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Do parolees really ‘walk free’? Busting common myths about parole

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/monique-moffa-1380936">Monique Moffa</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alyssa-sigamoney-1375881">Alyssa Sigamoney</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greg-stratton-161122">Greg Stratton</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jarryd-bartle-441602">Jarryd Bartle</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michele-ruyters-18446">Michele Ruyters</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p>Parole is a hot topic in politics and in the media at the moment, fuelled by several high-profile parole applications.</p> <p>Recently, <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/no-parole-for-convicted-baby-killer-keli-lane/xoykrtvxe?cid=testtwitter">Keli Lane’s</a> attempt to be released on parole after years in jail for the murder of her baby daughter was unsuccessful. <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/how-frankston-serial-killer-paul-denyer-will-apply-for-bail/news-story/4613d1b3fced1f4aeaa9c4e08e8b81e0">Paul Denyer</a>, known as the “Frankston Serial Killer” for murdering three women in the 90s was also denied parole.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Snowtown accomplice <a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-sa/bodies-in-the-barrels-helper-mark-haydon-released-on-parole/news-story/fdfbbbe7b59267d8009c6910249de585">Mark Haydon</a> was granted parole with strict conditions, but is <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-01/snowtown-accomplice-mark-haydon-still-in-custody-after-parole/103653934">yet to be</a> released.</p> <p>Some media coverage of such well-known cases is littered with myths about what parole is, how it’s granted and what it looks like. Here’s what the evidence says about three of the most common misconceptions.</p> <h2>Myth 1: people on parole walk free</h2> <p>Parole is the conditional release of an incarcerated person (parolee) by a parole board authority, after they have served their non-parole period (minimum sentence) in jail. This isn’t always reflected in headlines.</p> <p><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/snowtown-murders-bodies-in-barrels-murders-mark-haydon-release-south-australia/f4b62a72-ec3d-4238-94d2-64697fbcdef3">Some coverage</a> suggests people on parole are released early and “walk free” without conditions. This is not true.</p> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.adultparoleboard.vic.gov.au/what-parole/purpose-and-benefits">Adult Parole Board of Victoria</a>: "Parole provides incarcerated people with a structured, supported and supervised transition so that they can adjust from prison back into the community, rather than returning straight to the community at the end of their sentence without supervision or support."</p> <p>Parole comes with strict conditions and requirements, such as curfews, drug and alcohol testing, electronic monitoring, program participation, to name a few.</p> <p>People with experience of parole highlight its punitivism and continued extension of surveillance.</p> <h2>Myth 2: most parolees reoffend</h2> <p>Another myth is that the likelihood all parolees reoffend is high. Research over a number of years has consistently found parole reduces reoffending.</p> <p>For example, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0004865815585393?journalCode=anja">a 2016 study in New South Wales</a> found at the 12 month mark, a group of parolees reoffended 22% less than an unsupervised cohort.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Publications/CJB/2022-Report-Effect-of-parole-supervision-on-recidivism-CJB245.pdf">2022 study</a> by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research found parole was especially successful in reducing serious recidivism rates among incarcerated people considered to be at a high risk of reoffending.</p> <p>More recently in Victoria, <a href="https://www.adultparoleboard.vic.gov.au/system/files/inline-files/Adult%20Parole%20Board%20Annual%20Report%202022-23_0.pdf">the Adult Parole Board</a> found over 2022–23, no parolees were convicted of committing serious offences while on parole.</p> <p>In contrast, unstructured and unconditional release increases the risk of returning to prison.</p> <h2>Myth 3: parole is easy to get</h2> <p>While the number of parolees reoffending has dropped, so too has the total number of people who are exiting prison on parole.</p> <p>Over a decade ago, Victoria underwent significant parole reforms, largely prompted by high-profile incidents and campaigns. In just five years following Jill Meagher’s tragic death in 2012, the Victorian government passed <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10345329.2018.1556285">13 laws reshaping parole</a>.</p> <p>The result is the number of people on parole in Victoria has halved since 2012, despite incarceration numbers remaining steady.</p> <p><iframe id="maNRy" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/maNRy/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p>These reforms have made it more difficult for people convicted of serious offences to get parole, as well as preventing individuals or specific groups from being eligible for parole (such as police killers, <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-body-no-parole-laws-could-be-disastrous-for-the-wrongfully-convicted-191083">“no body, no parole” prisoners</a>, and certain high-profile murderers).</p> <p>Similar laws can be found in other states. For example, no body, no parole was introduced in all other Australian states and territories, except for Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.</p> <p>As a consequence, more people are being released at the end of their full sentence. This can be detrimental not only for the incarcerated person but the wider community, because they are not receiving the reintegration support parole provides.</p> <p>Aside from restricted access due to political intervention, parole is facing a new crisis, which has nothing to do with eligibility or suitability.</p> <p>Last year, 40% of Victorian parole applications were denied, often due to reasons <a href="https://www.adultparoleboard.vic.gov.au/system/files/inline-files/Adult%20Parole%20Board%20Annual%20Report%202022-23_0.pdf">unrelated to suitability</a>.</p> <p>Housing scarcity played a significant role, with 59% of rejections (or 235 applications) citing a lack of suitable accommodation as one of the reasons parole was denied. This is playing out <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-11/women-on-bail-parole-increased-risk-of-homelessness-qld/102717002">across the country</a>.</p> <p>Parole is vulnerable to community and media hype, and political knee-jerk reactions in response to high profile incidents involving a person on parole. Because of the actions of a few, parole as a process has been restricted for many.</p> <p>While the wider community are active in advocacy efforts to restrict parole from certain people or groups (for example, this petition for <a href="https://www.change.org/p/lyns-law-no-body-no-parole">Lyn’s Law in NSW</a>), public efforts to restrict parole seem at odds with its purposes.</p> <p>Despite this, research suggests when the public are educated about the purposes and intent of parole, they are more likely to be <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3125829">supportive of it</a>.</p> <p>The susceptibility of parole to media and community influence results in frequent, impactful changes affecting individuals inside and outside prisons. Headlines such as “walking free” have the potential to mislead the public on the purpose and structure of parole. Coverage should portray parole beyond mere early termination of a sentence by accurately reflecting its purpose and impact.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226607/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/monique-moffa-1380936">Monique Moffa</a>, Lecturer, Criminology &amp; Justice, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alyssa-sigamoney-1375881">Alyssa Sigamoney</a>, Associate Lecturer in Criminology and Justice Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greg-stratton-161122">Greg Stratton</a>, Lecturer - Criminology and Justice Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jarryd-bartle-441602">Jarryd Bartle</a>, Associate Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michele-ruyters-18446">Michele Ruyters</a>, Associate Dean, Criminology and Justice Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-parolees-really-walk-free-busting-common-myths-about-parole-226607">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Parents busted for making their healthy child use a wheelchair to claim benefits

