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How the Eiffel Tower grew six metres this year

<p dir="ltr">The Eiffel Tower has grown a whopping six metres in just one day, after a new communications antenna was attached to the top by a team of engineers.</p> <p dir="ltr">The digital radio antenna was taken to the top of the Iron Lady by helicopter and fixed on, taking the looming structure from 324 metres to 330 metres tall, as reported by the <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/the-eiffel-tower-grows-even-higher-thanks-to-new-antenna/VPMOIA7FBPLYDS2S6S63BE3H7Y/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-96312ded-7fff-7b9e-5a5b-77cbc3a8d53b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Though it may seem like a minor event to tourists, Jean-François Martins, the Eiffel Tower company’s president, said it was a historic moment in the tower’s 133-year history.</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/CbIesarMOXL/?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/CbIesarMOXL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tour Eiffel (@toureiffelofficielle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a historical moment this morning because the Eiffel Tower is getting higher, which is not so common,” Mr Martins told the Associated Press.</p> <p dir="ltr">“From the invention of the radio at the beginning of the 20th century to right now, decades after decades, the Eiffel Tower has been a partner for all the radio technology.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-eb85e943-7fff-9532-fd9e-955519d87e29"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">But when the Eiffel Tower was first inaugurated in 1889 - when it was just 312 metres high - it wasn’t a hub for tourists or meant to be a permanent attraction.</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/CbLDZ0uoP_Q/?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/CbLDZ0uoP_Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tour Eiffel (@toureiffelofficielle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Originally built as a main attraction at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair, the structure caused controversy in the art world and was meant to be taken down after 20 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">As Parisians began to welcome its bold design, its creator, Gustave Eiffel, saved it from deconstruction by making it an enormous antenna for wireless broadcasting.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Eiffel Tower’s <a href="https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/eiffel-tower-and-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, the structure’s creator intended for it to be a hub for science, with barometers, anemometers, lightning conductors and even a meteorology office added to it on the day it was inaugurated.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, it also broadcasts 45 TV channels and 32 radio stations across the region, thanks to its various emitters and installations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Visitors can also see the names of 72 French scientists engraved on the tower, including the chemist Henry Louis Le Chatelier (the namesake of a principle of thermodynamics) and Léon Foucault (who was credited with naming the gyroscope and demonstrating how the Earth rotates).</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f75a0536-7fff-afc0-3b45-08076a8c7c19"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @toureiffelofficielle (Instagram)</em></p>

Technology

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World’s tallest athlete towering in Tokyo

<p>The world’s tallest athlete Morteza Mehrzad, who competes sitting down, is 246cm tall and he’s part of the Iranian men’s sitting volleyball team which is on track for back-to-back gold medals at the Paralympics.</p> <p>The middle-eastern nation has dominated the sport for decades — winning six of the past eight gold medals in the men’s game — but it’s the addition of Mehrzad which has made the team even more unbeatable.</p> <p>The 33-year-old is the second tallest man alive and the tallest Paralympian in history.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.12648221343875px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843639/tallest-athlete-2-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3b9a155aa6764bbe9dc77eaf510d451a" /></p> <p>In a sport where players with a variety of ailments sit down and try to get the ball over the net which is approximately 1.15m off the floor, it’s very easy for Mehrzad.</p> <p>Iran will meet the sport’s other powerhouse Bosnia Herzegovina in the semi-finals on Thursday night in a rematch of the gold medal game in Rio four years ago.</p> <p>On that occasion, Mehrzad made the difference and Iran won the medal.</p> <p><strong>Iran’s coach asked Mehrzad to join</strong></p> <p>Iran’s coach Hadi Rezaeigarkani saw Mehrzad on a TV program about physical disorders and got in contact with him, asking him to join the team.</p> <p>He took up the sport nine years ago and made his international debut in 2016 and immediately started winning awards. He’s only improved, continuing to dominate at the Paralympics.</p> <p>Even sitting down, when Mehrzad raises his right arm, it reaches a height of 1.93 metres. When spiking — the term used to describe a forceful attacking shot to get the ball over the net — he can get his dominant hand up to 2.3m in the air.</p> <p><strong>It’s not all good news for the Iranian sports star</strong></p> <p>While it’s easy to see why Mehrzad would be happy with his progress, it isn’t all good news for the Iranian superstar.</p> <p>He suffers from acromegaly - a medical condition which arises from the brain’s pituitary gland producing too much growth hormone after the body’s growth plates have closed. By the age of 16 he was already over 1.9m tall.</p> <p>Mehrzad rarely stands up though because he seriously injured his pelvis in a bike accident as a teenager, meaning he now spends significant amounts of time either on crutches or in a wheelchair.</p> <p>His right leg has stopped growing and it’s about 15cm shorter than his left. The sad reality is that while he’s helping his teammates to win and bringing recognition to his country in Tokyo at the moment, his condition does not bode well for his long term future.</p> <p>A spokesperson for his team said: “His health is not going well. His health is currently declining because he’s getting taller. I think he’s still growing. The first time we saw him he could walk better but now he has to walk with crutches.”</p> <p>But now is a time for Mehrzad and his team to focus on the positives. Iran has won six gold medals and two silvers across the past eight Paralympics, and with Mehrzad’s help, it looks likely they’ll be heading home from these Games with some more medals as well.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

