be this way. The leaking, the planting, I want a family – not an institution.” “They feel as though it’s better to keep us, somehow, as the villains. I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back.” Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

"You heard it here for the first time": Kate Winslet settles 25-year Titanic debate

Kate Winslet has finally weighed in on what is arguably the biggest debate in cinematic history: was there room for Jack on the floating door at the end of Titanic? The actress, who plays Rose in the film and got prime position on the famous piece of debris, has given her take on if there was space for Jack, played by Leo DiCaprio before his demise. Speaking on the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/happy-sad-confused/id827905050">Happy Sad Confused Podcast</a>, the 47-year-old actress said, "I don’t f**king know. That’s the answer. I don’t f**king know.” "Look, all I can tell you is, I do have a decent understanding of water and how it behaves." Drawing on her experiences with water sports like paddle boarding, scuba diving and kitesurfing, she says she has a decent understanding of how the ocean behaves. "If you put two adults on a stand-up paddle board, it becomes immediately, extremely unstable. That is for sure," she said. "I have to be honest. I actually don’t believe that we would have survived if we had both gotten on that door. I think he would have fit, but it would have tipped and it would not have been a sustainable idea." "So, you heard it here for the first time," she exclaimed. "Yes, he could have fit on that door. But it would not have stayed afloat. It wouldn’t." The debate resurfaced in recent weeks after Titanic director James Cameron commissioned a forensic analysis on the famous scene. Speaking to the <a href="https://torontosun.com/">Toronto Sun</a>, Cameron said he got experts to replicate the scene in order to "put this whole thing to rest and drive a stake through its heart once and for all." He said, "We took two stunt people who were the same body mass as Kate and Leo and we put sensors all over them and inside them and we put them in ice water and we tested to see whether they could have survived through a variety of methods and the answer was - there was no way they both could have survived. Only one could survive." Image credits: Paramount Pictures / Getty Images

Movies

Am I ever gonna see your face again? Nuanced and thoughtful, Kickin’ Down the Door puts The Angels back in the spotlight

When I was a kid, my dad Max took me to basketball games at Melbourne’s Entertainment Centre. I’d wait in my plastic bucket chair as the cheerleaders shook their pom poms and the teams did lay ups. The music was loud, and around the time everyone had found their seats, one song would often come on. It opened with a wailing, single note guitar, followed by a chunky, palm muted riff, driving along until bursting into the chorus when the vocals would demand “Am I ever gonna see your face again?” And as I licked my lemonade icy pole I’d delight as the whole stadium would <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/australia-culture-blog/2014/apr/15/australian-anthems-the-angels-am-i-ever-gonna-see-your-face-again">chant back</a> “No way, get fucked, fuck off.” I had no idea the band was called The Angels. I didn’t know they were supposed to be the next AC/DC but didn’t quite “make it”. The intense relationships at their core were lost on me. I was just delighted by how wild it felt, this song the audience owned, breaking rules, answering back. A new documentary, Kickin’ Down the Door chronicles Australian band The Angels across four decades, from suburban Adelaide to the gloss of <a href="https://themusic.com.au/news/iconic-alberts-music-studios-to-be-torn-down-to-make-way-for-luxury-apartments/wSnS1dTX1tk/08-10-15">Albert Studios</a>and beyond. The classic Oz rock vibe is omnipresent: dudes, riffs, volume. But this story’s star quality is how hard it works to showcase the band from both front of house and backstage, offering something far more nuanced than the well-thumbed tale of these national music icons. <h2>Finding intensity</h2> The documentary centres on the songwriting team of the Brewster brothers, vocalist Bernard “Doc” Neeson, and a revolving cast of drummers, bass players and producers. The themes are what you might like in a documentary about Australian rock ‘n’ roll: journeys to adulthood, mateship, resistance, lashings of hope, dollops of luck. Interviews from the band and their nearest and dearest sidle up against archival footage with cute animations bridging scenes. There’s the ubiquitous drop-in from a couple of international names to provide cred – thankfully a Bono-free endeavour. There’s a slither of pre-hat Molly Meldrum. The eye candy of 70s and 80s Aussie life abounds. The songs are central to Kickin’ Down the Door, but rock ‘n’ roll has always been about theatre, and front man Doc Neeson’s lead in creating an unsettling intensity at live shows lifted The Angels beyond the meat and potatoes of standard Oz rock. In one scene, the lighting guy talks about how Doc used silence and darkness as a tool of intensity – the antithesis of rock show bombast. <h2>A complex portrait</h2> Like The Angels did with rock ‘n’ roll, Kickin’ Down the Door offers a key change in the way it positions the people behind the scenes. Director Madeleine Parry has brought together a complex web of relationships pivoting on creative jubilation, obligation, devotion and estrangement. At an early gig, the Brewsters’ mother is recalled as dancing on a table in a “sea of blokes”. These were her boys, who could do no wrong. Mothers, girlfriends, wives and children are elevated close to the story’s centre, anchored within the nostalgic rhythm of white suburban Australian life to contrast with the band’s sprint – then marathon – to rock ‘n’ roll stardom. Beyond the band bubble, everyone’s sacrifice is apparent. “We all supplied the stability while they chased the dream,” says Neeson’s then partner. In bringing women to the front, Parry frames the main players as multi-dimensional, emotional and expressive. The intensity of volume, riffage and flamboyance sits in dialogue with each band members’ reflections to present the way that “performance” seamlessly slides across gender and genre. This deep thoughtfulness shines through the dizzying foray of complex legal and financial arrangements bands can be thrown into, setting them up with lifelong debt. This is the persistent myth of “luck” in rock ‘n’ roll. This myth grinds against the power imbalance inherent in an incredibly competitive, brutal and sometimes hedonistic global business culture. For decades, rock ‘n’ roll has relied on the exploitation of artists who sacrifice family, health, economic security and friendships to have sustainable careers. This documentary skilfully weaves the devastation that comes when these pressures evaporate years of work for bands and their teams. It isn’t so much a story about the big bad music industry swallowing up another Australian wanna be. Rather, it is a well-crafted assemblage of the pervasive way rock ‘n’ roll’s mystique works behind the scenes, prioritising profits over health and wellbeing, and the sustainability of artists and their families. <h2>The sonic legacy</h2> Undoubtedly the biggest names now in Australian guitar driven music – Amyl and the Sniffers, Courtney Barnett, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Tame Impala – are part of the sonic legacy of bands like The Angels. But they also show a marked shift in how they do business when courting international markets, maintaining elements of independence and control that The Angels had no blueprint for. This current crop of bands also show we are on the road to far better gender representation of what contemporary rock music looks and sounds like. And in other genres, artists like Baker Boy, Genesis Owusu, Barkaa and Jaguar Jonze continue to contest and take ownership of “the sound” of Australian music. Incidentally, I never went on to play basketball. I picked up an electric guitar instead. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/am-i-ever-gonna-see-your-face-again-nuanced-and-thoughtful-kickin-down-the-door-puts-the-angels-back-in-the-spotlight-194057" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Music