<p>A cruel mother and father have been jailed for over six years for forcing their healthy child to use a wheelchair in order to claim benefit payments. </p> <p>In 2012, Louise Law and her ex-husband Martin forced their then seven-year-old daughter into the wheelchair, as a ploy to gain a mobility car and disability allowance payments despite their being nothing wrong with her. </p> <p>The parents carried on with the scam for four years while they "fabricated illnesses and exaggerated symptoms" to teachers and NHS workers, all while raking in the extensive payments. </p> <p>The crown court in East Yorkshire, England, heard that the child suffered "gratuitous degradation" at being forced to use the wheelchair, as they were bullied at school and deprived of an ordinary childhood. </p> <p>In court, Louise Law admitted an offence of child cruelty, however she changed her plea on the day of a scheduled trial and was jailed for six years and nine months.</p> <p>Martin Law, now split from his wife, is now a long-term resident of a care home and was ruled unfit to enter a plea - although a jury convicted him of child cruelty, and was made subject of a guardianship order.</p> <p>Passing sentence, Judge Kate Rayfield told Mrs Law, "She missed out on so much of her childhood because of what you put her through."</p> <p>"Despite all of her tests revealing nothing wrong, you continued to subject her to appointments and investigations. You did the talking yourselves, telling the doctors lies."</p> <p>"This was a scam... You were telling her to report symptoms that she never said that she had."</p> <p>When the child reached the age of 18 in 2022, she was interviewed by police as she said the faux medical treatment from her parents began when she was six years old. </p> <p>A few initial medical appointments progressed to around 30 hospital appointments, including overnight stays.</p> <p>Prosecutor Louise Reevell told the court, "Her parents made her think that she could not walk properly. She would go to school in a wheelchair but she didn't really need it."</p> <p>Despite medical professionals proving that the child did not need the extensive medical treatment, her parents still claimed that the illnesses and symptoms of their daughter were genuine.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Tourist busted for carving name into world's most famous Roman relic

<p dir="ltr">An Irish tourist has run himself headfirst into trouble in Rome after he was reportedly caught carving his name - and his girlfriend’s - into the Colosseum. </p> <p dir="ltr">It is said that he had been making his carvings, which were six-centimetre-tall initials, with a metal point - possibly his keys - and gouged into a pillar of the 2000-year-old historic monument.</p> <p dir="ltr">The inscription, dedicated to himself and his partner, reportedly read “Ivan+Haley 23”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Carabinieri police have claimed that the 32-year-old man was caught by private security at the World Heritage Site, and that social media videos of the incident alerted police to the alleged crime. </p> <p dir="ltr">The man has been accused of damaging the historical landmark, the Carabinieri confirmed to <em>CNN</em>, with the act considered to be a crime under Italian law. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Colosseum is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and also a World Heritage Site, and Italy’s Minister of Culture has called for the tourist to be “identified and sanctioned”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, the Colosseum, to engrave the name of his fiancée,” he tweeted, along with footage of the incident. “I hope that whoever did this will be identified and sanctioned according to our laws.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He later uploaded another video, accompanied by the scathing caption “Tourist scars the Colosseum.” </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="it">Reputo gravissimo, indegno e segno di grande inciviltà, che un turista sfregi uno dei luoghi più celebri al mondo, il Colosseo, per incidere il nome della sua fidanzata. Spero che chi ha compiuto questo gesto venga individuato e sanzionato secondo le nostre leggi. <a href="https://t.co/p8Jss1GWuY">pic.twitter.com/p8Jss1GWuY</a></p> <p>— Gennaro Sangiuliano (@g_sangiuliano) <a href="https://twitter.com/g_sangiuliano/status/1673318742057525248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">If the man is convicted, he faces a penalty of at least €2,065 (~$3,370.7) and up to one year in prison, according to <em>CNN</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">And it isn’t the first time the Colosseum has been defaced by those seeking to carve out their place in history, with a Russian tourist facing a fine of €20,000 for carving the letter “K”. </p> <p dir="ltr">It’s a serious offence in the hearts of many, with archaeologist Federica Rinaldi - who is responsible for the ancient amphitheatre - telling the publication that “the Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and handed over to future generations.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is a monument that deserves everyone’s respect because it belongs to everyone, and it must remain so,” Rinaldi added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Carving one’s initials, in addition to being a crime, seems to be a gesture of those who want to appropriate the monument. Better take a selfie!”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

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Busting a king-sized myth: why Australia and NZ could become republics – and still stay in the Commonwealth

<p>The imminent coronation of King Charles III is an ideal time for Australia and New Zealand to take stock of the British monarchy and its role in national life – including certain myths about what becoming a republic might mean.</p> <p>In particular, there is a common assumption that both nations must remain monarchies to retain membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. It might sound logical, but it’s entirely wrong. </p> <p>There is no basis for it in the rules of the Commonwealth or the practice of its members. Australia could ditch the monarchy and stay in the club, and New Zealand can too, whether it has a king or a Kiwi as head of state. </p> <p>Yet this peculiar myth persists at home and abroad. Students often ask me about it when I’m teaching the structure of government. And just this week a French TV station interpreted the New Zealand prime minister’s opinion that his country would one day <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/01/new-zealand-will-ideally-become-a-republic-one-day-says-chris-hipkins">ideally become a republic</a> to mean he would <a href="https://www.bfmtv.com/international/oceanie/nouvelle-zelande/nouvelle-zelande-le-nouveau-premier-ministre-souhaite-que-son-pays-quitte-le-commonwealth_AN-202305010328.html">like to see</a> it leave the Commonwealth.</p> <h2>What does ‘Commonwealth’ mean?</h2> <p>The implication that breaking from the Commonwealth would be a precursor to, or consequence of, becoming a republic relies on a faulty premise which joins two entirely separate things: the way we pick our head of state, and our membership of the Commonwealth. </p> <p>It would make just as much sense to ask whether Australia or New Zealand should leave the International Cricket Council and become a republic.</p> <p>The confusion may derive from the fact that the 15 countries that continue to have the British sovereign as their head of state are known as “Commonwealth Realms”. </p> <p>What we usually refer to as the Commonwealth, on the other hand, is the organisation founded in 1926 as the British Commonwealth of Nations. This is the body whose membership determines the competing nations of the <a href="https://www.commonwealthsport.com/">Commonwealth Games</a>, the highest-profile aspect of the Commonwealth’s work. </p> <p>King Charles III is the head of state of the 15 Commonwealth Realms and the head of the international governmental organisation that is the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth has 56 members – but only 15 of them continue to have the king as head of state.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Monday he personally favors his country becoming a republic, though it’s not a change he intends to push for as leader. <a href="https://t.co/1XEiFFtqPT">https://t.co/1XEiFFtqPT</a> <a href="https://t.co/aftsZ0hHmV">pic.twitter.com/aftsZ0hHmV</a></p> <p>— The Diplomat (@Diplomat_APAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Diplomat_APAC/status/1653406552693395457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <h2>Joining the Commonwealth club</h2> <p>To be fair, confusion over who heads the Commonwealth is nothing new. A <a href="https://www.royalcwsociety.org/_files/ugd/e578ea_5642f282aad345faa0b39c9eebd465e5.pdf">2010 poll</a> conducted by the Royal Commonwealth Society found that, of the respondents in seven countries, only half knew the then queen was the head of the Commonwealth. </p> <p>A quarter of Jamaicans believed the organisation was led by the then US president, Barack Obama. One in ten Indians and South Africans thought it was run by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.</p> <p>Given the king’s overlapping leadership roles and the different use of the word in the contexts of Commonwealth Realms and the Commonwealth of Nations, these broad misunderstandings are perhaps understandable. In fact, it was this ambiguity that allowed for the development of an inclusive Commonwealth during the postwar years of decolonisation.</p> <p>However the confusion arose, it is also very simple to correct. The Commonwealth relaxed its membership rules regarding republics when India became one in 1950. </p> <p>According to Philip Murphy, the historian and former director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, this decision was based on the erroneous idea that India’s huge standing army would underwrite Britain’s great-power status in the postwar world. </p> <p>From that point on the Commonwealth of Nations no longer comprised only members who admitted to the supremacy of one sovereign. To make the change palatable, a piece of conceptual chicanery was needed. Each country did not need a king, but theking was to be head of the organisation comprising equal members.</p> <h2>Monarchy optional</h2> <p>Since then, the number of Commonwealth members has steadily increased to the 56 we have today.</p> <p>As early as 1995, membership was extended to countries with no ties to the former British Empire. With the support of Nelson Mandela, Mozambique became a member, joining the six Commonwealth members with which it shared a border. </p> <p>Rwanda, a former German and then Belgian colony, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/oukwd-uk-commonwealth-rwanda-idAFTRE5AS1C520091129">joined in 2009</a>. It became an enthusiastic member and hosted the biennial meeting of states known as CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting). The most recent countries to take up Commonwealth membership are the <a href="https://thecommonwealth.org/news/gabon-and-togo-join-commonwealth">former French colonies of Togo and Gabon</a>. </p> <p>According to the <a href="http://www.thecommonwealth.org/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=174532">Commonwealth’s own rules</a>, membership is based on a variety of things, including commitment to democratic processes, human rights and good governance. Being a monarchy is entirely optional. </p> <p>The new king offers the chance for a broader debate on the advantages of monarchy. But let’s do so knowing Commonwealth membership is entirely unaffected by the question of whether or not the country is a republic.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/busting-a-king-sized-myth-why-australia-and-nz-could-become-republics-and-still-stay-in-the-commonwealth-204750" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

