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Comic makes headlines after taking on landlord

<p dir="ltr">Australian comedian Tom Cashman is looking to start a trend that could help revolutionise the rental market.</p><p dir="ltr">While on his search for a new apartment in Sydney, Tom was successful on an application for a property that “wasn’t my favourite”, but he decided to seize his opportunity. </p><p dir="ltr">Tom emailed the real estate agent handling the rental property to request something he’s “never asked for before”. </p><p dir="ltr">He went on to ask the agent for a “landlord reference”, which would involve the landlord of the property providing feedback from a past tenant. </p><p dir="ltr">Tom argues that turning the tables on the rental application dynamic could make for a more honest and informed arrangement from both the landlord and prospective tenants. </p><p dir="ltr">“It occurs to me I’ve never heard anyone ask for this, but they [the landlord] ask me for like three references to see if I’m a good guy; what about them?” Mr Cashman said in the social media post.</p><p dir="ltr">“Are you [the landlord] a good guy? Are you going to fix stuff? Are you going to reply to my emails, or are you just going to ignore me once I’m in there?”</p><p dir="ltr">Documenting the experience on his social media accounts, Tom updated his followers when he got a response from the leasing agent. <span id="docs-internal-guid-9e472c85-7fff-8c1a-34a6-58cb28966910"></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;margin: 1px;max-width: 540px;min-width: 326px;padding: 0;width: calc(100% - 2px)" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CZbDSh4lIDa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"><div style="padding: 16px"><div style="flex-direction: row;align-items: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px"> </div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px"> </div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0"> </div><div style="height: 50px;margin: 0 auto 12px;width: 50px"> </div><div style="padding-top: 8px"><div style="color: #3897f0;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: 550;line-height: 18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0"> </div><div style="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"><div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"> </div></div></div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px"> </div></div><p style="color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;line-height: 17px;margin-bottom: 0;margin-top: 8px;overflow: hidden;padding: 8px 0 7px;text-align: center"><a style="color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: normal;line-height: 17px;text-decoration: none" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CZbDSh4lIDa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tom Cashman (@tomcashman1)</a></p></div></blockquote><p dir="ltr">The agent asked for clarification on what Tom meant, and when he elaborated, the agent claimed the landlord did not want to provide a reference, saying it was “not a requirement”.</p><p dir="ltr">After more back and forth via email, Tom was shocked when his previously successful application to rent the property was withdrawn. </p><p dir="ltr">Since his experience has gone viral, the Real Estate Institution of Australia has backed Tom’s idea, saying a landlord reference is a “reasonable request”.</p><p dir="ltr">“I think it's quite a reasonable request for a tenant to say, 'Look, I just want to get a bit of a feel for how the landlord is. Are they popping in all the time unannounced? Are they purporting to be looking at the garden or something like that?” Real Estate Institute of Australia president Hayden Groves <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-04/the-renter-who-asked-for-references/100802402">told the ABC</a>. </p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram @tomcashman1</em></p>

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Prince Harry refers to "darkest of places" in new Netflix documentary

<p>Prince Harry refers to the "darkest of places" in the latest Netflix documentary <em>Rising Phoenix</em>, which focuses on the creation of the Paralympics and the challenges competitors have faced.</p> <p>To promote the new documentary, Harry appeared via Zoom alongside other athletes.</p> <p>"There isn't anything else in the world that can bring you back from the darkest of places than sport," the Prince explained.</p> <p>Other athletes in the group included Tatyana McFadden and Matt Stutzman from the US, Bebe Vio from Italy, Jean-Baptiste Alaize from France and Ntando Mahlangu from South Africa.</p> <p>"With COVID and everything else that is happening at the moment, your stories and the strength that you guys show, is incredible and that needs to be seen more," the Duke of Sussex says.</p> <p>"It needs to be spoken about more, to try and get rid of the stereotyping to get rid of those preconceptions.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The Duke of Sussex spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RisingPhoenix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RisingPhoenix</a> stars <a href="https://twitter.com/ArmlessArcher?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArmlessArcher</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jbalaize?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jbalaize</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TatyanaMcFadden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TatyanaMcFadden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VioBebe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VioBebe</a> and Ntando Mahlangu about the power of sport to change the world and the way we think.<br /><br />Rising Phoenix – the extraordinary story of the <a href="https://twitter.com/Paralympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paralympics</a> - is out now on Netflix. <a href="https://t.co/Kzq0COg6RF">pic.twitter.com/Kzq0COg6RF</a></p> — HTYT Stories (@HTYTstories) <a href="https://twitter.com/HTYTstories/status/1301523211667099649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>"My biggest hope is that people will watch this film and go, 'No matter how hard my life is, no matter how hard a day or a week can be, this what I aspire to, not just for me but for my family and all the loved ones around me'.</p> <p>"It is that element that I think will end up changing the world, so well done and thank you very much."</p> <p>The Duke of Sussex is a long-time advocate for overcoming adversity as he created the Invictus Games, which gives wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women the chance to compete in sports to assist their recovery and rehabilitation.</p> <p><em>Rising Phoenix</em><span> </span>is now available to watch on Netflix.</p>

