Month: August 2022

Categories
Business

Eight Australian airport lounges you can access without flying business class

Eight Australian airport lounges you can access without flying business class

Air travel is a horror show at the moment. Staff shortages mean long queues at the check-in desk, bag drop and security. Terminals are heaving at peak periods, which can be 10am on a Monday, flight delays and cancellations are the order of the day. Aircraft are packed and at the end of your flight you might have to wait 10 or 15 minutes before an airbridge is connected to your aircraft.

Unless you’re flying business class, you just might be tempted to shell out for a pay-for-use lounge. Inside is a sanctuary of calm and comfort, where the food and drink are there for the taking and the loudest noise is the hiss of the espresso machine. In these turbulent times, they bring a soft edge to air travel. If you’re traveling at the pointy end, you’re likely to have access included, but there are other ways to get into these privileged domains and they mostly involve your wallet.

The bad news is that most pay-for-use lounges in Australia are located in our international terminals. Even there, a number have yet to open after closing during the pandemic. Adjust your expectations. Like every other aspect of airport operations, lounges are struggling with shortages of experienced staff. If you judge these lounges by the business-class havens of the pre-pandemic era, you might be disappointed.

Melbourne Airport

The House, international departures

With seating for 144, this crisp, stylish lounge has decent food and beverage offerings with an a la carte menu that makes a feature of regional Victorian produce while planespotters get a prime view from the bar. Opening hours are from midday to 4pm most days, 5:30pm to 11:30pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, calculated to chime with Etihad departures. A Priority Pass gets you in, or you can book and pay on the pay on the Executive Lounges website. Charge is £34.69 ($60.60).

Marhaba Lounge, international departures

Style Counsel, Emirates, Marhaba Lounge, Night Shots @ Melbourne Airport

Located on level three of the international terminal, some airlines use this as their business lounge so it probably won’t be quiet, but seating and staff get a general tick. Meat pies and sausage rolls loom large among the food selections but there’s an a la carte menu with a few Asian options. The Hudsons’ coffee cart is often out of action but there’s a fair selection of beers, wines and spirits. A Priority Pass membership will get you through the door or you can pay for entry, $64 for four hours.

Sydney Airport

Rex Lounge, domestic departures

Located in T2, it’s a small haven away from this busy domestic terminal, which hosts Virgin Australia and Jetstar as well as Rex Airlines. There’s a selection of wraps, sandwiches and salads and wine with beer available from mid-afternoon. Anyone traveling with Rex can enter, business class free of charge while those on a saver fare pay $33 and flex fare passengers pay just $16.50, but entry is subject to space availability and it’s not large. The lounge is also open to Priority Pass members.

Plaza Premium Lounge, international departures

sunjul17spotlight spotlight ; text by Julietta Jameson (handout image supplied for use in Traveller, no syndication) Aerotel at Sydney Airport: Plaza Premium LoungeÂÂ

Located on Level 1 of the international departures terminal, several airlines are using this as their business class lounge. It’s struggling to get back on its feet with food, ambience and seating generally getting the thumbs down, although staff are trying hard. Booking on the Plaza Premium website gives you five hours’ access for $64.

The House, international departures

Generally regarded as the better of the two pay-for-use lounges at Sydney’s international terminal, The House is reasonably spacious. Food selections at the buffet are limited but overall quality is good and the drinks selection gets a tick. Opening hours are 7am to 9:30pm except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when the lounge opens at 11:45am. A Priority Pass gets you in but you can also book and pay, £34.69 ($60.60) at the Executive Lounges website.

Perth Airport

Aspire Lounge Terminal 2 domestic departures

This is another sassy offering from Aspire, the lounge division of Swiss aviation services company Swissport. Formerly a Virgin Australia lounge, it’s bright and comfortable with an open-plan design but space constraints mean no bathrooms. Wi-Fi is fast and power outlets are plentiful but there are no USB ports, so BYO plug. FIFO workers make up a large percentage of the clientele and the buffet selection is designed for appetites honed on a mine site. So too the opening hours – 4am to 4pm weekdays. A Platinum Pass or an Amex Platinum card will get you in, and so will $11, but for a limited time only.

