Latest news with #Antipodes
Spectator
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Beware taking up running in your fifties
Over a hotel breakfast in Brisbane, I showed Sir Alan Hollinghurst my injuries. We'd met the previous week at the Auckland Writers' Festival and would meet again, post-Brisbane, at the Sydney Writers' Festival. A book tour of Australia and New Zealand is a bit like being in a David Lodge novel – writers are more likely to travel halfway round the world if a few potentially sizeable crowds are waiting for them. A.C. Grayling, who I broke bread with in Auckland and saw again in Sydney, seemed to have scored the most palpable hit by being invited to be philosopher-in-residence at a festival in Margaret River, centre of Australia's most prestigious wine region. It was déjà-vu as I kept bumping into Lemn Sissay, Samantha Harvey, Philippe Sands and Colm Tóibín, Colm reminding me that I'd once advised him to improve his sales by adding the occasional murder. Back to those injuries. I took up 'running' in my fifties. I put the word in inverted commas because the most I can usually manage is 5k at a pace somewhere below a slow trot. But I've grown to enjoy it, and whenever I go somewhere new I like to go for a run to get a feel for the place. Having flown from Auckland to Brisbane, I duly set out before breakfast, only to be undone by a particularly vicious stretch of uneven pavement. Back at the hotel, my wife dressed my wounds so we could enjoy breakfast before seeing a doctor. Nothing needed stitching, but I was sporting so many plasters and bandages that I felt mummified. The doctor seemed most concerned about my elbow: 'But I can't quite see bone,' she concluded cheerily. Sharing the story afterwards, I learned that people my age (65) don't actually fall. Rather we 'have a fall'. This is the stage of my life I have reached. The trip (hah!) had begun with a long flight (Edinburgh-Doha) followed by an even longer one (Doha-Auckland). We found ourselves exiting the international terminal in New Zealand at around 3.30 a.m., only to find that the domestic terminal (we were heading to South Island) didn't open for another 90 minutes. Joy. But things improved once we'd reached Nelson and rented a car. We headed for the wineries of Marlborough, where our first cellar-door tasting was hosted by a chap from Wales. So obviously we talked about the Welsh-speaking community of Gaiman in Patagonia – something I knew nothing about prior to visiting the place during a South American cruise a couple of months earlier. My wife Miranda has a knack for booking holidays. The cruise lasted over 50 days, during which time we circumnavigated South America. Once home, we just had time to do the laundry before we were off to Lisbon for my birthday – the day itself coinciding with a power cut that blacked out the whole of Portugal. Having survived that, we were ready to repack for the Antipodes. Which would be fine, except that a while back I signed up to write a new novel. I did the plotting and planning during the cruise's many sea days, but there hasn't been much time since then to actually write the story. I lugged all my notes and as much of the first draft as exists to New Zealand, but never felt the need to remove any of it from my bag: there always seemed to be another wine region, art gallery or bookshop to visit. It was especially interesting to see the changes in Christchurch since my last visit in 2017. The shipping containers – turned into everything from shops to wine bars after the 2011 earthquake – have all gone. A few buildings remain to be demolished and progress on the cathedral has come to a halt due to lack of money, but the city itself was buzzing and the 'cardboard' cathedral (built as a temporary replacement) is as glorious as I remembered it. After the Sydney Writers' Festival we tacked on a bit more holiday, which involved the wineries around Adelaide and then three days on the Ghan, a well-appointed train that chugs its way north to Alice Springs and Darwin. This, I thought, was when I'd get down to doing some actual work – but the scenery rolled past, hypnotic in its intense, ever-changing sameness, and I became fascinated by the parade of termite hills. The book stayed where it was. Novels need to be credible while the real world does not. In a doctor's waiting room in Sydney, where my injuries were to be reassessed and the dressings changed, a man walked in with his elderly mother and sat down opposite. 'Ian?' he said. This was Andrew, who used to be my publicist back in the day, and is just about the only person I know in the city. His mother had had a fall…
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Beauty brand launches new version of their iconic product... with one very luxurious update for dull winter skin: 'Liquid gold'
