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Huge fallout after panicked passenger opens exit door midflight

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

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Do tenancy reforms to protect renters cause landlords to exit the market?

<p>More Australians are <a href="https://theconversation.com/wealthy-landlords-and-more-sharehousing-how-the-rental-sector-is-changing-94394">renting their housing longer</a> than in the past. But they have relatively little legal security against rent increases and evictions compared to <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-australia-can-learn-from-overseas-about-the-future-of-rental-housing-90401">tenants in other countries</a>. When state governments suggest stronger protections for tenants, landlords and real estate agents <a href="https://www.reiq.com/articles/reiq-concerned-rental-reforms-unravel-rights-of-property-owners/">claim it will cause disinvestment</a> from the sector, increasing pressure on already tight rental markets.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/391">research</a> for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (<a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/about">AHURI</a>), published today, we put the “disinvestment” claim to the test. We looked at the impacts of tenancy reforms in New South Wales and Victoria on rental property records over 20 years, as well as surveying hundreds of property investors. We found no evidence to support this claim.</p> <p>We did find a high rate of turnover as properties enter and leave the sector. This happened regardless of tenancy law reforms. It’s a major cause of the unsettled nature of private rental housing for tenants.</p> <p>We suggest that if substantial tenancy reforms did cause less committed landlords to exit the sector, that might not be a bad thing.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A tenancy law expert says it could be illegal in several states, while tenants’ advocates say it preys on vulnerable renters during Australia’s housing crisis. <a href="https://t.co/hQEdS80a3h">https://t.co/hQEdS80a3h</a> (via <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a>)</p> <p>— ABC Australia (@ABCaustralia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCaustralia/status/1587927668846399488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>How did we test the disinvestment claim?</strong></p> <p>We analysed records of all rental bond lodgements and refunds in Sydney and Melbourne from 2000 to 2020. From these records we can see properties entering the rental sector for the first time (investment) and exiting the sector (disinvestment).</p> <p>We looked for changes in trends in property entries and exits around two law reform episodes: when the 2010 NSW Residential Tenancies Act took effect, and the start of a tenancy law reform review in Victoria in 2015.</p> <p>We found no evidence the NSW reforms affected property entries (investment). And property exits (disinvestment) were slightly reduced – that is, fewer properties exited than expected.</p> <p>In Victoria, we found property entries reduced slightly when the law reform review started – perhaps a sign of investors pausing for “due diligence”. We saw no effect on property exits.</p> <p>So in neither state did we find evidence of a disinvestment effect.</p> <p>We also surveyed 970 current and previous property investors, and got a similar picture. When deciding to invest, investors said prospective rental income and capital gains were the most important considerations, but tenancy laws were important too.</p> <p>On the other hand, tenancy laws were the least-cited reason for disposing of properties. Many more investors said they did it because they judged it a good time to sell and realise gains, or they wanted money for other purposes, or because the investment was not paying as they had hoped.</p> <p><strong>A state of constant churn</strong></p> <p>Our research also gives new insights into the private rental sector, which <a href="https://www.housingdata.gov.au/">has been growing</a> relative to owner-occupied and social housing.</p> <p>Small-holding “mum and dad” landlords dominate the sector. Some 70% of landlords own a single property. Multiple-property owners own more properties in total, but still relatively small numbers (rarely more than ten) compared to corporate landlords in other countries who have tens of thousands of properties, or even more. Australia now has some large corporate landlords, but their properties are a tiny fraction of the total rental stock.</p> <p>Beneath its gradual growth and persistent small-holding pattern, the private rental sector is dynamic. Properties enter and exit the sector very frequently. In both Sydney and Melbourne, our analysis shows, most properties exit within five years of entering.