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King Charles unveils first post-coronation portrait

<p>King Charles has unveiled his first post-coronation portrait in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. </p> <p>The painting by Jonathan Yeo - known for portraits of celebrities including Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton and Grayson Perry - was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’ 50 years as a member of charitable institution The Drapers’ Company. </p> <p>Yeo had four sittings with the King, with the first sitting when Charles was still Prince of Wales in June 2021 at his country home in Highgrove, and the last sitting in November 2023 at Clarence house. </p> <p>The portrait  – approximately 2.6 metres by 2 metres framed – depicts King Charles wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guard. </p> <p>“It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers’ Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his Coronation,” the artist said.</p> <p>“When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I’ve painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject’s role in our public life has transformed.</p> <p>“I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitter’s face.</p> <p>“In this case, my aim was also to make reference to the traditions of Royal portraiture but in a way that reflects a 21st century monarchy and, above all else, to communicate the subject’s deep humanity,” said Mr Yeo.</p> <p>“I’m unimaginably grateful for the opportunity to capture such an extraordinary and unique person, especially at the historic moment of becoming King.”</p> <p>The King and Queen met The Master of The Drapers’ Company, Tom Harris and Past Master, William Charnley on Tuesday at Buckingham Palace. </p> <p>The portrait will go on public display for a month at the Philip Mould Gallery in London, from May 16 until June 14 and will be displayed at Drapers’ Hall from the end of August.</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p> <p> </p>

Art

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Russell Crowe unveils new look not seen in over 20 years

<p>Russell Crowe, the man of many faces – literally, his beard has its own postcode – is making headlines again. Not for his stellar performances or his knack for embodying iconic characters, but for something far more groundbreaking: he shaved.</p> <p>Yes, you read that right. Russell Crowe has gone from grizzly lumberjack chic to smooth operator in what can only be described as a follicular metamorphosis of epic proportions.</p> <p>In a tweet that shook the internet harder than a magnitude 9 earthquake, Crowe proudly announced, "The actor prepares #20. First shave since 2019".</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The actor prepares #20.<br />First shave since 2019. <a href="https://t.co/e48ctxh9GY">pic.twitter.com/e48ctxh9GY</a></p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1759500781642780929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Now, to put this into perspective, in 2019 we were all living in a blissful ignorance of the chaos that awaited us in the years to come. So, the fact that Russell Crowe has finally decided to bid farewell to his facial foliage is nothing short of a miracle.</p> <p>In the accompanying photo, Crowe stares into the camera with the seriousness of a man who has just discovered a rare species of moth living in his beard. His face, now liberated from the tangled web of hair, appears decades younger, causing fans to collectively question if time travel is, in fact, possible.</p> <p>But let's not forget, this isn't Crowe's first rodeo with a clean-shaven face. Even though he cites "2019" in his caption, the last time he showcased such ephemeral smoothness was back in 2012 while promoting <em>Les Miserables –</em> a time when the world was still recovering from the shock of "Gangnam Style" and debating the colour of a certain pinstriped dress. So, it's safe to say, Crowe's clean-shaven look is rarer than a blue moon on a leap year.</p> <p>Of course, fans couldn't contain their excitement. One Twitter user exclaimed, "20 years younger instantly!" Another fan, probably needing a moment to catch their breath after witnessing the transformation, simply stated, "oh THERE you are". And let's not overlook the fan who eloquently remarked, "Looks good! It’s nice to change it up and shave. You have a nice face it was hiding behind all that hair." Ah, poetry in the age of social media.</p> <p>But what prompted this seismic shift in Crowe's appearance? Well, he didn't spill the beans on which movie role necessitated the razor, but we can only imagine the possibilities. Perhaps he's playing a time-travelling barber who inadvertently alters the course of history with each stroke of his razor. Or maybe he's set to star in a reboot of <em>The Santa Clause</em> as the titular character who decides to trade in his bushy beard for a more aerodynamic look. The possibilities are as endless as the hairs on Crowe's chin once were.</p> <p>Whatever the reason, one thing's for sure: Crowe's fresh shave has left an indelible mark on the internet. And as he gears up for roles in everything from historical dramas (he’s pegged to play Hermann Göring in the film <em>Nuremberg) </em>to MMA action flicks (such as <em>The Beast In Me</em>, which traces the life of a commercial fisherman who avenges his brother's death by fighting in a cage match)<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">, we can only hope that his newfound smoothness becomes a permanent fixture.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">After all, in a world of chaos and uncertainty, sometimes all it takes is a clean shave to restore our faith in humanity.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Poker Face / Twitter (X) </em></p>

