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Royal staff face uncertain future amid palace shake-up

<p dir="ltr">King Charles III is reportedly planning to slim down the ranks of staff at England’s royal residences, months after staff at Clarence House were told they were being made redundant.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to a royal insider, the reported 491 full-time staff working across Buckingham Palace, Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle and other royal residences, per <em><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/king-charles-reportedly-planning-to-fire-late-queen-s-ladies-in-waiting-among-other-staff/ar-AA14jAlj?cvid=94ec179e798b4a65b52b3da30143492b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">msn.com</a></em>, are “extremely worried” about their positions and fear they will be unemployed by the end of the year.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's a really testing time. Many are already resigned to leaving jobs they have cherished for years," the insider told <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/20479578/king-charles-makes-major-royal-shake-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Mirror</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's left a real sense of dread among staff."</p> <p dir="ltr">Royal insiders believe Queen Elizabeth II’s ladies-in-waiting at the Royal Stud in Sandringham are among those at risk.</p> <p dir="ltr">The news comes one week after the King announced a one-off cost-of-living bonus for his staff, with a source telling <em><a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/king-charles-pays-staff-bonus-out-of-pocket-cost-of-living/c4f05fbe-3d8e-4e13-b475-6b2f9c15a28d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em> that Charles was paying hundreds out of his own pocket to help his lowest-earning employees during the country’s cost-of-living crisis.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It is being given on a ­sliding scale with those most in need and on lower wages getting the most money," the source said.</p> <p dir="ltr">For some royal staff, the recent risk of redundancy may come for a second time, after up to 100 employees at Charles’ former residence of Clarence House were given redundancy notices during the Queen’s thanksgiving service in September.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a letter sent to staff by Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s top aide, it was revealed that the Clarence House household “will be closed down”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The change in role for our principals will also mean change for our household … The portfolio of work previously undertaken in this household supporting the former Prince of Wales’s personal interests, former activities and household operations will no longer be carried out, and the household … at Clarence House will be closed down. It is therefore expected that the need for the posts principally based at Clarence House, whose work supports these areas will no longer be needed,” his letter read, as reported by the <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/13/king-charles-staff-given-redundancy-notice-during-church-service-for-queen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guardian</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I appreciate that this is unsettling news and I wanted to let you know of the support that is available at this point.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It is understood that staff made redundant would be offered searches for alternative employment across the royal households.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f647db3b-7fff-0830-52f2-2639733dc02f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Our staff have given long and loyal service and, while some redundancies will be unavoidable, we are working urgently to identify alternative roles for the greatest number of staff,” a Clarence House spokesman said at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“When you win, bring it back to Malibu”: Sean Penn loans Oscar to Ukraine

<p dir="ltr">Actor Sean Penn has shown his support for Ukraine in its war with Russia by loaning one of his two Oscars to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling him it could stay on one condition: “When you win, bring it back to Malibu”.</p> <p dir="ltr">A video of the encounter between Zelenskyy and Penn, who is making a documentary about the Russian invasion, was shared by Zelenskyy’s office online and described the gift as “a symbol of faith in the victory of our country”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It will be in Ukraine until the end of the war.”</p> <p dir="ltr">During his most recent visit to Ukraine, Penn told Zelenskyy that every time he leaves he feels “like a traitor”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But if I know this is here with you then I will feel better and stronger for the fights,” he said before presenting the leader with his award.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8089cf48-7fff-1c78-0b94-e0072bc02a66"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“When you win, bring it back to Malibu. Because I feel much better knowing there is a piece of me here.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CktdU1RLvIQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CktdU1RLvIQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Володимир Зеленський (@zelenskiy_official)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">After initially hesitating, Zelenskyy accepted the statue and quipped: “We have to win, quick.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Wednesday’s meeting, which marked Penn’s third visit to Ukraine since the invasion began, also saw the actor accept an award from Zelenskyy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Mystic River</em> star was presented with the Ukrainian Order of Merit of the third degree, which is given to citizens for outstanding achievements in economics, science, culture or military or political activity.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was with great pleasure that I presented Sean Penn with the Order of Merit of the III degree,” the caption of the clip shared on Zelenskyy’s official Instagram read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you for such sincere support and significant contribution to the popularization (sic) of Ukraine in the world!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video also showed the pair walking around Kyiv and arriving at Constitution Square where there is a “Walk of the Brave” - a walkway lined with plaques for world leaders who have supported Ukraine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Penn also has a plaque laid on the ground along the walkway, engraved with his name and the date February 24, 2022, which was the start of the invasion, as Penn was one of the first people to visit Ukraine after Russian troops moved in.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pointing to the plaque, Penn said there were three sources of pride for him in the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The place where my daughter was born, the place where my son was born and this. Thank you,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e58f0d92-7fff-56d3-d8c3-2674483699ac"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Kate Middleton breaks ‘unwritten’ royal rule