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=307&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=307&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=307&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=385&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=385&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=385&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Chart showing private rental properties, Sydney and Melbourne, 2000–20, by year of first observation in rental bonds data and at five-year intervals" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Numbers of private rental properties in Sydney and Melbourne at five-year intervals from 2000 to 2020. Properties are categorised by year of first observation in rental bonds data.</span> <span class="attribution">The authors</span></figcaption></figure> <p>More than 30% of tenancies begin in a property that’s new to the rental sector. And more than 25% of tenancy terminations happen when the property exits the sector.</p> <p>Our investor survey also shows the sector’s dynamism. Many investors made repeated investments, owning multiple properties and some interstate. They indicated strong interest in <a href="https://theconversation.com/ever-wondered-how-many-airbnbs-australia-has-and-where-they-all-are-we-have-the-answers-129003">short-term letting</a>, such as Airbnb, and significant minorities had used their properties for purposes other than rental housing.</p> <p>Australia’s rental housing interacts closely with other sectors, particularly owner-occupied housing, as houses and strata-titled apartments trade between the sectors. The tax-subsidised property prices paid by owner-occupiers heavily influence investors’ gains and decision-making. Rental is also increasingly integrated with tourism, through governments’ <a href="https://theconversation.com/who-wins-and-who-loses-when-platforms-like-airbnb-disrupt-housing-and-how-do-you-regulate-it-106234">permissive approach to short-term letting</a>.</p> <p>In short, the Australian rental sector is built for investing and disinvesting. As properties churn in and out of rental, renters are churned in and out of housing.</p> <p>This presents problems for tenants.</p> <p><strong>A new agenda for tenancy law reform</strong></p> <p>Australian residential tenancies law has accommodated the long-term growth of the rental sector and its dynamic character. With no licensing or training requirements, it’s easy for landlords to enter the sector. It’s also easy to exit by terminating tenancies, on grounds they want to use a property for other purposes, or even without grounds in many cases.</p> <p>Over the years tenancy law reform has fixed some problem areas, but with virtually no national co-ordination. Laws are increasingly inconsistent on important topics, such as tenants’ security (for example, some states have restricted, but not eliminated, no-grounds terminations), minimum standards and domestic violence. Reforms have overlooked significant problem areas, such as steep rent increases and landlords’ liability for defective premises.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Works for Australia too. Although don't even need to pretend to put it on the market in NSW, it's called a "no grounds eviction" or perhaps more accurately: "tenant expected a liveable home or repairs to broken stuff". <a href="https://t.co/GolGDqlyCu">https://t.co/GolGDqlyCu</a> <a href="https://t.co/wORI3K6Yap">pic.twitter.com/wORI3K6Yap</a></p> <p>— Nathan Lee (@NathanLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanLee/status/1542298797039964160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>It is time to pursue a national agenda that goes further than previous limited reforms. The focus should be on the rights of tenants to affordable housing, in decent condition, that supports autonomy and secure occupancy.</p> <p>Where landlords say it is too difficult and they will disinvest, this should not be taken as a threat. Indeed, it would be a good thing if the speculative, incapable and unwilling investors exited the sector. This would make properties available for new owner-occupiers and open up prospects for other, more committed landlords, especially non-profit providers of rental housing.</p> <p>Similarly, if we had higher standards and expectations to discourage private landlords from entering the sector, that would open up scope for new owner-occupiers and investors who are less inclined to churn properties and households.</p> <p>While past tenancy law reforms have not caused disinvestment, maybe the next reforms should.</p> <hr /> <p><em>The authors acknowledge the contributions of their research co-authors, Professor Kath Hulse, Professor Eileen O’Brien Webb, Dr Laura Crommelin and Liss Ralston.</em><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/194900/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>Writen by Chris Martin, </em><em>Milad Ghasri, Sharon Parkinson and Zoe Goodall</em><em>. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-tenancy-reforms-to-protect-renters-cause-landlords-to-exit-the-market-no-but-maybe-they-should-194900" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“Rest, great soul”: Dame Angela Lansbury exits to the "theatre in the sky"

