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“My passion since I was a child”: White Island survivor looks to career plans

<p dir="ltr">A survivor of the 2019 White Island volcano eruption has opened up about what she hopes to do next as she continues on her recovery journey.</p> <p dir="ltr">Stephanie Browitt was among the few survivors of the eruption on New Zealand’s Whakaari/White Island, which killed her younger sister, her father, and another 20 people, and left Stephanie with third-degree burns to 70 percent of her body.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since then, the 26-year-old has faced a difficult road to recovery which included the recent <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/it-s-emotional-and-scary-white-island-eruption-survivor-removes-her-face-mask" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removal of her final burns garment</a> during an interview with 60 Minutes.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, she has turned an eye towards her potential career, hoping to land work in media - her passion since childhood - or as a motivational speaker.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m hoping that I can get a career in what I graduated in, which is media and arts, film and TV. That’s been my passion since I was a child,” she told the <em>Today Show</em> on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But I’d also like to land a role in motivational speaking, because I hope that by sharing my experience I can give hope to others and show them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Stephanie, who has shared every step of her recovery with followers online, said she still “struggles quite a lot” but is grateful and doing “okay” overall.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I still struggle quite a lot, but I’m trying to make the most of every day because I’m very grateful for my second chance at life,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though removing her final burns garment, a compression mask that covered her face, felt “daunting”, she reflected that she has felt more like herself since.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was quite daunting at the beginning,” Stephanie said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But since taking all of my compression garments off I do feel a lot more free and feel like myself again.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They were quite uncomfortable and hard to put up with and tight … they were very painful and caused a lot of horrible days.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m very glad that I can now express myself through my wardrobe and my make-up and I don’t feel like it’s holding me back anymore.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Appearing on the<em> Today Show </em>to promote DonateLife Week, Stephanie urged Aussies to sign up as organ or tissue donors and spoke about her own experience receiving donated tissue.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I received skin tissue donations from multiple donors and I needed that … obviously when you have so many open wounds, you're at a higher risk of infection and you're also leaking bodily fluids. There was not enough of my own good skin to use to cover those areas,” she said</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are millions of Australians who want to sign up. People support it but tell themselves they will do it later.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ed2c14c5-7fff-424c-d71d-d5fac4a5a691"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“It is quick. It takes one minute.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @stephaniecoral96 (Instagram)</em></p>

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Queen Elizabeth watches Lady Louise carry on Prince Philip’s passion

<p><span>The Queen watched on as her granddaughter partook in a tribute related to her late husband, Prince Philip.</span><br /><br /><span>The royal was able to see Lady Louise Windsor, who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, use her grandfather’s carriage for a special event.</span><br /><br /><span>The 17-year-old is likely to have inherited the carriage from Prince Philip after his death, as it was included in the list of the Duke’s funeral procession on April 17.</span><br /><br /><span>It had been designed by the royal eight years ago, with Lady Louise finding a closeness to her grandad for their love of carriage riding.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842227/daily-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d65a1c1240064225b8d23a55721fbb40" /><br /><br /><span>The Countess of Wessex told <em>BBC Radio 5</em> back in June, that Lady Louise and her beloved pop had a real connection.</span><br /><br /><span>"He was so pleased when she took the sport up because I took it up - I was at the beginning of my carriage driving career and I fell pregnant with Louise so I had to hang up the reins," she revealed.</span><br /><br /><span>"So I was really delighted when she decided that she wanted to have a go and my father-in-law was always so good at encouraging.</span><br /><br /><span>"He was really encouraging of Louise and when she not only said can I have a go, but then showed a flair for it, he was just brilliant with her."</span><br /><br /><span>The Dukes would often take his team of fell ponies to ride around Windsor Great Park.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842228/daily-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7ea494b195de4eab8d95587e3b6303f8" /><br /><br /><span>"They used to chat away about it and he would always turn up if she was competing in the Great Park, he'd always turn up to watch her training days."</span><br /><br /><span>The Royal Windsor Horse Show is the largest outdoor horse show in the UK and takes place annually.</span><br /><br /><span>Queen Elizabeth was pictured driving herself to the event on its first day, right after she got back from her Scotland trip.</span><br /><br /><span>Her Majesty was adorned in sunglasses and a green headscarf, patterned with images of various dog breeds, while she sat in the Royal Box.</span><br /><br /><span>She was seated near Prince Edward and his son Viscount Severn, 13.</span><br /><br /><span>The Royal Windsor Horse Show was first staged in 1943 to help raise funds for the war effort.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Disney movie princess? Duchess Meghan’s latest passion project