<p dir="ltr">Kate Middleton has been spotted breaking an unwritten rule for royals while posing with a royal fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the man approached and put his arm around her, the Princess of Wales reciprocated, breaking the unwritten rule of limiting contact to a handshake.</p> <p dir="ltr">Before smiling for the camera, Kate was seen speaking with him during the official visit she made with husband Prince William to Scarborough.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b490d20f-7fff-f7de-e2b6-f3a9ad63b0d9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The sweet photo was taken during the couple’s visit to ‘The Street’, a youth and community facility run by the charity Coast &amp; Vale Community Action, where they announced that £345,000 of funds from their Royal Foundation would be used to help young people’s mental health in the area.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/kate-hug-man.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Kate Middleton was photographed with her arm around a royal fan during a sweet encounter in Scarborough. Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Their visit marked the first time royals had been to the town in 12 years and was met with a positive reception from locals.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a feel good factor, which at the present situation as somebody said to me, ‘To see a prince and princess, it’s like a fairytale’,” one local told <em>ITV News</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s lovely that they’re helping all the young ones isn’t it, because they’ll be the ones that’s with them, you know, when [William]’s king really,” another said.</p> <p dir="ltr">One of the teens who was lucky to meet with the royals to speak about mental health shared a surprising revelation about what the couple were really like.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought they’d be more posh but they were very down to earth,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1b113cf2-7fff-5190-904a-499d06145b58"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Both Kate and William were also snapped with their arms around a young child, with other members of the public taking photos of them as well.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/kate-hug-william.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Prince William and Kate Middleton were also spotted with their arms around a young royal fan during their visit to Scarborough. Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p dir="ltr">But Kate and William’s most recent visit to Scarborough isn’t the first time members of the public have been met with more than a handshake by the younger royals.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, William hugged a man who became emotional during a trip to Scotland, and the Prince also hugged the Lionesses after their historic win of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 competition.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of the Queen’s death in September, Meghan Markle was spotted being hugged and kissed by royal fans, while Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was photographed hugging a young boy during a vigil.</p> <p dir="ltr">While there aren’t any official rules for how royals behave while greeting members of the public, a handshake has historically been the extent of contact made.</p> <p dir="ltr">Grant Harold, a former royal butler, told <em><a href="https://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/prince-william-broke-protocol-intentional-27659169" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OK!</a></em> that at most “you could look but you couldn’t touch”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you met a royal, you could look at them and if they offered you a handshake you were to accept it,” he told the outlet.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That was a lot to do with the mystique surrounding the family but also for security reasons, too."</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-cb821642-7fff-b5b6-5f1c-9a9352152e43"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Car crash claims the life of TV icon Leslie Jordan