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Would you climb a 47-metre tower for a free car lease? In Norway, you can

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At 47 metres high, the tallest free-standing climbing tower in the world has opened in Norway, and car company Ford’s new campaign has brought it additional attention.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After opening in June this year, professional climbers were invited to try and reach the top of the tower, with the fastest climber taking home a free two-year lease on a Ford Explorer PHEV.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The company even crane-lifted their newest model onto the top of the tower, sitting on top of a special platform that supports the weight of the plug-in hybrid car.</span></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/CR8cy0XgSIy/?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/CR8cy0XgSIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ford Norge (@fordnorge)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ford’s Explore New Heights challenge saw 14 climbers compete after successfully completing a qualifying test.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing the footage to their Instagram page, Ford eventually found a winner.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the clip, many of the climbers can be seen losing their grip and combating the jumps and obstacles designed by champion climber Martin Mobråten.</span></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/CSG0pIUAPUZ/?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/CSG0pIUAPUZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ford Norge (@fordnorge)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eventually, Leo Ketil B</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ø</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">e, 21, managed to score the free lease with a time of three minutes and 33 seconds.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Any who made it to the top alongside Leo were rewarded with breathtaking views across the Skagerrak, a strait running between Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Visit Norway</span></em></p>

International Travel

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How to skip the line at the Eiffel Tower (and other famous landmarks)