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Hotel worker busted going through traveller’s luggage

<p dir="ltr">A traveller has shared a hotel story from hell, revealing he secretly filmed a hotel worker going through his possessions after he checked in and unpacked. </p> <p dir="ltr">The guest captured the footage of a housekeeper appearing to sift through his belongings and look in his safe, after he utilised the hidden webcam on his laptop. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sharing the video on TikTok, the traveller issued a warning to his followers, with the caption, “Pro travel tip: you can turn your laptop into a security camera.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video then shows the housekeeper helping himself to a beverage out of the mini fridge, before starting to rummage through the wardrobe.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Be careful when you’re travelling. This was the first time I set up a camera and caught this.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Luckily, the housekeeper didn’t take any belongings from the savvy traveller, although they still reported the incident to hotel management. </p> <p dir="ltr">They said the hotel “managed the situation professionally”, and the housekeeper was fired “on the spot”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The guest said when booking the hotel, they noticed a series of reviews mentioning thefts but weren’t able to find any proof, hence they felt the need to set up the camera. </p> <p dir="ltr">The video has racked up over 170,000 likes, with many people in the comment section saying they rely on similar technology to keep their belongings secure. </p> <p dir="ltr">One nervous traveller commented, “This is exactly why I barely take anything out of my suitcase, always keep my lock on it and always travel with the keys.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

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5 common food myths busted

<p>At a certain point, you can hear something so often that it is assumed to be true. But how many common food “truisms” are actually myths? We explore some of the most frequently believed below. </p> <p><strong>Coffee makes you dehydrated</strong></p> <p>False: As coffee is largely water, for those who have their caffeine fix daily, you’re unlikely to see dehydration as a result. However, large amounts of caffeine (over 500mg per day) can act as a diuretic, making your body produce increased amounts of urine, though this won’t result from moderate amounts of caffeine ingestion.</p> <p><strong>An apple a day still keeps the doctor away</strong></p> <p>False: Today’s apples aren’t nearly as nutritious as those found in the 40s, containing three time less iron as they once did, due to reused soil resulting from a lack of sufficient crop rotation.</p> <p><strong>Onions stored in the fridge won’t make you cry</strong></p> <p>True: When you store onions in the fridge, they produce less propanthial S-oxide, the irritant that causes the eye to water.</p> <p><strong>Gum stays in your stomach for years</strong></p> <p>False: Most gum leaves the body fairly quickly as do other foods, though it does so mostly undigested. The only time you have to worry is if your gum swallowing is plentiful, prolonged, and habitual, at which point there have been documented cases of gum building up in one’s stomach over many years, causing stomach pain.</p> <p><strong>You can save mouldy cheese</strong></p> <p>True: It is generally not a safety hazard to cut mould off of harder cheese in order to save the remains due to its density and relative lack of moisture. However, foods such as bread, fruit, and softer cheeses should be thrown out at the first sign of mould.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Nutrition experts bust 10 myths about hydration