<p dir="ltr">Dame Angela Lansbury, known for her roles on TV, stage and film, has died aged 96 just days before her birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her family broke the news in a statement on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1.30am today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday,” they said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Murder, She Wrote </em>star was one of the most decorated actors in stage history, winning five Tony Awards for her performances on Broadway and a lifetime achievement award.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lansbury scored one for her best-known work on Broadway, where she starred as the piemaker Nellie Lovett in <em>Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street</em>, winning the Tony for best musical actress in 1979.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her other three Tony awards for best actress in a musical were for her roles in <em>Mame </em>(1966), <em>Dear World</em> (1969) and <em>Gypsy </em>(1975).</p> <p dir="ltr">She earned Academy Award nominations for her work in film as a supporting actress in <em>Gaslight </em>(1945), <em>The Picture of Dorian Gray</em> (1946), and again in 1962 for <em>The Manchurian Candidate</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The star displayed her singing talents off-Broadway when she voiced the character of Mrs Potts in the 1991 animated movie <em>Beauty and the Beast</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">For the film’s 25th anniversary in 2016, Lansbury took to the stage in New York and brought the house down with a rendition of the movie’s titular tune.</p> <p dir="ltr">But her widespread fame came when she took on the role of a mystery writer and amateur sleuth in <em>Murder, She Wrote</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Running for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996, the series was loosely based on Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple stories and followed Jessica Fletcher, a widowed mystery writer living in the village of Cabot Cove, Maine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lansbury earned 12 Emmy award nominations for <em>Murder, She Wrote</em>, making her the record-holder for the most Emmy nominations for lead actress in a drama series.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the show became a hit, Lansbury said she found the first season exhausting.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I was shocked when I learned that had to work 12-15 hours a day, relentlessly, day in, day out," she recalled.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I had to lay down the law at one point and say, 'Look, I can't do these shows in seven days; it will have to be eight days.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">But, she was pleased that her role as Fletcher had become an inspiration for older women.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Women in motion pictures have always had a difficult time being role models for other women," she observed.</p> <p dir="ltr">"They've always been considered glamorous in their jobs."</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1b20cdf8-7fff-ae6e-6c24-ba9d2ae25ea2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">After the news broke of her passing, tributes have poured in across social media as fans and Hollywood stars remember the legendary actress.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Angela Lansbury, who graced the stage for decades winning five Tony awards and brought the sleuthing Jessica Fletcher into our living rooms for a dozen years, has passed. A tale old as time, our beloved Mrs. Potts will sing lullabies to us now from the stars. Rest, great soul.</p> <p>— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/1579922852761198592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d0eee1f4-7fff-cefb-67a5-22743d890760">“Angela Lansbury, who graced the stage for decades winning five Tony awards and brought the sleuthing Jessica Fletcher into our living rooms for a dozen years, has passed. A tale as old as time, our beloved Mrs Potts will sing lullabies to us now from the stars. Rest, great soul,” George Takei tweeted.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dame Angela Lansbury has fallen asleep and gone to the ‘theatre in the Sky.’ She epitomised grace and exhibited a gifted natural talent. One of the world’s greatest actors. I had the privilege of meeting her.</p> <p>— David_Suchet (@David_Suchet) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Suchet/status/1579961581672497155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-cce3176b-7fff-f3b0-01a5-3260a870716b">“Dame Angela Lansbury has fallen asleep and gone to the ‘theatre in the Sky’. She epitomised grace and exhibited a gifted natural talent. One of the world’s greatest actors. I had the privilege of meeting her,” <em>Poirot </em>star David Suchet wrote.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tale as old as time<br />True as it can be</p> <p>In memory of Angela Lansbury, we offer this cosmic rose plucked by our Spitzer Space Telescope. <a href="https://t.co/V1N0QynRDJ">https://t.co/V1N0QynRDJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/zPduniVBsl">pic.twitter.com/zPduniVBsl</a></p> <p>— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1579939011606769664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Even NASA paid tribute to Lansbury, offering a “cosmic rose” to the star.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-858f8d34-7fff-0867-0ae5-305543c3556c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Lansbury is survived by her two children, Diedre Angela Shaw, 69, and Anthony Pullen Shaw, 70.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Passenger arrested after doing the unthinkable