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

Liz Truss has resigned as UK Prime Minister after just 44 days in the top job. 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. 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. A leadership election will be held in the next week to find Truss’ replacement but until then she will remain Prime Minister. 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. Opposition Leader Keir Starmer said the Tory "soap opera" was damaging the country's economy and the issue needed to be sorted. "We can't have a revolving door of chaos," he told the BBC. "We can't have another experiment at the top of the Tory party. "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." Liz Truss’ Full Speech “I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability,” she said. “Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills. “Putin's illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent. “And our country had been held back for too long by low economic growth. “I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this. “We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance. “And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy – that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit. “I recognise though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. “I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party. “This morning I met the Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady. “We have agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed in the next week. “This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country's economic stability and national security. “I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen. “Thank you.” Image: Getty

News

"You opened the door to hell": Epstein victims address Ghislaine Maxwell as she is sentenced

Content Warning: This article discusses Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting and grooming four teenage girls who were sexually abused by her then-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein. At her sentencing hearing in Manhattan federal court, the 60-year-old showed no emotion as she was sentenced early Wednesday (Australia time). Before learning the sentence, four of the survivors read out victim impact statements, describing the abuse they faced at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein, as well as the long term emotional impacts they have experienced as a result. “For a long time I wanted to erase from my mind the crimes that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell committed against me … but I’ve had to acknowledge the long-lasting effects,” Annie Farmer, the fourth victim to take the stand, said, breaking into tears during her statement. “One of the most painful and ongoing impacts of Maxwell and Epstein’s abuse was the loss of trust in myself.” Sarah Ransome, Elizabeth Stein, and the accuser known as “Kate” also shared their statements, while the attorney for Virginia Giuffre read out her statement in court. Standing up at a Plexiglass-enclosed lectern, Maxwell described Epstein as a “manipulative, cunning and controlling man” who fooled everyone around him and said she was “sorry” for the pain his victims experienced. “It is my greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein,” she said. “I also acknowledge that I have been convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes. “And despite the many helpful and positive things I have done in my life and will continue to do … I know that my association with Epstein and this case will permanently stain me.” However, she attempted to shift the blame onto Epstein, emphasising that he “should have been here before all of you”, echoing arguments her lawyers made that she had been scapegoated for Epstein’s crimes. This is despite her involvement as the person to introduce the victims to Epstein and statements from victims describing her abusing them as well. During sentencing, US Circuit Judge Alisan Nathan said Maxwell didn’t appear to express remorse or take responsibility for her actions. “Maxwell directly and repeatedly and over the course of many years participated in a horrific scheme to entice, transport and traffic underage girls, some as young as 14, for sexual abuse by and with Jeffrey Epstein,” Judge Nathan said. “The damage done to these young girls was incalculable.” The sentencing comes after Maxwell was convicted of five of six charges laid against her in December 2021, which followed a month-long trial and 40 hours of deliberation by jurors. Maxwell was convicted of: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> sex trafficking, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> conspiracy to entice individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> conspiracy to transport individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Transportation of an individual under the age of 17 with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, and, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of individuals under the age of 18. </li> </ul> Prosecutors last week called Maxwell’s conduct “shockingly predatory” and said she deserved to spend at least 30 years behind bars, based on their interpretation of sentencing guidelines. Maxwell’s lawyers argued that she should be sentenced for no more than five and one-quarter years, due to her being scapegoated and the time she has already spent in prison since her arrest in July 2020. However, her official sentence is far lower than the maximum possible sentence of 55 years that she could have received. Judge Nathan calculated that the sentencing guidelines called for 15.5 to 19.5 years in prison, but delivered a higher sentence due to the victims’ disturbing testimony and Maxwell’s “direct and repeated participation in a horrific scheme”. “Miss Maxwell is not punished in place of Epstein,” she said. “Miss Maxwell is being punished for the role that she played.” Image: Getty Images