<h2>Myth: If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated</h2> <p>Actually, your thirst sensations are a pretty sensitive gauge of your fluid levels. “Dehydration is the body’s natural loss of water through sweat, tears and breathing. The kidneys control the water balance in the body, and when they sense the need for more water replacement, it sends a message to our brains to drink more water by making us feel thirsty,” explains kidney specialist Dr Dara Huang.</p> <h2>Myth: Drink eight glasses of water every day</h2> <p>No question that drinking enough water is important. But the eight glasses advice is a myth, says Dr Huang, and it can be dangerous. “If your heart or kidneys is compromised, drinking too much water can cause congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, or water intoxication. In these cases, fluid intake should be limited,” she explains.</p> <p>To figure out the magic millilitre-count of aqua that your body needs, you should take many factors into consideration, according to nutritionist Dr Roger E. Adams. “This number may be too much for some and not even close for others, especially if you are a heavy sweater, or simply larger. The larger you are, the more water you need for every function in your body, not to mention replacing sweat. However, if you are smaller or don’t sweat a lot, even less than eight glasses may suffice to maintain water balance,” he notes.</p> <p>When in doubt, talk to your doctor for their expert opinion.</p> <h2>Myth: Always drink water first thing in the AM</h2> <p>You’ve heard it before: “Start your day with a full glass of water.” While you might be thirsty and you might naturally reach for that, Dr Huang says it’s not necessary. “If you have normally functioning kidneys, it may be refreshing to reach for water, but it’s not vital,” she notes. “Some people think that if you go to sleep at midnight and wake up at 8am, you’ve gone at least eight hours without hydrating, so you have to drink water. This isn’t the case. And your urine can give a glimpse too: Your urine is clear because it’s diluted. If your urine is dark, it’s because your kidneys are doing their job to conserve water and it’s concentrated. The first void of the day is usually the darkest,” she notes.</p> <h2>Myth: Coconut water is the best recovery drink</h2> <p>Yes, it’s trendy, and it’s supposed to replenish you after a night on the town or a tough workout. It does contain fewer kilojoules than other potassium-rich fluids – but it’s not always your best option, says Dr Huang: “To prevent dehydration, drinking plain water is just fine. And it’s important to know that coconut water is not for everybody. It can cause dangerously high potassium levels in those who have kidney disease and should be avoided.” When in doubt, start with water and then speak with your doctor if you still feel dehydrated.</p> <h2>Myth: You can’t overhydrate</h2> <p>You know what they say about too much of a good thing, right? It actually becomes a bad thing, and the same is true for H20. People tend to think that you can’t drink too much water – especially novice runners, says Adams. The truth is you can, and it can be lethal. “A condition called hyponatremia, is a result of ingesting too much water thusly causing a decreased concentration of sodium in the body. This can lead to confusion, convulsions, and even death, especially when running,” he shares.</p> <h2>Myth: Water is all you need</h2> <p>You can go longer without food than you can without water, but Adams is quick to note that sometimes good ole’ fashion H20 doesn’t give your system all it needs. Take into consideration how much activity you’re doing, he says, how hot it is outside and how much you’re sweating. “Water is a great fluid replacer for most people, but it isn’t the perfect way to regain water balance for everyone and in every situation,” he says. “Higher amounts of electrolytes are lost when sweat rates increase during longer events or activities in hotter climates. A 10K run in a hot area of the country demands more electrolyte replacement than a walk in chilly temperatures.”</p> <h2>Myth: Electrolyte-enhanced drinks are best</h2> <p>Ever wondered where Gatorade comes from, especially now that this electrolyte sports drink and its ilk have cornered the rehydration market? It’s an interesting story, but you may want to think twice before reaching for these popular beverages, according to Dr Tania Dempsey. You don’t always need one after light activity, and some of the ingredients can be questionable.</p> <p>“The hydrogenated oils they use – particularly brominated vegetable oil, which was taken out of Gatorade but is still present in Powerade – can be harmful to the thyroid,” she explains. (Note that most manufacturers have removed or are planning to remove the ingredient.) “Also, the sugars found in these sports drinks are unhealthy. Powerade still contains high fructose corn syrup, which has been linked to type 2 diabetes. Gatorade recently switched to sugar and dextrose, which might sound better than HFCS but is equally problematic in causing the blood sugar to rise drastically.”</p> <h2>Myth: Caffeine causes dehydration</h2> <p>That daily cup of coffee in the am might be the only thing that ensures you get to your morning planning meeting, but is it drying out your system before you’ve even had a bite of breakfast? According to Adams, the commonly-held belief that coffee makes you dehydrated is plain wrong, especially for the casual coffee or tea drinker. Although large doses of caffeine alone can dehydrate, the water in your coffee and tea more than make up for any dehydrating effects, he explains.</p> <h2>Myth: Only drink extra during exercise</h2> <p>If you think sipping on a diet coke or tea is enough to keep you hydrated because you don’t work out frequently, you might be missing out on some much-needed H2O-induced nutrition – and make sure you know the subtle signs of dehydration. Adams says that many people think they only need water when they’re working up a sweat, but this habit can lead to mild dehydration during the day. Instead, he suggests drinking water throughout the day to make it your go-to beverage: “This is a simple way to ensure you are getting water all day long; not just when exercising. You need water for daily functions, so provide for that and you will ensure hydration the rest of the day,” he says.</p> <h2>Myth: The colour of your urine is the best hydration check</h2> <p>Yes, says Adams, the colour of your urine can be an indicator you need to chug, but there are other important indicators. Plus, if take multivitamins or are on a high-protein diet, the colour could be dark for reasons other than dehydration. “Instead of just looking at the colour, look at volume. The more you put in your body, the more that should come out. If you seldom go to the restroom, that’s a sign you are probably not consuming enough fluids,” he explains. “On the other hand, if you are running to the restroom every 15 minutes, you may be over-consuming fluids.”</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/nutrition-experts-bust-10-myths-about-hydration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Body

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Record-busting droughts are uncovering long-lost relics

<p dir="ltr">As much of the Northern Hemisphere experiences record-breaking droughts, the drying up of lakes, rivers and other bodies of water has exposed more than just dirt and debris.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Spain, a prehistoric circle of stones dubbed “Spanish Stonehenge” has emerged in a drying dam in the central province of Caceres. Since it was first discovered in 1926 and was subsequently covered by floodwaters, the stones have only been visible four times.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-69e9e002-7fff-0420-4ae2-bd5f650e4fd8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Elsewhere in Europe, 20 German WWII warships have been exposed, sunken in the Danube River near Serbia’s river port town of Prahovo.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/ww2-ships.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Twenty Nazi warships emerged as the Danue River continues to dry up. Image: Reuters (YouTube) </em></p> <p dir="ltr">The Nazi German ships were among hundreds that sailed up the Danube while retreating from Soviet forces in 1944, and still hamper traffic traversing the river when water levels are low.</p> <p dir="ltr">In late July, a previously submerged WWII bomb weighing a whopping 450kg was discovered in the River Po, as the country declared a state of emergency in areas around the lengthy river as a result of the low water levels.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8607bc8a-7fff-40e9-c277-fb640bddce8a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The ageing explosive was defused in a controlled explosion by military experts earlier this month near the village of Bogo Virgilio, but not before about 3,000 people were evacuated from the area, per <em><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/20/europes-drought-exposes-wwii-ships-bombs-and-prehistoric-stones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Al Jazeera</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/bomb1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Military experts were deployed to detonate a 450kg bomb uncovered in Italy’s Polo River. Image: Global News (YouTube)</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, droughts in the US have exposed ancient footprints belonging to dinosaurs, as well as victims of suspected mob killings.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5c588192-7fff-5897-d1fc-eec76d0abe5a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">In early July, the skeletal remains of a man who was shot in the head, stuffed in a barrel and tossed into Lake Mead, located outside the city of Las Vegas, were uncovered, with experts believing he would have died in the 1980s.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/dino-tracks.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Dinosaur tracks believed to be 113 million years old were found in a state park in Texas. Image: Texas Park and Wildlife Department</em></p> <p dir="ltr">The lake, along with the Hudson River, provides most of southern Nevada’s drinking water and has reached its lowest point since it was filled 90 years ago, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/priyashukla/2022/05/03/drought-reveals-homicide-victim-as-lake-mead-recedes/?sh=6d6c198f3943" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forbes</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">A discovery of Jurassic proportions was made at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas, after footprints believed to date back 113 million years were found.</p> <p dir="ltr">The tracks belong to the Arocanthosaurus, a bipedal dinosaur with three toes and a claw on each limb, per <em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/24/science/dinosaur-tracks-texas-drought.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others that were also uncovered belong to Sauroposeidon proteles, a 15-metre-long dinosaur with a long neck and small head.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the fierce weather continues, experts believe more of these kinds of finds will emerge.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8560d718-7fff-73ba-3d6f-4e601c7ccece"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Texas Park and Wildlife Department / Reuters (YouTube)</em></p>

International Travel

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Record-busting quilt convention heads Down Under

<p dir="ltr">For the first time, the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest quilt convention will be heading to Brisbane in a three-day event showcasing the best quilts from around the country and the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Australasian Quilt Convention runs from May 26 to May 29 and features exhibitions of quilts that are award-winning, never-before-seen and even some made especially for the convention’s yearly challenge.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a83866f9-7fff-ea0a-66f9-f06262c4d46d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Thirty finalists from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa from this year’s challenge, themed ‘Going Green’, will be on display at the convention, with the winners announced during Wednesday night’s cocktail party.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/quilt-show1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>A variety of quilts will be exhibited at the convention’s Quilt Show. Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">There will also be daily classes, where top quilters will take you through how to make everything from tote bags and cushions to framed quilts and adorable animals, and free seminars where you can pick up tips to improve your patchwork, sewing and other crafty skills.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a4f17f5a-7fff-02ac-f10b-2a529d161bbb"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Along with plenty of things to see and do, you can also take something home with you from the Expo floor, with patterns, kits, and even quilting machines available to purchase.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/quilt-show2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Daily classes, run by top quilters, will take you through how to make all sorts of pieces. Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">To book your tickets to the event, hosted at Brisbane’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, head <a href="https://aqc.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b1c436f-7fff-189a-710a-28476493efa0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Art

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Woman finds record-busting diamond