<p>The Duchess of Sussex has signed a new voiceover deal with Disney to benefit the wildlife conservation charity<span> </span><em>Elephants Without Borders.</em></p> <p>The new role, first reported by the<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74968X1525087&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Farticle%2Fvoiceover-deal-with-disney-hints-at-future-career-path-5sr0jmjvd&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.townandcountrymag.com%2Fsociety%2Ftradition%2Fa30486892%2Fmeghan-markle-disney-voiceover-deal%2F%3Fpre%3Dsociety%252Ftradition%252F%26prefix%3Da%26id%3D30486892%26del%3D%26variantId%3D%26post%3D%252Fmeghan-markle-disney-voiceover-deal" target="_blank">Times</a></em>, follows after Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced their intentions to “carve out a progressive new role withing the institution of the royal family.”</p> <p>Not much information is known what the voiceover is for, but the Duchess, 38, reportedly recorded it before she left for her six-week holiday break in Canada with her husband, the Duke of Sussex and their 8-month-old son, Archie.</p> <p>It is believed Karey Burke, the president of ABC Entertainment hinted of the news last week during the Television Critics Association press tour.</p> <p>"We have an office waiting for them in the animation studios building should they be looking to produce television," she said. ABC is a division of The Walt Disney Company.</p> <p>It isn’t the first time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had a run in with the childhood favourite conglomerate.</p> <p>Last year, Prince Harry and the Duchess attended European premiere of <em>The Lion King<span> </span></em>and even brushed shoulders with A-listers.</p> <p>Harry and Meg shared that at the time, Disney made a donation to their charity work in the environment and conservation space.</p> <p>It was also the premiere where the Sussexes had the opportunity to meet Jay Z and Beyoncé for the first time.</p> <p>"The baby, so beautiful," Beyoncé said, about Harry and Meghan's newborn Archie. "We love you guys."</p> <p>Jay Z even offered up some helpful parenting advice: "The best advice I can give you, always find time for yourself," he said.<span> </span></p>

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What drives the appeal of 'Passion of the Christ' and other films on the life of Jesus