Aspire Lounge Terminal 1 International departures

If only all pay-for-use lounges were this great. This sleek, newly opened lounge in Perth’s international terminal has been re-created from the airport’s former control center and it’s a cut about the terminal’s Singapore Airlines and Qantas business class lounges. The muted blue and earthy color scheme is soothing and the design is tasty. There’s even a circular observation area with wraparound windows. Opening hours are synched with international departures, 6:30pm to 10:30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30pm to 10:30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, 12:30pm to midnight on Saturdays. A Platinum Pass opens the door, so will an Amex Platinum card but for others it’s worth the $66 entry fee.

BrisbaneAirport

Plaza Premium Lounge, international departures

It’s plenty spacious, there are showers and private workstations, staff are pleasant and helpful and the Wifi is decent but it feels tired and in need of refurb. The decor is chaotic and food tries too hard to cover too many bases. The overall impression is a lounge still getting back on its feet after a long lie-down, and the present time table doesn’t make for a smooth operation. Opening hours are just 8-11pm daily. Admission cost is $56.92.

The passes that get you in

With more than 1300 lounges around the world, Priority Pass is the great white whale of airport lounges. As a general rule, PP membership gets you into lounges under such brand names as Plaza Premium and Marhaba and in a few cases, the lounges that premier-league airlines operate for the benefit of their business-class elite.

Standard membership is currently discounted to an annual $US49 ($70), on top of which you’ll pay $US32 ($46) for each lounge visit. Standard Plus costs $US254 ($365) pa and gives you 10 free visits with a fee of $US32 for each subsequent visit. Prestige membership costs $US429 ($616) for unlimited access. Priority Pass members can bring a guest for a fee of $US32.

The American Express Platinum Card gets you free entry to The Global Lounge Collection. That’s more than 1500 lounges under such brand names as Centurion Lounges, International American Express Lounges, Escape Lounges, Delta Sky Lounges, Plaza Premium and Air Space lounges plus any one of the lounges open to Priority Pass members. Most of those lounges allow Amex Platinum cardholders to bring in two travel companions, no charge. Annual card fee is a stiff $1450, but that does come with an annual travel credit of $450 and plenty more perks.

See also: Sneak peek inside Virgin’s new exclusive, invites-only lounge

See also: Airport review: This is one airport you’ll gladly wait around in

.

Categories
Technology

Canceled Warcraft point-and-click game gets a fanmade remaster six years in the making

Canceled Warcraft point-and-click game gets a fanmade remaster six years in the making

Back in the ’90s, a point-and-click adventure game taken on warcraft was in development, and though it was cancelled, a fan has remastered a build of the game that was leaked years ago.

The leak of the canceled game, Warcraft: Lord of the Clans, appeared online back in 2016, though while very playable, cutscenes were very crunchy and low-resolution, with audio not quite synced, and some cutscenes were simply missing. However, as reported by PC Gamer and first spotted by IndieRetroNews, a fan has spent the past six years remastering all of the cutscenes to make it a bit more enjoyable to experience.


This particular project was led by modder DerSilver83, who paired the release of the mini-remaster with a blog post discussing it. “I have been working on it for the last 6 years and in that time I have done almost all I can do within a reasonable timeframe to complete and enhance the cutscenes,” wrote DerSilver83. “For me the game is very much enjoyable now and I see no real use in enhancing the cutscenes any further.”

As part of the remaster, all of the low-resolution cutscenes that would have originally been drawn by hand had compression artefacts removed by DerSilver83. And some frames and assets had to be redrawn entirely in Photoshop, a significant undertaking.

Some new transitional scenes have been created from the ground up too to make things flow a bit better, and all audio is properly synced up too. Missing voice lines were also created by using text to speech software, based on the original script too. And any continuity errors in the cutscenes have been removed too.