The brand behind a bestselling beauty product purchased every 15 minutes worldwide has just unveiled an exciting new version of the cult product. New Zealand skincare company Antipodes has announced the Aura Gold Mānuka Honey Radiance Mask, a follow up to the beloved classic Aura Mānuka Honey Mask. The brightening and exfoliating mask is designed to restore luminosity to dull winter skin and give the complexion a radiant glow. While the creamy, hydrating Aura Mānuka Honey Mask is renowned for its ultra-nourishing and soothing properties, the Aura Gold is packed with high-performance natural actives for visibly brighter skin. In a four-week trial, 87 per cent of participants responded that their skin looked more radiant, and 98 per cent said it ' felt luxurious on their skin'*. The shimmering mask, $75, is powered by premium botanicals. The formula contains Kakadu Plum, which harnesses 100 times the vitamin C of oranges, to brighten and protect, and lime caviar AHAs to exfoliate for fresher, smoother skin. Ceramides replenish and bolster the skin barrier, while plant hyaluronic acid delivers a boost of hydration. The potent formulation is packed with high-performance natural actives for visibly brighter skin The Aura mask range's hero ingredient, New Zealand Manuka Honey, is renowned for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. The Manuka Honey in Antipodes products is ethically sourced from Grafter's Honey, a sustainable bee farm in Wellington. Reviews of the recently launched face mask reveal it to be an instant hit with Antipodes ' loyal global customer base, with customers praising the 'luxurious' texture and the resulting glow. The Aura Gold mask an instant hit with Antipodes' loyal global customer base, with customers praising the 'luxurious' texture and the resulting glow 'This mask is wonderfully luxurious on the skin. My skin was hydrated and my pores appeared reduced after the treatment,' one customer wrote. 'Over time, my skin tone has improved. I would highly recommend this if you have dry, thirsty skin in need of a boost. Another shopper raved: 'I love this product. The texture is incredible— it feels like a luxurious face mask but without the crusty, irritated feeling before a mask it removed. It has a velvety smoothness that leaves my skin feeling silky and refreshed.' 'The gold colour of the mask makes you feel like you are putting liquid gold into your face,' said a customer of the shimmering gold hue of the mask, from the light-reflecting mineral mica. 'The rich cream texture feels and looks luxurious. 'Compared to other face masks I have used this is the best. My skin felt lovely and hydrated after and I enjoyed the pampering experience.' With its high concentration of plant-based actives for optimum efficacy, the mask is best suited as occasional treatment for when your skin needs a visible glow up. It is suitable for all skin types, though a patch test is recommended for sensitive skin. The original formulation, alternatively, is a gentle and nourishing mask suitable for everyday use. Antipodes has become a global powerhouse in natural skincare since its launch in 2004 and is now sold in over 40 countries. Along with classic Aura Mānuka Honey Mask, the brand boasts a number of bestsellers, including the Culture Probiotic Night-Recovery Water Cream, Glow Vitamin C Brightening Serum, Baptise H2O Ultra-Hydrating Water Gel and Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream. The company prides itself on utilising the 'most unique and innovative botanicals and bioactive compounds to develop the very finest, naturally efficacious, formulations'. 'I was searching for an outlier – 100% natural skincare that offered the same benefits as prestige brands – but using pure New Zealand ingredients that were independently and scientifically validated,' says Elizabeth Barbalich, Antipodes Founder and CEO of establishing the beloved heritage brand. 'That personal quest turned into a trailblazing scientific green beauty brand which has won global fans and awards for combining nutrient-rich New Zealand bioactive ingredients with science and innovation to produce high-tech, premium formulations.' *In-vivo trial results from 45 participants after four weeks of use.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stockton Rush Was Dedicated to Ocean Exploration. His Cofounder Still Is Despite the Deadly Risks