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A California woman made a surprise find after discovering a 4.38 carat yellow diamond in Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Noreen Wredberg was visiting the park with her husband Michael and decided to explore the Crater of Diamonds park, the state Parks Department told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NBC News</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I first saw the park featured on a TV show several years ago,” Ms Wredberg </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/american-airlines-removes-mother-toddler-refusing-wear-mask-onboard/0e144844-75b3-40a3-8ad7-92e3416c425d" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">told</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the department.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When I realised we weren’t too far away, I knew we had to come.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple arrived at the park after several days of rain which had left the slightly-dry soil in an ideal condition for finding diamonds.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:333.33333333333337px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844590/244189895_10161140297647646_1540172523317654032_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/48ee06d0d5d84df4b199faf2b84bde25" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: The State Parks of Arkansas</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Wredberg had been searching for about an hour before she noticed the large gem.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I didn’t know it was a diamond then, but it was clean and shiny, so I picked it up!” she said, according to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NBC News</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If visitors find diamonds at the park, they can take it to the park’s Diamond Discovery Centre to confirm whether the diamond is real.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arkansas is the only state with a public diamond mine, with more than 75,000 unearthed at the Crater of Diamonds since 1906.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Arkansas parks department said the diamond Ms Wredberg found is the biggest in the last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Wredberg has been allowed to keep the stone, but said she was unsure about what she would do with it.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: The State Parks of Arkansas / Facebook</span></em></p>

Money & Banking

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Fact or fiction? 5 myths about heart health, busted

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to heart health, cardiovascular disease is still affecting </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day/about-whd/world-heart-day-2021/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">520 million people</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> around the world. In Australia, 16.6% of the total population is currently living with cardiovascular disease</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">[1]</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This continues to be the leading underlying cause of death in the country</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">[2]</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">,not only amongst the elderly but also for people </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/leading-causes-of-death" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">aged 45–64</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knowledge is power and understanding how to look after our heart is as essential as separating facts from fiction when it comes to our heart health.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844397/ross-walker.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b080367c7cb546658786946d3b956a01" /></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Supplied</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ahead of World Heart Day on 29 September, we spoke with Dr Ross Walker, an eminent practicing cardiologist with over 40 years experience as a clinician to discuss the top 5 myths surrounding heart health and help us separate truth from myth.</span></p> <p><strong>Myth 1: Heart disease is a man’s problem</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like men, women can be diagnosed with a range of heart conditions. The common risk factors for cardiovascular disease for Aussie women are high cholesterol, overweight and lack of physical activity. In fact, 90% have one risk factor for heart disease, and </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-health-education/risk-factors-for-women" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">50% have two or more</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Although cardiovascular disease develops 7 to 10 years later in women than in men, the risk </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12471-010-0841-y" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">increases significantly</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> after menopause. The truth is that most heart research has been done on male patients rather than females, but </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12471-010-0841-y" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">studies have shown</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that women have gender specific symptoms when it comes to heart disease and failure.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What you can do whether you are a man or a woman is to get your heart checked every twelve months even if you are feeling fine. This way, if your blood pressure or cholesterol is not well controlled, you can commence treatment right away. The earlier you begin to treat these issues, the better.</span></p> <p><strong>Myth 2: After heart failure, exercise can be dangerous</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After heart failure, physical activity can actually assist you in restoring your usual day to day activities. Although you may be worried about which exercises you can and can’t do, staying physically active </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ehf2.12225" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reduces your chances</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of having another heart attack. Being involved in a supervised cardiac rehabilitation program is recommended, especially if there is a prior history of heart disease or you have a very strong risk factor profile.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can start by talking to your doctor and follow advice on how to gradually restore your fitness in a safe and suitable way. Walking, for example, is a great way to start. You can begin with a daily 5-10 minute walk and build up slowly to 30 minutes over several weeks.  </span></p> <p><strong>Myth 3: It is okay to have high blood pressure as we age</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As we age our cardiovascular system changes, and high blood pressure is more common in older people. As we age, our arteries </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">become stiffer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> causing our blood pressure to rise. However, this is not necessarily good for our health or heart. In fact, high blood pressure should be monitored regularly, as it increases the risk of suffering from stroke and a possible heart attack. </span></p> <p><strong>Myth 4: Good vs bad cholesterol</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A major misconception around cholesterol is that one type is good and one type is bad. Incorrectly, low-density-lipoproteins (LDL), is labelled as “bad” cholesterol while high-density lipoproteins (HDL) is labelled as “good” cholesterol. The truth is both types of cholesterol carrying proteins contain “good” and “bad” elements. LDL and HDL both contain small and large components.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The large components of LDL and HDL are beneficial for normal body metabolism, keeping cholesterol away from our arteries and removing any excess from arterial plaque, which </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/australian-health-survey-biomedical-results-chronic-diseases/latest-release" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">helps to prevent heart disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The small components of LDL and HDL promote fatty deposits in the artery wall. This is what can contribute to cardiovascular disease.  The small components of LDL circulate in our blood and may build up in our arteries, forming plaque that may rupture, </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/cholesterol/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">leading</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to blocked arteries. On the other hand, the small components of HDL are </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/biof.1205" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pro-inflammatory</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although heart disease &amp; cholesterol have strong genetic components, it is also important to avoid foods containing trans fats and processed carbohydrates, eat a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, and conduct regular physical activity to help maintain good health. You may also need to check in with your GP to assess if your cholesterol levels are high and if you are deemed at high risk for a vascular event such as heart attack or stroke, the medications, such as statins or blood pressure therapy, may be necessary.</span></p> <p><strong>Myth 5: Supplements are of no benefit</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While a good balanced diet and exercise are key to good health, our food today has lower nutritional value and we encounter many toxins in our day-to-day. Supplements can bridge the gap between the nutrients we need and the food that is lacking them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, numerous studies have proven that </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ubiquinol.net.au/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ubiquinol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the active form of Coenzyme Q10, helps promote heart health by </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.eurekaselect.com/161292/article" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">providing the cellular energy needed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to keep the heart pumping well.  Ubiquinol helps improve heart function by maintaining healthy levels of LDL cholesterol as well as the overall maintenance of a healthy cardiovascular system.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While this antioxidant is found in many foods – including oily fish, meats and whole grains – it is difficult to achieve the daily recommended dose without consuming excessive amounts, e.g. 14kg of sardines or 60 avocados! In this case, taking Ubiquinol in supplement form may help achieve the recommended daily dose to support optimal energy levels and cardiovascular health. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Seek advice from a healthcare practitioner to determine if supplementation is right for you. Always read the label and use only as directed.</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article was written by Dr Ross Walker.</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">[1]</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018, National Health Survey 2017-18, Data customised using TableBuilder</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">[2]</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020, Causes of Death 2019, cat. no. 3303.0, October</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Body

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Super-busted: Son of legendary Superman actor caught on TV with no pants