Movies

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Serena Williams unveils exciting family news

<p>Tennis champion Serena Williams has surprised and delighted fans in equal measure by revealing she and husband Alexis Ohanian are expecting their second child together. </p> <p>The GOAT shared the news on Instagram before walking the Met Gala’s 2023 red carpet, posting a picture of herself and Alexis in their finest evening wear. Serena was glowing in her Gucci gown and pearls alongside her husband in the first picture, before she posed alone, showcasing her baby bump for the rest of the series. </p> <p>In her caption, Serena shared her excitement over the invite offered to “the 3 of us” by Anna Wintour, organiser of the Met Gala. </p> <p>The 2023 star-studded event was paying tribute to late designer Karl Legerfeld with its theme, and <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/stars-lead-the-met-gala-carpet-in-stunning-black-and-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attendees spared no cost in honouring it with their glitz and glamour</a>, and it was style to that same measure that Serena and Alexis took with them as they posed for the cameras lining the carpet.</p> <p>Friends and fans were thrilled, whether they saw the announcement through coverage of the event or on Serena’s social media, with hundreds taking to her initial post to share their excitement, and to congratulate them - and their daughter Olympia - on the happy new addition. </p> <p>While many opted for the simple ‘congratulations’ approach - from the likes of singer Ciara to the official Barbie and Olympics accounts - actor Michael B Jordan could not contain his enthusiasm, writing “AAAAYYYEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!” instead. </p> <p>“What a reveal,” declared the Australian Open. “Congratulations from your AO family!”</p> <p>“Happy for u momma,” shared actor Colton Haynes. </p> <p>Meanwhile, one fan had to admit that they “had to look three times!!! 3x a charm!! Congratulations!!!”</p> <p>Another’s thoughts turned to their excitement for 5-year-old Olympia, writing, “congratulation!!!!! Olympia [is] gonna be a big sister!!!!”</p> <p>“Love this for you and your family!” said another. “Wishin’ you a very healthy pregnancy!!!”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CruD3jjLOPB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CruD3jjLOPB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Serena and Alexis’ happy news came eight months after she made the announcement she would be retiring from professional tennis, wanting to focus on her family.</p> <p>"I have never liked the word retirement,” she said at the time, before going on to note that the term itself didn’t feel particularly ‘modern’ to her. She decided that the best word for her situation may instead be “evolution”.</p> <p>"I'm here to tell you that I'm evolving away from tennis,” she continued, “toward other things that are important to me … soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Astonishing new wax figure of Queen Camilla Consort unveiled

<p>A new tribute to King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla has been unveiled in London ahead of the highly-anticipated coronation.</p> <p>As the Queen Consort prepares for a crowning of her own, Madame Tussauds London has created a wax figure of the 75-year-old wearing a tiara, gown and sash.</p> <p>The statue was first shown on April 27, ahead of being displayed beside one of King Charles’ waxworks.</p> <p>Queen Camilla’s wax figure shows her in a midnight blue dress, made by one of her favourite designers, Anna Valentine, and decked with a royal blue sash and star of the Order of the Garter.</p> <p>The royal is also seen in a replica of the late Queen’s Belgian sapphire tiara and matching George VI sapphire necklace.</p> <p>The necklace was a wedding gift from her father, King George VI when she married Prince Philip in 1947.</p> <p>The Queen Consort was seen in the Belgian tiara at the first state banquet of King Charles’ reign, where they hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at Buckingham Palace in November 2022.</p> <p>Both the royal’s Art Deco engagement ring and Welsh gold wedding band are seen on the figure.</p> <p>"Whilst for many people this will be their first experience of a coronation, the Coronation of King Charles III will be the eighth that Madame Tussauds London has celebrated," General Manager Tim Waters said.</p> <p>"We're incredibly proud of our centuries long link with The Palace and what better way to mark the official start of this new chapter in the history of the British Monarchy than with the creation of our brand new soon-to-be Queen Camilla to stand alongside her husband, The King."</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Art

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World’s 99 best - and worst - tourist attractions unveiled