<p dir="ltr">A plane full of passengers have been left in shock after a man randomly got up and jumped out the emergency exit.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man was on board a United Airlines flight which just landed on the tarmac at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, USA on May 5 when he opened the emergency exit door and walked out on the plane’s wings.</p> <p dir="ltr">The plane was still moving, making its way to the gate for passengers to get off safely when the man did the unthinkable. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I think everybody on the plane was just surprised and kind of shocked. As he was going out, I heard everybody yelling, 'No, no, no!' and he went out the exit door and onto the wing," witness Mary Ellen told WGN TV.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Even the stewardess came back and said, 'What just happened?' And you could see the open door to the plane and we weren't even to the gate yet."</p> <p dir="ltr">The man had managed to slide down the wing and onto the runway and was luckily unharmed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police were however called and they arrested the man with charges yet to be laid.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This morning United flight 2478 was taxiing toward the gate at Chicago O'Hare when a passenger opened an aircraft door and exited the plane,” United Airlines said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Our ground crew stopped the individual outside of the aircraft, and the person is now with law enforcement. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The plane then arrived at the gate and all passengers deplaned safely. The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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The truth behind Liz Cambage’s exit

<p dir="ltr">Former Opals captain Jenna O'Hea has revealed the details behind the comment that forced Liz Cambage to leave the basketball team. </p> <p dir="ltr">Cambage pulled out of the Tokyo 2021 Olympics after citing mental health reasons which allegedly occurred during training. </p> <p dir="ltr">She had also allegedly told Nigerian players to “go back to their third world country” following a fight in July last year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to Offsiders host Kellie Underwood, O’Hea confirmed the exact details that occurred which saw Cambage leave. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That is all 100 per cent correct,” O’Hea confirmed. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, O’Hea asked the media to focus on the players who are dedicating their effort to represent Australia. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Everyone has done more than enough (to try and keep Cambage playing for Australia). We have sacrificed a lot to try and keep her in the program. You know, she doesn’t want to be here anymore and that’s her choice and we need to move on without her.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She concluded that Cambage would not play for Australia ever again and said she tried to show her the support she needed. </p> <p dir="ltr">Following O’Hea revelations, Cambage responded by tweeting: “The truth will always come to light, and it ain’t even dawn yet.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After allegedly making the comment last year, Cambage made an Instagram video calling out the “fake news and the lies”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m pretty annoyed at all the fake news and the lies I’m seeing floating around in news articles and being shown and being asked about,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah, things got heated in the Nigeria game. There was a physical altercation and there were words exchanged but I’m hearing things that aren’t true at all, flying around from people in Australia and America which is crazy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Everything that happened and everything that was said is on film. I know what happened and I do not appreciate the lies and people constantly trying to tear me down. Hating on me won’t bring you love, at all.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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"Heartbreaking": Ash Barty opens up on abrupt exit from French Open

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ash Barty’s first French Open since her 2019 win has come to a tragic end, with the world No. 1 forced to retire in the second round against world No. 45 Magda Linette.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With a hip issue that was apparent from the opening service game, the tennis star was not in her best condition.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barty only landed 39 percent of her first serves while Linette easily claimed the first set 6-1, and the match came to an end at 2-2 in the second round.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barty’s thigh has been heavily strapped throughout the season and began giving her problems in the first round at Roland Garros.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Queenslander pulled out of the tournament, saying her injury had become “unsafe” and that it was “a miracle I got through the first round”.</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/CPq9IGih5L-/?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/CPq9IGih5L-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ash Barty (@ashbarty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s heartbreaking,” Barty said in her post-match press conference. “We have had such a brilliant clay-court season, and to get a little bit unlucky with timing more than anything, to have something acute happen over the weekend and run out of time against the clock is disappointing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“For my body to let me down is really disheartening.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We did nothing wrong in the lead-up. There were no red flags. It was just an acute episode, which is tough,” she explained.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It won’t take away the brilliant three months that we have had, as much as it hurts right now.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s disappointing to end like this. I’ve had my fair share of tears this week. It’s all good.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Everything happens for a reason. There will be a silver lining in this eventually. Once I find out what that is, it’ll make me feel a little bit better, but it will be there, I’m sure.”</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/CPqVBZQgPEc/?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/CPqVBZQgPEc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Magda Linette (@magdalinette)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barty revealed the injury flared up after landing “on serve one day, and that’s all she wrote”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[It’s a] completely new injury, and something that I’ve never experienced before, even chatting with my physio, not something she has seen regularly either,” Barty said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So we’ve been consulting with people all over the world to try and give us some insight into what the best ways to manage it are, to handle it, and I’m confident we do have a plan. It’s just that we ran out of time here.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the external help, Barty and her physio are doing all they can to prepare her for Wimbledon, which starts on June 28.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following the withdrawal of both world No. 2 Naomi Osaka and world No. 3 Simona Halep leaves fourth-ranked Aryna Sabalenka as the top remaining player in the game.</span></p>