<p>Church isn’t the only place people go to learn about Jesus.</p> <p>At the beginning of Lent, 15 years ago, devout evangelical Christians did not go to church to have ashes marked on their foreheads. Rather, they thronged to theaters to <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/march/100.100.html">watch</a> a decidedly Catholic film to begin the Lenten season.</p> <p>That film was Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” which would go on to gross over US$600 million globally. It brought to screen a vivid portrayal of the last few hours of the life of Jesus and even today many can readily recall the brutality of those depictions. The film also stirred up a number of <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/article/2004/06/the-passions-passionate-despisers">cultural clashes</a> and raised questions about Christian anti-Semitism and what seemed to be a <a href="https://www.chron.com/g00/entertainment/movies/article/Will-a-recut-Passion-still-stir-debate-1568750.php?i10c.ua=1&amp;i10c.encReferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8%3d&amp;i10c.dv=22">glorification</a> of violence.</p> <p>This wasn’t the only film to bring Jesus to cinema in such a powerful way. There have, in fact, been hundreds of films about Jesus produced around the world for over 100 years.</p> <p>These films have prompted devotion and missionary outreach, just as they have challenged viewers’ assumptions of who the figure of Jesus really was.</p> <h2>From still images to moving images</h2> <p>For the last two decades, I have researched the <a href="https://cup.columbia.edu/book/religion-and-film/9780231176750">portrayal of religious figures on screen</a>. I have also looked at the ways in which <a href="http://theconversation.com/when-do-moviegoers-become-pilgrims-81016">audiences</a> make their own spiritual meanings through the images of film.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520286955/the-forge-of-vision">Images of Jesus</a>, or the Virgin Mary, have long been part of the <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Image_as_Insight.html?id=lrpLAwAAQBAJ">Christian tradition</a>. From amulets to icons, paintings to sculptures, Christianity incorporates a rich visual history, so perhaps it is not surprising that cinema has become a vital medium to display the life of Jesus.</p> <p>Inventors of cinematic technologies, such as <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151913/">Thomas Edison</a> and the <a href="http://www.acinemahistory.com/2016/04/la-passion-1898-passion.html">Lumière brothers</a>, were among the first to bring Jesus’s life to the big screen at the end of the 19th century. Hollywood continued to cash in on Christian audiences all through the 20th century.</p> <p>In 1912, Sidney Olcott’s <a href="http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6aaafe24">“From the Manger to the Cross”</a> became the first feature length film to offer a full account of the life of Christ.</p> <p>Fifteen years later, crowds flocked to see Cecil B. DeMille’s <a href="https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/10078">“The King of Kings”</a>, demonstrating the power of a big budget and a well-known director. Writing about DeMille’s film some years later, film historian Charles Musser <a href="https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/900-the-king-of-kings">commented</a> how the film evoked “Christ’s charisma” through “a mesmerizing repertoire of special effects, lighting and editing.”</p> <p>In Hollywood’s portrayal, Jesus was a white, European man. In Nicholas Ray’s 1961 film, <a href="https://catalog.afi.com/Film/20301-KING-OF-KINGS?sid=b96a394a-6a48-4f41-b7a4-6d05b5042fc3&amp;sr=3.1776974&amp;cp=1&amp;pos=0">“King of Kings”</a> Jeffrey Hunter made a deep impression on his audience in the role of Jesus with his piercing blue eyes. Four years later, George Stevens’s <a href="https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/22336">“The Greatest Story Ever Told”</a>, cast the white Swedish actor Max von Sydow in the lead role.</p> <p>In all these films, evidence of Jesus’s <a href="https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1853&amp;context=jrf">Jewish identity</a> was toned down. Social or political messages found in the gospels – such as the political charge of a “kingdom of God” – were smoothed over. Jesus was portrayed as a spiritual savior figure while avoiding many of the socio-political controversies.</p> <p>This was, as Biblical studies scholar Adele Reinhartz <a href="http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195146967.001.0001/acprof-9780195146967">put it</a>, not Jesus of Nazareth, but the creation of a “Jesus of Hollywood.”</p> <h2>Global moral instruction</h2> <p>Many of these films were useful for Christian <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/exch/33/4/article-p310_2.xml">missionary work</a>.