<p>Don’t let your experience be ruined by a line! Here’s how to avoid them.</p> <p><strong>Buy your tickets online</strong></p> <p>Don’t make the mistake of just turning up and joining the line. Go to the official website (toureiffel.paris) up to two months in advance, choose your half hour time slot between 9am and 930pm, and book your ticket for just €15. Beware of other third party sites that will try to sell you these same tickets at a big markup.</p> <p><strong>Join a tour</strong></p> <p>Even if you’re not a tour kind of person, now is a good time to get onboard. Many private tour companies will let you skip the queue as part of your package. Plus you’ll get the added bonus of an expert guide to give you all the inside info on the tower itself.</p> <p><strong>Get a Paris Passlib</strong></p> <p>The Paris Convention and Visitor Bureau has recently launched a special tourist pass that covers entry to lots of the city’s best attractions for one flat fee. You can book a one-, three- or five-day Paris Passlib and get entry to museums and galleries, plus a bus tour and one-hour boat ride. For an extra €15 you can add a fast track Eiffel Tower ticket.</p> <p><strong>Have a meal</strong></p> <p>Did you know there are two restaurants inside the Eiffel Tower? The casual 58 Tour Eiffel is on the first level and the formal Le Jules Verne is on the second level, and both have separate entrance lines from the main tower. A set lunch at 58 Tour Eiffel starts from €42.50 per person and includes a starter, main course and dessert served ‘picnic style’ in a basket, plus a beer or wine – all with a side of stunning views. If you want to splash out, head to Le Jules Verne for an unforgettable lunch or dinner that will set you back around €200.</p> <p><strong>Take the stairs</strong></p> <p>Feeling fit? There’s hardly ever a line for the stairs at the Eiffel Tower so you can make your way up to the first and second level under your own steam. It’s 330 steps to the first level and 670 to the second, and then you can buy a ticket to the top from the short lines there. A stair ticket only costs €7 and attendants never check tickets on the way down, so you can catch a ride back to earth on the elevators.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Last Fri, I was 1 of 700 ppl lucky to zip line at 90km/h, gliding along the 800m-long wire fr the iconic Eiffel Tower <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smashperrier?src=hash">#smashperrier</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris?src=hash">#Paris</a> <a href="https://t.co/PLC85alSIg">pic.twitter.com/PLC85alSIg</a></p> — Hanis Zainul (@nizzkee) <a href="https://twitter.com/nizzkee/status/875552747659165697">June 16, 2017</a></blockquote> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p><strong>And for other attractions?</strong></p> <p>A lot of these tips will work for popular spots like the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay and Notre Dame. Buy a special Paris Passlib with fast track entry, join a guided tour or hire a private guide, or look for alternative entrances that aren’t as popular. Good luck!</p>

Travel Tips

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Adele has tea with Grenfell Tower firefighters

<p>She’s proven herself to be one of the humblest stars in the music world, and on Monday, the always-down-to-earth Adele made a touching gesture to thank the firefighters who worked tirelessly to save lives during the Grenfell Tower inferno.</p> <p>“She just turned up at the station and knocked on the window and said she has some cakes for us,” station manager Ben King told the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40339241" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BBC</span></strong></a>. “So we opened the door to her and then she took her sunglasses off and said, ‘Hi, I’m Adele’. Everyone was so shocked.</p> <p>“She came in, came up to the mess and had a cup of tea with the watch and then she joined us for the minute’s silence.”</p> <p>In a post on Facebook, firefighter Rob Petty described the singer as a “lovely girl, genuinely grounded and interested and humbled.”</p> <p>The “Hello” singer was one of the first famous figures to visit victims at the site of the blaze, comforting survivors at a vigil held the day after the fire.</p> <p>To see the sweet photos from her visit to Chelsea Fire Station, flick through the gallery above.</p> <p><em>Image credit: London Fire Brigade/Facebook.</em></p>

Insurance

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London tower inferno: what we know so far

<p>Early yesterday morning in London, residents of North Kensington’s Grenfell Tower awoke to what authorities are referring to as the worst residential fire in decades. Flames engulfed the 24-storey building, which is home to between 400 and 600 people.</p> <p>Now, nearly 24 hours later, parts of the tower are still ablaze and the death toll stands at 12 people – though this number is sadly expected to rise. 68 others have been taken to hospitals around the city, 18 of whom remain critical.</p> <p>Stories are emerging of incredible acts of heroism as well as horrifying acts of desperation. Witnesses have described a <a href="http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/witnesses-describe-horror-of-grenfell-tower-building-inferno-in-north-kensington/news-story/14c9e6a667f386d2e2bfcb826fec78d6" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">baby being thrown out of a window</span></strong></a> to safety, while one resident — a mother of two — who documented the fire via a live video on Facebook while trapped in her apartment <a href="http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/mother-posts-harrowing-videos-before-flames-engulf-tower/news-story/488ca5e1321541ceeebedfcfbc92d04e" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">has not been heard from</span></strong></a> since.</p> <p>As the community comes to terms with the horrifying inferno and the lives it has claimed, questions are now being raised as to whether the blaze could have been avoided. The Grenfell Action Group has slammed management for its failure to provide adequate fire training, advice and supplies. One long-time resident described the fire as a “mass murder”, claiming he and his neighbours had complained about the tower’s safety for years.</p> <p>The building had recently undergone an $11 million refurbishment to modernise its exterior, and Rydon construction, the group behind the renovations, has stated that all the new cladding and windows “met all required building control, fire regulation, and health and safety standards.”</p> <p>In what has been a horror few weeks for the UK, and London in particular, once again, the community has rallied around those affected by the tragic events. The Kensington and Chelsea council has been inundated with donations of food and supplies, and celebrities have also come out with offers of food and shelter.</p> <p>Jamie Oliver took to Instagram to invite those affected to his nearby Jamie’s Italian restaurant, where they’ll receive free shelter, food and drink. Lily Allen also offered to take victims into her own home and provide them with beds and tea.</p> <p>Others, including former <em>Top Gear</em> host Jeremy Clarkson, New Zealand supermodel Rachel Hunter, singer Rita Ora and many more have also offered their love and support.</p> <p><em>Video c<span>redit: Twitter/Natalie_Oxford via Storyful.</span></em></p>