It should be noted that if you want to actually play the remaster, you’ll need the original files, which aren’t easily available due to a DMCA filing from Blizzard back when the leak took place. But you can download the remastered files here if you do have the original rummaging around somewhere, conveniently.

Categories
Sports

England disqualified in 400m relay, gold medal stripped for infringement

England disqualified in 400m relay, gold medal stripped for infringement

England has been stripped of the gold medal in the 4x400m relay in high drama on Monday morning (AEST).

It appeared England had pulled off one of the headline moments of the entire Games when Jessie Knight held off Canada’s fast-finishing Kyra Constantine down the final straight to cross the line just 0.01 seconds ahead.

England appeared to have won by a thousandth of a second. Photo: BBC.
England appeared to have won by a thousandth of a second. Photo: BBC.Source: Supplied

Fans inside Alexander Stadium went berserk when the replays showed Knight had just done enough for a famous victory. Or so they thought.

As the final event on the final day of athletics for the entire Games, it is enough to leave a sour taste in the mouths of the English fans — and many of them had already left the stadium before the disqualification was announced.

The England team wasn’t even told the news until after they had completed a victory lap.

They had no idea they were about to be hit a bus. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Ama Pipi, Victoria Ohuruogu, Jessie Knight and Jodie Williams celebrate. Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

However, there can be no doubting that the officials got the call right. It was announced that England had committed an infringement at the end of the first leg during the first baton change.

Replays showed English runner Jodie Williams had drifted to the inside lane (Lane 2) as she positioned herself to receive the baton and take off from that position.

England launched an immediate appeal, but 20 minutes later it was announced that the appeal had been tossed out.

As a result of the disqualification Canada took gold, Jamaica silver and Scotland was promoted to the bronze medal.

It finished off an incredible night at the track, which included Peter Bol’s silver medal win in the men’s 800m.

Scotland’s Laura Muir ended her Commonwealth Games campaign with a flourish by winning gold in the 1500m.

The 29-year-old’s teammate, 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan, just failed to make it a memorable double, finishing second behind Kenya’s impressive world silver medalist Beatrice Chebet in the 5,000m.

Muir, who won bronze in the 800m on Sunday (AEST), kicked for glory before the bell and ran a fairly moderate field — lacking two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon — ragged, timing 4min 02.75sec.

The Olympic silver medallist was overjoyed, having failed to medal in 2014 and missing the 2018 Games due to veterinary exams.

“You learn from it and your time will come,” said Muir, who will bid for more gold medals in the upcoming European Championships.

“It sounds cheesy but it’s true. Eight years of Commonwealths and it’s been bugging me so this means a lot.”

India have also had an excellent athletics competition — Eldhose Paul won their first-ever men’s triple jump gold earlier on Sunday — but bitter rivals Pakistan also had a taste of glory.

Arshad Nadeem, wearing strapping around his right arm, gave the Asian nation their first javelin gold with a Games record mark of 90.18 meters.

Nigeria’s Ese Brume won the women’s long jump competition, leaping 7.00m. Despite the fierce competition, though there was still room for sentiment between rivals.

Recently crowned world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber earlier won the women’s javelin with a throw of 64.43m while Canada’s Evan Dunfee won the men’s 10,000 race walk.

Trinidad and Tobago won the men’s 4x400m relay.

– with AFP

.

Categories
Australia

Dreams turn to ashes for Eco Inn on Victoria’s off-grid French Island

Blazing fire at night time with remains of a large chimney and walls around it in collapsed state.

The nights are dark on French Island.

Once the handful of tourists heads back to the mainland this patch of land feels even more isolated.

French Island is little more than 60 kilometers south of Melbourne and yet most Melburnians would never have heard of it.

Residents live off the grid here and love the seclusion.

Car headlights sporadically light up the back roads and on a clear night the stars sparkle.

It made the fire that burned on the morning of April 2 this year, it seemed even brighter. The flames leapt from the kitchen of the Eco Inn as the smoke alarm let out its constant shrill.

