Hollingsworth, Etoundi sent home

Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth will be sent home from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after being stood down following his public outburst with Sally Pearson.

The two protagonists: the soon to be departing Eric Hollingsworth and hurdling champion Sally Pearson. Source: GoldCoastBulletin

WELCOME to our live coverage of Day 8 of the Commonwealth Games.

Stay with us for updates throughout the morning's actions. All times are in AEST.

It's been a horror day so far for Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti, who has sent athletics coach Eric Hollingsworth home for his attack on Sally Pearson and he's also had to revoke weightlifter Francois Etoundi's accreditation for allegedly fighting in the athletes' village.

MORE: MONEGHETTI SAYS HE IS 'NOT EMBARRASSED' BY MISBEHAVIOUR

MORE: MIKE COLMAN: GET WITH IT, MONNERS! STORY WAS 10 HOURS OLD

9.00pm — BRONZE TO GARFOOT IN WOMEN'S ROAD TIME TRIAL

Katrin Garfoot poses on the podium with her bronze medal from the individual time trial. Source: AFP

GERMAN-born Katrin Garfoot who only became an Australian citizen last October is now a bronzed Aussie after a stunning ride to claim third place in the women's road time trial in Glasgow, writes Jon Ralph.

Garfoot, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the sport, was 16th of 32 starters to roll down the start ramp and when she finished the 29.6km course with the fastest time of 43mins 13 secs, faced a nervous wait for the rest of the field.

When they arrived only two had gone faster — New Zealand silver medallist from Delhi Linda Villumsen (42:25) who swapped that for gold in Glasgow and English former world champion Emma Pooley (42:31).

"It's unbelievable, I'm very excited and had tears running out of my eyes before because it means a lot my first Commonwealth Games doing that for Australia," Garfoot said.

MORE: GERMAN-BORN GARFOOT BECOMES A BRONZED AUSSIE

7.00pm — DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR MONEGHETTI WITH ETOUNDI CENSURED

Francois Etoundi on his way to winning bronze in the men's weightlifting 77kg class. Source: AFP

AUSTRALIAN weightlifting bronze medallist Francois Etoundi has been stripped of his Commonwealth Games accreditation and evicted from the athletes' village for an altercation with a Welsh athlete, writes Todd Balym.

Australian team chef de mission Steve Moneghetti announced last night that the Commonwealth Games Federation demanded Etoundi's accreditation be revoked and the 29-year-old will be sent home in disgrace after he faces Glasgow Sheriffs Court on Thursday.

Etoundi is alleged to have left a Welsh athlete with a broken nose after a fight in the early hours of Wednesday morning with police making an arrest at 6am.

Moneghetti said it would be "speculation" to assume alcohol was a factor in the incident, adding there was "no alcohol in the residence of the village" where the fight occurred.

The Australian team boss had previously opened the Games refusing to issue a blanket ban on drinking for team members despite issues of misbehaviour in Delhi four years ago where an athlete threw a washing machine out a window.

MORE: ETOUNDI KICKED OUT OF ATHLETES' VILLAGE

MORE: HOOPER SLAMS 'VIOLENT' ACT BY ETOUNDI

6.30pm — HOLLINGSWORTH SENT HOME IN DISGRACE

Sally Pearson and Eric Hollingsworth in happier days, at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. Source: Getty Images

AUSTRALIAN chef de mission Steve Moneghetti confirmed Hollingworth's accreditation had been "revoked" for a breach of contract and he would be leaving Glasgow in the coming hours, writes Scott Gullan.

"We spoke to the section manager from athletics to decide on an appropriate sanction and as a result of that Athletics Australia withdrew Eric's nomination as head coach of the athletics section and this led to us revoking his accreditation," he said.

Athletics Australia acted quickly on Wednesday after Hollingsworth had launched an extraordinary attack on Pearson saying she was a "bad example" to the rest of the Australian team.

AA president David Grace immediately suspended Hollingsworth until a full review could be conducted after Glasgow although there is no way his contract, which ends in October, will be renewed.

The final nail in the coach's coffin came when he ignored management demands not to comment on his feud with the Olympic champion.

Eric Hollingsworth in a media scrum at Glasgow airport as he prepares to leave the country. Source: News Corp Australia

Eric Hollingsworth doesn't even get any peace while checking in for his flight. Source: News Corp Australia

The airport's security section and the departure gates beyond offer the only sanctuary. Source: News Corp Australia

MORE: SALLY FINE AS HOLLINGSWORTH SENT HOME

MORE: SALLY IS GOLDEN — TRASH HER AND YOU PAY PRICE

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‘He never looked at her the same’

The rumoured love triangle between Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr and Justin Bieber heats up.

Where it began ... Justin Bieber up close with Miranda Kerr at the 2012 NYC Victoria's Secret show. Source: Supplied

ORLANDO Bloom's clumsy bid to slug Justin Bieber was spurred by the fact that the "Lord of the Rings" star could no longer face his wife, Miranda Kerr, after Bieber got cozy with her at a 2012 Victoria's Secret modelling show, The New York Post has learned.

"He never looked at her the same," a Bloom pal told The Post.

Bieber, meanwhile, upped the ante in the duo's lightweight celebrity sparring match by posting an Instagram picture of Bloom crying on the red carpet outside a 2013 Broadway afterparty.

Happier times ... Model Miranda Kerr and ex husband Orlando Bloom. Source: Getty Images

The Canadian crooner quickly took down the photo — in which Bloom was overcome with emotion at his debut in Romeo and Juliet on the Great White Way.

But Biebs wasn't finished striking back at the punch-throwing actor. He also uploaded a sexy bikini shot of Kerr on Wednesday morning, obviously meant to make the Middle Earth elf see red.

Bloom and Bieber went to war early Wednesday when their paths crossed at a celebrity packed nightclub on the Spanish party isle of Ibiza.

Secret's out ... Justin Bieber performed at the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show where Miranda Kerr took to the catwalk. Source: Splash News Australia

Sources told The Post that Bloom flew into a rage when Bieber taunted him by saying "She was good" — a clear reference to his mysterious hook-up with Kerr at the 2012 modelling show.

Just how far the teen heart-throb and the lingerie lovely went that night has remained a Victoria's Secret. The two were only publicly spotted flirting.

But Bloom — who split with Kerr the next year — clearly suspected the worst as he balled his hand into a fist at the club and tried to knock Bieber's smug block off with a haymaker.

Witnesses differed on whether the epic blow actually struck the 20-year-old singer. But sources said that the actor's attempt to coldcock Bieber caused the crowd of onlookers to cheer.

Swung at Bieber ... Orlando Bloom with The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies co star Evangeline Lilly. Source: AFP

Yet after the scuffle Bieber remained cocky, declaring "Say hi to her" as Bloom walked away, according to some witnesses.

Bieber continued his bravado the next day, as the Baby singer shamelessly posted Instagram pictures of himself carelessly lounging bare-chested on a boat.

"Sunburnt and a moustache," he captioned the image, in an apparent reference to his pubescent scruff of facial hair.

Latest pic ... Justin Bieber on a yacht after the altercation with Orlando Bloom. Source: Supplied

Kerr, meanwhile, was back at work doing what she does best — making love to cameras. She posted an incredibly sexy shot of herself topless in a bathtub and wearing 7fam jeans, which she endorses.

Moving on ... Despite a fight involving her ex and Justin Bieber, Miranda Kerr found some time to post this steamy pic. Source: Instagram

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Airline’s response draws blanks

Form letter ... United Airlines has exposed the copy and paste letter that it sends to all complaints. Source: Supplied

UNITED Airlines accidentally leaks a stock letter it sends out for its customer service complaints, but forgot to fill in the blanks. Because everyone's different.

The Independent reports that the author blacked out her name before posting the letter online which shows that United simply gets its customer service team to fill out the blanks for every complaint.

United response ... United Airlines has not responded after a woman exposed their standard letter for complaints. Source: AFP

The employee who responded probably fills in that many of these that they didn't even notice that the fields were not filled out.

In case you receive one of these the script runs a little bit like this.