<p dir="ltr">The world’s top 99 tourist attractions have been ranked, providing people all across the globe with an answer to questions over where they should go next to avoid disappointment. </p> <p dir="ltr">The rankings, compiled by Stasher’s data analysts, took into consideration the likes of online reviews, the quality of local accommodation, distance from international airports, safety for tourists drawn from each country’s Global Peace index rating, and popularity on social media apps like Tiktok. Using this information, each destination was then given a score out of 10, and ranked accordingly. </p> <p dir="ltr">In last place, with a dreadful score of 3.42/10, was Los Angeles’ Hollywood Walk of Fame. Unfortunately for the attraction, this is not the first time it’s taken home the wooden spoon - in 2019, Stasher’s first study placed it at the bottom of the list too. </p> <p dir="ltr">Turkey’s Grand Bazaar came in at #98 with a score of 3.48 - being one of the world’s oldest shopping centres has not proven enough to wow the tourists who stop by. The Taj Mahal, with its distance of 219km from an international airport, took out the 97th spot with 3.83. </p> <p dir="ltr">The USA’s Busch Gardens and South Korea’s Lotte World rounded out the bottom five as #96 and #95 respectively. The former was declared to have the worst quality of local accommodations, and received a score of 4.52. Lotte World fared only slightly better with 4.8 to its name. </p> <p dir="ltr">Things went better for the world’s top 10, and although Australia fell a little short, New Zealand made it to #9 with the Museum of New Zealand claiming 6.9 points. Meanwhile, the Sydney Opera House came in at #17 with 6.67.</p> <p dir="ltr">The third best place in the world to go on holiday? Iceland’s geo-thermal Blue Lagoon. With an overall score of 7.5, this stunning location sees thousands of tourists stop by each year to swim in the blue water in search of its alleged healing and rejuvenating capabilities. </p> <p dir="ltr">In second place was, surprisingly, Disneyland Paris. The resort destination boasts popularity on TikTok, and is considered to have some top quality local accommodation. Additionally, reviews for Disneyland Paris are overwhelmingly positive, leading to an overall score of 7.17. </p> <p dir="ltr">And in first place, taking home the title of the World’s Best Tourist Attraction, was the Hungarian Parliament Building. The building - a majestic sight on its own - received a score of 7.34. Neo-gothic and overlooking the River Danube, it houses Hungary’s National Assembly, and is considered to be one of the city’s must-see tourist spots. </p> <p dir="ltr">To help drive home its ranking, the site’s online reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with 93.4% of them falling into the categories of “Very Good” and “Excellent”. Furthermore, local accommodation is good, and Hungary boasts a reassuring safety rating of 1.4 out of 5.</p> <p dir="ltr">Check out the <a href="https://blog.stasher.com/stasher-reveals-the-worlds-best-worst-tourist-attractions/">full list here</a> to start dreaming up your next getaway. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty, Shutterstock</em></p>

International Travel

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Banksy unveils new works on destroyed buildings in Ukraine

<p dir="ltr">Banksy has unveiled a series of new artworks on the side of partially destroyed buildings in war-torn Ukraine. </p> <p dir="ltr">The elusive street artist created seven artworks in towns surrounding Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, with Banksy confirming to <a href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/11/14/banksy-in-ukraine-seven-new-works-appear-in-war-torn-sites?utm_source=CNN&amp;utm_medium=article">The Art Newspaper</a> that the works did come from him.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first artwork to be identified, which quickly went viral online, shows a female gymnast balancing on a pile of rubble on the side of a building damaged by Russian strikes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The graffiti artist posted three images of the piece Friday on social media, with a simple caption reading "Borodyanka, Ukraine" — an alternative spelling for the town's name.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck1bqL6MsMu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck1bqL6MsMu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Another artwork depicts a little boy, wearing a martial arts uniform tied with a black belt, flipping a grown man onto his back. </p> <p dir="ltr">Some have connected the image to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose honorary black belt was revoked earlier this year by World Taekwondo, though Banksy has not publicly commented on the image or its meaning.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other murals showed two children using a metal tank trap as a seesaw, and a woman in hair curlers and a gas mask holding a fire extinguisher.</p> <p dir="ltr">The series is the first set of Banksy artworks to pop up since last summer's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/banksy-goes-on-a-mural-making-spree-in-england">Great British Spraycation</a>, which saw the enigmatic artist leave behind his signature pop art commentary at sites across a number of British coastal towns.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4011fe22-7fff-3d44-d552-cc3f8ddaaa08"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Art

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Camilla’s new royal cypher unveiled