Two story eco lodge with large green lawns and people sat on the veranda
French Island Eco Inn in its former glory before the fire.(Supplied: Phil Bock)

Phil and Yuko Bock stumbled from their bedroom where they slept, but the smoke pushed them back. They jumped from a second-floor window to escape.

Their beloved dog Sammy never made it out.

Four accommodation cottages just meters from the main homestead also burned to the ground. The guests escaped uninjured, but everything was gone.

Phil and Yuko had struggled during the endless Victorian COVID lockdowns with no paying visitors, and they had suspended their insurance.

They’d spent a decade building up their business and in one night it was all gone.

Man, woman and white and black dog sitting closely together and smiling outdoors.
Eco Inn owners Phil and Yuko Bock and their beloved dog, Sammy, who they lost in the fire.(Supplied: Phil Bock)

“Losing our home, business, and beloved dog to a fire is a tragedy that we will remember forever,” Phil says.

“But the thoughtfulness of our small local community and past guests has kept us hopeful. It really is appreciated and reminds us how lucky we are to live here.

“We may be geographically isolated and considered socially disadvantaged, but being part of a small community is like no other when it matters the most.”

Phil and Yuko have moved into a small holiday cottage that remains on the property, the only building spared by the fire.

Our Back Roads team stayed at the Eco Inn during our shoot just a few months earlier.

You won’t see them in our program on air, but they were our welcoming hosts, our companions, and our snooker challengers late into the evenings, and I wanted to share their story.

The fire not only gutted their livelihoods but left a community reeling. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help them.

A close-knit and resourceful community

When a Back Roads team arrives in small-town destinations, we’re immediately welcomed.

French Island was no different, although some were anxious that the spotlight of a Back Roads TV crew might spoil the privacy they clung to.

loading

The island is twice the size of its neighbour, Phillip Island, but happily dodges the daily tourist-enticing penguin parades to the south.

Unlike Phillip Island, French Island has no bitumen, no council, no rates, and no bridge.

The barge fits just two cars for the 15-minute trip from Corinella on the Victorian mainland to the landmass north of Phillip Island.

Terry, the barge pilot, calls us “Bituminites”, just like all the other visitors who take for granted the sealed motorways of our daily drives.

The permanent population numbers not much more than 100: an idiosyncratic mix of rich and poor, famous and anonymous, worldly and parochial.

But they are inextricably linked by a chosen lifestyle that has one foot in the past and one eye on the future.

An environmental vineyard is gaining a name for itself among wine connoisseurs.

Locals live self-sufficiently with the help of wind and solar power and banks of batteries to keep their homes and small businesses thriving.

More than two-thirds of the island is a national park.

A koala hugging a branch in the nook of a tree.
There are more koalas on French Island than people.(ABC Back Roads: Campbell Miller)

What’s missing here is what makes this place so special — no foxes, black rats, or kangaroos. No possums or wallabies.

That enables many other species to thrive, almost too well, judging by the koala population under the active control of Parks Victoria.

One of everything is enough for French Islanders

.

Categories
US

Mass. woman stabbed to death by grand nephew in Lowell, DA says

Mass. woman stabbed to death by grand nephew in Lowell, DA says

A Massachusetts man is facing a murder charge in connection with the stabbing death of his great aunt in Lowell, according to authorities. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced Sunday that 22-year-old Rayshawn Settles, of Lowell, was arrested Saturday without incident at the Saint’s Campus of Lowell General Hospital. Settles had been civilly held at the hospital since Aug. 1. According to the DA’s Office, surveillance video and DNA evidence tied Settles to the July 31 death of 64-year-old Linda Gilbert, also of Lowell. On July 31, Lowell police responded to a house on Loring Street shortly before 11:20 pm Sunday after receiving reports of an unresponsive woman inside. Gilbert was found inside the home with apparent trauma and transported to Lowell General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Gilbert’s death de ella to be a homicide and that the cause of her death de ella was multiple stab wounds. Authorities said investigators were able to find surveillance video of Settles, Gilbert’s grand-nephew, walking to and from the Loring Street home around the time of the murder. Investigators were also able to find clothing Settles allegedly wore during the murder. Testing at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory found that those clothes had Gilbert’s DNA on them. Settles is expected to be arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court. The case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, state police detectives assigned to the DA’s Office and Lowell police.