<p dir="ltr">TV actor and social media sensation Leslie Jordan has died at the age of 67.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Will &amp; Grace star crashed his BMW into the side of a building in Los Angeles on Monday morning, local time, with the <em>New York Post</em> reporting that he suffered from a medical emergency while behind the wheel.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement shared with the <em>Post</em>, Jordan’s manager confirmed the heartbreaking news.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” his manager said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 4’11” star rose to fame on television screens in the 1990s, with roles in <em>Reasonable Doubts</em>, <em>Ally McBeal</em>, <em>Boston Legal</em>, and<em> Judging Amy</em>, as well as guest appearances on <em>Dharma &amp; Greg</em>, <em>Ellen</em>, and <em>Caroline in the City</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">He became best-known for his comedic roles, including his starring role in the show<em> Hearts Afire</em> and as sassy socialite Beverly Leslie in <em>Will &amp; Grace</em>, with his humour earning him fame and 5.8 million followers on social media during the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">His fame earned him a spot on CNN’s New Year’s Eve 2021 countdown, where he rang in the new year with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkG-tMgOI-y/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkG-tMgOI-y/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Leslie Jordan (@thelesliejordan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Jordan’s Instagram account, where he shared clips of himself singing gospel hymns and humorous stories about Hollywood, shared the news of Jordan’s passing and encouraged fans to “comfort each other” and share their memories of the actor.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The love and light that Leslie shared will never go out and we invite you to share your memories and comfort each other during this time,” the post read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In the coming days we will be giving a glimpse of a project Leslie was really proud of and was looking forward to sharing with the world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The star, who released his memoir <em>How Y’all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well-Lived</em> last year, was raised as a Southern Baptist and was openly gay, being widely revered as a queer icon.</p> <p dir="ltr">Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1955, Jordan previously said he struggled growing up in a traditional family and conservative city, though he was supported by his beloved mother, Betty.</p> <p dir="ltr">He moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to pursue a career in showbiz, but soon became involved in drugs and alcohol and had been arrested several times by his mid-20s.</p> <p dir="ltr">Overcoming his addictions by the 1990s, Jordan’s TV career quickly blossomed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jordan’s role in <em>Will &amp; Grace</em> during the 2000s, which he reprised during the show’s reboot in 2017, earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of his death, his co-stars and others in Hollywood were among the first to pay tribute.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">My heart is broken. Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him, loved him. There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend. 😔❤️ <a href="https://t.co/RNKSamoES0">pic.twitter.com/RNKSamoES0</a></p> <p>— Sean Hayes (@SeanHayes) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanHayes/status/1584620699473563648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Crushed to learn about the loss of <a href="https://twitter.com/thelesliejordan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thelesliejordan</a>, the funniest &amp; flirtiest southern gent I’ve ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WillandGrace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WillandGrace</a> episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man. 💔</p> <p>— Eric McCormack (@EricMcCormack) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricMcCormack/status/1584614461511413760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Crushed to learn about the loss of Leslie Jordan, the funniest &amp; flirtiest southern gent I’ve ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man. 💔” Eric McCormack, who played Will Truman on <em>Will &amp; Grace</em> tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My heart is broken. Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him, loved him,” fellow <em>Will &amp; Grace</em> actor Sean Hayes wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend 😔❤️.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am stunned at the death of Leslie Jordan, who delighted us with his many roles on television and film. The cause of death was a car crash after he suffered a medical emergency. Leslie, we are heartbroken at your loss and will miss your mirth and your inimitable spirit.</p> <p>— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/1584612609956884481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><em>Star Trek </em>actor George Takei paid tribute to Jordan for delighting viewers with his roles, writing: “Leslie, we are heartbroken at your loss and will miss your mirth and your inimitable spirit.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @thereallesliejordan (Instagram)</em></p>

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

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

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King Charles III honours mother in first engagement after mourning