<p dir="ltr">Buckingham Palace has unveiled the new cypher for Camilla, which she will use as Queen Consort on personal letterheads, cards and gifts.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cypher combines “C” for Camilla’s initial, and “R” for regina, the Latin word for queen beneath a crown, and was designed by calligrapher and Professor in Design Ewan Clayton in collaboration with Timothy Noad, Herald Painter and Scrivener at The College of Arms.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to <em><a href="https://people.com/royals/queen-camilla-receives-cypher-new-royal-rank/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People </a></em>magazine, the 75-year-old’s insignia is her personal property and was selected from a series of designs</p> <p dir="ltr">The Palace also confirmed that the new symbol would be used on the Queen Consort’s cross, which she is due to lay at the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes after the new cypher for King Charles III was revealed in September, with the monarch personally selecting the emblem from a range of designs produced by the College of Arms also created by Mr Noad.</p> <p dir="ltr">Like Camilla’s, King Charles’ emblem features the initial of his first name, “R” for rex, the Latin word for king, and the Roman numeral for three.</p> <p dir="ltr">While adoption of his insignia has been immediate for most things, the king’s insignia will only gradually replace Queen Elizabeth’s “ER II” symbol in other places, such as on postboxes.</p> <p dir="ltr">With 60 percent of the nearly 70,000 current post boxes featuring the late queen’s symbol, per the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63547165" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em>, they will be updated when the post boxes need replacing.</p> <p dir="ltr">There are even some featuring the emblems of Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V and George VI, as the post boxes were installed during their reigns and are still functional.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba89a8c1-7fff-40f2-6581-ac2453575bb9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images / Buckingham Palace</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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The Sydney Opera House unveils historic upgrades

<p id="docs-internal-guid-7079734f-7fff-28f3-48ba-27fd4d3951ee" dir="ltr">After being closed for two-and-a-half years of extensive renovations, the Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall is finally ready to reopen to the public.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since closing in 2020, the venue has seen hundreds of construction workers, acousticians, and experts in architecture and heritage help deliver one of the biggest upgrades in nearly 50 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re thrilled to be welcoming the community back to the renewed Concert Hall,” Louise Herron AM, the CEO of Sydney Opera House, said in a <a href="https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/content/Non-Indexed/media/newsroom/media-release-soh-unveils-historic-concert-hall-upgrade.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Artists and audiences are set to experience world-class acoustics in a venue that is more accessible, safer and better equipped to present the full breadth of 21st century performance.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With more $190 million invested into the renewal project, improving acoustics and accessibility have been two major priorities.</p> <p dir="ltr">The old acrylic ‘donuts’ hanging above the stage have been replaced with magenta ‘acoustic petals’ - matching the Concert Hall seats - while a new lift and passageway now allows for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility to access all levels, including the Northern Foyer and its stunning harbour views.</p> <p dir="ltr">A state-of-the-art sound system and acoustic diffusion panels have also been installed throughout the venue, along with automated stage risers and other technology to make putting on a performance - whether it be an orchestra or musical - that much easier.</p> <p dir="ltr">Its reopening marks the final project in the Opera House’s Decade of Renewal, which has seen the World Heritage-listed building fitted with a range of improvements and new venues, all without interfering with the original concrete and structures.</p> <p dir="ltr">The venue will reopen to the public from July 20, marked by the return of the <a href="https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/sydney-symphony-orchestra/2022/simone-young-conducts-mahler-2.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Symphony Orchestra</a> performing Mahler’s <em>Second Symphony</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Lisa Maree Williams (Getty Images), Daniel Boud, Anna Kucera</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Taronga Zoo unveils HUGE new addition

<p dir="ltr">The Sydney zoo has welcomed a new animal to its menagerie, but it isn’t like the other residents of the zoo - it’s a giant statue of a gorilla.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ca19db92-7fff-8e07-1a3e-b37d790ed72d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>King Nyani</em>, the world’s largest gorilla sculpture, landed at Taronga Zoo after travelling all the way from New York and was brought to the zoo on the flatbed of a large truck.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcM-E-_rm8L/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcM-E-_rm8L/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Taronga Zoo (@tarongazoo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The bronze statue, created by public artists Gillie and Marc Shattner, was inspired by King Kong and depicts a stretched out gorilla with hands that up to three people can sit in.</p> <p dir="ltr">The huge gorilla, which weighs 2.2 tonnes and is 30-metres long, was created to spread awareness of conservation efforts for gorillas and is the third in a series of giant gorillas.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first appeared in New York City in 2020 and now sits in Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, while the second is due to be installed at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We decided to create three editions after seeing the unbelievable response to the original Nyani in NYC. We knew that this was a cause that many people were willing to get behind," Gillie explained.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ec851743-7fff-b6fd-5d95-8fea0a61d49b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">"This was a chance to inspire three times as many people to protect gorillas to save them from extinction.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcPgribhXfr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcPgribhXfr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Taronga Zoo (@tarongazoo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“We wanted to create a sculpture where the public could really get close to the silverback, both physically and emotionally,” Gillie said. “Being able to sit in his hand and look up into his gentle face, we hope they will fall in love and join the movement to save the gorillas.”</p> <p dir="ltr">King Nyani now sits next to the Centenary Viewing Platform, metres away from the zoo’s breathtaking harbour views.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-358a035f-7fff-cc08-abed-5dc98e568701"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Taronga Zoo</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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British Museum unveils female spiritual beings exhibit