Legal

Digital inequality: why can I enter your building – but your website shows me the door?

When people hear the term “accessibility” in the context of disability, most will see images of ramps, automatic doors, elevators, or tactile paving (textured ground which helps vision impaired people navigate public spaces). These are physical examples of inclusive practice that most people understand. You may even use these features yourself, for convenience, as you go about your day. However, such efforts to create an inclusive physical world aren’t being translated into designing the digital world. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A large wheelchair sign is visible to the left of a wheelchair ramp." /></a><figcaption>New buildings are required to comply with a range of physical access requirements, which may include tactile paving (seen in yellow). Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Accessibility fails Digital accessibility refers to the way people with a lived experience of disability interact with the cyber world. One example comes from an author of this article, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-07-13/dark-patterns-online-captcha-accessibility-disability-community/11301054" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott</a>, who is legally blind. Scott is unable to purchase football tickets online because the ticketing website uses an image-based “CAPTCHA” test. It’s a seemingly simple task, but fraught with challenges when considering accessibility issues. Despite Scott having an IT-related PhD, and two decades of digital accessibility experience in academic and commercial arenas, it falls on his teenage son to complete the online ticket purchase. Screen readers, high-contrast colour schemes and text magnifiers are all assistive technology tools that enable legally blind users to interact with websites. Unfortunately, they are useless if a website has not been designed with an inclusive approach. The other author of this article, Justin, uses a wheelchair for mobility and can’t even purchase wheelchair seating tickets over the web. He has to phone a special access number to do so. Both of these are examples of digital accessibility fails. And they’re more common than most people realise. We can clearly do better The term “disability” covers a spectrum of <a href="https://www.apsc.gov.au/working-aps/diversity-and-inclusion/disability/definition-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physical and cognitive conditions</a>. It can can range from short-term conditions to lifelong ones. “Digital accessibility” applies to a broad range of users <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/people-use-web/abilities-barriers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with varying abilities</a>. At last count, nearly <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in five Australians (17.7%)</a> lived with some form of disability. This figure increases significantly when you consider the physical and cognitive impacts of ageing. At the same time, Australians are becoming increasingly reliant on digital services. According to a <a href="https://www.pwc.com.au/consulting/connected-government/potential-of-digital-inclusion.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 survey</a> by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, 45% of respondents in New South Wales and Victoria increased their use of digital channels during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, research undertaken by <a href="https://www.infosys.com/australia/digital-accessibility-journey/executive-summary.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Infosys in December 2021</a> found only 3% of leading companies in Australia and New Zealand had effective digital accessibility processes. But have we improved? Areas that have shown accessibility improvement include <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/inclusive-design-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media platforms</a> such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, food ordering services such as <a href="https://www.afb.org/aw/20/4/16411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uber Eats</a>, and media platforms such as the ABC News app. Challenges still persist in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognizant/2022/03/03/how-to-make-online-banking-disabled-people-friendly/?sh=21a3d5dda4a5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online banking</a>, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Websites-critiqued-on-accessibility-to-disabled-customers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel booking sites</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahkim/2020/12/30/accessibility-of-online-shopping/?sh=66a9d883e49e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shopping sites</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10209-021-00792-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">educational websites and content</a>. Data from the United States indicates lawsuits relating to accessibility <a href="https://www.essentialaccessibility.com/blog/web-accessibility-lawsuits">are on the rise</a>, with outcomes including financial penalties and requirements for business owners to remedy the accessibility of their website/s. In Australia, however, it’s often hard to obtain exact figures for the scale of accessibility complaints lodged with site owners. <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/publications/overlooked-consumers-20-australian-population-disabilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This 1997 article</a> from the Australian Human Right Commission suggests the conversation hasn’t shifted much in 25 years. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=257&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=257&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=257&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=323&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=323&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=323&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A rendered illustration of a disabled man in a wheelchair and woman with a hearing aid lifting weights." /></a><figcaption>It’s a human right to have fair and equal access to the web and all its services. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> There are solutions at hand There’s a clear solution to the digital divide. The World Wide Web Consortium’s <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Web Content Accessibility Guidelines</a> (WCAG) standard has been widely adopted across the globe. It’s universally available, and is a requirement for all Australian public-facing government websites. It guides website and app developers on how to use web languages (such as HTML and CSS) in ways that enable end users who rely on assistive technologies. There are no specialist technologies or techniques required to make websites or apps accessible. All that’s needed is an adherence to good practice. Unfortunately, WCAG is rarely treated as an <a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/web-accessibility-laws-australia-new-zealand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enforceable standard</a>. All too often, adherence to WCAG requirements in Australia is reduced to a box-ticking exercise. Our academic work and experience liaising with a range of vendors has revealed that even where specific accessibility requirements are stated, many vendors will tick “yes” regardless of their knowledge of accessibility principles, or their ability to deliver against the standards. In cases where vendors do genuinely work towards WCAG compliance, they often rely on automated testing (via online tools), rather than human <a href="https://zoonou.com/resources/blog/why-automated-accessibility-testing-tools-are-not-enough/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testing</a>. As a result, genuine accessibility and usability issues can go <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262352732_Benchmarking_web_accessibility_evaluation_tools_Measuring_the_harm_of_sole_reliance_on_automated_tests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unreported</a>. While the coding of each element of a website might be WCAG compliant, the sum of all the parts may not be. In 2016, the Australian government adopted <a href="https://www.accessibility.org.au/policy-and-research/australian-policy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">standard EN 301549</a> (a direct implementation of an existing European standard). It’s aimed at preventing inaccessible products (hardware, software, websites and services) entering the government’s digital ecosystem. Yet the new standard seems to have achieved little. Few, if any, references to it appear in academic literature or the public web. It seems to have met a similar fate to the government’s <a href="https://www.governmentnews.com.au/national-transition-strategy-web-accessibility-in-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Transition Strategy</a> for digital accessibility, which quietly disappeared in 2015. The carrot, not the stick Accessibility advocates take different approaches to advancing the accessibility agenda with reticent organisations. Some instil the fear of legal action, often citing the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1RbzjUBT1s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maguire v SOCOG case</a>, where the 2000 Olympic website was found to be inaccessible. In a more recent example, the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-05/blind-woman-launches-court-action-against-coles-over-its-website/5869874?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manage v Coles settlement</a> saw Coles agree to make improvements to their website’s accessibility after being sued by a legally blind woman. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Screenshot of the top of Coles's 'accessibility' section on the company's website, with a red Coles logo on the top-left." /></a><figcaption>After getting sued by a legally blind customer in 2014, Coles made improvements to its website’s accessibility features. Screenshot/Coles</figcaption></figure> In the Coles case, the stick became the carrot; Coles went on to win a <a href="https://www.accessibility.org.au/award-winners-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national website accessibility award</a> after the original complainant nominated them following their remediation efforts. But while the financial impact of being sued might spur an organisation into action, it’s more likely to commit to genuine effort if this will generate a <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/business-case/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">positive return on investment</a>. Accessible by default We can attest to the common misconception that disability implies a need for help and support. Most people living with disability are seeking to live independently and with self-determination. To break the cycle of financial and social dependence frequently associated with the equity space, governments, corporations and educational institutions need to become accessible by default. The technologies and policies are all in place, ready to go. What is needed is leadership from government and non-government sectors to define digital accessibility as a right, and not a privilege. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/182432/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/scott-hollier-1337594" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott Hollier</a>, Adjunct Senior Lecturer - Science and Mathematics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/justin-brown-1344442" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Brown</a>, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), School of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edith Cowan University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-inequality-why-can-i-enter-your-building-but-your-website-shows-me-the-door-182432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Technology