</p> <p>An <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=k-KOCMRN1yYC&amp;pg=PA116&amp;lpg=PA116&amp;dq=%22destined+to+be+more+far-reaching+than+the+Bible+in+telling+the+story+of+the+Saviour%22&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=qfNYKdafRF&amp;sig=ACfU3U1thBDr3oVzabJSRUbpLHjMhCtMZA&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiZ">advertisement for Olcott’s film</a>, for example, stated how it was “destined to be more far-reaching than the Bible in telling the story of the Savior.” Indeed, as media scholars <a href="https://www.vwu.edu/academics/majors/communication/meet-the-faculty.php?person=tlindvall">Terry Lindvall</a> and <a href="https://www.regent.edu/faculty/m-a-andrew-c-quicke/">Andrew Quicke</a> have <a href="https://nyupress.org/books/9780814753248/">noted</a>, many Christian leaders throughout the 20th century utilized the power of film for moral instruction and conversion.</p> <p>A 1979 film, known as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cros.12121">“The Jesus Film”</a>, went on to become the most <a href="https://religionnews.com/2017/12/20/jesus-film-project-premieres-1500th-translation-of-jesus/">watched</a> film in history. The film was a relatively straightforward depiction of the life of Jesus, taken mainly from the gospel of Luke.</p> <p>The film was translated into 1,500 languages and shown in cities and remote villages around the world.</p> <h2>The global Jesus</h2> <p>But, as <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/article/2006/12/believing-in-the-global-south">majority Christian population shifted</a> from Europe and North America to Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and South Asia, so did portrayals of Jesus: they came to reflect local cultures and ethnicities.</p> <p>In the 2006 South African film <a href="https://www.sheffieldphoenix.com/showbook.asp?bkid=232">“Son of Man”</a>, for example, Jesus, his mother and disciples are all black, and the setting is a contemporary, though fictionalized, South Africa. The film employed traditional art forms of dance and music that retold the Jesus story in ways that would appeal to a South African audience.</p> <p>It was the same with a Telugu film, <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/exch/36/1/article-p41_3.xml">“Karunamayudu” (Ocean of Mercy)</a>, released in 1978. The style resembles a long tradition of Hindu devotional and mythological films and Jesus could easily be seen as part of the pantheon of Hindu deities.</p> <p>For the past four decades in southern India and beyond, villagers have gathered in front of makeshift outdoor theaters to watch this film. With over 100 million viewers, it has become a <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/exch/41/2/article-p120_3.xml">tool for Christian evangelism</a>.</p> <p>Other films have responded to and reflected local conditions in Latin America. The Cuban film “<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1212065?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents">The Last Supper</a>,” from 1976, offered a vision of a Jesus that is on the side of the enslaved and oppressed, mirroring Latin American movements in <a href="https://library.brown.edu/create/modernlatinamerica/chapters/chapter-15-culture-and-society/essays-on-culture-and-society/liberation-theology-in-latin-america/">Liberation Theology</a>. Growing out of the Cold War, and led by radical Latin American priests, Liberation Theology worked in local communities to promote socio-economic justice.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the appeal of some of these films can also be gauged from how they continue to be watched year after year. The 1986 Mexican film, “La vida de nuestro señor Jesucristo,” for example, is broadcast on the Spanish-language television station Univision during Easter week every year.</p> <h2>The power of film</h2> <p>Throughout history, Jesus has taken on the appearance and behavior of one cultural group after another, some claiming him as their own, others rejecting certain versions of him.</p> <p>As the scholar of religion <a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu/cf/faculty-and-staff/faculty.cfm?pid=1003260">Richard Wightman Fox</a> puts it in his <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780060628741/jesus-in-america/">book “Jesus in America: Personal Savior, Cultural Hero, National Obsession:”</a> “His incarnation guaranteed that each later culture would grasp him anew for each would have a different view of what it means to be human.”</p> <p>Cinema allows people in new places and times to grasp Jesus “anew,” and create what I have <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Representing_Religion_in_World_Cinema.html?id=tQGc8oHH5fkC">called</a> a “georeligious aesthetic.” Films, especially those about Jesus, in their movement across the globe, can alter the religious practices and beliefs of people they come into contact with.</p> <p>While the church and the Bible provide particular versions of Jesus, films provide even more – new images that can prompt controversy, but also devotion.</p> <p><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><em>Written by <span>S. Brent Rodriguez-Plate, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Cinema and Media Studies, by special appointment, Hamilton College</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/what-drives-the-appeal-of-passion-of-the-christ-and-other-films-on-the-life-of-jesus-110691" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/110691/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p>