LOWELL, Mass.—

A Massachusetts man is facing a murder charge in connection with the stabbing death of his great aunt in Lowell, according to authorities.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced Sunday that 22-year-old Rayshawn Settles, of Lowell, was arrested Saturday without incident at the Saint’s Campus of Lowell General Hospital. Settles had been civilly held at the hospital since Aug. 1.

According to the DA’s Office, surveillance video and DNA evidence tied Settles to the July 31 death of 64-year-old Linda Gilbert, also of Lowell.

On July 31, Lowell police responded to a house on Loring Street shortly before 11:20 pm Sunday after receiving reports of an unresponsive woman inside.

Gilbert was found inside the home with apparent trauma and transported to Lowell General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Gilbert’s death to be a homicide and that the cause of her death was multiple stab wounds.

Authorities said investigators were able to find surveillance video of Settles, Gilbert’s grand-nephew, walking to and from the Loring Street home around the time of the murder.

Investigators were also able to find clothing Settles allegedly wore during the murder. Testing at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory found that those clothes had Gilbert’s DNA on them.

Settles is expected to be rooted Monday in Lowell District Court.

The case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, state police detectives assigned to the DA’s Office and Lowell police.

.

Categories
Business

BYD Electric Vehicle Launch a Massive Success in Australia

BYD Electric Vehicle Launch a Massive Success in Australia

Not since Tesla brought a Model 3 to Brisbane back in 2018 (prior to deliveries in 2019) have I seen such a crowd at the launch of an electric vehicle. BYD received 600 RSVPs to launch at Indooroopilly’s Auto Mall in Brisbane. I think all of them were there on August 2nd.

After the speeches by Tim Cahill (of Socceroo’s fame) and Luke Todd from EV Direct, the public were allowed to swarm all over and inside the gray BYD Atto 3 right-hand drive. It was a bit of a contrast to the 90 seconds we were allowed in the Model 3 until the attendant, stopwatch in hand, ushered us out of the vehicle.

I watched and listened for a while, then thought — “I’ll have lunch and come back. Shouldn’t be too many people here in an hour.” Boy was I wrong. There were still over 60 people lined up. The best shots were the ones I was able to get from the escalator, going up. BYD was very generous in allowing such access to their vehicle. The car is on display for a week — I wonder how many people are there today?

This event showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that Australia is thirsty for an affordable electric SUV.

BYD Electric Vehicle Launch

Atto 3 mobbed by crowds. Photo by David Waterworth.

Australia and China have had some lovers’ quarrels recently. We have had spats over wine, barley, and even coal. Our outgoing government even got involved in some saber rattling. So, I thought there might be some reticence on the part of the Australian public in buying a Made in China vehicle. Not the slightest. All the people I met were as keen as mustard, were well aware of the car’s features. A particular positive was BYD’s VTL capacity. BYD is keen too and expectations are that we will soon see the launch of the Seal and the Dolphin EVs on Australian shores.

BYD Electric Vehicle Launch

Hundreds queued to experience BYD’s Atto 3. Photo by Paul Milburn.

An unofficial Queensland government source said that they may be considering their options on Atto 3. They are awaiting the ANCAP rating before making a decision. They are also considering the Tesla Model Y after having just had a three-day trial. The ships are on the way and it won’t be long before we see a plethora of BYDs on Queensland and Australian roads. Rumor has it that over 4,000 have already been sold.

BYD Electric Vehicle Launch

Had to use the escalator to see the car. Photo by Paul Milburn.

Featured photo by David Waterworth.