<p dir="ltr">King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have travelled to a Scottish town with a rich royal history to honour one of Queen Elizabeth II’s final wishes.</p> <p dir="ltr">In their first joint engagement since the end of the official mourning period, King Charles and Camilla travelled to Dunfermline, north of the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, where the monarch made an emotional tribute to his mother.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just months before her death, the Queen personally chose to bestow city status on Dunfermline  - a wish the King honoured on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">During his speech at the Dunfermline City Chambers, King Charles said the historical moment would “gladden my dear mother’s heart, as it certainly gladdens mine”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My wife and I are immensely proud to be able to share this historic moment with you,” he said, adding that the Queen’s “deep love for Scotland was one of the foundations of her life”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There could be no more fitting way to mark my beloved mother's extraordinary life of service than by granting this honour to a place made famous by its own long and distinguished history, and by the indispensable role it has played in the life of our country."</p> <p dir="ltr">Dunfermline was one of eight towns that were granted ‘city’ status by the Queen as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">The town was chosen for its community associations and royal history, including being the burial place of Robert the Bruce and holding the title of Scotland’s capital from the 11th century until 1437.</p> <p dir="ltr">The old silk mill in Dunfermline was also the source of silks used in the Queen’s gowns for her wedding and coronation.</p> <p dir="ltr">For Monday’s historic events, which saw hundreds of people lining the streets to see King Charles and Camilla, the King wore a kilt made from Old Stewart Tartan.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the formalities concluded, the ruling couple walked to Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 950th anniversary - an act the Queen engaged in 50 years ago for the abbey’s 900th anniversary.</p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles and Camilla then ended the day in Edinburgh, hosting a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to celebrate British South Asian communities.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b706f602-7fff-a09c-2cf4-aa5f90300a13"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Anne Heche to be taken off life support

<p dir="ltr">US actress Anne Heche will be taken off life support days after she was reported to be brain dead.</p> <p dir="ltr">The decision comes after the 53-year-old was matched with an organ recipient, per CNN, in line with her wishes, after Heche was pulled out of her burning car, which she had <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/actress-fighting-for-her-life-after-horror-car-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">driven into an LA home</a> while driving 104 km/h on August 5.</p> <p dir="ltr">Heche's publicist broke the news that the <em>Six Days, Seven Nights</em> star was "not expected to survive" on Friday, revealing that Heche had "suffered a severe anoxic brain injury".</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend,” her spokesperson told <em>Page Six</em> at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-02f14bcd-7fff-85ab-3ecc-d0d822147ddc"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdUqTdKLo6E/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdUqTdKLo6E/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anne Heche (@anneheche)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The following day, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said in a statement that the investigation into the crash would not move forward.</p> <p dir="ltr">"As of today, there will be no further investigative efforts made in this case," the LAPD said in a statement to <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/08/14/anne-heche-police-investigation-dismissed-following-stars-death/?_ga=2.230917663.184706205.1660479883-1122528718.1567945808" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Any information or records that have been requested prior to this turn of events will still be collected as they arrive as a matter of formalities and included in the overall case.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When a person suspected of a crime expires, we do not present for filing consideration.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After the results for Heche’s blood test following the crash <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/anne-heche-s-blood-test-results-revealed-after-horror-smash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">detected “the presence of drugs” in her system</a>, police investigations escalated to a “preliminary” felony DUI.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gossip magazine <em>TMZ </em>reported on August 10 that the investigation was escalated after a woman claimed she was injured and needed medical assistance due to Heche crashing into her home.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a45620a-7fff-a523-348f-68564680d4f2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">However, an LAPD public information officer told <em>Page Six</em> that the felony was preliminary due to pending further toxicology testing.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChKkPVLukOi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChKkPVLukOi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by James Tupper (@mrjamestupper)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Heche, who never regained consciousness after the crash, is survived by her 13-year-old son Atlas, who she shares with actor James Trupper, as well as her 20-year-old son Homer, shared with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-661f6c10-7fff-c097-316a-6f5c947cb84c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">On Saturday, Tupper shared a sweet tribute to his late wife to Instagram, posting a single photo of Heche along with the caption: “love you forever 💔”.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChLAEgaPFFF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChLAEgaPFFF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Coley Laffoon (@coleylaffoon)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Laffoon took to social media to wish his ex-wife peace on her journey, sharing a throwback photo of Heche with their son as a baby.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s important to remember the real love in the best times. Thank you Anne. Peace on your journey,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-dd5ef628-7fff-d8e9-c738-71dae7ec97e9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @anneheche (Instagram)</em></p>

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Djokovic addresses visa furore with Serbian president