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Julia Gillard praises "passionate" Duchess Meghan

<p>Julia Gillard has praised the Duchess of Sussex for her passion in gender equality as she joined the British royal on an International Women’s Day panel.</p> <p>On Friday, the former Australian prime minister participated in a panel at King’s College London to discuss women’s rights, feminism and gender equality.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">The Duchess of Sussex joins today's unique <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalWomensDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalWomensDay</a> panel, convened by <a href="https://twitter.com/queenscomtrust?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QueensComTrust</a>, to discuss the obstacles that women face and the global opportunities that could be unlocked if girls and women are treated fairly and equally alongside men. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IWD2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWDxQCT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IWDxQCT</a> <a href="https://t.co/qyWsUj3aSH">pic.twitter.com/qyWsUj3aSH</a></p> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1104009306834378754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">8 March 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Ahead of the event, Gillard told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2019030870623/julia-gillard-backlash-australia-female-pm-exclusive/" target="_blank"><em>Hello!</em></a> that she was excited to hear from Duchess Meghan.</p> <p>"It will be great to hear her thoughts on how we move to that more gender-equal world," said Gillard.</p> <p>"I know that she is someone who is very passionate about the cause of equality, as is Prince Harry, and he demonstrated that in his speech today and certainly revved up the crowd."</p> <p>This was not the first time that Gillard worked with a member of the British royal family. </p> <p>"I also chaired the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Australia which the Queen plays such a special leadership role in," said the 57-year-old.</p> <p>"I had some exposure to the royal family then but it is tremendous to see the way the young royal family is raising issues that need to be discussed and really inspiring young people – and I have witnessed that with my own eyes today."</p> <p>Gillard also revealed the struggles she faced as Australia’s first female PM. "In my early days in politics even, I wouldn't say that it was that different for me because I was a woman. But once I got to the ultimate leadership position as prime minister, the first woman to serve, it clearly was a very gendered environment."</p> <p>In 2012, Gillard's speech against sexism from her political opponent Tony Abbott was reported around the world.</p> <p>"Currently, if we look at the parliaments of the world, only 23 per cent of parliamentarians are women and you can name the number of women leaders with your fingers," said Gillard.</p> <p>"There is a lot of change that is necessary if we are going to be in a world where it is as routine to see a woman being a president and prime minister as it to see a man serving in those roles."</p> <p>During the panel discussion – which was convened by the Queen's Commonwealth Trust and also joined by singer Annie Lennox, model Adwoa Aboah and British journalist Anne McElvoy – the Duchess talked about her hopes for her future baby.</p> <p>The 37-year-old is expected to give birth in late April.</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/Buv_SQllehv/?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="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/Buv_SQllehv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">The Duchess of Sussex has become Vice-President of The @Queens_Commonwealth_Trust, of which Her Majesty The Queen is Patron, and The Duke of Sussex is President. On International Women’s Day The Duchess joined a special panel discussion of female thought-leaders and activists to discuss a range of issues affecting women today, convened by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2019 #QCT #QCTxIWD</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_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Mar 8, 2019 at 5:57am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">"Its not just about girls going to school and becoming smart girls, its knowing that those smart girls become influential women, and that ends up changing the world for the better" - The Duchess of Sussex, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IWD2019</a> <br /><br />Watch the full panel disccusion here: <a href="https://t.co/7LRphVaVP5">https://t.co/7LRphVaVP5</a> <a href="https://t.co/mysF322yfN">pic.twitter.com/mysF322yfN</a></p> — Queen's CW Trust (@queenscomtrust) <a href="https://twitter.com/queenscomtrust/status/1104469844051853313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">9 March 2019</a></blockquote> <p>"I'd seen this documentary on Netflix about feminism and one of the things they said during pregnancy was, 'I feel the embryonic kicking of feminism'," the Duchess said. "I love that. So boy or girl or whatever it is, we hope that that's the case with our little bump."</p>

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How to put the honeymoon-level excitement back in your marriage