 

Appreciate CleanTechnica’s originality and cleantech news coverage? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.

Don’t want to miss a cleantech story? Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

advertisement



Categories
Technology

Amazon viciously slashes Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 prices ahead of Fold 4 launch

Amazon viciously slashes Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 prices ahead of Fold 4 launch

The big day is finally right around the corner for hardcore Samsung fans who feel like foldables are the future (or even the present) of the mobile industry, but if all the pre-Unpacked leaks of the last few… months have left you underwhelmed by the Fold 4 and Flip 4 upgrades, we might have the best possible news to bring you today.

Last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G, which is still undeniably one of the best phones out there, can be had at an incredible discount of up to 700 bucks with Absolutely no strings attached. This killer new Amazon deal smokes Best Buy’s most recent promotion, which required upfront activation on select mobile network operators, not to mention all of those deeper than deep price cuts offered by Samsung itself with eligible device trade-ins.
The unlocked 5G-enabled Z Fold 3 powerhouse with a Snapdragon 888 processor under the hood is marked down by $600 from a regular starting price of $1,799.99 with 256 gigs of internal storage space and by $700 from $1,899.99 in a 512GB configuration, which makes it pretty easy to choose between the two models.

That’s right, you can currently get a 512 gig variant at the exact same price as an “entry-level” 256GB device, although something tells us Amazon may run out of inventory for the version that’s typically more expensive fairly quickly.

This special offer is extremely close to what Prime members could get for a limited time last month, and naturally, that condition is out of the equation as well.

Reserve the Galaxy Z Fold 4 if you can resist the Z Fold 3

Given how popular the new foldable phones are likely to become, we wouldn’t be 100 percent certain this kind of discount will ever be offered for the Fold 4, so whether or not you’re excited about Samsung’s “next big thing”, we can definitely understand if you also feel like you simply cannot turn down this chance to purchase the Z Fold 3 at an actually reasonable price… all things considered.

Categories
Entertainment

Meghan Markle Spotify podcast warning over ‘kiss of death’ for Duke and Duchess of Sussex | Royal | News

Meghan Markle Spotify podcast warning over 'kiss of death' for Duke and Duchess of Sussex | Royal | News

The Duchess of Sussex is expected to release her first podcast produced exclusively for Spotify this year. The streaming giant announced in March Meghan’s first audio program would be titled Archetypes.

Spotify said the podcast would be released this summer, without specifying a date.

However, more than four months after the podcast’s trailer sparked a frenzy, Meghan has not yet released the final product.

Brand and reputation management expert Eric Schiffer believes the wait is due to the fact the Duke and Duchess want to make sure they are only releasing products of great quality.

To get this first release wrong, the California-based commentator said, could endanger their careers in entertainment.

Mr Schiffer does not believe the wait is putting off Meghan’s fans who will continue to be eager to listen to Archetypes whenever she is ready to release it.

Rather, I have suggested, it’s wise for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s future with Spotify if they take time to polish their products.

He told Express.co.uk: “I imagine they are working on making sure that it’s a product of excellence so that it’s not a threat to the survival of their partnership [with Spotify] and it won’t be the kiss of death of their entertainment career.

“They are focusing on quality right now.”

READ MORE: Queen shares hilarious reaction to Kate and Prince William’s renovation

He continued: “If you try to get a career in entertainment and your shows are bombing, that doesn’t help you.

“Nor does it help the partnership with Spotify.”

Mr Schiffer added Meghan’ will have many people analyzing every single detail of her podcast given her popularity across the globe.

He added: “They are going to be careful and making sure that it is done with quality.

DON’T MISS

“Her base will be there when it’s out.”

Meghan and Harry announced to have signed a multi-year deal with Spotify in late 2020.

This partnership will see the pair produce content, through their audio-first production company Archewell Audio, “aimed to uplift and entertain audiences around the world” and “spotlight diverse perspectives and voices.”

The Sussexes have so far released only a special holiday episode at the end of December two years ago, during which they reflected on the year just passed.