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Prince William’s touching reference to Princess Diana

<p>Prince William touched down in New Zealand to honour the victims and survivors of the horrific Christchurch terror attack that saw the death of 50 people.</p> <p>The solo trip by the royal saw a touching and heartfelt reference to his own personal tragedy, the death of his mother Princess Diana in 1997.</p> <p>While discussing loss in a touching speech at the Al Noor Mosque where 42 people were killed, the royal said: “A terrorist attempted to sow division and hatred in a place that stands for togetherness and selflessness.</p> <p>“He thought he could redefine what this space was. I am here to help you show the world that he failed.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwtsuyRliUZ/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwtsuyRliUZ/" target="_blank">A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal)</a> on Apr 26, 2019 at 2:39am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Further, the Duke of Cambridge addressed his own grief after losing his mother as well as the pain felt by those affected by the Christchurch tragedy.</p> <p>“I have had reasons myself to reflect on grief and sudden pain and loss in my own life. And in my role, I have often seen up close the sorrow of others in moments of tragedy, as I have today,” he said.</p> <p>“What I have realised is that of course grief can change your outlook. You don’t ever forget the shock, the sadness and the pain.</p> <p>“But I do not believe that grief changes who you are. Grief – if you let it – will reveal who you are.</p> <p>“It can reveal depths that you did not know you had. The startling weight of grief can burst any bubble of complacency in how you live your life and help you to live up to the values you expose. That's exactly what happened here in Christchurch.</p> <p>“An act of violence was designed to change New Zealand, but instead the grief of a nation revealed just how deep your wells of empathy, compassion, warmth and love truly run.”</p> <p>Earlier that day, Prince William met with survivors of the Christchurch terrorist attack – some of whom who were still in hospital.</p> <p>This is not the first time the royal has visited Christchurch, New Zealand.</p> <p>He last visited the humble city in 2011 following the Christchurch earthquake which killed 185 people.</p>

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The subtle reference to Meghan’s divorce in the royal wedding invitations

<p><span>The final details are coming together as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding on May 19 draws closer.</span></p> <p><span>One of the latest details to be revealed about the wedding are the traditional invitations that have been sent to guests, with <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5553565/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-wedding-invite-includes-subtle-nod-divorce.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>MailOnline</strong></span></a>’s etiquette expert William Hanson noticing one subtle reference hidden in the copy. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The invitations follow many years of Royal tradition and have been made by <a href="https://twitter.com/BarnardWestwood?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BarnardWestwood</a>. They feature the Three-Feathered Badge of the Prince of Wales printed in gold ink. <a href="https://t.co/cd7LBmRJxO">pic.twitter.com/cd7LBmRJxO</a></p> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/976828794249076737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p> <p><span>On the invites issued in Prince Charles’ name, Meghan is referred to as “Ms” Markle, where as in 2011, the Duchess of Cambridge was referred to as Miss Catherine Middleton.</span></p> <p><span>“The royal household, in particular the Queen, has never before acknowledged the honourific Ms – regardless of whether it was being used to signify a divorced woman or one who did not feel her marital status was of importance,” said Hanson.</span></p> <p><span>“It was first used in connection to Meghan in the November engagement announcement and since then has been used throughout the royal household's communications, on press releases, invitations and social media.</span></p> <p><span>“I would imagine Meghan herself has asked to be styled accordingly and that there is no slight intended on Prince Harry's fiancée. It is another subtle sign that the royal household is moving with the times."</span></p> <p><span>Meghan was previously married to film producer Trevor Engelson, with the pair marrying in 2011 after seven years of dating.</span></p> <p><span>Three years later the couple divorced citing irreconcilable differences, with some claiming it was due to clashes in their work schedules.</span></p> <p><span>Prince Harry and Meghan’s invites were shared with the public last week and were produced by company Barnard &amp; Westwood, which has held a Royal Warrant for Printing and Binding by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen since 1985.</span></p> <p><span>The invites read, “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales KG KT requests the pleasure of the company of....... at the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales with Ms Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday 19th May, 2018 at 12 Noon followed by a reception at Windsor Castle.”</span></p> <p><span>It is expected that 600 guests will attend the wedding service and then enjoy a lunchtime reception at St George’s Hall, held by the Queen.</span></p> <p><span>Later, 200 guests are invited to a private reception at Frogmore House given by Prince Charles.</span></p>

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