Well that went to script. Source: Supplied

Dear Mrs. --------

Thank you for letting us know about your recent experience with United Airlines. I apologise if our service did not meet your expectation, and appreciate you taking time to share your concerns.

Our goal is to provide a consistently reliable product and an exemplary level of customer service. Based on the events you describe, we did not meet this goal. Your comments regarding (SPECIFIC EVENT) will be used for coaching and training our employees.

To encourage you to fly with us again and as a tangible means of acknowledging your disappointment, enclosed if (SPECIFIC ITEM).

(CUSTOMER NAME), I ask that you allow us another opportunity to serve you, as we consider it our privilege to have you aboard.

Sincerely,

One might suggest that they get rid of the word 'sincerely'.

United has not responded to the expose — perhaps they are busy filling in the blanks.

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Ricciardo: ‘I can still win F1 title’

Never say die ... Daniel Ricciardo says he can still win the Driver's Championship. Source: Getty Images

DANIEL Ricciardo is refusing to rule himself out of the hunt for this year's Formula One world title until the mathematics say otherwise.

Other than Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Ricciardo is the only driver to have taken the chequered flag this season.

But despite the Australian's second victory in Hungary on Sunday, to add to his maiden win for Red Bull in Canada in early June, Ricciardo appreciates the championship is for one of the Mercedes duo to lose.

"There are obviously a couple of opinions," said Ricciardo.

"When maybe some of us say it (the title) is over, it's just purely looking at the performance of Mercedes.

"On a normal weekend with normal conditions on pretty much all circuits, they've been dominant.

"Days like Sunday, with some changing conditions, some safety cars, it helps us keep our nose in the fight.

"As we saw, the win was up for grabs and we took it.

"If you look at it, I closed in on the championship, but realistically we're still a long way off.

"But Seb (teammate Vettel) is right in saying until it's mathematically over it isn't."

Ricciardo currently trails Rosberg by 71 points and is 60 adrift of Hamilton, with 225 to play for given the controversial double-points system for the final race in Abu Dhabi.

"With the system they've applied this year, it's still going to be pretty open until late on in the season," added Ricciardo.

"We'll just keep doing what we can. It doesn't really change the approach in any case.

"If we're in it or not, we still race for the highest position possible."

Originally published as Ricciardo: 'I can still win F1 title'

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David Jones kicks off the spring/summer season

Jessica Gomes walks the runway ahead of the David Jones Spring Summer fashion parade.

IT could have been just the unseasonably warm weather, but sizzling Aussie supermodel Jessica Gomes scorched the runway at David Jones spring/summer collection show.

The face (and body) of DJs was joined by fellow red-hot models Montana Cox and Jason Dundas at the summer fashion showcase, while celebrities Rachel Griffiths, Claudia Karvan and Rachael Finch watched from the front rows.

Talking to Sydney Confidential, Jessica Gomes says that she is prepared for the David Jones Spring/Summer fashion parade and also talks about what she has got coming up.

The 28-year-old said her favourite piece was a black Jets swimsuit, and when she stepped on to the runway in it, it was clear why. The results of the Perth model's strict Paleo diet were clear as she strutted a very different physique to her runway appearance at last year's parade.

DJs head of merchandise Donna Player said this year's parade not only marked the start of a new season but a new start for the company, which has been bought by South African giant Woolworths.

David Jones and David Jones models / Picture Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia

Gomes poses at dress rehearsal. Live images from 7pm. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: News Corp Australia

Tori Trigg prepares at the dress rehearsal. Picture Noelle Bobrige Source: News Limited

Jessica Gomes at rehearsals this afternoon. Picture: Noelle Bobrige Source: News Limited

Jessica Gomes will launch the show. Picture: Noelle Bobrige Source: News Limited

Jessica Gomes. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia

Tori Trigg modelling Source: News Limited

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David Jones kicks off the spring/summer season

Jessica Gomes walks the runway ahead of the David Jones Spring Summer fashion parade.

IT could have been just the unseasonably warm weather, but sizzling Aussie supermodel Jessica Gomes scorched the runway at David Jones spring/summer collection show.

The face (and body) of DJs was joined by fellow red-hot models Montana Cox and Jason Dundas at the summer fashion showcase, while celebrities Rachel Griffiths, Claudia Karvan and Rachael Finch watched from the front rows.

Talking to Sydney Confidential, Jessica Gomes says that she is prepared for the David Jones Spring/Summer fashion parade and also talks about what she has got coming up.

The 28-year-old said her favourite piece was a black Jets swimsuit, and when she stepped on to the runway in it, it was clear why. The results of the Perth model's strict Paleo diet were clear as she strutted a very different physique to her runway appearance at last year's parade.

DJs head of merchandise Donna Player said this year's parade not only marked the start of a new season but a new start for the company, which has been bought by South African giant Woolworths.

David Jones and David Jones models / Picture Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia

Gomes poses at dress rehearsal. Live images from 7pm. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: News Corp Australia

Tori Trigg prepares at the dress rehearsal. Picture Noelle Bobrige Source: News Limited

Jessica Gomes at rehearsals this afternoon. Picture: Noelle Bobrige Source: News Limited

Jessica Gomes will launch the show. Picture: Noelle Bobrige Source: News Limited

Jessica Gomes. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia

Tori Trigg modelling Source: News Limited

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Does Imbruglia have a new man?

New romance? ... Natalie Imbruglia and Justin Hemmes have sparked rumours that they are dating. Source: Supplied

NATALIE Imbruglia has sparked rumours that she is dating Sydney man-about-town Justin Hemmes.

Imbruglia, 39 and Hemmes, 41, were said to be dating in 2010 after being spotted on a few cosy dates but the blossoming relationship never went anywhere.

On Tuesday, Imbruglia threw her support behind Hemmes's new Sydney restaurant Coogee Pavilion.

Hemmes can be seen in a photo uploaded to Instagram with his arm around Imbruglia.

"Get yourself down to @coogeepavilion ASAP! Best meal I've had in a long time!!!! Thanks Jus @justinhemmes @melsullivan74 @mariabogdanovich @mrshooker @ingarubenstein," she captioned the picture.

In a second picture the Torn singer is seen indulging in a green juice.

However, Imbruglia, who has dated Friends star David Schwimmer and Lenny Kravitz, and was married to Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns, recently told Kyle and Jackie O that she was "so single."

"I'm starting to consider that I should go on Tinder [online dating app] ... Well where am I going to meet people?." she said.

Hemmes, who has dated Lara Bingle and Amber L'estrange, has just split from yoga instructor girlfriend Carla McKinnon.

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Coach slams Sally as Bolt denies diss

All the action from day 6 of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Sally Pearson has copped an astonishing spray from Australia's head coach on the eve of competition. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

WELCOME to our live coverage of Day 7 of the Commonwealth Games.

Stay with us for updates throughout the day's action. All times AEST.

LINK: COACH FACES SACK AFTER PEARSON SPRAY

LINK: BOLT DENIES CALLING GAMES 'S**T'

LINK: COMPLETE DAY 7 SCHEDULE

12.30am - BOLT CHILLING WITH HIS AUSSIE MATE

WITH half the Commonwealth lining up to hammer him over his "s**t" description of the Games, Usain Bolt knows who his friends are, and one of them's an Aussie.

Bolt has posted an Instagram photo of himself and sprinter John Steffensen hamming it up in the athletes' village.

The caption reads: "Chilling with my boy @johnsteffensen before training always a crazy time #goodfriend #seriousface".

Steffensen is running in the 400m relay in Glasgow in what he says will be his last race before his retirement from athletics.

10.50pm - AUSSIE ATHS FACING 'UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS'

ATHLETICS Australia has been plunged into an "unprecedented crisis" after the escalation of the Sally Pearson/Eric Hollingsworth stoush, former athlete and commentator Dave Culbert reckons.

Culbert says team chief Steve Moneghetti needs to intervene to save the athletics campaign "running completely off the rails".

"It's a crisis of unprecedented proportions for Australian athletics," Culbert told Network Ten.

"I've seen plenty of stuff before in Australian athletics in the last two decades or so but this is the top of the tree I reckon.