They also had an array of celebrity guests, including Sir Elton John, sharing their stories and thoughts.

The end of the episode also featured Archie Harrison, the Sussexes’ son, wishing listeners a happy new year.

As announced in the spring, Archetypes will “investigate the labels that try to hold women back” and feature historians and experts to “uncover the origin of these stereotypes and have uncensored conversations with women who know all too well how these typecasts shape narratives.”

The one-minute trailer released in March featured the Duchess’ voice.

After playing some disparaging words and labels that have been historically used to address women, Meghan can be heard saying: “This is how we talk about women, the words that raise our girls, and how the media reflects women back to us.

“But where do these stereotypes come from? And how do they keep showing up and defining our lives?”

She added: “I’m Meghan and this is Archetypes — the podcast where we dissect, explore, and subvert the labels that try to hold women back.

“I’ll have conversations with women who know all too well how these typecasts shape our narratives. And I’ll talk to historians to understand how we even got here in the first place.”

In 2020, Meghan and Harry also signed a deal with Netflix and the Duke is currently working at the docu-series Heart of Invictus.

Categories
Sports

Watch as Melissa Wu celebrates Commonwealth Games diving gold medal after SAS Australia injury almost ended career

Watch as Melissa Wu celebrates Commonwealth Games diving gold medal after SAS Australia injury almost ended career

Melissa Wu has celebrated a full-circle gold medal at the Commonwealth Games after bouncing back from an SAS Australia injury that almost ended her diving career.

Wu won the synchronized 10m platform on Saturday with Charli Petrov, a 14-year-old who was not even born when a 13-year-old Wu won silver at Melbourne 2006.

Watch the gold medalists’ emotional interview in the video above

Stream Seven’s coverage of the Commonwealth Games 2022 for free on 7plus >>

Petrov became the star of the show after defying her lack of experience to win gold but Wu’s own journey is something to savor.

The 30-year-old, who won an individual bronze at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, has been a constant for Australia ever since making her international debut at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

It hasn’t always been easy for the Sydneysider, though, having dealt with back injuries since she was 21.

“I think I’ll be injured for as long as I dive,” Wu said in 2013.

The issue reared its head again late last year following a stint on Channel 7’s SAS Australia.

Melissa Wu pushed herself to the brink on SAS Australia, passing out during one challenge. Credit: Supplied
Melissa receives oxygen after a tough challenge on SAS Australia. Credit: Supplied

Wu proved to be among the toughest contestants when she pushed herself to the brink in several challenges, despite one setting off her back injury.

She eventually withdrew from SAS and immediately began to rehabilitate her body and mind ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

“This year has been a really big struggle for me with my body and injury,” Wu said after winning gold.

“I literally couldn’t touch my toes, I couldn’t even do daily activities and daily living. So to be able to push through and dive the 10m today means so much to me.

“I couldn’t even imagine diving off the 10m when I was in the depths of being really injured.

“I got the injury on SAS Australia but I took a lot of lessons from that. It is a bit ironic, but what I learned on the show also helped me push through the injury and I’m really proud of my efforts.”

Charli Petrov and Melissa Wu of Australia celebrate with their gold medals after winning the Women’s Synchronized 10m Platform Final during Day 9 of the XXII Commonwealth Games at the Sandwell Aquatics Center in Birmingham, England, Friday, July 29, 2022. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: DAVE HUNT/AAPIMAGE

EVERYEVENT: Check out the full Commonwealth Games schedule

TALLY MEDAL: Every gold, silver and bronze at Birmingham 2022

LATEST RESULTS: Detailed breakdown of every event at the Games

The comeback bid included integrating her training program with Petrov despite the challenge of living in different cities, not to mention the gap in age and experience.

But with gold around her neck, Wu championed the breath of fresh air that her teenage partner became during a taxing time in her career.

“I think that some things you don’t tend to appreciate as much – not that you don’t appreciate it – you just sort of get used to it, I guess,” Wu told Channel 7’s Weekend Sunrise later.