News

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Prince William "genuinely shocked" at Meghan and Harry's response to the Queen

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Prince William is said to be "really sad and genuinely shocked" by his brother's behaviour towards the Queen after she confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would not be returning as working royals.</p> <p>This is according to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/william-sad-and-shocked-at-harry-pv002r9pn" target="_blank"><em>The Sunday Times</em></a>, who have heard from insiders that Prince William believes that Harry and Meghan have been "insulting and disrespectful" to the Queen and are "very upset by what has happened".</p> <p>The Palace statement said that Her Majesty had informed the Duke and Duchess that it was "not possible" to continue with a life of public service after stepping back from duty and would be stripped of helping out their royal patronages.</p> <p>"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family," the statement read.</p> <p>"Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.</p> <p>"The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family."</p> <p>In response, Harry and Meghan released a statement, saying that they would offer "continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role," and that "we can all live a life of service" as "service is universal".</p> <p>It's said that Prince William struggled to adjust to the loss of his brother during the trial separation.</p> <p>"Once he got over the anger of how things happened, he was left with the absence of his brother," one insider said.</p> <p>"They had shared everything about their lives, an office, a foundation, meetings together most days and there was a lot of fun along the way. He'll miss it forever."</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/B2bEgz2FVHY/?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/B2bEgz2FVHY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@kensingtonroyal)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Despite the current bad blood, Prince William is hopeful for reconciliation between himself and his brother.</p> <p>Sources close to the Prince believe that if issues over official duties are no longer a sore point, it can pave the way for a happier relationship between the pair.</p> <p>The news of the resignation also came as no surprise to the Duke of Cambridge.</p> <p>"Removing work as the thing to cause tension between them will hopefully allow a relationship of brothers to re-build, but there's a long way to go. This interview coming up will hopefully not make it harder," an insider told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prince-william-still-hopes-to-repair-rift-with-harry-zsxbt6bxs" target="_blank"><em>The Times</em></a>.</p> <p>The interview the insider is referring to is the one that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have agreed to, which is a tell-all sit down with Oprah Winfrey.</p> <p>Unfortunately, aides inside Buckingham Palace won't be able to rest easy until it airs on the 7th of March as there are worries it'll show that Harry and Meghan aren't "moving on".</p> <p>"Everyone wishes they could focus on their future and be happy. The worry is that the Oprah interview is a sign they are struggling to move on."</p> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

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The end is near: Meghan and Harry drop heart-warming new footage as exit approaches

<p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have wrapped up their last final royal appearances before they officially step down, but their work will surely prove to hold a lasting impact.</p> <p>The pair shared a beautiful candid short video on Wednesday to their social media accounts.</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/B9kS7YjJ_kI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=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/B9kS7YjJ_kI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)</a> on Mar 10, 2020 at 1:49pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The couple both attended a secret meeting at Buckingham Palace earlier this month and have now revealed it was all for a very special reason.</p> <p>Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan explained they hosted a conversation with young leaders from the Queens Commonwealth Trust network, saying on social media: "The group met at Buckingham Palace to discuss mental health, equal opportunities for all, and the importance of supporting youth leadership to help address global challenges and drive positive change around the world."</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/B9nDemBpDaT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=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/B9nDemBpDaT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)</a> on Mar 11, 2020 at 3:33pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"So where do you start? You start with guys like you," Harry says at one point to the young leaders,</p> <p>The footage even showed a special and intimate moment between the royal couple who shared a sweet glance at each other before another scene popped up.</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/B9nJo7eo2R9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=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/B9nJo7eo2R9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Meghan Markle 🇫🇷 (fan page) (@meghanmarklefrance)</a> on Mar 11, 2020 at 4:25pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Duke and Duchess have completed their final royal engagements in the UK now, with the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.</p> <p>It will mark their final official public outing.</p> <p>The official change will be set in stone on March 31 and it is understood the couple will spend majority of their time in Canada with their son Archie.</p>

Relationships

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Duchess Meghan’s father speaks out against Sussexes’ exit