"I'm shocked … Having a head coach who leaks his statement on behalf of himself when competition is underway describing Sally Pearson, who everyone admires, as being a bad example is one of the most extraordinary things I have ever seen."

Former team captain and Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker said it was clear Hollingsworth knew his time as head coach was over and wanted to go down swinging.

"It looks like the writing is on the wall. You wouldn't be doing this if you thought you'd be working alongside Sally for the next two years going into Rio," Hooker told Network Ten.

MORE: 'THIS WILL BE THE END OF THINGS'

10.15pm - PATTERSON FLIES HIGH IN QUALIFYING

'Eleanor Patterson clears the bar in qualifying. Source: AFP

TEENAGE high-jump prodigy Eleanor Patterson has cruised through qualifying, confirming her Games medal prospects, Scott Gullan writes.

The 18-year-old from Leongatha was only required to make two jumps at 1.81m and 1.85m which she did with ease and only needs to jump her personal best of 1.96m to win gold.

Patterson's teammate Hannah Joye also progressed.

There was some drama for reigning Commonwealth discus champion Benn Harradine who was stung by a bee as he made his way off the track after qualifying comfortably and required medical treatment.

In the women's 800m Brittany McGowan got through to the semi-finals after clocking 2min03.08sec but Sydney sprinter Jarrod Geddes (21.03sec) didn't make it through qualifying.

ATHS WRAP: PATTERSON CRUISES THROUGH

9pm - GUTTED BOXER WANTS HEADGEAR BACK

Daniel Lewis was ruled out of his quarter-final with a cut suffered in a win in this fight against Nigeria's Kehinde Ademuyiwa. Source: AP

DEVASTATED Australian boxer Daniel Lewis has made an emotional call for the return of protective headgear after a stray elbow cost him his Commonwealth Games dream, Mike Colman writes.

Lewis was ruled out of his welterweight quarter-final bout against India's Mandeep Jangra by medical staff after suffering a cut above the eye in his previous fight.

The shattered 21-year-old took to Facebook to share his frustration and make a call for the return of headgear — a long-time safety measure in amateur boxing discontinued recently over concerns that they could mask the effects of concussion.

"Well that's my journey over," he said. "Got up at 6am this morning to lose weight. I made it and was ready to go to war only to be told by the doctor my journey is over. They won't let me fight with the cut.

"I had two fights, two comfortable wins with one TKO and a stupid elbow ruins it all."

MORE: LEWIS'S GAMES DREAM CUT TO SHREDS

8.15pm — DIAMONDS LOOKING WHITE-HOT

Australia's Caitlin Bassett wins the ball ahead of Adele Niemand of South Africa. Source: Getty Images

AUSTRALIA'S Diamonds have finally switched on the afterburners in preparation for Friday's semi-finals as injuries decimate their Delhi conqueror New Zealand.

In their fifth and final pool game the unbeaten Diamonds were white-hot, looking for the first time like a fluid, cohesive team that can take down either the Silver Ferns or Jamaica in a semi-final.

With West Coast Fever attacking unit Caitlin Bassett and Nat Medhurst dominant in the shooting circle, they dispensed with South Africa in a 64-40 victory.

In stark contrast the Silver Ferns are banged up and ailing, with Delhi goalshooting hero Maria Tutaia (foot) in a moon boot and on crutches this week and fellow shooter Cathrine Latu battling a calf strain.

MORE: GLEAMING DIAMONDS READY FOR SEMIS

8pm — COACH FACES SACK OVER SALLY SLAM

Eric Hollingsworth says Sally Pearson set a "bad example" to her team. Source: Getty Images

HUGE news out of the Aussie camp, with the feud between star Sally Pearson and Athletics Australia boss Eric Hollingsworth escalating on the eve of Pearson's gold medal defence in the 100m hurdles.

In an extraordinary outburst, Hollingsworth has broken ranks and sprayed his best athlete, saying she was a bad example for the team.

Athletics Australia advised the head coach not to comment but instead he poured more fire on what was already a volatile situation and could face immediate dismissal with his future now being discussed by team officials.

News Corp Australia revealed on Sunday that Hollingsworth and Pearson were no longer on speaking terms, with Pearson seething after being fined for missing the team's camp in a bid to get more races in.

MORE: COACH'S ASTONISHING SPRAY AT PEARSON

MORE: 'THIS WILL BE THE END OF THINGS'

7.30pm — BOLT DENIES CALLING GAMES 'S**T'

Usain Bolt waves the Jamaican flag as he watches the 'Reggae Girls' compete in the netball. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

IT'S been the talk of Glasgow all morning, and now Usain Bolt has denied a UK newspaper report that he described the Commonwealth Games as "a bit s**t".

Before appearing in the crowd at the netball to cheer on Jamaica's Reggae Girls, Bolt tweeted: "I'm waking up to this nonsense. journalist please don't create lies to make headlines".

The journalist from The Times is standing by the quote that has the Games reeling, saying the full conversation will run in Thursday's edition of the paper.

Australia's chef de mission Steve Moneghetti is among those who have stood up for the quality of the games, insisting they're "world-class".

MORE: BOLT DENIES DISSING GAMES

FULL COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCHEDULE

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Our economic dream run is over

Moira Geddes talks to national economics editor Jessica Irvine about the state of the economy and what it means for interest rates.

Australia is at a crossroads ... Catherine Livingstone, The Business Council of Australia president. Picture: Attila Szilvasi Source: News Corp Australia

AUSTRALIA is sleep walking its way towards economic demise.

After two decades of uninterrupted economic expansion, the rot of complacency is setting is.

Growth has slowed; joblessness is on the rise.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: At 10-year high

Our once in a century mining boom — which boosted national income — is coming to an end, and we have precious little idea what will replace it.

MINING BOOM: Households miss out

The Reserve Bank has done all it can to stimulate growth by slashing borrowing rates to record lows.

If businesses can't muster the confidence to invest, we will stagnate. The election of a Coalition government was supposed to act as a circuit breaker.

It hasn't.

The morass of minority government has been replaced with the instability of a so-called Starwars Senate. In its hubris, the Abbott government has proved even more inept in pushing through its agenda than Labor did in its last term.

Government's get one chance to fix the books.

But it's now abundantly clear Abbott's first budget — too soft by his Treasurer's measure and only half as tough as Howard's first budget — has failed to hit the mark.

Many of the measures announced on May 13 will never see the light of day.

POLL: Abbott backed over MH17 but not Budget

First Budget is a failure . Prime Minister Tony Abbott must know many measures will never be approved. Source: AP

Australia's budget balance remains on course to remain in deficit for at least a decade to come.

Over time, as incomes grow, the tax system will catch more people in its web, raising income tax paid and helping to restore the budget to balance.

Left untended, the garden of our tax system will go to seed. Individuals will pay higher taxes on their labour. Already our top marginal tax rate is approaching 50 cents in the dollar, once Medicare levies, surcharges and debt taxes are included.

Companies too will be left to pay a higher corporate tax rate that, at 30 per cent, is already higher than many of our other international competitors.

Reliance on these direct sources of taxation will grow. Meanwhile, a growing proportion of our spending — on health, education and food — will escape the tax net thanks to carve outs from the GST base.

Costly tax loopholes, that largely benefit the rich, will also grow. Superannuation tax concessions will balloon.

Tax breaks on housing, like capital gains tax concessions and negative gearing, will continue to feather the nests of the already well off.

These forces which will slowly drag the economy down are already in motion.

It's time, after the failure of the budget, for the government to refocus on phase two of its reform agenda: tax reform.

If we can't reform taxes to unshackle growth, we'll be left essentially relying on the American and European solution of artificially cheap debt to inflate our economy.

The president of the Business Council of Australia, Catherine Livingstone, this week correctly identified Australia as at a crossroads. But her prescriptions for growth — reducing red tape, harmonising regulations and a greater government focus on promoting winning industries like mining, agriculture and energy — fall short of the mark.

The truth is, business should not be looking to government to set the agenda.

Has done all it can to stimulate the economy ... Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens at the RBA in Sydney Source: News Corp Australia

Reserve Bank governor, Glenn Stevens, said it best last week: "My sense is that in a lot of areas of business people are sitting around tables saying yeah somebody needs to do something and we're waiting for someone else to do it."