Insurance

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Butler shares steamy secrets of high-end hotels

<p>It’s incredible to think there are people out there with the means to stay in a hotel room priced at $25,000 a night, but that’s the going rate for people wanting to stay in the Chairman’s Villa at Crown Towers.</p> <p>It’s incredible to think that there are people out there with the means (and inclination) to stay in a hotel room priced at $25,000 a night, but that’s the going rate for people booking a night in the Chairman’s Villa at Melbourne’s Crown Towers.</p> <p>But what happens in the rooms of this five-star hotel?</p> <p>Crispin Hannibelsz, who works as a butler at the exclusive establishment, has shared details about life in the penthouse in an exclusive interview with News.com.au.</p> <p>Here’s a few of his classic stories:</p> <p><strong>1. Abalone</strong></p> <p>“Once I had a guest that required a specific abalone from Perth. So we had to get a private plane to go and pick it up to be delivered ASAP.”</p> <p><strong>2. Rouge wombat</strong></p> <p>“A family requested to see Australian wildlife during their stay but wouldn’t leave their room.</p> <p>We contacted a registered wildlife handler and arranged to have a wombat and koala brought into the hotel. Trying to keep the wombat from eating the $10,000 couch was an interesting task.”</p> <p><strong>3. In-room shopping mall</strong></p> <p>“A celebrity band requested we arrange an in-room shopping experience from a wide selection of luxury retailers. We had to contact each retailer separately and convince them to bring a rack of their latest lines into Crown and be shown in a room full of their competitors. This wasn’t easy however managed to get over 15 retailers into a Crown Villa together and the guests completed their shopping without having to leave their hotel floor.”</p> <p><strong>4. Medieval thrones</strong></p> <p>“During the stay of a well-known celebrity couple we were requested to arrange a surprise medieval-themed birthday party. We had to go with them to costume shops, try on costumes for the guests and staff, sourced thrones for guests to sit at, medieval themed cutlery and goblets ... the whole lot.”</p> <p><strong>5. Surprise over-size private jet</strong></p> <p>“A guest requested to land his private jet — an Airbus A380 — at Essendon Airport. Due to the</p> <p>"size of the aircraft, the runway at Essendon was too small. With little notice to arrange an alternative, we contacted Melbourne Airport and negotiated to rent a private hangar for the landing and sought special permission from airport security to allow his driver to meet the plane.”</p> <p><strong>6. Outsourced marriage proposal</strong></p> <p>“A guest requested an Amazing Race style proposal all around Melbourne, finishing in a</p> <p>hotel room with a diamond ring on the bed. The guest gave us some places that were special to them as a couple and why, then we had to think up some clues and contact each venue to place envelopes in appropriate locations; the guest delivered the ring to our team and we placed it on the bed and kept the last clue with us. When the woman made it to us we escorted her up to find the ring before her partner came in to surprise her.”</p> <p>Source: News.com.au. </p>