<p><span>Duchess Meghan’s father has said his daughter was “cheapening” the image of the royal family after she and Prince Harry announced their plan to step down as senior royals.</span></p> <p><span>In a Channel 5 documentary, Thomas Markle said the Duchess of Sussex “got every girl’s dream” but was now “tossing that away for money”.</span></p> <p><span>The retired television lighting director claimed the couple were “destroying one of the greatest long-living institutions” by deciding to abandon their official roles.</span></p> <p><span>“When they got married they took on an obligation, and the obligation is to be part of the Royals and to represent the Royals. And it would be foolish for them not to,” he told the network.</span></p> <p><span>“This is one of the greatest long-living institutions ever. They are destroying it, they are cheapening it, making it shabby… they shouldn’t be doing this.</span></p> <p><span>“With Meghan and Harry separating from the Royals… it’s disappointing because she actually got every girl’s dream.</span></p> <p><span>“Every young girl wants to become a princess and she got that and now she’s tossing that away… it looks like she’s tossing that away for money.”</span></p> <p><span>The Duchess’ half brother Thomas Markle Jr said his father thought Meghan had “let down” the royal family. “My dad said to me, ‘This is not the girl I raised’,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>Thomas Snr and </span></p> <p><span>Last week, reports said that the father could be called on to testify against Duchess Meghan as part of her legal action against the <em>Mail on Sunday</em>.</span></p> <p><span>The Duchess is suing the paper over <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/15/meghan-duchess-sussex-mail-sunday--case-letter-thomas-father">breach of copyright, invasion of privacy and misuse of personal data</a> after it published excerpts from her letter to her father in 2018.</span></p>

International Travel

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US late-night hosts unleash on Meghan and Harry

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>US TV hosts Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan on Monday night as they made fun of the royal couple’s decision to leave the British Royal Family.</p> <p>Prince Harry’s summit at Sandringham with the Queen took top spot on<span> </span>The Daily Show<span> </span>with Trevor Noah pointing out that Meghan wasn’t attending due to being in Canada with baby Archie.</p> <p>“I don't blame Meghan for not going,” he joked, “because nothing good happens when white people invite you to the countryside.</p> <p>“We all know. We've seen Get Out, we know how this s*** ends!”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Thought the U.K. had had enough of big political separations? Meet Megxit. <a href="https://t.co/lQGo6ZSRdW">pic.twitter.com/lQGo6ZSRdW</a></p> — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow/status/1216921376906522629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 January 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Noah also joked about the Queen driving in her Range Rover “like she’s in a hip hop video from the Nineties”.</p> <p>The Late Show’s<span> </span>Stephen Colbert opened his show with the news, explaining that “the world is still on edge over escalating tensions between rival foreign powers that could any moment erupt into a full-blown war.</p> <p>“And everyone is asking the same harrowing question: Can Harry and Meghan really leave the royal family?”</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aONYe9zFiAE"></iframe></div> <p>After the laughter died down, he then went on to joke that like many children leaving home, the Sussex’s will “stay on the Queen's Verizon family plan”. Verizon is a phone company in America.</p> <p>Last but not least, Jimmy Kimmel made a similar joke on his show as he slipped the Sussex family into the end of a segment that focused on Trump and the growing tensions in Iran.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6W5aRsMickw"></iframe></div> <p>“The royal family's upset that Harry and Meghan want to move out and become financially independent,” he said. “Isn't that every parent's dream?</p> <p>“To not have their 35-year-old kid still living with them?”</p> <p>The jokes came after the Queen issued a statement saying that there would be a “period of transition” as the Sussex family make a new life for themselves between the UK and Canada.</p> </div> </div> </div>

International Travel

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Prince Charles and Prince William “incandescent” over Sussexes’ exit plan