<p dir="ltr">A unique exhibition is set to open at the British Museum later this year that celebrates how femininity has been perceived across the globe through history. </p> <p dir="ltr">The exhibit, titled <em>Feminine power: the divine to the demonic</em>, is the first of its kind to be showcased in the British museum. </p> <p dir="ltr">The figures on display range from a Hindu goddess considered the master of death, to a magical Greek enchantress, as the exhibit explores women in both world belief and mythological traditions. </p> <p dir="ltr">The exhibition includes representations of Lilieth, a character from Jewish mythology thought to be the first wife of Adam and later the consort of Satan, as well as Guanyin, the Chinese goddess of mercy.  </p> <p dir="ltr">The idea behind the exhibit is to bring together ancient sculptures, sacred artefacts and contemporary art from six continents to explore how femininity has been portrayed, and how it influenced the way we view women and their power today. </p> <p dir="ltr">For the first time, the British Museum has invited special guest contributors to respond to the themes in the exhibition, sharing their personal and professional viewpoints.</p> <p dir="ltr">The special guests include doctors, professors, activists, authors, lawyers and former members of the British Army, who will share their own stories of feminism, and how they have fought for the rights of women. </p> <p dir="ltr">Muriel Gray, Deputy Chair of Trustees of the British Museum, said, “The Citi exhibition <em>Feminine power: the divine to the demonic</em> is brimming with magic, wisdom, fury and passion.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am very proud that through the breadth and depth of the British Museum's collection, alongside special loans, we can tell such powerful and universal stories of faith and femininity from the most ancient cultures to living traditions around the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the display at the British Museum, the exhibition will be seen internationally, starting at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: The Trustees of the British Museum</em></p>

Art

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Exquisite new portrait of Crown Princess Mary unveiled

<p>Crown Princess Mary has brought her family along to open a very special exhibition that will give fans of the royal an unprecedented look into her life so far.</p><p>Mary, who will celebrate her 50th birthday on the 5th of February, unveiled a new portrait of herself that took her husband's breath away.</p><p>As the cover was pulled away and down, revealing the painting, Prince Frederik was heard gushing in amazement.</p><p>The portrait is now on display at the National History Museum at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, north of Copenhagen, and was created by Spanish-born artist Jesús Herrera Martínez. It contains a subtle tribute to Australia, where Mary was born in 1972.</p><p>The painting was staged in the Crown Princess' study inside her home in Frederik VIII's Palace at Amalienborg. Painted on the wall behind her is a shadow of a eucalyptus tree which is native to Australia.</p><p>On Mary's right hand is her aquamarine cocktail ring, rumoured to have been given to her, along with a pearl choker and earrings, upon her engagement to Prince Frederik.</p><p>The portrait was unveiled as part of the opening of the special exhibition 'HRH Crown Princess Mary 1972 - 2022', created for her birthday. Mary was joined by Crown Prince Frederik and three of their four children - Princess Isabella, 14, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, both 11, for the opening.</p><p>As they arrived the bells of the castle played 'Waltzing Matilda' in another special nod to Australia.</p><p>The family toured the display, which tells the story of Mary's life through personal items, photographs, official portraits and clothing. Mementoes from Mary's childhood in Australia are featured, with Mary and her family taking time to look over the items before moving onto the larger display of her gowns.</p><p>Some of Mary's favourite dresses are on show, including her blue sequined Jesper Høvring gown, a grey Prada dress, the tiered gown she wore for Prince Frederik's 50th birthday celebrations and her white frock by Mark Kenly Domino Tan that she wore in Paris in 2019.</p><p>The Crown Princess will celebrate her 50th on February 5 in private gathering after a planned gala dinner at Rosenborg Castle was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>Recently she took Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine to Copenhagen Zoo to launch the expansion of a new exhibit housing Australian animals, called Mary's Australian Garden.</p><p><em>Image: 9News</em></p>