Russia 0, Door 1: Soldier’s shocking defeat blows up online

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine wages on, a battle between a Russian soldier and a door has <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/russia-ukraine-war-hapless-russian-soldier-loses-fight-against-door/I246LNFUTCXAE3Q2OVUSJ34Y7A/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resulted</a> in a crushing defeat. A clip of the incident from Yeshiva World News reported Moshe Schwartz has gone viral online, with the interaction dubbed the Battle of Techno House. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> At the Battle of Techno House, the door secured a decisive victory against Russian forces <a href="https://t.co/QnMowf5T7l">https://t.co/QnMowf5T7l</a> — 🇺🇦 Sid Chambers, PhD 🇺🇦 (@ArtfulTakedown) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtfulTakedown/status/1499180997526663174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2022</a></blockquote> The soldier, reportedly in Kherson, Ukraine, is seen attempting to gain access into a store. When his first attempts fail, the soldier smashes the glass on the door but that also fails. Seemingly exasperated, the soldier tugs on the door handle before accepting defeat and walking away. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Geolocation confirmed. 46.65046, 32.60758 <a href="https://t.co/bfjntnsPsG">https://t.co/bfjntnsPsG</a> <a href="https://t.co/fYUZxlLZGo">pic.twitter.com/fYUZxlLZGo</a> — GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeoConfirmed/status/1499153094076153860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2022</a></blockquote> The soldier, reportedly in Kherson, Ukraine, is seen attempting to gain access into a store. When his first attempts fail, the soldier smashes the glass on the door but that also fails. Seemingly exasperated, the soldier tugs on the door handle before accepting defeat and walking away. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/03/FM3zsz5WYA0bOOl.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="1176" /> A Wikipedia page was allegedly created documenting the incident. Image: <a href="https://twitter.com/SwarmDMX/status/1499122912493809670" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> The page said the incident ended with a “decisive” victory for the door, and that casualties and losses included “ammunition, pride and a window”. One video of the incident was viewed more than a million times in one hour and attracted thousands of comments joking about an otherwise grim situation. It comes as Russian forces have captured the strategically significant hub of Kherson, the first to be captured since the invasion began last week. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Grandmother shot dead after opening her front door

Police investigating the shooting of a Newcastle grandmother in her home have say they have “a number of lines of inquiry” to pursue. Stacey Klimovitch, her 31-year-old daughter, and her eight-week-old granddaughter were inside the home when Ms Klimovitch was shot. It’s understood the 61-year-old briefly argued with the shooter before they fired the weapon through the screen door. Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey described the incident as “horrendous”. “An innocent person has answered the front door of a home and she’s been shot in the chest and killed in the presence of a relative and a child,” he said. “It doesn’t get any worse.” Mr Humphrey said he believed the attack was targeted but that the alleged shooter’s motives were still unknown. NSW Police said they were called to the Stockton home just after 8pm on Wednesday, June 9. On Thursday, specialist forensic police continued to probe the scene after a crime scene was established. It’s understood the attacker fled the scene on foot and is still at large. Ms Klimovitch’s best friend and neighbour said she spoke to the “brand new” grandmother moments before she was attacked. “I’ve never heard a gunshot but there was no mistake what it was,” the neighbour told 9News. “That’s when I heard the noise and the screaming. I tried to call her and couldn’t get her on the phone. The neighbour said Ms Klimovitch was “so happy to be a brand new grandmother.” “I’m going to miss her. Things like this shouldn’t be allowed to happen,” she said. Community members have posted in Facebook groups questioning whether more police patrolling the streets could have prevented the attack. “Stockton, the place that once had a beautiful beach, now has no beach but plenty of car break-ins, drugs, assaults, and now murders,” Ben Davidson wrote. “An unattended police station is not working … Things need to change.” Police have launched Strike Force Backhouse to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. NSW Police have also urged anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the nearby area to contact Newcastle police or Crime Stoppers. Image: news.com.au

News

Secret doorway from 17th century unearthed in parliament

A secret doorway dating back more than 350 years has been discovered in the House of Commons in the UK. The entrance, once used regularly, is believed to have been one diarist Samuel Pepys and Robert Walpole, the first de facto prime minister used as a means to get in and out of parliament. The hidden walkway was found as part of the ongoing AU$7.8 billion restoration project in parliament and was originally created for Charles II's coronation in 1660, so guests could go to the new king's celebratory banquet. Later, MPs used it to access the Commons, which was originally held in the medieval Palace of Westminster before a fire broke out in the 19th century and ripped apart a good amount of the structure. Westminster Hall was the only part to survive, and it would be where those at the helm of restoring a once well-used part of parliament would discover the secret doorway. For the last 70 years, it has sat stagnant and forgotten about, hidden behind wooden panelling in a cloister that was formerly used as offices by the Labour Party. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: "To think that this walkway has been used by so many important people over the centuries is incredible. "I am so proud of our staff for making this discovery and I really hope this space is celebrated for what it is - a part of our parliamentary history." Graffiti written by bricklayers who helped architect Sir Charles Barry restore the palace in the wake of the 1834 fire was also found in the room. One sentence, dated 1851, reads: "This room was enclosed by Tom Porter who was very fond of Ould Ale." Scroll through the gallery to see the hidden walkway found in parliament. Images: UK Parliament