<p>Prince Charles and Prince William were reportedly “incandescent” after Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced their resignation from their royal family roles the day before Duchess Kate’s 38<sup>th</sup> birthday.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7EaGS_Jpb9/">a statement</a> on Wednesday saying they intend to quit as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family, “work to become financially independent” and live between the United Kingdom and North America.</p> <p>A senior royal source told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-charles-and-prince-william-incandescent-over-prince-harry-meghan-statement/news-story/59accf500559b0b8af71bf874020cd07">The Sun</a> </em>that the couple’s announcement had not been approved by the royal family.</p> <p>“Their statement was not cleared with anyone. It breaks all protocol. This is a declaration of war on the family,” the source said.</p> <p>“There is fury over how they’ve done this without any thought for the implications for the institution. The Queen is deeply upset. The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are incandescent with rage.</p> <p>“Courtiers can’t believe it. There are so many unanswered questions but they’ve just up and done it without a thought for anyone else.”</p> <p>Prince William was “blindsided” by the statement, a source told <em><a href="https://stylecaster.com/prince-william-slam-meghan-markle-prince-harry-quit-royal-family-kate-middleton-birthday/">Us Weekly</a></em>. “Harry and Meghan rubbed salt into the wounds by making the huge announcement a day before Kate’s birthday … It hasn’t gone down well with William,” the source said.</p> <p>According to <em>TMZ</em>, the royal pair was told by Queen Elizabeth II to hold off their announcement until after the Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday but decided not to.</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/B7GL07IlnTc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=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="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7GL07IlnTc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Thank you everyone for all your lovely messages on The Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday! Photo 📷 by @MattPorteous</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Jan 9, 2020 at 3:07am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The announcement came amid reports that the Sussexes had plans to move to Canada with their son Archie.</p> <p>“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the pair’s statement read.</p> <p>“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.</p> <p>“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”</p>

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Queen Elizabeth orders Sussex exit plan to be sorted within “days”

<p>The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William have reportedly told their teams to work quickly to grant Prince Harry and Meghan their independence from the British Royal Family.</p> <p>An insider told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10707812/meghan-markle-prince-harry-divorce-royal-family-queen/" target="_blank">The Sun</a></em><span> </span>that the move is expected to take “days not weeks” as royal fans were surprised by a two-line statement from the Palace, saying that it would be “complicated”.</p> <p>“We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through,” reads one line of the statement.</p> <p>Multiple reports have said that the Queen previously asked Prince Harry not to issue the statement, but he defied her orders and did it anyway.</p> <p>It’s said that no other members of the Royal Family were consulted before the statement was issued and it has left the monarch in a state of shock.</p> <p>“The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Cambridge have directed their teams to work together at pace with Governments and The Sussex Household to find workable solutions.”</p> <p>They added: “(It’s) expected to take days not weeks.”</p> <p>The Queen reportedly learned of the announcement when the news broke on the television whereas Charles and William only got a statement copy ten minutes before it went live.</p> <p>The shocking statement issued by the Sussex family said that they intend to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent”.</p>

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“Don’t patronise me”: Tennis star blows up at reporter after Wimbledon exit

<p>Johanna Konta has shut down a journalist for “picking” on her after she found his line of questioning to be offensive.</p> <p>After losing to Barbora Strycova in the Wimbledon quarter-finals 7-6 6-1 on Centre Court, the last remaining hope for the British player in the singles draw claimed that her opponent was simply better than her, but that answer didn’t satisfy everyone.</p> <p>Discussing the game, the 28-year-old said she wouldn’t do anything differently if she was given the chance to play again, but things started heating up once she was asked whether she needs to accept flaws in her own game.</p> <p>Clearly taken aback, Konta interjected when the reporter kept pushing the same question.</p> <p><strong>Reporter:</strong><span> </span>Looking at numbers, 33 unforced errors, then you had a smash at the net which you hit straight to her, then towards the end of the third set you had a double-fault, then missed a drive volley. Do you not have to look at yourself a little bit about how you cope with these big points? It’s all very well saying it’s a lot to do with your opponent, but there were key points when you perhaps could have done better.</p> <p><strong>Johanna Konta:</strong><span> </span>Is that in your professional tennis opinion?</p> <p><strong>Reporter:<span> </span></strong>No, that’s just as a watching spectator with everyone else on Centre Court willing you on. And the numbers are IBM’s.</p> <p><strong>Konta:</strong><span> </span>OK. I mean, I don’t think you need to pick on me in a harsh way. I mean, I think I’m very open with you guys. I say how I feel out there. If you don’t want to accept that answer or you don’t agree with it, that’s fine. I still believe in the tennis that I play. I still believe in the way I competed. Yeah, I don’t have much else to say to your question.</p> <p><strong>Reporter:</strong><span> </span>I’m just asking you as somebody who presumably wants to go on from here, learn from this, win a grand slam one day. Is it not something …</p> <p><strong>Konta:</strong><span> </span>Please don’t patronise me.</p> <p><strong>Reporter:</strong><span> </span>I’m not patronising you.</p> <p><strong>Konta:</strong><span> </span>No, no, you are. In the way you’re asking your question, you’re being quite disrespectful and you’re patronising me. I’m a professional competitor who did her best today, and that’s all there is to that.</p> <p>The moderator was then forced to interfere, as the tennis star moved onto the next question.</p>