Art

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Refurbished Big Ben unveiled after five-year renovation

<p dir="ltr">What is most likely the world’s most famous clocktower is now visible after five years hidden behind scaffolding during a renovation, and it’s an amazing sight.</p> <p dir="ltr">Renovations on the tower started five years ago, when it was announced it would be undergoing a £79.7 million reconstruction. The reconstruction included taking apart more than 1000 pieces of the clock face and removing them via a lift shaft in order to clean and repair them; that includes wheels, pinions, bell-hammers and bearings of the clock face.</p> <p dir="ltr">In addition, the clock hands have been restored to their original blue after having previously been painted black to try and mask the dirt from pollution. Most noticeably, the exterior has been repainted a bright and glistening gold, and the overall effect is outstanding.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Maybe it’s been worth the wait? <a href="https://t.co/a1EpBcuMcb">pic.twitter.com/a1EpBcuMcb</a></p> — David Belle (@davidbelle_) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidbelle_/status/1481013484993368069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The Cumbria Clock Company has overseen the refurbishment, working tirelessly in their workshop to clean and repair all of the necessary components. This renovation was the first time the clock mechanism had been removed from its home in the Elizabeth Tower (the structure’s actual name, ‘Big Ben’ is just the bell inside).</p> <p dir="ltr">Cumbria Clock Company director and co-founder Keith Scobie-Youngs wrote on the Parliament website, “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work on the best-known clock in the world. We transplanted the heart of the UK up to Cumbria. We were able to assemble the time side, the heartbeat, and put that on test in our workshop, so for two years, we had that heartbeat ticking away in our test room, which was incredibly satisfying.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It became part of the family and its departure has been like a child leaving home. The beauty of a clock like this is that you as a clockmaker become part of its history and want to leave it in a better place than you found it, so the next clockmaker can appreciate it. We were privileged to become part of the story of Big Ben; everyone at the company feels that attachment to the story.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Work on the tower is not yet finished, however, and is expected to wrap up by British summer, a year later than planned, during the pandemic. While the tower was undergoing its renovation, Ben’s famous bongs only rang out on a select few special occasions, such as New Years and Armistice Day.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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Pope unveils strongest language yet on vaccination

<p>Pope Francis has shared his strongest views on the Covid vaccine, describing it as a "moral obligation", simultaneously denouncing those who have been persuaded by "baseless information" to refuse a life-saving measure.</p> <p>Francis shared his views for the first time in a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See: an annual event that discusses the Vatican's foreign policy goals for the upcoming year.</p> <p>Pope Francis, 85, has previously held back from sharing views on the vaccine, though his Covid-19 advisory body has referred to it as a "moral responsibility".</p> <p>Now however, he has deemed vaccination as "an act of love" and that refusing to get jabbed was simply "suicidal".</p> <p>During his speech, he said that individuals had a duty of care to consider which "translates into respect for the health of those around us".</p> <p>“Health care is a moral obligation,” he said.</p> <p>“Frequently people let themselves be influenced by the ideology of the moment, often bolstered by baseless information or poorly documented facts,” he said, calling for the adoption of a “reality therapy” to correct this distortion of human reason.</p> <p>“Vaccines are not a magical means of healing, yet surely they represent, in addition to other treatments that need to be developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease,” he added.</p> <p>Some Catholics, including conservative US cardinals and bishops, have claimed that vaccines were immoral and have refused to get the jab, based on research that claims vaccines used cells derived from aborted foetuses.</p> <p>However, the Vatican's doctrine office has said that is "morally acceptable" for those in the Catholic faith to get the jab.</p> <p>Francis repeated his call for universal vaccines and health care availabilities for all, especially in parts of the world with low vaccination rates, while also calling for governing bodies to let these countries develop their own vaccines.</p> <p>“It is appropriate that institutions such as the World Trade Organisation and the World Intellectual Property Organisation adapt their legal instruments lest monopolistic rules constitute further obstacles to production and to an organised and consistent access to health care on a global level,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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Tesla unveils new humanoid robot at an awkward event