<p dir="ltr">Two weeks after he was forced to leave the country, Novak Djokovic has shared his story with the public for the first time.</p><p dir="ltr">The tennis champion met with Serbia’s President Aleksander Vučić at a press conference on Thursday night, describing the “unfortunate events in Australia” which “was at least unexpected, as it happened”, he said, smiling.</p><p dir="ltr">Since his deportation, Djokovic has been spending his time in Belgrade and Montenegro.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3c5348da-7fff-dd8d-28a0-bebbe56c610c"></span></p><p dir="ltr">“This is the first time I go public,” he <a href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-promises-to-give-his-version-of-events-after-australia-drama/news-story/bd983956812f4f750788974b2b532ca9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Feb 3, 2022 Presidental Palace, Belgrade 🇷🇸<br /><br />Novak Djokovic: "President, I would like to thank you and the state of Serbia both for support during the unfortunate events in Australia and for standing by my side." <a href="https://twitter.com/pavyg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pavyg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TennisPuneet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TennisPuneet</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NovakFanClub?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NovakFanClub</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigKellyMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CraigKellyMP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DMDent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DMDent</a><br />1/2 <a href="https://t.co/tk0ocNeFzF">pic.twitter.com/tk0ocNeFzF</a></p>— Zvezda je život (@FkczBelgrade) <a href="https://twitter.com/FkczBelgrade/status/1489177087898714113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2022</a></blockquote><p dir="ltr">He thanked the President for his support, as well as the Serbian people after “these circumstances that found me in Australia”.</p><p dir="ltr">Djokovic said their support has shown “that this connection will be like that forever”.</p><p dir="ltr">Though he has promised to share his story “in more detail”, he did share part of it was President Vučić.</p><p dir="ltr">“I wanted to see you first of all because as a citizen of Serbia I felt a great need to thank you for the great support you gave me as President of Serbia,” he said.</p><p dir="ltr">“Although I was alone in detention in Australia and faced many problems and challenges, I did not feel lonely.</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-395ae6cf-7fff-0e7e-13fb-55b76bcb51db"></span></p><p dir="ltr">“You stood up and stood behind me and put yourself in a compromised political position, within the framework of international relations, and that is why I am extremely grateful. I will remember that.”</p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/djokovic-vucic.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p><p dir="ltr"><em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Djokovic appeared alongside the President of Serbia to share his side of the story. Image: Andrej Isakovic/</em><em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">AFP via Getty Images</em></p><p dir="ltr">President Vučić praised Djokovid for “glorifying our country”, though he admitted he initially urged the tennis star to leave the country when he first received the news of his detention.</p><p dir="ltr">“And then I saw how persistent he is, how much he wanted to play, to fight on the sports field, to show on the sports field how much he is ready to fight not only for himself, but his country and show that he is better than others,” Vučić explained.</p><p dir="ltr">Djokovic’s arrival in Australia sparked intense backlash after it emerged that he was eligible for a medical exemption to enter the country while unvaccinated and was then detained upon arrival in Melbourne.</p><p dir="ltr">After spending time in hotel detention - prompting protests for his freedom - Djokovic was finally deported after the Federal Court upheld Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel his visa.</p><p dir="ltr">“For media representatives, I would like to add that since I did not advertise in public about the Australian events, this is the first time I go public,” he said on Thursday night.</p><p dir="ltr">He urged people to “please be patient”, and that he would address the situation “in more detail with my version of the story to everything that happened in Australia” within the next seven to ten days.</p><p dir="ltr">President Vučić had nothing but praise for Djokovic, telling the media that “someone special and bigger than all of us is here today”.</p><p dir="ltr">“Thank you for representing our country with honour, courage and in the best way, and for doing so in the future. Thank you for the great fight you fought in Australia,” Vučić said.</p><p dir="ltr">A statement from the President’s office said “that the ladies were specially groomed, and all this shows that someone special and much bigger came”.</p><p dir="ltr">“It had never happened that we have so many people in the building, that all the secretaries, all bookkeepers, all cooks, janitors, came because they wanted to see Novak,” the statement read.</p><p dir="ltr">“He will beat them all, at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. I predict that.”</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c3816aad-7fff-361a-6b01-bb2190cc7832"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images</em></p>

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Queen suffers more heartbreaking news