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Shock exit: Ash Barty’s classy response as her Wimbledon dream is crushed

<p>Ash Barty is choosing to remain positive after a surprising loss against free-swinging American Alison Riske.</p> <p>The beloved Aussie tennis star’s dream of winning back-to-back grand slams has taken a hit after the world No. 55 brought an end to Barty’s incredible 15-match unbeaten run.</p> <p>The world number 1 fell 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 on Monday and has taken her loss graciously, saying she had “absolutely no regrets.”</p> <p>“We’ve planned our days and prepared as best that we can. Today wasn’t my day,” Barty said.</p> <p>“I didn’t win a tennis match. It’s not the end of the world. It’s a game. I love playing the game. I do everything in my power to try and win every single tennis match. But that’s not the case.</p> <p>“It’s disappointing right now. Give me an hour or so, we’ll be all good. The sun’s still going to come up tomorrow.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">There's the backhand slice working to perfection for Ash Barty already 👌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/9Pgb94MhWb">pic.twitter.com/9Pgb94MhWb</a></p> — 7Sport (@7Sport) <a href="https://twitter.com/7Sport/status/1148176919264804864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Karolina Pliskova will take the title as world No. 1 if she reaches the semi-finals this week.</p> <p>“It’s out of my control,” the Queensland star said of her ranking.</p> <p>“We’ve done absolutely everything. I’m so proud of myself and my team over the last six to eight weeks. We’ve had an incredible trip, incredible couple of months.</p> <p>“If Karolina plays some good tennis, gets to that, then she’ll deserve it. No fighting that.”</p> <p>Barty paid homage to Riske who had undertaken an extra four hours on court than the Australian in order to get this far.</p> <p>“You just have to look at her stats on a grass court to show just how dangerous she is. She’s very comfortable on the grass court. It complements her game well,” Barty said.</p> <p>“In the crunch moments, she came up with her best tennis. When her back is against the wall, she plays really well typically. She did that today. All credit to her.</p> <p>“She deserves to be in the quarter-finals.”</p> <p>The Aussie tennis star will return to her home in Brisbane for some well-deserved rest before kicking off in her American hardcourt campaign in Montreal starting from August 5.</p> <p>“It’s also important to really celebrate what we’ve been able to achieve over the last eight weeks. It’s been an extremely positive time for me and my team,” she said.</p> <p>“Go and rest and recover with the family back home, then switch focus back to the hard courts.</p> <p>“In the US, which I love that time of year, I love getting back over to the summertime there.</p> <p>“I have some really good memories from last year. We go back, we knuckle down, train again, then we go again.”</p>

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What happens if someone opens the exit door mid-flight

<p>Someone opening the main cabin door in the middle of the flight is the stuff of aviation nightmares, enough to leave even the most frequent flyer quaking at the knees.</p> <p>And it doesn’t just happen in corny 90s action films. <a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Conde Nast Traveller</strong></em></span></a> reported about an incident on a recent Air Canada flight from Jamaica to Toronto, which was forced into an emergency landing after a man tried to open the exit door.</p> <p>Thankfully though, those on board were never in any real danger.</p> <p>Bruce Rodger, president of Aero Consulting Experts and a 777 pilot at a US airline says, "It's 100 percent impossible. You can turn the handle and the door is not going to open."</p> <p>Rodger explained to <a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Conde Nast Traveller</strong></em></span></a> that airline cabins are pressurised, so passengers can breathe at the higher altitude. As a result, there’s a significant pressure difference between the air on the inside and the air on the outside. Planes have up to eight pounds per square inch of pressure pushing against it, including the door.</p> <p>Rodger says, “If you look at that door and imagine how many pounds are pushing against it, you realise what it would take to open it.”</p> <p>So, there you have it. Now the only thing you have to worry about on your next trip overseas, is the state of the mid-flight meal. </p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">To arrange a quote, click here.</span></a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p> <p> </p>

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