<p>Here's how to put the excitement back into a relationship that is decades long.</p> <p><strong>1. Encourage your partner to pursue a passion</strong></p> <p>Research suggests we're most attracted to our partner when they are in their own element—in other words, when they're feeling confident and in the flow. That may be when he's playing his trumpet or coding a new program, or when she's dancing to flamenco music or painting pictures of historical landscapes.</p> <p>Whatever your individual passions may be, focus on supporting each other to pursue them. "Find where your partner excels and start looking at them fresh through that lens, as if you were strangers, meeting for the first time," suggests sexual health consultant Celeste Holbrook, PhD.</p> <p><strong>2. Show appreciation for your partner at least once a day</strong></p> <p>When you first started dating, remember how much you appreciated the little things your partner did for you and you did for him? Continue to do this in your relationship as it grows over the years. "At the beginning you're giddy with love and gratitude, and you're grateful for your lover and all the little things you do together, the things they say and the places you go together," says Claudia Six, PhD, sexologist, relationship coach, and author of Erotic Integrity: How to Be True to Yourself Sexually.</p> <p>"Reconnect with that gratitude instead of taking your relationship for granted." Start the day by telling each other what you're grateful for, complimenting one another regularly, saying "I love you," and comment on a new dress or a new haircut. If you want to take the romance up a few notches, start leaving love notes in unexpected places—by the coffee machine, in his underwear drawer, by the door so he sees it as he's leaving, or on the garbage can for whoever takes out the trash.</p> <p><strong>3. Plan fun, spontaneous date nights</strong></p> <p>When love is new, date nights are special. But with limited time, kids, the stress of running a household and doing your job, date nights can represent a huge logistical 'should.' "But it really is important to remember how dates used to be, when you'd dress up for them, look your beloved in the eye, be interested in what they say, and allow them to put a twinkle back in your eye," says Dr. Six.</p> <p>"Remember what made you fall in love with him and treat the date as a special time." Go to a concert in the park and bring a picnic basket with wine if that's allowed. Outdoor concerts are often free and can be a great way to have a nice evening together and just enjoy each other's company. Or go out to a nice place for dinner and split an appetiser—order a bottle of wine and make the meal last. "Do this as often as your budget allows, but at least once a month if you can save up for it," recommends Dr. Michael.</p> <p><strong>4. Use the power of touch to your advantage</strong></p> <p>Touching is small way to reconnect and make contact every day. Even just holding hands releases the love hormone oxytocin, which can strengthen empathy and communication between a couple.</p> <p>"Make sure to hold hands, not only when walking down the street, but at home, in the morning when you first wake up, and at the end of the day before going to sleep," says Dr. Six. "You don't have to talk. You can just feel the warmth of your lover's hand in yours and rest in the comfort of it, enjoying the familiarity of your beloved's skin and energy."</p> <p><strong>5. Check in on a regular basis</strong></p> <p>Think of it as a state-of-the-union conversation between the two of you about your relationship. It can be as simple as 15 minutes on the couch where you talk about what made you happy, what moved you. "The mundane tasks of daily living can dull the sparkle in a relationship, but if you make an effort to be genuinely interested in your spouse's state of mind and how they're feeling about things in their life and in the relationship, it'll have you both feeling closer to each other," says Dr. Six.</p> <p>In bed at night or over dinner, ask each other what your favourite part of the day was and why. You might be surprised to learn what is most meaningful to your mate and you may even chuckle at each other's answers as you reminisce about the day's events. This way you're constantly discovering something new about your partner and sharing in their joy, the way you did in the beginning of your relationship.</p> <p>Do you have any other tips? Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><em>Written by Jenn Sinrich. </em><em>This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/how-put-honeymoon-level-excitement-back-your-marriage">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></em></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>

Family & Pets

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Six-year-old girl passionate about saving the planet

<p>She might still be in kindergarten, but six year old Sydneysider Ruby is fast becoming an internet sensation and a one of the guardians of Mother Nature.</p> <p>With the help of her mother Ruby has started creating a series of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs-2BCpsyWfTGG9TIpo8WcA" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>YouTube videos</strong></span></a> designed to instruct her peers about the threats facing animals and wildlife.</p> <p>In an interview with <a href="https://independentaustralia.net" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Independent Australia</strong></span></a>, Ruby said, “When I think about our planet and wildlife, I get upset, because I know that the planet is sick and this means that animals are in danger of running out of food and dying,"</p> <p>"I have noticed that many grown-ups don’t seem to care or notice what is happening to our planet but I think maybe they don’t understand how they can help, or maybe they don’t understand the science, because I see them always throwing rubbish everywhere, smoking, using cars and trucks and not recycling."</p> <p>Ruby is now taking to social media to share her thoughts on the various threats to the planet, interspersing them with some handy tips for people who want to ‘go green’.</p> <p>To check out more of Ruby’s work <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs-2BCpsyWfTGG9TIpo8WcA" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>click here</strong></span></a>. Isn’t it refreshing to see such a young child have such a broad perspective on the threat facing our natural world?</p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / Climate Kid</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2016/10/babys-bouffant-hair-goes-viral/"><em><strong>Baby wins hearts with adorably bouffant hair</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2016/10/102-year-old-arrested-for-bucked-list/"><em><strong>102-year-old’s bucket list wish of being arrested comes true</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2016/10/three-pensioners-take-down-burglar-in-dramatic-video/"><em><strong>Three pensioners take down burglar in dramatic video</strong></em></a></span></p>