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk has confused people with his latest tech product launch. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Tesla’s AI Day event, Musk announced his new humanoid “Tesla bot”, which prompted one analyst to call the project a “head-scratcher that will further agitate investors.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The entrepreneur said a 172cm, 56kg prototype robot could be ready as soon as next year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead of waiting until a prototype was ready for the launch, Musk brought out a man in a  latex bodysuit that was created to look like the robot’s design. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a bizarre twist, when the “robot” came on stage, they broke out in a dance routine lasting one minute before Musk took to the stage. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Musk didn’t give many details on the Tesla bot, but insisted it will have a “profound” impact on the economy by driving down labour costs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But not right now because this robot doesn’t work,” Musk noted, nonetheless insisting that, “In the future, physical work will be a choice.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Talk to it and say, ‘please pick up that bolt and attach it to a car with that wrench,’ and it should be able to do that,” Musk said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“‘Please go to the store and get me the following groceries.’ That kind of thing. I think we can do that.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Musk says that the robot’s primary purpose will be to complete tasks that are “boring, repetitive and dangerous”, giving more free time to individuals who can afford the robot.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After onlookers raised concerns, Musk said the robot will be designed so that humans can easily run away from or overpower it if needed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Tesla CEO said the robot, which has been named Optimus, will run off the same chips and sensors as Tesla’s so-called Autopilot software, which has faced intense backlash from federal regulators and politicians. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Twitter users reacted to the news of the Tesla bot with an abundance of memes, saying the idea seemed to be straight out of a movie that does not end well for humankind. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Check out the unusual “prototype” unveiling below:</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TsNc4nEX3c4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images/Youtube</span></em></p>

Technology

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Unveiling the world’s first underwater art sculpture park

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The world’s first underwater sculpture park has been unveiled off the coast of Cyprus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sunken forest by the Museum of Underwater Sculpture in Cyprus (MUSAN) was created by Jason deCaires Taylor, and cost roughly $1.6million to bring to life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The incredible park is made up of 93 sculptures: some of which weigh up to 13 tonnes. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With his newest installation, Jason aims to put the spotlight on "rewilding our natural spaces" and "reforesting areas of barren habitat" through the complicated relationship between people and nature. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason spoke with CNN Travel, and said the installation was inspired by issues the world is currently facing. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I tried to incorporate as many references to climate change and habitat loss and pollution as I could, because those are really the defining issues of our era."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, "I'm kind of hoping that it leaves the visitor with a sense of hope along with a sense that the human impact isn't always negative. That we can reverse some of the things we've done.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each of the sculptures was lowered below the surface by cranes, and were placed at such a depth so that the areas may be “enriched” over time by their presence. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MUSAN is accessible to divers and snorkellers, and Jason hopes that it will bring more visitors to the marine protected area of Cyprus, which he describes as having "some of the best visibility I've ever been in."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason is currently working on new installations for Australia's Museum of Underwater Art in Townsville, and northern Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef, which has lost half of its corals over the past two decades.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram @jasondecairestaylor</span></em></p>

Art

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Harry and William’s brotherly feud set aside for Princess Diana’s big unveiling