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Queen Elizabeth II has endured more heartbreak after the death of Lady Farnham four days after Christmas.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-lady-in-waiting-diana-maxwell-lady-farnham-dies-aged-90/45c3386a-2413-4046-9c5a-18c51a0d52db" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">news</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of Lady Farnham’s death comes mere weeks after the death of the Dowager Duchess of Grafton, Queen Elizabeth II’s most senior ladies-in-waiting and one of her closest confidants.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">90-year-old Diana Maxwell - who married the 12th Baron Farnham, Barry Maxwell - served as the Queen’s Lady of the Bedchamber since 1987. She joined the monarch on multiple royal tours and services, including the Queen’s 2011 tour of the Republic of Ireland. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lady Farnham also rode with the Queen on the way to her 2012 Diamond Jubilee service.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is very sad news for the Queen,” a royal source told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Telegraph</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “Everyone loved Lady Farnham, she was always so good humoured. She was also a very glamorous and attractive woman. She was always very generous to new people joining the household.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It has not been a good year for the Queen - losing her husband and then the Duchess of Grafton and now the Lady of Farnham,” the source continued.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They were dear friends who supported the Queen on official duties. Unfortunately a sad consequence of living a long life is that you have to say goodbye to a lot of people you care about.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846567/queen-farnham1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fca846e98ecc4df69a21785f98e1fcf2" /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Lady Farnham accompanied Queen Elizabeth II at a service celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Image: Getty Images</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lady Farnham notably sat next to the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations when her late husband, Prince Philip, was unwell and unable to attend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Born as Diana Marion Gunnis, Lady Farnham married Barry Maxwell - an Irish banker who died in 2001 - in 1959 and shared two adopted children with him: Harriet, 57, and Sophia, 54. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple also shared three granddaughters and one grandson.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her personal service to the monarch was recognised in 1998, when the Queen appointed her Commander, Royal Victorian Order.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2010, she was appointed Dame Commander, Royal Victorian Order - an award made by the Queen to recognise services to the sovereign.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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Missing tennis star makes public appearance

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Missing Chinese tennis champion Peng Shuai has made her </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/peng-shuai-hold-video-call-speaks-with-olympic-officials-ioc/231011ea-4cf6-4cee-910b-aae84a608433" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">first direct contact</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with officials outside China in a video call with Olympic officials several weeks after she disappeared from public view.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The three-time Olympian disappeared from public view on November 2 after alleging online that she was sexually assaulted by a former member of China’s ruling Communist Party.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Shuai spoke with officials from the International Olympic Committee from Beijing, and told them that she was safe and well, according to a statement from the organisation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time,” the statement </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-president-and-ioc-athletes-commission-chair-hold-video-call-with-peng-shuai" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845785/peng1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9e6eafe7a6504dabad172c4a2ddd00f0" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: International Olympic Committee</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Along with IOC President Thomas Bach, Ms Shuai spoke with Emma Terho, the Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and IOC Member in China Li Lingwei, who the IOC said “has known Peng Shuai for many years from her time in the Chinese Tennis Federation”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Shuai “thanked the IOC for its concern about her well-being” and said she is spending “her time with friends and family right now”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Nevertheless, she will continue to be involved in tennis, the sport she loves so much,” the statement said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Bach invited Ms Shuai to join him for dinner when he is in Beijing next year “which she gladly accepted”, the IOC said. Ms Terho and Ms Lingwei were also invited.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern,” Ms Terho said in the statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She appeared to be relaxed. I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhereIsPengShuai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhereIsPengShuai</a> <a href="https://t.co/t8SPCrqnMl">pic.twitter.com/t8SPCrqnMl</a></p> — wta (@WTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WTA/status/1461418624858607616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Concerns about her safety began to grow after her disappearance and the rapid removal of her post from social media, prompting calls to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing in February.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 30-minute call came as footage emerged of her at a youth tournament in Beijing, according to images released by the organiser.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Peng Shuai autographs balls for the kids at the opening ceremony of Junior Tennis Challenger Finals in Beijing. <a href="https://t.co/uPVxlNK1cQ">pic.twitter.com/uPVxlNK1cQ</a></p> — Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) <a href="https://twitter.com/shen_shiwei/status/1462235050607472643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The images, posted by the China Open on social media service Weibo, made no mention of the allegations or Ms Shuai’s disappearance. She was pictured standing next to a court, waving and signing commemorative tennis balls.</span></p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/tennis-world-reacts-to-disappearance-of-chinese-player" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tennis stars</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have been especially vocal since Ms Shuai’s disappearance, while the IOC has previously remained quiet.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday, the organisation said it would “continue our open dialogue on all levels with the Olympic movement in China”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon expressed concern for Ms Shuai’s safety after two videos appearing to show her in a restaurant were shared online by Hu Xijin, editor of nationalistic newspaper </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Global Times</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While it is positive to see her, it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference. This video alone is insufficient,” Mr Simon said. “Our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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Prince Philip’s will to be kept sealed for 90 years