<p>Will Reeve suffered intense embarrassment after being caught on Good Morning America without pants on live TV.</p> <p>Reeve is an American correspondent for the morning show and son of the late <em>Superman</em><span> </span>star. He presented in a white button-up shirt and blazer. However, it wasn’t until he lifted his leg that he revealed he wasn’t wearing any pants.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I have ARRIVED*<br /><br />*in the most hilariously mortifying way possible <a href="https://t.co/2NQ85QEJVr">https://t.co/2NQ85QEJVr</a></p> — Will Reeve (@ReeveWill) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReeveWill/status/1255141549450473473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>However, Reeve took it all in good fun and posted a statement on Twitter.</p> <p>“Trying to be efficient, I got ready for a post-GMA workout a little too soon this morning,” he explained.</p> <p>“The camera angle, along with friends, family and several hundred strangers on social media made me rethink my morning routine,” he added.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">When WFH goes wrong (or, your self-framed live shot goes too wide).<br />Hope everyone got a much needed laugh 😂 <a href="https://t.co/GbyLBhL7Be">pic.twitter.com/GbyLBhL7Be</a></p> — Will Reeve (@ReeveWill) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReeveWill/status/1255167525677142017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>He has since done a story on Zoom etiquette and explained the perils from working from home in another segment.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Putting a button on this story. <a href="https://t.co/x6G9KVCs9j">https://t.co/x6G9KVCs9j</a></p> — Will Reeve (@ReeveWill) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReeveWill/status/1255517179585363968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>"I'm just here in my home, setup for another day of work like millions of Americans who are on video calls all the time now," Reeve said. </p> <p>"And a headline reminder for anyone who's using Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, anything with a camera: Make sure you frame your shot."</p> <p>He added: "On a personal note, I just want to say I try to take life seriously but not myself. So I've had a good laugh at this, but I don't want anyone to think that I don't respect and love my job. I've had a lot of fun and I know everyone else has, too. And I'm a lousy camera operator."</p>

TV

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Married couple at the centre of bizarre billion-dollar drug bust

<p>A recently married couple from Melbourne alongside an IT worker have been arrested and charged with running a customs importing business which dealt with over $1 billion worth of 1.6 tonnes of ice and heroin.</p> <p>It is the nation’s largest uncovered methamphetamine haul.</p> <p>Rachel Annette Cachia and Donovan Mark Rodrigues, both 37, have been described as “trusted insiders” in the customs industry and advised clients on the logistics of importing and exporting goods through their independently owned business.</p> <p>However, the couple have suffered a violent fall from grace as they may be met with life imprisonment if convicted over the seizure of 1.6 tonnes of ice and heroin found hidden inside speakers being shipped to Melbourne in April 2019.</p> <p>On social media, the couple showed off their lavish lifestyle, including holidays with their two young children and luxury sports cars.</p> <p>Alongside Ms Cachia and Mr Rodrigues is Bayside IT worker Stephen Mizzi, 38, who has also been charged after the Australian Federal Police raided properties in the Melbourne suburbs of Darley, Sunshine West, Brooklyn, Elwood and Murrumbeena.</p> <p>All three individuals are to face numerous charges of importing illicit drugs.</p> <p>Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan alleged the couple were "middle to high up" in the drug operation.</p> <p>"We feel to a certain extent that they’ve been used," he said.</p> <p>"They [allegedly] used their positions of trust to circumvent the border control. It will be alleged that two of the three suspects charged are trusted industry insiders."</p> <p>Australian Border Forces uncovered the drugs after they asked for sea cargo sipped from Bangkok, Thailand to be inspected at a container examination facility, in April.</p> <p>Officers spotted “anomalies” inside the speakers after an X-ray and took them apart in result.</p> <p>They found numerous packages containing methamphetamine and heroin that had been vacuum-packed and stuffed inside the speakers.</p> <p>Court documents allege that Mr Rodrigues and Ms Cachia had begun dealing with proceeds of crime in December 2016.</p> <p>Then, between June 2017 and July this year, the couple allegedly began arranging the movement of goods without authorisation through ports on numerous occasions between West Melbourne and Brooklyn.</p> <p>By December 2018, it’s alleged that Mr Mizzi joined in on the drug operation with the plan to help ship heroin and ice to Australia.</p> <p>Mr Mizzi has also been additionally charged with dishonestly obtaining identification information from a mobile phone in April this year.</p> <p>The trio faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, where lawyers said it was the first time in custody for both men and that Mr Mizzi had a "blood pressure issue".</p> <p>Liliana Dubroja, the lawyer representing Ms Cachia, requested a nurse assess her client due to kidney and mental health concerns.</p> <p>Commonwealth prosecutor Jamey Ellis said police required extra time to compile their brief of evidence due to the extensive number of phone taps.</p> <p>"There is a significant amount of listening device and telephone material," he said.</p> <p>The trio was remanded in custody to face court again on May 7. They have not applied for bail.</p>

Money & Banking

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International drug ring: Schapelle Corby’s relative caught up in biggest ever drug bust

<p>One of the people arrested in a $90 million drug bust is a relative of the convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby. </p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/crime-and-justice/corbys-relative-on-drug-charge-in-queenslands-biggest-ecstasy-raid/news-story/db0e51e6916fccb1938f31f28c35a176" target="_blank"><em>The Courier Mail</em><span> </span></a>reported Viliami Kisina - related to Corby through her half-brother - was one of six arrested on Monday during raids across south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. </p> <p>There is no suggestion that Corby had any involvement in the drug operation.</p> <p>The raid uncovered a record-breaking 766 kilograms of MDMA powder which will prevent up to 12 million ecstasy tablets from getting into the hands of Australians all over the country. </p> <p>While police are refusing to reveal where or when they seized the mass amount of illicit drugs, they have revealed the powder had the highest purity ever recorded in Queensland and have a potential street value of up to $90 million. </p> <p>The drug bust is the largest of its kind in Queensland and the largest ever in Australia. </p> <p>Two British men, aged 51 and 40, have been arrested in Queensland and are to be charged with drug possession and supply. </p> <p>The supply uncovered represents approximately seven per cent of the 1.1 tonnes of ecstasy consumed annually in Australia.</p> <p>Corby spent over nine years in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison after 4.2 kg of cannibas was found in her bag in 2004. </p> <p>She was released in 2014. </p>

News

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5 arthritis myths busted

<p><strong>Arthritis myth 1: you can't exercise</strong></p> <p>If you have arthritis, the right fitness programme could help you get relief from your symptoms by improving strength, balance, flexibility and range of motion. “If you have arthritis, it’s important to stay as active as you can,” says physiotherapist Karen Gordon.</p> <p><strong>TIP:</strong> Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week. Dust off your bike, buy a new bathing suit, start strength training – get moving in the ways that bring you the most happiness.</p> <p><strong>Arthritis myth 2: exercise produces joint pain</strong></p> <p>The more sedentary you are, the more things are going to hurt. Exercise helps by building strength and flexibility and controlling weight, says Gordon. One less kilogram on the scale equals four kilograms less pressure on your knees. Alternate easy days with more challenging days. Gordon suggests swimming or using an exercise bike when pain is more bothersome.</p> <p><strong>TIP</strong>: To help with painful, swollen knees, wear a brace. Stiffness could be a sign you need to start moving to lubricate your joints. Always consult a healthcare professional prior to starting an exercise regimen.</p> <p><strong>Arthritis myth 3: pain is always a bad thing</strong></p> <p>It’s better to regard pain as a signal to pay attention. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help relieve soreness after exercise; taking them beforehand may mask the instructive sensation you need to feel to judge when to stop.</p> <p><strong>TIP:</strong> Stop what you’re doing if joint pain increases after five or ten minutes, says Gordon. Burning discomfort in the muscles, however, is a good thing.</p> <p><strong>Arthritis myth 4: exercise puts joints at risk</strong></p> <p>Exercise strengthens joint-supporting muscles. Movement lubricates squeaky joints, strengthens muscles and increases flexibility, which all improve quality of life – and not just for those with arthritis.</p> <p><strong>TIP:</strong> Studies show weight-bearing exercise – walking, jogging or lifting weights – produces the healthiest knee cartilage. If sore joints are impeding your workout, you can still head for the pool, where you can jog, squat and do lunges in the water.</p> <p><strong>Arthritis myth 5: follow a restrictive exercise regime</strong></p> <p>Arthritis sufferers can engage safely in a variety of physical activities. Low-impact activities such as swimming, aquatic exercise, cycling and walking are excellent options. But, so too is running – if it doesn’t cause you pain when you do it or for days afterwards. Listen to your joints and make appropriate modifications.</p> <p><strong>TIP:</strong> As a rule, walk, don’t run if you have osteoarthritis, and avoid high-impact, twisting racquet sports.</p> <p><em>Written by Flannery Dean. This article first appeared in </em><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/5-arthritis-myths-busted?items_per_page=All"><em>Reader’s Digest</em>.</a><em> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V"><em>h</em></a><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN87V"><em>ere’s out subscription offer.</em></a></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Retirement Life