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: In June 2023, the OceanGate Expeditions submersible Titan imploded while descending to the wreckage of the Titanic. All five passengers died. Company cofounder Guillermo Söhnlein has publicly defended his late business partner, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, and ocean exploration more broadly. A year after the disaster, Söhnlein announced plans for his current company to explore Dean's Blue Hole in The Bahamas. On June 16, 2023, OceanGate Expeditions CEO Stockton Rush and four other passengers left the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, for the thrill of a lifetime—a submersible dive to the sunken Titanic. Tragically, none of them returned to shore. 'They knew what they were getting into,' OceanGate cofounder Guillermo Söhnlein said. 'And yeah, and it's just, it's a sad thing that they died doing something that they were passionate about.' Streaming June 11, the Netflix documentary Titan: The OceanGate Disaster takes a closer look at the titular craft's deadly underwater implosion and the events preceding it. It also examines the business practices of Rush and whether they ultimately played a role in the accident. While Rush's company has drawn intense scrutiny, Söhnlein has rendered a different image of his former business partner—insisting his commitment to exploration is worth continuing. Rush and Söhnlein cofounded OceanGate in 2009 in Seattle. Similar to space tourism brands such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic—created by Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, respectively—the company's mission was to make undersea exploration more accessible. According to Söhnlein, he and Rush planned to purchase a 'fleet' of submersibles capable of diving at least 4,000 meters. The craft could be used for a variety of purposes, including tourism, military operations, and scientific research. 'The whole intent was to create these work subs and, in that way, as our tagline was in the early days: Open the oceans for all of humanity,' Söhnlein told Sky News in 2023. The company's first five-person submersible, Antipodes, followed this model and was used primarily by researchers and what Söhnlein called 'citizen scientists'—or regular people fully trained as crew members for their respective excursions. In June 2011, Antipodes successfully explored the wreckage of the S.S. Governor off the coast of Washington. But by 2013, Rush determined OceanGate needed to build its own craft to explore greater depths as originally intended. That same year, Rush became CEO when Söhnlein left the company, though he maintained a minority stake. He testified that as of September 2024, he had approximately 500,000 common shares but 'basically resigned myself to the fact that I'm probably never going to see anything out of that equity stake.' That's because of what would happen a decade later in the North Atlantic Ocean. In July 2021, OceanGate made its first successful dive to the wreck site of the Titanic, the massive ocean liner that sank on April 14, 1912, and resulted in more than 1,500 deaths. Rush and his team used the company's Titan submersible, which had a unique carbon fiber hull to make it lighter and less expensive to build. But during the expedition in June 2023, team members lost contact with the Titan. After a frantic days-long search for the craft, investigators recovered debris on June 22 and determined the submersible suffered a catastrophic implosion. All five passengers—including Rush, 61, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77—died. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) later determined that layers of the Titan's carbon fiber hull had begun to delaminate, or break apart, a year prior—ultimately compromising the craft's integrity. This, along with testimony from a former employee saying an accident was 'inevitable,' led to scrutiny of Rush's business and safety practices as company CEO. The Netflix documentary promises to look at 'technical challenges, moral dilemmas, and shockingly poor decisions' that led to the implosion. However, Söhnlein, who has never been on a Titanic dive, has publicly defended Rush. He denied leaving OceanGate over safety concerns and told CTV News that OceanGate 'operated as safely as possible and we had a very safety-conscious culture' prior to his 2013 departure. Then in September 2024, Söhnlein testified to a USCG panel that Rush performed the first manned test dive of Titan on his own and recalled their conversation beforehand. 'He goes, 'I don't want anyone else in the sub. If anything happens, I want it to only impact me. It's my design, I believe in it, I trust it, but I don't want to risk anyone else,'' Söhnlein said. Söhnlein will offer his full thoughts about the Titan tragedy with the November 2025 release of his book, Titan Unfinished: An Untold Story of Exploration, Innovation, and the OceanGate Tragedy. In the wake of the accident, OceanGate suspended 'all exploration and commercial operations.' But Söhnlein, undeterred by his friend's death, has continued to advocate for underwater exploration. In June 2024, he announced plans for his own company, Blue Marble Exploration, to launch a craft to Dean's Blue Hole, an underwater sinkhole located in The Bahamas. Scientists have measured its depth at 663 feet, but no humans have ever reached the bottom. However, Blue Marble Exploration's website currently doesn't include any information about the company or planned excursions to the blue hole or elsewhere. Although it's unclear what the future holds for his company, Söhnlein has expressed hope that the Titan implosion won't deter other explorers and said future missions would be a way to honor the five victims. 