International Travel

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John Cleese’s exciting news

<p>For the first time in almost 40 years, legendary British actor John Cleese is set to return to the sitcom world, starring in the BBC’s new comedy series <em>Edith</em>. It will be the <em>Monty Python </em>comic’s first sitcom role since his famous role as Basil Fawlty in <em>Fawlty Towers</em>.</p> <p>The new series, written by Oscar-nominated screenplay writer Charles McKeown, will also star Jason Watkins, Jessica Hynes, Anne Reid, Rosie Cavaliero, James Cosmo and Peter Egan.</p> <p>“If you had carte blanche on your fantasy BBC One comedy cast then you’d not be far off the <em>Edith</em> line-up,” Shane Allen, controller of comedy commissioning at the BBC, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2017/edith" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">remarked</span></strong></a>. “It’s also a huge pleasure to welcome John Cleese back to the land of BBC sitcom – his last one did all right.”</p> <p>Despite appearing in dozens of TV shows since <em>Fawlty Towers</em>, Edith will mark Cleese’s first starring sitcom role in nearly four decades. “These are the most enjoyable scripts I’ve been sent in the last 100 years,” the actor joked. “It will also be particularly nice to work with Alison [Steadman] again since we joined forces in <em>Clockwise</em> all that time ago.”</p> <p>Cleese will star as Phil, the ex-boyfriend of the eponymous Edith, played by Steadman. “Phil dreams of marrying Edith […] But after months of turning him down, on the happy day Edith finally says ‘yes’, there's a knock on the door – and there on the step, with a large suitcase, is her 50-year-old son Roger (Jason Watkins),” the BBC synopsis reads. “He announces that he's left his wife, his kids and his good job at the bank, and come home in an attempt to find his lost happiness again. And in a blink, to Edith's dismay and Phil's fury, all dreams are on hold.”</p> <p>No word yet on when it will air here, but we’re definitely looking forward to seeing Cleese back on our screens. Do you agree? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.</p>

TV

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DIY cubic planter tower

<p>Cool cacti and symmetric succulents are good choices for small pots and as easy-care indoor plants. They need little water and their chunky structural shapes are striking.</p> <p><strong>What you need:</strong></p> <ul> <li>9 pots – the ones used here come from EziBuy and are made of an artificial polymer cement</li> <li>Concrete primer (or similar)</li> <li>Masking tape</li> <li>Paint brush and small roller set</li> <li>Test pots in your choosen colours – we used Resene 'Black', 'White', 'Copper Fire', 'Bullion' and 'Silver Aluminium' and the relevant undercoats for each of the metallics.</li> <li>Concrete sealer (available in flat, satin or gloss)</li> <li>6 plastic pots of a suitable size for your plants</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method:</strong></p> <p><strong>Step 1:</strong> Mask the painted areas in your chosen design. </p> <p><strong>Step 2:</strong> The correct undercoat will depend on the composition of your pots (eg: For cement-based pots, use a concrete primer) </p> <p>Apply the undercoat using a small roller or brush, allow to dry. </p> <p><strong>Step 3:</strong> Top coat with your chosen colours. I used masking tape to create the striped effect.</p> <p><strong>Step 4:</strong> Allow to dry, carefully remove the masking tape. Coat with sealer to provide a more durable finish. </p> <p><em>Written by Rosie Hughes. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a></em>. <strong>Image credit: Rosie Hughes/Stuff.co.nz.</strong></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/01/diy-sprays-to-protect-your-roses-from-aphids/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>3 DIY sprays to protect your roses from aphids</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/12/how-overflowing-waste-affects-you-and-the-environment/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How overflowing waste affects you and the environment</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/12/organic-gardening-myths/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 myths about organic gardening</strong></em></span></a></p>

Home & Garden

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This family was treated to a night in the Eiffel Tower