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A Current Affair busts cancer con-artist Belle Gibson on lavish $15K holiday

<p>Cancer con woman Belle Gibson has been caught out returning from a luxury trip overseas.</p> <p>Gibson convinced thousands of Australians that she was suffering from a brain tumour but healed herself due to natural remedies.</p> <p>As she was charged with five breaches of Australian Consumer Law, she was fined $AUD400,000 ($NZD 417,424) in 2017 as her empire crumbled around her. Many have questioned how she can afford to go overseas on a luxurious escape to East Africa, as her five-week trip reportedly cost $AUD15,000 ($NZD 15,653).</p> <p><em>A Current Affair</em> revealed details of her luxury overseas stay, as well as catching a refreshed-looking Gibson arriving back at Melbourne Airport with her partner by her side.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">BUSTED! <a href="https://twitter.com/tinekae9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tinekae9</a> catches-up with Belle Gibson after she touches down from a luxury getaway... she asks why Belle still hasn't made any effort to pay her 410K fine. <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ACurrentAffair9</a>. <a href="https://t.co/WlW0l9l6dh">pic.twitter.com/WlW0l9l6dh</a></p> — Jonathan Gwinner (@gwinnerism) <a href="https://twitter.com/gwinnerism/status/1100645341035032576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>This is the first time that Gibson has been confronted since her interview with <em>60 Minutes</em> in 2015, which Gibson reportedly received $AUD75,000 ($NZD 78,267) for.</p> <p>Gibson falsely claimed she had brain cancer and healed herself with natural remedies. She also lied to her supporters about donating money from her Whole Pantry app and her book sales to charities.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BlcU_udDzfK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BlcU_udDzfK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by QNA Investigations (@qna.investigations)</a> on Jul 19, 2018 at 11:00pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>One of these charities included a family whose son was suffering from the same inoperable brain tumour that Gibson herself claimed she had. Gibson was supposed to donate one week’s profit from app sales, or $150,000 to the family, but never ended up donating the funds.</p> <p>Justin Lawrence, of Henderson &amp; Ball Lawyers, told<span> </span><em>A Current Affair</em>:</p> <p>“There can actually be another situation where she’s taken back to court and wheeled out from court to the jail cell,” he said.</p> <p>“That can happen, and this is not fake jail, jail in her (Belle’s) own mind. This is real jail.</p> <p>“The court understands when people can’t pay, that’s different to circumstances where they won’t pay.”</p> <p>What do you think? Let us know in the comments.</p>

Legal

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Prince Harry busts happy royal family myth

<p>Meghan Markle has made her first working appearance alongside Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Royal Foundation Forum in London.</p> <p>Meghan was made to feel very welcome to the “fab four”, receiving a big and loud cheer from the crowd when Prince William noted her addition to the Foundation.</p> <p>“We are particularly happy to be at our first Royal Foundation event with Meghan. Today is a special day for us,” Prince William announced.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">TRH &amp; Ms. Markle spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/TinaDaheley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TinaDaheley</a> about the inspiration behind The Royal Foundation, the issues that are close to their hearts, and their ambitions for the future. <a href="https://t.co/uzNXttVXpe">pic.twitter.com/uzNXttVXpe</a></p> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/968818697400913920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Prince Harry heaped praise on his bride-to-be, adding: “I am personally incredibly proud and excited that my soon-to-be wife, who is equally passionate about seeing positive change in the world, will soon be joining us with this work.”</p> <p>He also busted the myth they’re a big happy family all the time saying they have “four different personalities and we all have that same passion to make a difference.”</p> <p>“We have different opinions and they work really well [together]. Working as family does have its challenges; of course it does. The fact that everybody is laughing shows they know “exactly” what’s it like. But we are stuck together for the rest of our lives,” he said.</p> <p>Meghan voiced her support for the Me Too and Time’s Up movements, saying she hoped to use her profile to “shine a light on women” following the Me Too and Time’s Up movements.</p> <p>“So, yeah ... I guess we wait a couple of months and we can hit the ground running,” she said.</p> <p>When Prince Harry mentioned the word “wedding”, she joked, “We can multi-task.”</p> <p>“For me it is very important to want to hit the ground running even if you are doing it quietly behind the scenes, which is what I have focused my energy on thus far — meeting with the right people and the right organisations ... learning as much as I can so that I can maximise the opportunity we have here to really make an impact.”</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: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 34.39814814814815% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/Bfvnw7UhkIo/" target="_blank">A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal)</a> on Feb 28, 2018 at 6:41am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry spoke about the Foundation’s achievements including United for Wildlife, the Invictus Games, Heads Together, the Cyberbullying Taskforce, the Endeavour Fund, and Full Effect.</p> <p>“Ten years ago Harry and I were still serving full-time in the military, but we were starting to look to the next stages of our lives,” Prince William said.</p> <p>“Both our parents had provided for us an example of diligence, compassion and duty in all they did. Our grandparents, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, had made support for charity central to their decades of service to the nation and the Commonwealth.”</p> <p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 in a ceremony at Windsor Castle.</p> <p><em>Hero image credit: Instagram @kensingtonroyal</em></p>

News

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7 biggest myths about river cruising busted