International Travel

"I want to get out": Panic as man tries to open door mid-flight

A man who was suffering from a panic attack was restrained by fellow passengers after attempting to open the door of the plane mid-flight. Without warning, an agitated man tried pulling on the lever on the door at the back of the plane screaming “I want to get out!” in broken English. It was here that his fellow passengers intervened, but it wasn’t until half a dozen air stewards rushed down the aisle with one carrying handcuffs that the passengers felt safe. Ian McNally, who first spotted what was happening, was shaken up by the incident, but praised the efforts of another passenger. “I was mightily relieved when I saw him rushing to help,” he added. Another witness who did not want to be named was frozen in panic, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/03/man-restrained-after-trying-to-open-door-of-ba-aircraft-in-midair?CMP=aff_1432&utm_content=The+Independent&awc=5795_1575396722_23a2856c3503f3524c8a7f4b83339901">The Guardian</a>. “I thought that was it,” he said. “Everyone who intervened were heroes.” Passenger Dean Whyte, who is a shocking 2 metres tall and a boxer, also intervened with the anxious man, telling him to “calm down”. “It was like something out of a movie. When I got there, he was shouting ‘I want to get out’ in broken English. “I managed to grab him and was preparing to slam him hard if necessary but myself and the steward could see he wasn’t quite right in the head, so I held him and tried to calm him down. Eventually it worked.” Whyte later took a screenshot of the article from The Guardian and said that he was just “happy I was there to help”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Just Happy I Was There To Help<a href="https://t.co/613bYU1ZRi">https://t.co/613bYU1ZRi</a> <a href="https://t.co/TlrtXY7RRm">pic.twitter.com/TlrtXY7RRm</a> — Dean Whyte (@DeanWhyte8) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanWhyte8/status/1201791740409241600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2019</a></blockquote> A British Airways flight attendant said that they had “never seen anything like that before”.

Travel Trouble

Singapore's historic Raffles Hotel reopens its doors

Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel has finally reopened its doors to the public after two years of extensive revamp and restoration. The historic 132-year-old grand dame, which was designated a national monument in 1987, returned to business earlier this month with new updates and additions such as revitalised guest suites, fresh coating and marble flooring, and a new lineup of restaurants. General manager Christian Westbeld said while the scale of the overhaul was unprecedented, the hotel retained its neo-Renaissance architectural style. “The hotel is a lot fresher. Areas look a lot brighter, they look a lot lighter, they look a lot more inviting and approachable, which is something that we wanted to achieve,” Westbeld told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/singapore-raffles-hotel-reopening/index.html">CNN Travel</a>. “[But] we didn’t lose the architectural charm, the colonial heritage … That’s the biggest plus and I think the thing people will notice first. Yet at the same time we’ve modernized in a way that is deserved for the current Singapore time and era we’re in.” He told <a href="http://www.traveller.com.au/raffles-the-toast-of-singapore-and-its-sling-h1gnws">Traveller</a>, “Raffles Singapore is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world. “[Its] restoration has been carefully designed to preserve its unique historic charm, while creating extraordinary experiences for our esteemed guests.” The multi-million-dollar renovation project was led by design firm Champalimaud. Edmond Bakos, managing director at the firm told <a href="https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/new-old-raffles-hotel-reopens-after-2-year-renovation-heres-how-it-looks-inside">The Straits Times</a>, “The goal was to bring the hotel to the next chapter, not to completely change it.” The hotel now has 115 suites, up from 103 before the renovation. Westbeld said apart from “more comfortable” rooms, guests will also now be assigned a butler as their main point of contact for services ranging from spa appointments to restaurant reservations. Raffles’ food and beverage lineup has also been shaken up. The famous Royal Blue China and The Halia were replaced with new concepts such as contemporary Chinese outlet Yi from chef Jereme Leung and Mediterranean sharing and grill restaurant BBR by Alain Ducasse. The dining space previously hosting Raffles Grill has also been transformed into La Dame de Pic, opened in partnership with decorated French chef Anne-Sophie Pic. Old favourites making a comeback include The Long Bar, Tiffin Room, The Lobby, Writers Bar, Raffles Courtyard, and Ah Teng’s Cafe.

International Travel

Why your grandkids should never sleep with the door "cracked open"

It’s an age-old trick parents and grandparents have been doing to get children to sleep at night, and that is to crack open the door slightly to let light in. But now, firefighters are advising against the seemingly innocent practice, saying it could be the difference between life and death during a fire. Taking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/CSHFD/posts/2301360923254324?__tn__=H-R" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department posted a safety warning. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCSHFD%2Fposts%2F2301360923254324&width=500" width="500" height="783" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Sharing a photo of two doors side-by-side, the firefighters wrote: "As a parent it’s hard to convince little kids to sleep with the door closed, they always want it open just a little. I do a lot of fire prevention at schools, so one thing I try and stress to the kids is, how important it is to sleep with the doors closed. "The photos below are a great example of the importance of keeping bedroom doors closed while sleeping. The door pictured in both photos is a hollow core door to a bedroom. While the front of the door is severely damaged, the closed door protected the bedroom and its contents. If this were an occupied bedroom the closed door could have saved a life.'' A number of parents were grateful for the advice, saying that from now on, they’ll be closing their child’s door fully during bedtime. Others were sceptical, saying that closing the door entirely is impractical. "Kids who can't sleep with the door shut are alarmed kids who need to reduce separation with their parents at night, the open door is the most they can do because they can at least hear their parents. Ooh yes, alarming them even more by the threat of a fire will surely get them to sleep better,'' said one user. "If I closed the door my kids would scream bloody murder,'' said another. Some were concerned about the likelihood of a fire starting in their child’s bedroom, saying that if the door was closed, they wouldn’t be able to hear the alarm on time. "See I always worry that the fire could start in their room and the smoke detector won't pick it up if the door is closed. Or that it may start outside of the rooms and that we won't hear the alarm in time if the doors are closed... Now I just don't know what to do....'' said a parent. The fire department issued a response which included fire safety tips for the entire family. "Smoke detectors should be placed in both common areas and bedrooms of the house!" the fire department commented. "Fire drills in the house are just as important as ones in school. That is also a big thing I speak about. It is always good to have a 'meeting place' outside. Maybe a mailbox or tree in the front yard!" What do you think? Do you agree with the firefighters, or do you think children should still crack the door open? Let us know in the comments below.