<p>The Eiffel Tower is a must-see for many tourists visiting Paris but for one British family this week it also became their home for the night.</p> <p>Michelle Stevenson won an overnight stay at the famed landmark in a contest organised by vacation rental website HomeAway in which participants were asked: "What would you do if the HomeAway Eiffel Tower apartment was all yours for a night?"</p> <p>The mother of two autistic sons was among four winners treated to a night in the ephemeral luxury apartment on the structure's first floor with sweeping views of the French capital and a tour through passages closed to the public.</p> <p>"It was for them really because they're fascinated by the Eiffel Tower, the structure and the lights," Stevenson said, referring to her sons.</p> <p>"Being autistic, I think the lights is just the big wow factor for them...It's just something that they'll never do again."</p> <p>To see the apartment they’ll be staying in, check out the video above. Have you ever been to the Eiffel Tower? What’s your favourite part of Paris?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/05/10-breathtaking-restored-images-of-iconic-world-landmarks/" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 breathtaking restored images of iconic world landmarks</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/10-photos-immortalise-the-disappearing-cafes-of-paris/"><strong><em><span>10 photos immortalise the disappearing cafes of Paris</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/04/secret-apartment-eiffel-tower-paris/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The secret apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower</strong></em></span></a></p>

International Travel

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10 best TV shows of the 1970s

<p>Television has certainly changed drastically from back in the day. Instead of family-friendly comedies and sharp homegrown dramas, it seems all we have now are reality shows, soaps and miniseries. Let’s take a look back at some of the series we loved from the golden age of television.</p> <p>How many of these shows did you watch back in the day? Share your memories with us in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/kids-shows-from-the-50s/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Best kids’ TV shows from the 50s</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/shocking-facts-about-tv-shows/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 shocking facts you didn’t know about your favourite TV shows</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/the-waltons-where-are-they-now/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>The Waltons: where are they today?</em></strong></span></a></p>

TV

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Dubai's Burj Khalifa builder plans even taller viewing tower

<p>Dubai is reaching for the sky once again, with the developer of the world's tallest building vowing Sunday to build an even taller tower bedecked with rotating balconies and elevated landscaping inspired by the mythical hanging gardens of Babylon.</p> <p>The government-backed company behind the project, Emaar Properties, hopes the new tower will entice a fresh wave of view-seeking homeowners even as it raises numerous other promised skyscrapers and repairs a prominent one gutted by fire on New Year's Eve.</p> <p>Company Chairman Mohamed Alabbar said the new observation tower would be "a notch" taller than the 828-metre Burj Khalifa. Just how much taller he wouldn't say.</p> <p>Unlike the Burj Khalifa, the new US$1 billion (AU$1.46 billion) tower will not be a traditional skyscraper but more of a cable-supported spire containing "garden" observation decks graced with trees and other greenery. Emaar says it will also contain a boutique hotel, restaurants and glass balconies that rotate outside the wall of the tower.</p> <p>The structure's design means it is unlikely to be widely recognised as a taller "building" than the Burj Khalifa even if it surpasses it in height.</p> <p>The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, for example, says at least 50 percent of a structure's height must contain usable floor area for it to be considered in its ranking of the world's tallest buildings. That typically disqualifies telecommunications and observation towers that have only a small number of floors.</p> <p>It and the Burj Khalifa could also be surpassed by a skyscraper being built in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, that promises to rise more than 1 kilometre high.</p> <p>The new Dubai tower will be the centrepiece of a new 6 square-kilometre development on the edge of the Dubai Creek, near a protected wildlife sanctuary that regularly attracts flamingoes and other water birds.</p> <p>Alabbar likened the structure, designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, to a 21st-century Eiffel Tower that can act as a magnet not just for tourists but also for property buyers willing to pay a premium for nearby apartments with a view. It is due to open by the time Dubai hosts the World Expo in 2020.</p> <p>"Many ... of our customers would like to have that view. And if you ask me what is the financial model, that is the financial model," he said.</p> <p>Emaar followed a similar strategy when it raised the Burj Khalifa, which opened in 2010. The silvery skyscraper is flanked by fancy low and high-rise apartment complexes, some of which are still being built, as well as hotels, restaurants and one of the world's biggest shopping malls.</p> <p><img width="499" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/24781/big-tower-in-text_499x280.jpg" alt="Big Tower In Text"/></p> <p>The area is also home to The Address Downtown, a 63-story luxury hotel built by Emaar that went up in flames on New Year's Eve.</p> <p>Dubai police have blamed exposed wiring for sparking the blaze. Outside experts say the type of cladding used to sheath the building was likely a factor in fuelling that fire and several others that have engulfed skyscrapers in the United Arab Emirates.</p> <p>Emirati authorities have ordered a nationwide safety survey of existing buildings and promised to tighten regulations in the wake of the fire.</p> <p>Asked about fire risks Sunday, Alabbar said it was important to learn from the accidents but suggested there are limits to how much builders can do.</p> <p>"Safety rules are good, but can you really eliminate all risk? I don't think human beings are able to eliminate all risk," he told reporters. "Risks are there as long as we are progressing ... These things do happen, and you have to go and fix them and make sure if they happen, they happen to a minimum."</p> <p>Not long after the plan was revealed, Emaar Properties announced its group chief executive officer, Abdulla Lahej, had quit.</p> <p>Lahej's responsibilities were being handled by Amit Jain, group chief operating officer, Emaar said in a statement, without elaborating further.</p> <p>What do you make of this move to make the world’s biggest tower? Do you think they should be applauded for their ambition, or more realistic? Share your thoughts in the comments.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/03/qatar-airways-longest-flight-world/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Qatar Airways announces the world's new longest flight</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2015/12/largest-flower-garden-in-the-world/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">14 images from the world’s largest flower garden</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2015/12/10-tallest-buildings-in-the-world/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The new tallest building in the world</strong></em></span></a></p>