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Musician sisters rock the National Youth Orchestra

<p>Auckland musician sisters Joella and Joanna Pinto are often mistaken for twins. The Mt Roskill siblings are members of the National Youth Orchestra, run by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.</p> <p>Joella, 21, plays first violin, while 19-year-old Joanna plays the cello. The sisters have been playing music since age 7. Music is a family affair for the Pinto sisters. Their father, Joseph, plays violin and both girls picked up the instrument at age 7. Piano was a staple instrument for both, and Joanna moved on to the cello at age 12.</p> <p>Older sister Joella actually does have a twin - 21-year-old Joshua, who also plays music. The siblings formed a piano trio in their high school years. All three also played together in a combined school orchestra while attending St Mary's and St Peter's Colleges.</p> <p>Joella has been with the NYO for five years. She is also pursuing a bachelor of music with honours and is looking ahead to a career in music. Joella has already done a fellowship programme with the NZSO, and has achieved the rank of concertmaster with the NYO.</p> <p>"In my first year [with the NYO] I was quite lucky to have toured three times," she says, recalling an opportunity to play in a fundraising concert with Placido Domingo in Christchurch in 2011.</p> <p>Joanna on the other hand, plays music as a hobby, although it's a hobby she intends to pursue. This is the second-year medical student's introductory year with the youth orchestra and she already plans to re-audition for the next intake. "I definitely want to keep playing," she says. The NYO is an opportunity for instrumentalists under 25 years to experience working with world-class conductors and soloists. It is made up of 60 talented individuals from across the country. They meet up twice a year for a week-long training camp.</p> <p>"It's great to be around people who love music like we do," Joanna says.</p> <p>"We get to do professional programmes and repertoire. And it's a really cool way of getting to know people," Joella says.</p> <p>This summer's NYO camp in the Waikato, led by acclaimed Australian conductor Richard Gill, culminates with shows in Hamilton on February 5 and Tauranga on February 6.</p> <p><span>First appeared on </span><span><span><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a></span></span><span>.</span></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong> </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/best-advice-ever-received-video/">People aged 5 to 105 reveal the best advice they’ve ever received</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/">Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/cheap-school-holiday-activities/">30 cheap – or free – holiday activities to do with grandkids</a></em></strong></span></p> <p> </p>

Art

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Toddler with Down syndrome passionately recites alphabet

<p>A two-year-old boy with Down syndrome is inspiring millions with his adorable take on the ABCs.</p> <p>John David Marlin from Alabama in the US has a speech delay and can’t speak yet, but that did not stop the bubbly boy from tackling the alphabet for the first time.</p> <p>His grandma, Pam Sapp, captured the whole enthusiastic performance on camera, which has so far racked up 13 million views.</p> <p>“We were so amazed,” Pam said. “Within the last year, he’s been starting to say a few words like ‘mama and dada’, but for him to articulate each letter, that was amazing to me.”</p> <p>The family are also happy that their viral clip can bring awareness to Down syndrome.</p> <p>"He was cracking all of us up," she said. "I'm so proud of him and the fact that he's able to bring awareness to [Down syndrome]."</p> <p>She continued: "It's definitely something that could give you hope. On the parents' part, just know to keep persevering and don’t give up. They’ll reach their milestones when they're ready."</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/best-advice-ever-received-video/">People aged 5 to 105 reveal the best advice they’ve ever received</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/">Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/cheap-school-holiday-activities/">30 cheap – or free – holiday activities to do with grandkids</a></em></strong></span></p>

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