<p>People who've never been on a river cruise are sometimes quick to judge – and dismiss – this style of travel.</p> <p>Here are seven persistent myths that might make you change your preconceptions about having a holiday afloat.</p> <p><strong>1. River cruises are expensive</strong><br /> <br /> Some are, some aren't. Like any holiday, you get what you pay for. A river cruise costs between $200 and $500 per person per night. At the budget end, cruises can offer extraordinary bargains, but even luxury cruises can be good value.</p> <p>Compare the cost of a river cruise to a land holiday, and consider it includes accommodation, meals, enrichment programs and (nearly always) guided shore excursions. You might also get inclusive butler service, drinks, gratuities and airport transfers, even flights. That can make costs hard to match compared to doing it yourself. And of course, it's all organised for you, hassle-free.<br /> <br /><strong> 2. I'll be bored</strong><br /> <br /> You'll certainly have nothing to do when it comes to housework, cooking and travel organisation. But on a river cruise it will sometimes seem you're too busy to take time out to lounge on the deck. You can do as much as you would on a regular holiday. River ports such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris or Ho Chi Minh City are crammed with sights, shops and markets, museums and nightlife.<br /> <br /> Smaller destinations provide opportunities to visit castles, temples, cellar doors and farms. Organised shore excursions range from general sightseeing to insider tours that focus on special interests such as beer, music, history or a particular city neighbourhood.</p> <p><strong>3. River cruising is all about the Rhine and Danube</strong></p> <p>If for some strange reason you're bored by these most-cruised rivers, take heart. There are many more: several rivers in France, Portugal's Douro, the Volga waterways in Russia and more "obscure" rivers such as the Guadalquivir in Spain, Dneiper in Ukraine or Tisza in Hungary.</p> <p>And while it's true that Europe is river-cruising's heartland, Asia is now a big destination too, with cruises on the Yangtze, Mekong, Ganges and Irrawaddy. You can also cruise the Amazon River in Brazil and Peru, the Columbia and Mississippi rivers in the US and the Murray River, in Australia, among many other options.</p> <p><strong>4. River cruises are all the same</strong></p> <p>If you think you've "done" river cruising just because you've sailed a couple of times, then really, you've only just got going. River cruising can be as varied as any other holiday.</p> <p>Take the Mekong River alone: you can bird watch in protected marshes, visit the ancient temples of Angkor Wat and the more recent and disturbing Khmer Rouge prisons, plunder markets, take cooking classes and make school visits. Also notable worldwide is the rise in themed river cruising, with itineraries covering special-interest areas such as wine, Jewish history, opera, golf, World War sites in northern France and much more.</p> <p><strong>5. River cruising isn't for the active</strong></p> <p>The old cliche about cruising being for the nearly dead and overfed is outdated. (Well, perhaps not the overfed bit.) The average age of river passengers is falling and, in response, companies are providing more active choices. Many river ships have a small gym, carry bicycles and Nordic walking sticks, and offer morning yoga classes. The ship's concierge can recommend onshore jogging routes, and shore excursions might offer cycling, hiking and kayaking.</p> <p>Don't underestimate the energy needed just for the regular programme either. Days are long, and tours can involve several hours of walking often, in Europe, over uneven surfaces such as cobblestones.</p> <p><strong>6. River cruising isn't for families</strong></p> <p>This was certainly the case until relatively recently, with river-cruise companies focusing almost exclusively on the retiree market. But that's changing, with a few companies now offering great multi-generational cruises with shore excursions and activities targeting children or grandchildren, and interconnecting cabins designed with families in mind. Uniworld, Tauck and Adventures by Disney have family sailings in Europe, and Pandaw has a limited number in Asia.</p> <p>Christmas market cruises in Europe are also a good option for families. Be aware, though, that river ships are much smaller than ocean ships, with no space for kids' clubs or activities, so they aren't suitable for the hyperactive.</p> <p><strong>7. You're always on tour</strong></p> <p>You're mistaken if you think river cruising is a series of slow shuffles in a large group around crowded palaces or cathedrals. It is sometimes, of course. It might equally be a small group doing an "insider" guided walk around an interesting city district.</p> <p>Anyway, you aren't sent to the naughty corner for not joining an organised tour. River ships are often docked the entire day in town centres, with ample chance to wander off by yourself. Besides, shore excursions seldom run all day. You can join a half-day tour for an overview and to get oriented, then slope off for individual exploration.</p> <p><em>Written by Brian Johnston. Republished with permission of <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a></span></strong></em></p>

Cruising

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The funny moment Roger Federer busted his wife at the Australian Open

<p>Roger Federer has advanced through to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time after securing a win over Marton Fucsovics.</p> <p>Federer beat his 25-year-old opponent 6-4 7-6 6-2 in two hours.</p> <p>After the game, Federer had an interview with Jim Courier but one realisation left the Melbourne Park crowd in stitches.</p> <p>“So now you are done. It is almost 5:45pm. You will have press conferences, massage and all that stuff but you actually get a night off here. Is that dinner and dancing with Mirka? What is the game plan for tonight?” Courier asked.</p> <p>“(We’ll) probably be busy until about 9pm," said the tennis star. "We might go out for a nice dinner if she’s in the mood ... but she has left already so she has other plans!” Federer added, after realising his wife had already left her seat in the stadium, leaving the crowd in stitches. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <p dir="ltr">🇨🇭 <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> has a night off, how will he spend it?<br /><br />'Mirka and I might go out for a nice dinner...<br /><br />*looks over to players box*<br /><br />Nope, she's left already she's got other plans'<br /><br />😂❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7Tennis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7Tennis</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jb9XFdgJFP">pic.twitter.com/Jb9XFdgJFP</a></p> — #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) <a href="https://twitter.com/7tennis/status/955332398316584960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>On Wednesday, Federer will face Tomas Berdych for the 26th time and the Swiss champ revealed he had been keeping tabs on his opponent's performance.</p> <p>“I did watch a little bit of Tomas’s win against Fabio Fognini today and I saw a little bit of him against Juan Martin del Potro,” he said.</p> <p>“For me, I think personally it is important to see a little bit just because he might be using different weapons this week.</p> <p>“He might be taking the ball earlier or later or serving different patterns, so it’s good to know.</p> <p>“Of course, the coaches are going to get more in-depth into Tomas’s game, and I will absorb the information that I get back from them.</p> <p>“But sometimes it is good to see for myself a little bit, because I have the feeling of having played him but also see him play. I think that combination is important for a player.”</p> <p>Federer is riding the momentum of a great 2017 where he won a fifth Australian Open title and his eighth Wimbledon, after returning from an injury.</p>

Relationships

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5 common myths about grey hair busted

<p>Whether you’re a silver fox now or you feel like it’s in the post, there are a lot of alleged facts about grey hair that just don’t stack up to scrutiny. How many of these have you heard?</p> <p><strong>1. Stress causes grey hair</strong></p> <p>Sorry, but not really. While stress is a contributing factor it’s not your wayward teens that are causing the greys (both emotional stress, and physical stress like overdoing the bleach and products can affect your colouring). It’s simply genetics that plays the biggest role in whether you will be part of the fifty percent of the population that has grey hair last the age of fifty.</p> <p><strong>2. If you pluck grey hair, more will grow back in its place</strong></p> <p>This is totally bogus. Plucking a grey hair leaves your hair follicle exposed, but it’s not possible for more hairs to grow from this one place. Also, plucking the odd grey with tweezers won’t affect the other hair near it. However, you do run the risk of damaging the follicle which could lead to a lack of any hair (grey, or otherwise) growing at all. So best to leave the tweezers alone.</p> <p><strong>3. You can cover greys with hair colour</strong></p> <p>A few grey hairs spied in the mirror while you brush your teeth and many women will make a hair appointment the same day to ‘fix’ it. But the truth is less than rosy. While many people can cover their greys with a simple colour at home or at the salon, many can’t. You might have noticed that grey hair has a wirier texture than normal hair, and this can be resistant to dye.</p> <p><strong>4. Lifestyle choices can increase your chances of going grey</strong></p> <p>This one is actually true. Smoking is another form of stress for your hair and can cause hair to go grey sooner. Vegetarians or those that don’t eat enough B12 (commonly found in meat) can also be susceptible – a supplement can help.</p> <p><strong>5. You can wake up one day with grey hair</strong></p> <p>Well kind of, but your hair doesn’t actually change colour, it just starts to grow grey. So more likely you just didn’t see the greys until they made their presence known en masse.</p> <p>Are you grey or heading in that direction? Have you embraced it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.</p>

Beauty & Style