All governments can really do to help business in the long term is to get out of the way as much as possible. The main way governments interfere with the market is through taxation.

As a party committed to small government, the Coalition should be a natural champion of reforms to increase the base and rate of the GST and use the revenue to fund tax cuts on the rewards from labour and profitmaking investments.

But if a government can't sell the need to increase excise on petrol to the Greens, what hope have we that it can mount the case for a higher rate of GST — a great big new tax on everything?

Glenn Stevens again: "The key question might ultimately be really whether the current processes can result in collective confidence in the country that we can actually grapple with difficult issues, long term issues, have a sensible conversation and come up with some solutions."

Australia's economy does stand at a cross roads; it's time to push ahead on the path of economic reform.

Prime Minister Abbott has demonstrated honourable leadership on the international stage in the wake of the MH17 tragedy.

At some stage, it will be time to return thoughts to home and the reform challenges we face.

That time is fast approaching.

JESSICA IRVINE IS NATIONAL ECONOMICS EDITOR

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My excellent life as an infomercial guy

THE face is familiar and so is the voice. But wait a minute. Who is it again? And why on earth is he wearing a snorkel and a silly rubber thing around his neck on morning television?

He's TV and radio industry legend Jonathan 'Jono' Coleman, that's who. And he's wearing the snorkel because he's a bloody good sport who's not too proud to do wacky infomercials that earn a dollar for his employer.

The real question is where do we get one of these fantastic free jars! We wish we knew. Source: NewsComAu

If you're in your mid 30s or beyond, you'll remember Jono. He was one of the reporters on cult '80s kids show Simon Townsend's Wonder World, and he pretty much ruled the airwaves on UK and Australian FM radio for 20 years.

Coleman, right, with legendary comedian Spike Milligan. We salute you too, Jono. Source: Supplied

These days, Coleman rules the roost at Channel Ten's morning show Studio 10. You might think of him as the bits-and-pieces guy, as a mere slice of cheese in a great big televisual sandwich, but he's actually the bread holding the whole sandwich together.

Without Jono Coleman, Studio 10 would be such a rabble, its staff might as well turn up for work in the nude. Well, that is when they don't actually turn up in the nude.

Coleman's roles on Studio 10 are many and varied. He does a crowd gee-up here, a voiceover there and he's even presenting weekend slots now too. But it's the infomercials where most people first catch that cheery, ever-so-slightly cheesy personality.

Now you might think, hmmmm, infomercials are not exactly the glamorous pinnacle of the entertainment business, especially for a bloke with all that talent and experience. Well, Jono thinks they're just fine, thanks very much.

"Whenever I think to myself 'here I am selling vacuum cleaners', I think how lucky am I," he tells news.com.au.

"I started out in 1980 doing kids' TV on Wonder World and here I am 35 years later still doing TV at Channel Ten where it all started."

"On the big scale of things I'm so lucky I'm not in Syria or somewhere where so many horrible things are happening. I'm the luckiest person in the world to have a job I really love after 35 years. My motto is always to look on the bright side and have fun."

Joe Hildebrand has no doubt who the real male star of the show is. Source: NewsComAu

You've got to admire the guy. Here's a bloke who gets up early and comes to work each day just like the rest of us. His work is occasionally meaningful but mostly mundane, just like the rest of us. Yet Jono displays a ripper positive attitude each and every day. If only the rest of us could do that.

Coleman is 58 these days. He is married to Margot and has two kids, Emily, 17, and Oscar, 20.

"My daughter disapproves of my work until I go 'here's something I brought home, here are some One Direction tickets'," Coleman says.

Coleman's son, who is studying business overseas, is no less cheeky. "He says he's studying business so he can fire people like me," he jokes.

Coleman still comes across as young beyond his years. Perhaps that's because, as a man born on February 29 in a leap year, he's had only 14 birthdays. It might just also be because he's never taken his work too seriously.

One day when Coleman worked on Wonder World, he attended an Elton John press conference in Sydney. The famous singer had just purchased the British football team Watford, who are known as the Bees. Coleman showed up in a bee suit, and Elton was so impressed, he granted Coleman a rare one-on-one interview.

"I say to kids 'be yourself and have fun'," Coleman says. "It doesn't matter if you're working in a library or a shop or a supermarket, I just think you've just got to enjoy yourself wherever you are or you might as well walk out into middle of the road and finish it all.

"I'm sitting here here with polka dot socks on in the middle of the newsroom at Channel Ten and I'm having a great time."

People are so excited about Jono, they're rewinding his segments to watch them twice. Source: NewsComAu

Coleman has had to sell some extremely unusual things in his role as enthusiastic infomercial guy. Still on the bee theme, he's done infomercials for a product called bee venom, which is a kind of anti-ageing agent.

But the weirdest infomercial was probably this one. It was called "The Beef Oracle" and it's extremely funny.

Beyond the slapstick spectacle of Coleman interviewing a talking side-of-beef, there's much to admire here. Coleman's comic timing and sense of fun are spot on. He traverses a territory between pisstake and salesmanship with incredible slickness.

Love him, laugh at him, or both, the guy really is a professional and it's good to see him on the box. Especially when he's wearing more than a towel.

Oh by the way, yesterday's infomercial, in which Jono wore the snorkel, was for some sort of beauty product based on jellyfish extracts or something. We put it to Coleman that his own career has been a little like a jellyfish, drifting across the media sea and washing up wherever the tide takes him.

"That's how I've survived," he says. "I drift with the tide, have fun and just enjoy myself. I'd rather be doing what I'm doing than anything."

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Greatest medal celebration ever?

All the highlights from day five of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Nigeria's Ojo Onaolapo celebrates his bronze medal with teammates. Source: AFP

WELCOME to our live coverage of Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games.

Stay with us throughout the day's action to get all the latest updates as they happen. All times AEST.

LINK: THE GREATEST CELEBRATION EVER?

LINK: SWIMMING HEATS WRAP

12.25am — HARRY HAMS IT UP IN ANOTHER ROYAL PHOTOBOMB

MORE royal photobombing shenanigans, this time from a more likely source.

Prince Harry gave it the big cheesy thumbs-up in the background of a picture featuring New Zealand sporting dignitaries including Sport Manawatu chief executive Trevor Shailer and sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens.

The snap comes a week after his gran's cheeky grin appeared in the background of a selfie by Hockeyroos Brooke Peris and Jayde Taylor.

12am — VELLA TRAPS ANOTHER SHOOTING GOLD

SHOOTER Adam Vella has added to another golden Aussie day on the Carnoustie range, winning the men's single trap.

Vella beat Aaron Heading of England in the shoot-off for gold when he hit 11 of 15 targets to his rival's nine.

India's Manavjit Sandhu won the bronze, beating Australian two-time Olympic champion Michael Diamond in the shoot-off for third place.

10.50pm — DAD BRINGS HOME ANOTHER SHOOTING GOLD

Aussie David Chapman gives it the big thumbs-up after winning gold in the 25m rapid fire pistol event at Carnoustie. Source: Getty Images

FIRST David Chapman made Australian Commonwealth Games history, then he showed his daughter Hayley who was boss, Jon Ralph writes.

Chapman won gold in the 25m rapid fire pistol after he and Hayley had become the first father-daughter combination for the nation at the Commonwealth Games.

She had joked before the Games she was beating him in practice but he nailed gold on the Carnoustie range, the fifth for our shooters.

He closed in on India's Harpreet Singh and won the final with 23 shots to Singh's 21, with England's Kristian Callaghan winning bronze.

10.40pm — HENDERSON MINES BRONZE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Mountain-biker Rebecca Henderson shows off her bronze medal. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

ON Monday Rebecca Henderson painted her nails green and gold and today she wasn't afraid to get them dirty as she delivered Australia just its second-ever mountain bike medal in an Olympic or Commonwealth Games with bronze in Glasgow, Reece Homfray writes.

While Canadian star Catharine Pendrel stormed to victory in the women's 31.95km race, Canberra's under-23 world champion staged an epic fight with Pendel's teammate Emily Batty.