International Travel

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The secret apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower

<p>Even if you’ve been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and viewed it from every vantage point imaginable, there’s still a part of this famous tower that you probably haven’t seen.</p> <p>For the first time in history, a secret apartment created by the tower’s designer, French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel, has been opened for the public to view and visit.</p> <p>Mr Eiffel was lathered with praise from the Parisian elite when the tower opened in 1889, but this soon turned to envy when they found out that he was living in this cosy room.</p> <p><img width="400" height="266" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17833/image_400x266.jpg" alt="Image (7)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Mr Eiffel is said to have received a numerous offers to rent the place out, but the designer denied them all, preferring to use the space for reflection and to entertain.</p> <p>Much in contrast to the Eiffel Tower’s steel and hard lines, this cute room is cosy and romantic with paisley wallpaper, wood furniture and oil paintings.</p> <p>The room also features mannequins of Mr Eiffel and Thomas Edison, the inventor who Mr Eiffel famously played host to.</p> <p>To view the secret apartment, scroll through the gallery above.  </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/a-look-inside-first-class-cabins/">Inside 8 first class cabins that will amaze you</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/most-photographed-locations-in-london/">London’s 8 most photographed locations</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/holiday-ideas-for-animal-lovers/">8 holiday ideas every animal lover needs to experience</a></em></strong></span></p>

International Travel

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“Fawlty Towers” hotel to be knocked down

<p>The English hotel run by an outrageously rude manager that inspired iconic British comedy TV show <em>Fawlty Towers </em>is to be knocked down.</p> <p>The 41-bedroom Gleneagles Hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, in Devon, closed its doors in January. Local council agreed the building was now commercially “unviable” with little prospect of improving, thus signalling its demolition. A retirement home is to be built on the site.</p> <p><img width="447" height="253" src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/d/x/d/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1448577430637.png" alt="The Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay. Photo: Google Maps." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>It is believe John Cleese, who played hotelier Basil Fawlty, became interested with the hotel and its eccentric manager after the Monty Python team stayed there in 1970. The hotel’s real-life manager, Donald Sinclair, reportedly threw a bus timetable at a guest who asked when the next bus was due, hid Eric Idle’s briefcase behind a wall because he believe it contained a bomb and loudly criticised Terry Gilliam’s table manners.</p> <p>Cleese went on to base the boorish Basil Fawlty on him, while Prunella Scales played his bossy wife Sybil.</p> <p>While the shambolic hotel has finally been served its just desserts, it will live on in the hearts of <em>Fawlty Towers</em> fans around the world</p>

News

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