<p>The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex set aside their rumoured long-standing feud to pay homage to their late mother, Princess Diana, for what would have been her 60th birthday.</p> <p>In a joint tribute, the royal brothers said: "Today, on what would have been our mother's 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.</p> <p>"Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.</p> <p>"Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, Pip Morrison and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive."</p> <p>The event marked the first time both the Duke of Cambridge and Sussex have been pictured together since the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April.</p> <p>Prince Harry travelled all the way to the UK from Los Angeles last Friday in order to undergo a period of isolation before attending the event.</p> <p>William and Harry, who looked dapper in dark suits with ties, and first greeted the chairman of the statue committee Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.</p> <p>The royal brothers looked at ease as they shared a laugh with the ex-Army officer.</p> <p>Harry was also able to reunite with his mother's siblings, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes and Earl Spencer.</p> <p>The royal statue of Princess Di proved to be a remarkable gesture, and is engraved with the royal's name and the date of the unveiling.</p> <p>A paving stone in front is engraved with an extract after the poem <em>The Measure of A Man</em>, which was in the programme for the 2007 memorial service for the Princess.</p> <p>It reads: "These are the units to measure the worth<br />"Of this woman as a woman regardless of birth.<br />"Not what was her station?<br />"But had she a heart?<br />"How did she play her God-given part?"</p> <p>The stunning bronze statue shows Diana in her later years, surrounded by three children.</p> <p>In a statement, Kensington Palace said: "The statue aims to reflect the warmth, elegance and energy of Diana, Princess of Wales, in addition to her work and the impact she had on so many people.</p> <p>"The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales is surrounded by three children who represent the universality and generational impact of the Princess' work.</p> <p>"The portrait and style of dress was based on the final period of her life as she gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes and aims to convey her character and compassion."</p> <p>William could be heard saying "ready?" to his little brother before they both pulled off the cloth and the guests applauded.</p> <p>The brothers were seen speaking to the Sunken Garden's designer, Pip Morrison, who said the garden was a “calming place”.</p> <p>"We have worked carefully to ensure that the new layout and planting scheme complements the statue, providing a calming place for people who visit Kensington Palace to remember the Princess.”</p> <p>Sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley also honoured the late royal, saying: "Diana, Princess of Wales was an icon who touched the lives of people right around the world, so it has been a privilege to work alongside Prince William and Prince Harry on this statue which commemorates her life.</p> <p>"We wanted to capture her warmth and humanity while showcasing the impact she had across generations. I hope that people will enjoy visiting the statue and the Sunken Garden, and taking a moment to remember the Princess."</p> <p>Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, was also spotted at Kensington Palace for the emotional unveiling, and called the brief ceremony “intimate, moving and peaceful.”</p> <p>"To have had a lovely summer's day today with the roses and geranium in full bloom was just perfect.</p> <p>“We were standing here in February up to our knees in mud, at that point we didn't think we would ever get to this day."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Lip reader reveals exactly what William said to Harry during statue unveiling

<p>The unveiling of a statue to commemorate what would have been Princess Diana's 60th birthday took place this week, with all eyes on the feuding royal brothers, Prince William and Prince Harry.</p> <p>Now, a professional lip reader has revealed the 'word of warning' the Duke of Cambridge said to his younger brother.</p> <p>Moments before the ceremony took place at Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace, lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the Daily Star, William gave a stern warning to Harry, telling him "I didn't want anything to go wrong. It's important we unveil it right."</p> <p>The pair commissioned the statue to honour their late mother four years ago, and appeared to stare fondly at it during the ceremony.</p> <p>Over 4,000 flowers were planted in the princess's favourite garden, taking 1,000 hours to complete.</p> <p>The brothers haven't been spotted together since the funeral of their great-grandfather, Prince Philip, in April.</p> <p>John Cassidy, another lip reader told The Sun, the brothers appeared to be quite jovial in their exchange, claiming the older prince marvelled at the touching tribute, saying "Great isn't it? Amazing little place."</p> <p>However, body language expert Judi James says the brothers united front appeared to be "overworked."</p> <p>"Emerging side-by-side their smiles did appear slightly over-worked at first but one very telling trait was how their body language was mirrored," she told The Sun.</p> <p>"This kind of mimicry suggests strong subliminal bonds, hinting that old ties still bind them despite their current rifts," she continued.</p> <p>During the ceremony, the brothers released a poignant statement, celebrating their mother's legacy.</p> <p>"Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy," they said.</p> <p>The statue will be open to the public to visit in line with Kensington Palace's opening hours.</p>

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Nicole Kidman overjoyed as 18-storey portrait is unveiled in Sydney

<p>A huge, 18-storey hand-painted portrait of Nicole Kidman has been unveiled over the weekend in Sydney, to celebrate the release of her new series, The Undoing.</p> <p>On Monday, Kidman was filled with joy as she saw the artwork in person for the first time at the famous Kings Cross street.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHoUS9VJVvE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHoUS9VJVvE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"WOW! Thank you Sydney for celebrating #TheUndoing It's back tonight xx," she captioned alongside a picture of her standing below the giant mural.</p> <p>The painting took 11 artists and over 400 hours to complete. It was placed on the side of the apartment building, Top of the Town, in Darlinghurst on Saturday and has made history for being the largest hand-painted mural in the Southern Hemisphere.</p> <p>The portrait is the size of an Olympic swimming pool and was commissioned by BINGE to celebrate Kidman’s new series.</p> <p>In the theme of the series, Kidman's portrait will "come undone" as it unravels into a second artwork from today, Tuesday November 17.</p> <p>The project is temporary. The building will be painted over and restored back to its original state on November 23.</p> <p>The Undoing, which Kidman stars in alongside actor Hugh Grant, tells the story of a Manhattan couple who are embroiled in a murder mystery.</p>

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