Cheered on by her Australian track cycling teammates who lined the course and spectators waving the Australian flag, Henderson crossed the line with her arms in the air and a big smile on her face.

"I'm so excited, this is my first Commonwealth Games and first medal and it's such a privilege to be here and an amazing experience and I'm so happy," Henderson, 22, said.

MORE: HENDERSON WINS MOUNTAIN-BIKING BRONZE

10.30pm — RISELEY ROUSE SEES HIM THROUGH IN 800m

A BRILLIANT tactical move to the inside has seen Jeff Riseley progress through the opening round of the 800m, Scott Gullan writes.

The Australian looked in trouble at the top of the straight before taking a split on the inside and surging to the line to claim victory in 1min48.63sec.

Sydney's Joshua Ralph finished fifth in his heat (1:52.48sec) and failed to get through.

Olympic champion David Rudisha qualified the fastest (1:46.89sec) with his main danger Botswana's Nijel Amos second in his heat in 1:50.56sec.

Canberra hurdler Lauren Wells went toe-to-toe with 400m hurdles gold medal favourite Kaliese Spencer in an impressive qualifying performance.

The seven-time Australian champion looked good and was still ahead of the Jamaican until the final hurdle before cruising over the line in second position in 55.79sec.

WRAP: CATCH UP ON ALL THE TRACK AND FIELD ACTION

10pm — 'SCOTTISH CATHY FREEMAN' STREAKS HOME IN HEAT

Scotland's Eilidh Child easily wins her 400m hurdles heat. Source: Getty Images

HOMETOWN hero Eilidh Child has made a dominant start to her bid to meet local expectations at Hampden Park.

The 27-year-old 400m hurdler is to Glasgow 2014 what Freeman was to Sydney 2000 and Jessica Ennis was to London 2012: the local golden girl who hoped to give her home crowd the greatest sporting night of their lives.

Running in the first heat, the Perth (Scottish version) native smashed the field, winning easily in a time of 55.56 to qualify.

MIKE COLMAN: CHILD CARRIES HOPES OF SCOTLAND

9.30pm — LAPIERRE FLYING IN LONG JUMP

Australia's Fabrice Lapierre in action during qualifying. Source: AFP

DEFENDING long jump champion Fabrice Lapierre has produced a season's best on his final qualifying jump to again put himself in the medal conversation, Scott Gullan writes.

Three Australians are through to the final with Lapierre ranked fourth (7.95m), Henry Frayne (7.85m) eighth and Robbie Crowther (7.72m) ninth.

England's Olympic champion Greg Rutherford didn't muck around, sailing 8.02m on his first jump to book a spot in the final.

Elsewhere, Nick Hough progressed from 110m hurdle qualifying after coming third in the opening heat (13.70sec) but Sam Baines fell short, coming fourth (14.03sec) in the following heat.

ATHS WRAP: AUSSIE TRIO INTO FINAL

9pm — IS THIS THE GREATEST MEDAL CELEBRATION EVER?

Nigeria's Ojo Onaolapo celebrates his victory with teammates. Source: AFP

A NIGERIAN table tennis player has found a whole new way to salute a bronze medal with one of the more risque celebrations you're ever likely to see.

Ojo Onaolapo got a little overexcited after winning his bronze medal match against India's Sharath Kamal Achanta, deciding the only suitable reaction would be to display his pants to the world. Not exactly in the Corinthian spirit, but damn entertaining.

With shorts back on, the 19-year-old was paraded around the arena by ecstatic teammates while compatriots danced in the stands.

If you're in Glasgow and not at the ping pong, you're clearly missing out.

8.10pm — TEEN WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMP FAILS DOPE TEST

Nigeria's gold-medallist weightlifter Chika Amalaha has failed a drug test. Source: AFP

NIGERIAN weightlifting gold medallist Chika Amalaha has failed a doping test at the Commonwealth Games.

The 16-year-old Nigerian returned a positive test for diuretics and masking agents after winning gold on Friday, Commonwealth Games Federation boss Mike Hooper confirmed today.

She will have her 'B' sample tested at a laboratory in London on Wednesday. If it comes back positive, she will be stripped of gold.

Amalaha said last week that she took up weightlifting despite opposition at home, AP reports.

"I started at the age of 12, but my family were strongly against me doing the sport at first," she said. "They kept me telling to stop doing it, but I persuaded them by getting a female coach.

"From then on, it was hard work, training, a lot of pain and dedication that got me here today. And now my family were in the audience and they are so excited and so proud."

8pm — ATHLETE TO STAND TRIAL OVER TOILET INCIDENT

Papua New Guinea's Toua Udia competes in the Clean and Jerk of the men's 77kg. Source: AP

A COMMONWEALTH Games weightlifter from Papua New Guinea has been committed to stand trial over an alleged sexual assault on another man, Robert Craddock writes.

Toua Udia, 22, is alleged to have touched the man in a Tesco toilets less than a kilometre from the athletes village.

He was arrested and charged last Tuesday and has pleased not guilty, claiming it was "a misunderstanding".

Udia was released on bail after surrendering his passport and was given permission to attend the opening ceremony.

He competed in the 77kg weightlifting category on Sunday, finishing ninth.

7.45pm — SWIM TEAM TO GET STRAIGHT ON THE PLANE

AUSTRALIA's swimmers will jet out of Glasgow less than 24 hours after their meet, subjected to a booze ban and curfews that prevent them leaving the village at night, Jon Ralph writes.

The aftermath of the disastrous 2012 London Olympics for the swimmers, affected by what official reviews dubbed a "toxic culture", has seen them kept on a tight rein in Glasgow.

The upcoming Pan Pacs competition in August on the Gold Coast means they will miss the Closing Ceremony, after being forced to skip the Opening Ceremony with competition about to kick off.

The Pan Pacs will see much sterner competition from the star-studded American team, with Japan and Canada also involved in the four-nation swimming meet.

MORE: SWIMMERS TO MAKE EARLY EXIT

7.30pm — AUSSIE TEAM RALLIES AROUND CHAMOUN

AUSTRALIAN team bosses have vowed to support blind weightlifter Malek Chamoun, who was distraught after crashing out of his competition without lifting a weight, Jon Ralph writes.

Chamoun has been one of the inspirations of the Australian team given his qualification despite the degenerative condition retinitis pigmentosa.

He had promised to inspire Australia but he recorded three no-lifts at 140kg in the snatch section of the 85kg competition. It meant he was eliminated from the Glasgow competition and could not even attempt a lift in the clean-and-jerk event.

Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said Chamoun would be supported by the entire Australian team including father George, here in Glasgow.

"He took it really hard and we are all aware of the back story and hopefully we can get around him and support him,'' he said.

MORE: CHAMOUN OUT OF GAMES

SWIMMING HEATS WRAP by Todd Balym

AUSTRALIA'S men's 4x100m medley relay team set themselves for a crack at gold tonight by qualifying fastest for the final in 3:37.36, ahead of Canada (3:37.71) and England (3:38.39).

The team of Josh Beaver, Kenneth To, Tommaso D'Orsogna and Cameron McEvoy will be replaced for tonight's final by a likely team of Mitch Larkin, Christian Sprenger, Jayden Hadler and James Magnussen.

The women, meanwhile, set themselves for an almost guaranteed gold medal as fastest qualifiers for tonight's final in 3:59.44, ahead of England (4:04.56) and Canada (4:07.13).

The heat team of Belinda Hocking, Sally Hunter, Alicia Coutts and Bronte Campbell will be replaced for the final by Emily Seebohm, Lorna Tonks, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell.

Swim team rookie Remy Fairweather has qualified for her first international final, progressing to the 400m freestyle final as the second fastest in a time of 4:07.35 behind New Zealand's Lauren Boyle (4:07.06).

Australian champion Bronte Barratt was third quickest in 4:08.81, but teammate Jessica Ashwood missed the final in ninth in a time of 4:11.23.

Australia's Daniel Tranter will start favourite for tonight's 200m medley final after going through as fastest qualifier from the heats in 1:59.05, ahead of Scotland's 400m champion Daniel Wallace in 1:59.36.