“But Charli’s experiencing everything for the first time and that makes me look at things a different way and look at things through those fresh eyes that I remember I had at her age.

“I think for me that’s been really special to be able to take it all in and appreciate the moments, because it’s never guaranteed.

“You’ve got to soak up every minute while you’re here.”

Charli Petrov (middle) has been a breath of fresh air for Melissa Wu. Credit: Dave Hunt/AAP

Wu made it clear, too, that the partnership with Petrov is just getting started.

“I’ve loved diving with Charli. Ella she’s been amazing so far, ”she said.

“She’s such an incredible young athlete with a really good head on her shoulders. That’s made it so easy for us to come together.

“It’s been such a pleasure to dive with her, I’ve loved every minute of it so far.”

In the video below: John Steffensen emulates Aussie gold medalist’s epic celebration

John Steffensen rips shirt off on Weekend Sunrise.

John Steffensen rips shirt off on Weekend Sunrise.

The pair finished seventh in Petrov’s international debut at the world championships in Budapest four weeks before the Commonwealth Games.

The wide-eyed teenager said it will take time before it has sunk in that she already has a gold medal under her belt.

“I don’t know how that happened but it was all an amazing experience,” Petrov said.

“I’m honestly speechless. It’s still – I don’t know if it’s hit me yet. I think it’ll hit me tomorrow morning when I’m fresh, like ‘wait, what happened? This isn’t a dream.

“I’m over the moon.”

Just like Tokyo 2020 on Seven, there will be one destination to watch every epic feat, every medal moment, every record attempt and every inspiring turn from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

7plus is the only place to watch up to 30 live and replay channels of sport, see what’s on when, keep up to date with the medal tally, create a watchlist to follow your favorite events and catch up on highlights.

Netball star’s painful collision with goal post

Netball star’s painful collision with goal post

.

Categories
Australia

Dominic Perrottet faces widening crisis; former deputy premier to appear

Dominic Perrottet faces widening crisis; former deputy premier to appear

The Perrottet government is bracing for its most politically challenging week in power, with former deputy premier John Barilaro to appear at a parliamentary inquiry into his trade appointment today and a bitter internal spat erupting within the Liberals over the deputy leadership.

The parliamentary probe into Barilaro’s appointment to a $500,000 a year US trade role that he withdrew from will also be expanded to examine the agent-general’s role in London amid revelations Premier Dominic Perrottet canvassed the job with one of his ministers.

Premier Dominic Perrottet had discussions with Transport Minister David Elliott about trade roles in the event Elliott was dumped from cabinet.

Premier Dominic Perrottet had discussions with Transport Minister David Elliott about trade roles in the event Elliott was dumped from cabinet.Credit:Louise Kennerley

the herald on Sunday revealed that Perrottet offered to create a parliamentary trade job for Transport Minister David Elliott as a sweetener for him being dumped from cabinet and also discussed the agent-general role with him.

The Liberals are caught in a nasty internal spat over electing a new deputy leader, after former trade minister Stuart Ayres was forced to quit the role over his involvement in the Barilaro appointment was highlighted in a draft report into the saga. Ayres denies any wrongdoing.

Treasurer Matt Kean wants the deputy position, while Elliott has also indicated he would nominate, although in a bid to block Kean, he is encouraging several women to consider running.

Elliott is pushing Local Government Minister Wendy Tuckerman for the position. Tuckerman’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

One senior minister, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “everyone is incredibly nervous” about the coming week, while another said it would be the most difficult they had faced under Perrottet’s leadership.

Government sources with knowledge of discussions between the premier and Elliott have confirmed Perrottet this year canvassed two trade-related options with the transport minister, including a parliamentary secretary position that did not exist.

The discussions came after Elliott signaled his intention to contest the federal seat of Parramatta in the May election, prompting the premier to promise Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons that she would be promoted to cabinet as a replacement if she agreed to abandon her federal ambitions.