'Those of us who work in the deep-ocean community know that there are risks. We know that working down there is difficult,' Söhnlein told the Seattle Times in 2023. 'And yet we all believe in what we're doing. We believe that what we're doing is greater than us.' Titan: The OceanGate Disaster begins streaming Wednesday, June 11, on Netflix. Tudum has confirmed the project includes new testimony about OceanGate and 'footage from the company's early days.' You Might Also Like Nicole Richie's Surprising Adoption Story The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother Queen Camilla's Life in Photos
7NEWS
19-05-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
You've never glowed like this before: the $75 golden face mask that's about to go viral
Antipodes has done it again. The cult Kiwi skincare brand is back with a shimmering, skin-loving showstopper that's set to replace every sheet mask in your bathroom drawer. The Aura Gold Mānuka Honey Radiance Mask isn't just skincare, it's a weekly golden ritual. And it really is gold. Launching nationally on June 2nd, this decadent vitamin C-powered treatment is already generating buzz from beauty editors and skincare sleuths alike. At $75 for 75ml, it's worth the price tag, as it might just be the one that finally delivers that elusive 'glow from within' look without a facialist on speed dial. So what makes this creamy mask a contender for cult status? What's inside the gold For starters, Aura Gold is powered by export-grade New Zealand mānuka honey, ethically sourced from Grafter's Honey, a sustainable bee farm literally next door to Antipodes' founder Elizabeth Barbalich. Combined with Kakadu plum (which boasts one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C in nature), this mask is a glow-up in a tube. You'll also find plant-based hyaluronic acid to plump, ceramides to support your skin barrier, and gentle lime caviar AHAs that exfoliate and boost collagen production. Skin that feels fresh, hydrated, and noticeably more radiant. Oh, and did we mention the texture? It's buttery, velvety, and golden, like applying a very fancy custard to your face. In the best way. But does it actually work? According to a four-week in-vivo trial, 98 per cent of users agreed it felt luxurious, and 87 per cent said their skin looked visibly more radiant. Those are the kind of numbers that usually come with high-end spa treatments, not an at-home mask. It's also housed in recyclable aluminium packaging with FSC-certified outer packaging, so your skin and the planet both get a little love. Why you'll be seeing this all over your feed Aura Gold fits right into the soft life trend that's dominating your TikTok 'For You' page, think less hustle, more pampering, slow beauty rituals, and skincare that feels indulgent and intelligent. It's the kind of product you pull out on a Sunday night when your skin needs a reset and your brain needs a break. It gives expensive without the spa bill. And while it may look pretty on your vanity (and it does), this mask backs up the aesthetic with science-led ingredients and visible results. Whether you're treating yourself, hunting for the perfect gift, or replacing your go-to sheet mask stash with something smarter and more sustainable, Aura Gold might just become your next skincare non-negotiable.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The pivotal British and Irish Lions pick that will set the tone for Australia tour
A great deal has changed in the 137 years since a rag-tag band of nascent rugby players first set sail for the Antipodes. The 1888 tour of New Zealand and Australia, retrospectively considered the first in the Lions lineage, spanned nearly six months and featured 35 games, beginning and ending on the SS Kaikoura in the docks of Gravesend, with a travelling party that included the only Manxman ever to wear the British and Irish colours. Initial tour captain Robert Seddon did not even make it home, meeting a sad demise after running into difficulty while sculling on the Hunter River. One does not even look that far back to chart the changing course of a perhaps antiquated concept. As recently as 1997, those selected were left waiting for a Lions letter, with a mischievous Austin Healey hiding the invite of flatmate Will Greenwood, leaving the then uncapped centre to find out about the honour of a lifetime from a Sky Sports reporter in the Welford Road car park. Things will be rather different on Thursday afternoon as the 2025 hopefuls discover their fate. Across a two-hour live show at the O2 Arena in front of perhaps more than 2,000 fans, Andy Farrell's squad will be unveiled in the latest step in the rampant commercialisation of one of rugby's best-performing and enduring brands. Alongside those who have paid for the privilege to hear 38 