Thomas Fraser-Holmes, the 200m freestyle champion, snuck into the final in eight place in 2:00.97.

FULL COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCHEDULE

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Ebola aid worker: ‘No regrets’

The Nigerian city of Lagos shuts and quarantines a hospital, where a Liberian man died of the Ebola virus. Sarah Toms reports.

KENT Brantly always wanted to be a medical missionary, and he took the work seriously, spending months treating a steady stream of patients with Ebola in Liberia.

Now Dr Brantly is himself a patient, fighting for his own survival in an isolation unit on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia, after contracting the deadly disease.

The Texas-trained doctor says he is "terrified" of the disease progressing further, according to Dr David Mcray, the director of maternal-child health at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where Brantly completed a four-year residency.

"I'm praying fervently that God will help me survive this disease," Dr Brantly said in an email on Monday to Mcray.

Infected ... American aid worker Dr. Kent Brantly has contracted Ebola in Liberia. Picture: AP/JPS Health Network Source: AP

He also asked that prayers be extended for Nancy Writebol, an American co-worker who also has fallen ill with Ebola.

Dr Brantly "went into Ebola exhausted" from treating Ebola patients, Mcray said after speaking with him on Monday.

His prognosis is grave and efforts to evacuate him to Europe for treatment have been thwarted because of concerns expressed by countries he would have to fly over en route to any European destination, Mcray said.

SPREADING: EBOLA-INFECTED PASSENGER IN NIGERIA

There is no known cure for Ebola, which begins with symptoms including fever and sore throat and escalates to vomiting, diarrhoea and internal bleeding. The disease spreads through direct contact with blood and other bodily fluids as well as indirect contact with "environments contaminated with such fluids", according to the World Health Organisation.

Still, colleagues and family members said Dr Brantly, 33, knew of the risks associated with working in one of the world's poorest countries during an epidemic and did not regret his choice.

"Kent prepared himself to be a lifetime medical missionary," said his mother, Jan Brantly.

"His heart is in Africa." Last October, Brantly began a two-year fellowship with Samaritan's Purse, a Christian aid group, to serve as a general practitioner, delivering babies and performing surgeries at a mission hospital in the Monrovia suburb of Paynseville.

When Ebola spread from neighbouring Guinea into Liberia, Brantly and his wife, Amber, re-evaluated their commitment, but decided to stay in West Africa with their children, aged three and five. Dr Brantly directed the hospital's Ebola clinic, wearing full-body protective gear in the equatorial heat for upward of three hours at a time to treat patients.

He undertook humanitarian work while studying medicine at Indiana University, working in impoverished, inner-city neighbourhoods, according to a medical school spokeswoman.

Care unit ... medical personnel take care of Ebola patients at a clinic on the outskirts of Kenema, Sierra Leone. Picture: AP Source: AP

During his four-year family medicine residency, he accompanied Mcray on medical missions to Uganda and earthquake-devastated Haiti. He also spent several weeks working in Tanzania, where a cousin lives and works as a medical missionary, Mcray said.

Before contracting Ebola, Dr Brantly and his family "really enjoyed Liberia".

Liberia's health ministry is investigating how Brantly contracted the virus.

"We're trying to figure out what went wrong because he was always very careful," said Tolbert Nyenswah, an assistant health minister in Monrovia.

Amber Brantly and the children departed for a wedding in the US just days before Dr Brantly fell ill and quarantined himself.

They are currently staying with family in Abilene and, while not subject to quarantine, are monitoring their temperatures for an early sign of viral infection, a City of Abilene spokeswoman said.

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Sweet win for MasterChef’s Brent

In a nail biting race to the end with Brent pitted against Laura, it was his desert that got him over the line to win. Courtesy: MasterChef Australia

The decider ... MasterChef Australia's final was between Brent Owens and Laura Cassai. Source: Supplied

BRENT Owens will be quitting his job as a bobcat driver after winning this year's MasterChef Australia.

The 24-year-old Owens, from Victoria, staged a come-from-behind victory over teenage student Laura 'Lottie' Cassai on the Channel 10 reality cooking show last night.

Owens finished with 83 points out of a possible 100 — three points ahead of South Australia's Cassai, the youngest grand finalist ever on the show.

GEORGE CALOMBARIS: My favourite five recipes from series

The pair went head-to-head over three rounds — a Mystery Box challenge, a Family Chef's Table challenge, and a Pressure Test to recreate Peter Gilmore's Chocolate Ethereal dessert.

Owens was trailing Cassai 48 points to 49 after the end of the second round but snatched victory with a better score for his dessert from Gilmore as well as judges George Calombaris, Matt Preston, and Gary Mehigan.

"It (winning) is surreal — an emotion I can't explain," Owens said after being the win. "It's never good playing catch-up. I had to do a little bit more (in the dessert challenge) to get across the line. I knew I had to focus."

come from behind winner ... Masterchef Australia 2014 winner Brent Owens with judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan. Picture: Channel 10 Source: Channel 10

MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA: Emelia Jackson nearly quit after first week

Owens will quit his bobcat job at girlfriend Madison's father Laurence's excavation business to pursue his food dream.

"I think he (Laurence) will be a little bit disappointed but I'm sure he won't be surprised," Owens says.

"He knows how much I love food. As hard as it will be for him, he'll be rooting for it. It's a part of my life I'll never forget. I really appreciate what he's done for me — but it is time for me to move on.

"I've got so many plans — ultimately I want my own cafe and a line of food products."

Owens' and Cassai's first challenge was to cook a dish in 60 minutes using 8 ingredients — scampi, garlic, anchovies, red cabbage, pearl barley, fennel, chervil and sherry.

Owens scored 27 out of 30 for his 'textures of pearl barley with poached scampi, red cabbage and chervil with Preston saying the dish was "inventive, exciting, inspiring and really beautiful".

Cassai scored 25 out of 30 for her grilled scampi with anchovy butter, roasted garlic cream, pickled cabbage and puffed barley.

Owens stumbled in the second round when the pair had 90 minutes to cook six plates of food for their families as well as the judges.

Owens did a modern version of the Lancashire Hot Pot which was meant to include a delicate potato galette. After three attempts, Owens was forced to dump the potato element — and was penalised. He scored 21 out of 30.

Cassai won round two with 24 out of 30 for lightly seared scallops with herb butter poached lobster, fresh radish, mushroom panzanella and chestnut chips.

It all came down to the Chocolate Ethereal dessert which Gilmore described as twice as hard as the 'Snow Egg' dessert he created for the finale of season two. 40 points were up for grabs.

The complicated dessert was made up of delicate sheets — a milk skin, two types of pulled or stretched caramel, a butter vanilla toffee, tempered chocolate and sugar starch — as salted caramel, roasted almonds, and a chocolate ganache.

Cassai struggled when she incorrectly added sugar in with her honey for the nougat and had to start over. She hit another hurdle with her chocolate and had to begin again.

Cassai also had issues with the plating, with the judges noting there weren't as many sheets as Gilmore's original.

Owens followed the recipe to the letter and was rewarded with 35 out of 40 — enough to snatch victory. Cassai scored 31 out of 40.

Owens receives $250,000 in cash, a cookbook deal, work experience in some of Australia's best restaurants, and a new car for taking out the Channel 10 cooking show. Cassai receives $20,000.

"I want to publish my own home style Italian cookbook," Cassai said after tonight's loss. "I also have an incredible opportunity to work with Jock Zonfrillo as a junior chef at Orana in Adelaide."

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The creepiest modern-day cannibals

These are the creepiest modern day cannibals. *shudder* Source: AFP

IT'S often associated with mysterious, island tribes originating from lands far away, or ye olde times when man thought the world was flat, but the recent news of a British nurse grooming a young girl as his prey proves the idea of eating humans is as prevalent today as it was back in the 16th Century.

Frighteningly, a number of modern-day crime stories have unearthered a new trend in gruesome, sexualised cannibalism and the attacker's subsequent "meal".

According to Dr Mark Griffiths, Chartered Psychologist from Nottingham Trent University, sexual cannibalism involves "individuals sexualising the consumption of another human being's flesh", he writes on The Independent .