Caring

Panic as ill passenger opens plane door during flight

Passengers on a Frontier Airlines flight received the shock of their lives after an ill passenger managed to open the cabin door as the plane was taxiing, deploying the emergency slide on the taxiway. The incident occurred as the plane was scheduled to leave Cancun in Mexico for St Louis, Missouri, reported <a href="https://www.foxnews.com">Fox News</a>. One passenger aboard the flight, Andy Karandzieff, explained that the incident started after the passenger vomited. “We were in the front row and a gentleman behind us started throwing up.” Mr Karandzieff said the man then left his seat distressed and began banging on the cockpit door, prompting the crew to reseat him. However, the sick passenger left his seat again and managed to open the cabin door, automatically deploying the emergency slide. According to Fox8, the passenger was also fighting off a flight attendant. Passenger Kathleen Ingham wrote on Facebook: “Thank God for the brave men and women who held him in the plane or he for sure would have been sucked into the engine.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkathleen.ingham.3%2Fposts%2F2401345276546453&width=500" width="500" height="586" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Police were then called to escort the passenger from the airport and transport him to a hospital. The sick passenger’s mother, who was not on the flight, said the man and his father were returning home after enjoying a trip to Cancun. She suggested that her son may have consumed a drink that had been spiked as he was attacked the night before. The mother explained that her son had been struck on the head after being attacked in his hotel. Passengers on the flight were moved to other flights or given hotel rooms to stay in overnight. What is the scariest thing that has happened to you on a plane? Let us know in the comments below.

Travel Trouble

Is it a beach or a door? Infuriating new optical illusion baffles internet

A new optical illusion asking people whether they see a beach or a door has left the internet baffled. The photo, shared on Twitter by social app <a href="https://twitter.com/9GAG/status/1033927593752449025">9GAG</a>, asks its followers: “Is this a door, or a beach?” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Is this a door, or a beach? Don't let this become the next 'Black and Blue Dress' please<a href="https://t.co/4HN5KOrUgu">https://t.co/4HN5KOrUgu</a> <a href="https://t.co/lhqYgTAjd8">pic.twitter.com/lhqYgTAjd8</a> — 9GAG (@9GAG) <a href="https://twitter.com/9GAG/status/1033927593752449025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2018</a></blockquote> If you look at the photo vertically, the image looks like a section of a door: the blue being part of the door, the turquoise the frame, and the cream the concrete surround. But once you flip the image horizontally, it looks like a stretch of beach with a crystal blue sky, turquoise waters and cream coloured sand. <img width="634" height="414" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/30/10/4F85F61B00000578-6113599-image-a-9_1535621318449.jpg" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-5f88ec537d8c576"/> The image quickly divided social media users, with both sides putting forward compelling evidence for their side. It is not yet known whether the image is a beach or a door – but what do you see?

Art

Passengers' horrifying shock as door falls off plane

Passengers have received a horrifying shock after the door of a plane fell off shortly after landing. The Dana Air flight had just arrived in Abuja from Lagos, Nigeria, when the emergency exit door fell off, causing a “poof-like explosion”. “The flight was noisy with vibrations from the floor panel. I noticed the emergency door latch was loose and dangling,” passenger Dapo Sanwo said, according to the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42990141" target="_blank">BBC</a>. “When we landed and the plane was taxiing back to the park point, we heard a poof-like explosion, followed by a surge of breeze and noise. It was terrible.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Flew Dana. Exit door was unstable throughout the flight. As we touched down it fell off. Scary stuff. <a href="https://t.co/eDtTlNi2TZ">pic.twitter.com/eDtTlNi2TZ</a> — Ola Brown(Orekunrin) (@NaijaFlyingDr) <a href="https://twitter.com/NaijaFlyingDr/status/961145206140821507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2018</a></blockquote> “The cabin crew tried to say a passenger pulled the hatch which everyone denied. They also tried to get us to stop taking videos or pictures.” <blockquote class="twitter-video"> Scary. Another airliner off my list.. <a href="https://t.co/hYADIA08Xu">pic.twitter.com/hYADIA08Xu</a> — CAB van der Vinne (@JoopvanderVinne) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoopvanderVinne/status/961252487503196161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2018</a></blockquote> One passenger, Igah Dagogo, told CNN that he noticed that the door was not properly latched before takeoff. “I was one foot away from the emergency exit door, so I could see the handle was popping out,” Dagogo said. “We informed one of the air hostesses who insisted that it was locked.” Dagogo said that when the door fell, it almost hit a passenger. “The man by the door had to shift because the door would have hit him. When he shifted the door now fell on the floor of the plane,” he said. He added, “I wonder what would have happened if the door fell off midair.” Ola Orekunrin was also onboard the flight and told CNN that she noticed the door had been “unstable” through the whole flight. However, Dana Air denied the door incident was due to mechanical issues and instead pinned the responsibility on a “passenger”. “We wish to state categorically that this could never have happened without a conscious effort by a passenger to open it,” the airline said in a statement. The airline also claimed that when the aircraft was airbone, the door could not be “shaking” because it was “fully-pressurised”. “A thorough inspection was however carried out on the said aircraft upon landing in Abuja by our engineers and a team from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and no issue was reported. There was also no threat to safety at any point. “A thorough investigation of the concerned passenger is ongoing.” This is not the first time Dana Air has been under fire for safety issues with the airline crashing in 2012 and killing all 153 people on board.