or so names read out by Ieuan Evans, a great many more will tune in via the Lions' broadcast partners for a grand meeting that could have been an email; an administrative necessity given the pomp and platform that the quadrennial adventure demands. Just one of the selection will be in the arena in full knowledge of their fate, the Lions captain – presumed to be England lock Maro Itoje – joining Farrell and Evans to begin the considerable duties expected of the chosen pride leader. Waiting anxiously elsewhere will be the 70 or so thought to have been under consideration by the management team. While the dissemination of selection may have changed over the years, making this assembly remains one of the sport's greatest honours. For many, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance; for Taulupe Faletau and Owen Farrell, a fourth tour is perhaps within reach. News of recent days has only strengthened Faletau's case. The desperately unfortunate timing of the injury to Caelan Doris is a bitter blow for the Ireland No 8, presumed captain-elect mere months ago but now seemingly likely to miss the trip entirely. While Seddon would perhaps chuckle from on high at describing this as the cruellest of twists, it is a grand shame for Doris – even if Itoje had perhaps edged ahead in a battle to be named skipper. Faletau, England's Tom Willis or Scotland's Jack Dempsey are well placed if Farrell can find a place for another No 8 among the scattered scavenging sevens likely to form the bulk of his back-row group. The case of the other potential four-time tourist is rather more interesting. The Owen question has loomed over his father ever since Andy's announcement as Lions head coach, unfair nepotistic suggestions faced many times before by the former England assistant and yet brought fully into focus again. The thought was that Farrell Sr might get ahead of the story, removing the millstone from his neck by taking his son off the table. There would have been reasons to do so: Farrell's injury woes and mixed form at Racing 92, for one; his taking of an international sabbatical before moving to Paris, another. Yet no suggestion that the 33-year-old is out of contention has been broadcast or briefed. The younger Farrell would clearly add plenty were he to earn inclusion again; his ability to play 10 or 12 would be valuable on a trip like this, also his experience and competitive edge. Both Johnny Sexton, an assistant for this tour, and Finn Russell have spoken of how much they enjoyed working with the Englishman – his ability to drive standards would no doubt be desirable to a coaching team that includes a former half-back partner in Richard Wigglesworth. No 10 is always an area of intense debate in these infrequent elections, yet this is perhaps the most intriguing group yet. Of the four constituent unions, only one began and ended the Six Nations with the same fly-half in harness – whatever Russell's differences with Sexton, it would be a serious shock if the Scot is not named. Fin Smith's coming-of-age continued with an ideal final audition in an Investec Champions Cup call-back, the Northampton playmaker outshining Leinster rival Sam Prendergast, perhaps up for the same part. One cannot rule out either of Smith's compatriots, namesake Marcus and a resurgent George Ford, while there is also late momentum behind Tom Jordan – a United Rugby Championship (URC) winner at 10 but offering potentially vital versatility. The task of projecting Farrell's thinking is tricky for several reasons, an occasionally unconventional selector likely to throw a curveball or two. Equally, it is slightly unclear exactly how many players he will pick. Take too many – as Clive Woodward did in 2005 – and the group can become unruly and unwieldy; take too few, as Warren Gatland eventually concluded he had in 2017, and the head coach risks an unedifying repeat of the 'Geography Six' saga, and accusations of cheapening the shirt. Also at the forefront of Farrell's mind will be a few injury frets. Can he afford to take someone like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, yet to play in 2025 but perhaps back in action pre-tour? Mack Hansen, Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn are all currently sidelined with issues of varying severity – availability can be one's best ability at this stage. For those on the outside looking in, come Thursday afternoon, staying sharp would be wise: it is, unfortunately, statistically likely that several of those selected fail to make it to the first Test. Any omissions need only remember the tale of Alex Corbisiero, called up as an injury replacement for Cian Healy at the urging of forwards coach Graham Rowntree in 2013 to have a pivotal impact in the Tests against the Wallabies. All hope will not, then, be lost for those forced to digest difficult news on Thursday. But for the lucky few selected, a place in the pride will be an honour to last a lifetime.