"Most criminologists and psychologists claim such people are sociopaths (characterised by impulsivity, selfishness, and lack of remorse). Devouring someone could be viewed as the ultimate act of dominance by a predator, and the ultimate act of submission by the prey," he wrote.

Griffiths describes a subsector of cannibalism known as e rotophonophilia, where the individual has "extreme violent fantasies and typically kill[s] their victims during sex and/or mutilate their victims' sexual organs."

Here are 5 reasons why we've lost our appetite right now.

5. DALE BOLINGER — THE 'CREEPY CANNIBAL'

"The idea of us making love and then eating you is a VERY great turn on!"

Dale Bolinger, a British nurse with a cannibalism fetish, was found guilty this month of attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl who he made contact with over the internet before telling her he wanted to eat and behead her.

Bolinger, 58, bought an axe the day before he planned to meet the girl.

The married father of three had met "Eva" — whose true identity has not been established, but who said she was a Mexican living in Germany — on the website Dark Fetish Network.

In his profile, he claimed to have eaten a 39-year-old woman and a five-year-old child, though he denied in court that he had done so, saying it was all "just in fantasy".

In chats with "Eva", he had described how he wanted to have sex with her and then eat her.

"I have been called a very generous lover and I would be very generous to you before I prepped you for the table."

The message exchanges were later discovered by the FBI in New York, which traced Bolinger's email address, meatmarketman@rocketmail.com, to his home in Kent.

They passed on the information to British police. He was found guilty of the crime of attempting to meet a child under the age of 16 following sexual grooming.

Bolinger is to be sentenced on September 19 after a psychiatric report to assess the level of risk he represents to the public.

Police were seen searching sheds at 57-year-old Dale Bolinger's house and digging in his garden. Source: Splash News Australia

Dale Bolinger out cycling and leaving his Canterbury, Kent Home, UK. Source: Splash News Australia

4. GEOFFREY PORTWAY — THE 'WOULD-BE CANNIBAL'

Geoffrey Portway chatted online with other men about a desire to kidnap, rape, kill and eat children.

Chats recovered from Portway's computer show he solicited people to help kidnap a child with the intent of raping, killing and eating the child.

"I want to eat ... the two boys you will bring me,'' Mr Portway was quoted as writing.

"Perhaps not today, but it will happen. That is all I live for. ... I am serious. It is the only thing that gets me up in the morning.''

Prosecutors showed photos of a basement dungeon he built, including a child-sized coffin, butchering tools and metal restraints. He has been sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison.

Tight elastic bands and equipment used to castrate calves found in the dungeon where Geoffrey Portway planned to rape, murder and eat children beneath his Massachusetts house. Source: Supplied

Mugshot of Geoffrey Portway. Source: Supplied

Inside the torture dungeon. Source: Supplied

Police found items including a child-size coffin, a steel cage, a brand new set of butcher's knives as well as pornography Source: Supplied

3. STEPHEN GRIFFITHS — 'THE CROSSBOW CANNIBAL'

Chilling images of "Crossbow Cannibal" Stephen Griffiths as he makes an obscene one-fingered gesture after brazenly celebrating his final murder in front of a CCTV camera will ensure his place in the criminal history books.

CCTV footage captured outside the serial killer's flat clearly shows the former PhD student's face contorted with rage before he executes prostitute Suzanne Blamires, 36, with a crossbow bolt and a knife to the head.

He is then seen walking out of the building to search for another victim, as he holds up a bottle of Sprite as if to toast his success.

Griffiths gestures to the camera after he kills Ms Blamires. Source: Supplied

Stephen Griffiths, who dubbed himself the 'crossbow cannibal'. Source: AFP

In 2011, then 40-year-old Griffiths was jailed for life after admitting to the murders of Miss Blamires and two other prostitutes, Susan Rushworth, 43, and Shelley Armitage, 31.

According to reports, he chopped up their bodies in his "slaughterhouse" bathroom and ate sections of their flesh before disposing of the remaining body parts.

He told police he had killed "loads" of women and compared himself to Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered 13.

He admitted that after killing the three women, he had dismembered and skinned them using power tools, a hammer, knives and a samurai sword.

He cooked the first two, but ate the third raw after his cooker broke.

Following his arrest he told police: 'This is the end of the line for me … I've killed loads.'

2. ANTHONY MORLEY — 'GAY CANNIBAL KILLER'

Former Mr Gay UK Anthony Morley is spending the rest of his life in jail after being found guilty for butchering his boyfriend and cooking his flesh.

In 2008, Morley, 36, slashed 33-year-old boyfriend Damian Oldfield's throat before stabbing him numerous times after watching gay western Brokeback Mountain in bed. He then cut up and cooked his flesh.

Upon his sentence, Judge James Stewart, QC, said: "This is one of the most gruesome murders I have encountered. I associated cannibalism with eras long gone, with the tale of Robinson Crusoe. No longer."

Anthony Morley was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison for killing a man with a knife and cooking and eating his flesh. Source: AP

1. ARMIN MEIWES — 'THE MASTER BUTCHER'

In a tale that horrified Germany, Armin Meiwes found his victim, Bernd-Juergen Brandes, over the internet. The IT manager Brandes had posted an advert for someone to "obliterate his life and leave no trace".

Brandes travelled by train to meet Meiwes in the western town of Rotenburg in March 2001. There, the cannibal videotaped himself severing Brandes' penis with a knife before both men tried to eat it.

Bleeding profusely, Brandes fell unconscious. With the video recorder still rolling, Meiwes laid him out on a bench, kissing him on the lips before plunging a knife into his throat.

He suspended the victim on a meat hook and froze 30kg of flesh in parcels and later ate some with cabbage and potatoes.

42-year-old Bernd Juergen Brandes from Berlin, victim of 41-year-old Armin Meiwes. Source: AP

Self-confessed German cannibal Armin Meiwes killed and ate a man he met through the internet. Source: AFP

The house in Rotenburg an der Fulda, in Hesse, where 41yr-old Armin Meiwes allegedly killed and dismembered Bernd Juergen. Source: AP

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Death threats over 1D Gaza tweet

Death threats ... One Direction's Zayn Malik has been blasted by fans for sending a pro-Palestine tweet. Picture: Instagram Source: Supplied

ONE Direction star Zayn Malik has received death threats after sending out a pro-Palestine tweet.

Malik, who was raised Muslim, was bombarded with death threats and complaints after he tweeted the hashtag "#Free Palestine" to his 13 million followers.

Malik, whose message was retweeted 140,000 times and favourited 150,000 times, was not so popular with a large number of his fans.

"U have fans in #Israel. It broke me that one of my idols wand me to die @benwinstone @harry_styles @onedirection [sic]," one of the lighter tweets at him read.

Sensitive subject ... Malik isn't the first star to cause a backlash over pro-Palestine tweets. Picture: Instagram Source: Supplied

Others from pro-Israel fans included calls for him to "kill himself" or to let them kill him instead.

Of course, Malik isn't the first star to tweet about the conflict. Rihanna also made the same mistake when she posted the same message via her official account, only to delete it minutes later after she copped a hammering from fans online.

She quickly replaced the tweet with, "Let's pray for peace and a swift end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict! Is there any hope?"

Devoted fans ... One Direction's Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile British talk show host Piers Morgan was branded "Zionist scum" for his stream of tweets on the Israel-Gaza situation, in which he stated, "I like Jews. I like Arabs" and "Same nonsense made Northern Ireland a murderous tinderbox for 30 years."

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Aussie decathlete has worst start ever

All the highlights from day four of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Australia's Jake Stein is disqualified after a second false start in the decathlon 100m. Source: Getty Images

WELCOME to our live coverage of Day 5 of the Commonwealth Games.

Stay with us for updates throughout the day's action. Latest updates are on top and all times are AEST.

Laetisha Scanlan has defended her Commonwealth gold. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

1am - SCANLAN MAKES IT DOUBLE GOLD AT THE RANGE

AUSTRALIA has already eclipsed its Delhi shooting haul after Victorian shooter Laetisha Scanlan defended her 2010 Commonwealth gold.