Travel Trouble

Ex-butler reveals what really goes on behind closed doors in Buckingham Palace

If you’ve ever visited London and stood at the gates of Buckingham Palace, you’ll no doubt have wondered, what’s going on in there? The royal family – Her Majesty in particular – are notoriously private, so when former butler Richard Kerrigan decided to spill some of those royal secrets, we couldn’t help but pay attention. Speaking to Kyle & Jackie O on KIIS FM, the 30-year-old opened up about the rather unusual circumstances in which he first met the Queen. “I was actually on one of the tables, standing on top of it because one of the flowers had snapped off the big vases,” he recalled. “I had these special overshoes, so I was walking up and down the 180-people table... did a double take over my shoulder and there’s [her] majesty.” “I was in her house, I was thinking this was quite a normal thing but she’s checking to make sure everything suits her... With the events, we see her all the time. “She [usually] sits on the other end of the table so she has her own staff to look after her. The [guests of honour] would be on the other end.” And if you thought preparing for a dinner party or Christmas lunch was a lot of effort, spare a thought for the royal table-setters. “They take a couple of days to lay. It can take up to two days to lay a table,” Kerrigan revealed. “There’s lots of massive vases, water glasses and cutlery all in at equidistant to the table and plates. There’s a ruler that kind of goes on a circumference so you can see the right angle. So basically when you look down on the side of the table, you can make sure everything is exactly in place.” But life as a royal butler was a lot stricter than Kerrigan could ever imagine. He once got caught trying to take a photo of himself wearing his uniform when he was stopped by security. “I tried to snap a selfie, not in the actual hall but in the downstairs where we get changed. I tried to take a picture and instantly, they took it off me,” he said. “I just wanted it for mum, to show her.” Kerrigan also had the honour of working at Prince Charles and Camilla’s 2005 wedding. “It was an amazing experience,” he said. “The security was heightened through that because it was a prestigious event. But it was great, it was amazing to be rubbing shoulders. But after a while, you kind of do get used to it and you had to relax.”

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Grandmother shot dead after opening her front door

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"I want to get out": Panic as man tries to open door mid-flight

Singapore's historic Raffles Hotel reopens its doors

Why your grandkids should never sleep with the door "cracked open"

Panic as ill passenger opens plane door during flight

Is it a beach or a door? Infuriating new optical illusion baffles internet

Passengers' horrifying shock as door falls off plane

Ex-butler reveals what really goes on behind closed doors in Buckingham Palace

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Make your kitchen dreams a reality with Dream Doors

Cruise passengers share why you never leave your cabin balcony door open

“I told him not to open it": Flight attendant forced to hold plane door shut

Huge fallout after panicked passenger opens exit door midflight

"His door remains open": King Charles "eager" to reconcile with Prince Harry

"You heard it here for the first time": Kate Winslet settles 25-year Titanic debate

Am I ever gonna see your face again? Nuanced and thoughtful, Kickin’ Down the Door puts The Angels back in the spotlight

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

"You opened the door to hell": Epstein victims address Ghislaine Maxwell as she is sentenced

Digital inequality: why can I enter your building – but your website shows me the door?

Russia 0, Door 1: Soldier’s shocking defeat blows up online

Grandmother shot dead after opening her front door

Secret doorway from 17th century unearthed in parliament

"I want to get out": Panic as man tries to open door mid-flight

Singapore's historic Raffles Hotel reopens its doors

Why your grandkids should never sleep with the door "cracked open"

Panic as ill passenger opens plane door during flight

Is it a beach or a door? Infuriating new optical illusion baffles internet

Passengers' horrifying shock as door falls off plane

Ex-butler reveals what really goes on behind closed doors in Buckingham Palace

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