The single trap shooter has been the dominant shooter in her discipline but only survived in the semi-final with a sudden-death shoot-off.

The sales rep and journalism graduate, 24, is the fourth gold medallist in Carnoustie after only three in Delhi and seven total medals.

Australian champions Michael Diamond and Adam Vella are still to shoot tomorrow in the trap event.

Australia's Jodie Kenny in action against England. Source: AP

12.30am - HOCKEYROOS BEAT POMS WITH ANOTHER SHUTOUT

DEAD-eyed Hockeyroo drag-flicker Jodie Kenny took her tournament goal tally to nine as Australia beat England 3-0 in a spirited women's hockey match, Robert Craddock writes.

Australia took its for-and-against to 25-0 from four games with Kenny scoring twice from her penalty drag flicks.

The result, however, did prove that England could be a force to be reckoned with in the medal rounds where Australia will be hot favourite to take the gold.

Australia had to scrap hard to keep out two late penalties corners in a physical match in which Georgia Nansacawen spent two stints in the sin bin.

Kenny is performing strongly in both attack and defence. Her drag-flicking skills are Australia's greatest attacking weapon but she has also been a defensive powerhouse with Australia yet to concede a goal in four games.

Zoe Buckman leads the field during the heat of the 1500m in which she eventually finished sixth. Source: Getty Images

11.40pm - BUCKMAN BOMBS OUT AFTER APPEAL FAILS

ZOE Buckman is out of the Commonwealth Games after an appeal to get reinstated into the 1500m final failed, Scott Gullan writes.

Australia's leading medal hope spectacularly bombed in the heat, finishing sixth, but lodged a protest after being hampered at the bell by another runner.

Buckman stumbled and almost fell when she was grabbed on the arm by Kenyan Selah Busienei but after a 30-minute deliberation the IAAF race jury threw out her appeal.

While it brought Buckman undone, the fast opening heat carried her two Australian teammates, Melissa Duncan and Kaila McKnight, into the final as fastest qualfiers.

ATHS WRAP: BUCKMAN OUT, SOLOMON THROUGH

NSW shooter Warren Potent has won his first Commonwealth Games gold. . Source: News Limited

11.20pm — POTENT FIRES TO FIRST GAMES GOLD

FOUR-time Olympian Warren Potent last night snatched his first Commonwealth Games gold in the 50m prone rifle competition, Jon Ralph writes.

The 52-year-old three-time Australian shooter of the year had won Beijing bronze but Commonwealth gold had eluded him despite three attempts.

But the NSW shooter held off India's eight-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gagan Narang in a nail-biting gold medal shoot-off.

Potent had a 1.6 point lead with two of 20 shots left but Narang's 10.8 point shot to Potent's 9.8 set up a thrilling finish.

The Australian nailed his final shot with a 10.3 to Narang's 10.2, adding to his two bronze and one silver from Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Delhi.

Earlier, NSW truck driver Daniel Repacholi added to his gold medal in the 10m air pistol with bronze in the 50m pistol.

Australia's Zoe Buckman (right) needs an appeal to get up after bombing out in the 1500m heats. Source: Getty Images

10.30pm — BUCKMAN APPEAL PENDING AFTER 1500m EXIT

THE fate of one of Australia's best medal hopes Zoe Buckman rests in the hands of an appeal after she spectacularly bombed in the heats of the 1500m, Scott Gullan writes.

The 25-year-old Victorian compounded after almost falling with a lap to go and Australian team management are praying for a miracle from the judges.

She admitted after the race that she'd been spooked by the first 1500m heat which had been run in a fast time and had let that dictate the way she ran her own race.

Buckman went to the lead, desperate to keep a spot at the front given the first four were automatic qualifiers, but spent too much gas with the incident on the bell effectively ending her chances.

She faded badly over the final 200m, finishing sixth in 4min11.56sec — more than six seconds outside the personal best which she'd improved again in May in Eugene, Oregon.

10.10pm — WEIGHTLIFTER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT

A PAPUA New Guinean competing at the Games is due to appear in court charged with sexually assaulting a man, the BBC reports.

Weightlifter Toua Udia, 22, who finished ninth in the men's 77kg category, was arrested by police in the east end of Glasgow on 21 July.

He denied a sex attack charge over an incident involving another man in a toilet at a Tesco supermarket on Dalmarnock Road, near the Athletes' Village.

10pm — TINKERING DIAMONDS GET JOB DONE

AUSTRALIA'S intriguing Tegan Caldwell experiment continues, as the Diamonds again tinkered with their attacking set-up while mowing down another rival, Jon Ralph writes.

The Diamonds effortlessly beat Trinidad and Tobago 69-34 but with one more pool game before the semi-finals they are no closer to choosing a finals goal attack.

Veteran Nat Medhurst, a controversial Glasgow selection given a quiet ANZ Championship this year, was the saviour against England when Caldwell was subbed off early.

But Caldwell has started in three of four games as coach Lisa Alexander deliberately tries to find "unpredictability" leading into a likely semi-final against Jamaica.

She shot 17 of 20 goals in another impressive display as 188cm goal shooter Caitlin Thwaites was also handed a start until half-time.

Australia's Jake Stein holds his head in his hands after being disqualified from the decathlon 100m after two false starts. Source: Getty Images

8pm — AUSSIE DECATHLETE FAILS TO GET OUT OF BLOCKS

AUSSIE medal hope Jake Stein has described his embarrassing double false-start in the opening event of the decathlon as a "schoolboy error", Scott Gullan writes.

In a farcical turn of events, the 20-year-old from Sydney blew any chance of getting on the podium just a couple of minutes into the first of 10 events.

While the 100m sprinters are kicked out after one false start, the decathletes are given another chance but even with that Stein still blew it.

"It's schoolboy errors really, you learnt to start when you are seven or eight and I forgot how to do it today," he said.

MORE: DECATHLETE'S DISMAY AT 'SCHOOLBOY ERROR'

Australia's Trent Mitton scores his team's second goal against South Africa. Source: AFP

7.40pm — KOOKABURRA SCORES GOAL FOR THE AGES

A THIRD-generation Kookaburra provided a goal for the ages as Australia beat South Africa 6-0 in the men's hockey, Robert Craddock writes.

Perth 23-year-old Trent Mitton scored a breathtaking first half goal when he passed the ball through his legs on the run with a South African defender on his tail, regathered, reserved his stick and slammed the ball wide right into the goal.

It was the second of two goals he scored in the first half and about the closest hockey can get to those mesmerical soccer moments where player's feet somehow morph into magic wands.

South Africa are the only team to beat the Australian men since the Commonwealth Games introduced hockey to its program in Malaysia in 1998 but this time there wasn't the slightest sniff of an upset.

MORE: HOCKEY BLOKES THRASH SOUTH AFRICANS

James Magnussen after his 50m free heat. Source: Getty Images

SWIMMING HEATS WRAP

JAMES Magnussen survived his 50m freestyle heats and a mixed zone gatecrasher from Jamaica as the 100m champion spoke with Australian media, Todd Balym writes.

Magnussen was discussing his 22.33s heat swim to place fourth through to the semi-finals when Jevon Atkinson (20th, 23.55s) called out the Australian from across the room and then stood at his side making jokes to the press.

It was a lighthearted moment that Magnussen handled with a smile considering he'd never met his comedic friend.

Cameron McEvoy set the early pace to top the morning time sheets in 22.04 seconds while

fellow Australian Matt Abood was second in 22.09s.

Emily Seebohm qualified second fastest for the 50m backstroke semi-finals with a time of 28.03s, with Madi Wilson fifth in 28.60s and 200m champion Belinda Hocking eighth in 29.01s.

Commonwealth 100m backstroke champion Mitch Larkin set himself up to make it a golden double by qualifying fastest for the 200m final in 1:57.44.

It could be another sweep for Australia tonight with Matson Lawson second quickest in 1:57.79 and Josh Beaver fourth fastest in 1:58.34.

Swim team rookie Maddie Groves set the pace in the 200m butterfly heats, qualifying fastest in 2:08.51 with teammate Ellen Gandy fifth in 2:09.96.

FULL COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCHEDULE

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