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The UK High Court has ruled that Prince Philip’s will is to remain secret so as to protect the “dignity” of Queen Elizabeth, owing to her constitutional role. Philip died in April at the age of 99 following almost 74 years as the Queen’s consort.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division of the High Court, heard arguments from lawyers representing Philip’s estate and the attorney general, who represents the public interest, in a private hearing in July, and published the court’s ruling on Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the ruling, McFarlane ordered that Philip’s will remain sealed for 90 years, and even after that date, may only be opened in private. The judge said: “I have held that, because of the constitutional position of the sovereign, it is appropriate to have a special practice in relation to royal wills. There is a need to enhance the protection afforded to truly private aspects of the lives of this limited group of individuals in order to maintain the dignity of the sovereign and close members of her family.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 387.71676300578036px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844160/gettyimages-514906468.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9e70da170abc437c8899459ac81d545a" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/17/prince-philip-duke-edinburgh-will-secret-90-years-queen-dignity"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Guardian</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">it has been convention for over a century that following the death of a senior member of the royal family, an application to seal their will is made to the president of the family division of the High Court. This means their wills are not publicly available the way most wills are.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McFarlane also ruled that any future judgements on applications to seal wills belonging to members of the royal family would remain closed, and therefore will not be made public.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died on April 9th of this year, following a 73-year marriage to Queen Elizabeth, making him the longest-serving royal consort in world history. At the time, Buckingham Palace released a statement reading, "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images, Bettmann/Getty Images</span></p>

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Unbelievable footage as massive explosion rocks Beirut

<p>A large blast in the Lebanese capital of Beirut has killed at least 70 people and injured more than 2,700, the health minister explains.</p> <p>Videos have quickly gone viral of the incident, which show smoke billowing from a fire and then a mushroom cloud after the blast in the middle of the city.</p> <p>President Michel Aoun has tweeted that it was "unacceptable" that highly explosive material was stored in a warehouse for six years, with 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate being stored unsafely.</p> <p>Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed and many buildings have been destroyed.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Terrifying video from a guy driving his car while filming the Beirut explosion...<a href="https://t.co/0XpfqCw22L">pic.twitter.com/0XpfqCw22L</a></p> — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1290769713539305474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Videos taken by shocked residents show a fire raging at the port, which sent up a giant column of smoke. The fire then appeared to catch at a nearby building, which triggered a more massive explosion and sent a cloud of thick smoke and a shock wave over the city.</p> <p>"It was like a nuclear explosion," said Walid Abdo, a 43-year-old school teacher in the neighbourhood of Gemayzeh near Beirut.</p> <p>"I saw a fireball and smoke billowing over Beirut. People were screaming and running, bleeding. Balconies were blown off buildings. Glass in high-rise buildings shattered and fell to the street," a witness told Reuters.</p> <p>Another witness says she saw heavy grey smoke near the port area and then heard an explosion.</p> <p>"All the downtown area windows are smashed and there are wounded people walking around. It is total chaos," she said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Stunning video shows explosions just minutes ago at Beirut port <a href="https://t.co/ZjltF0VcTr">pic.twitter.com/ZjltF0VcTr</a></p> — Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) <a href="https://twitter.com/borzou/status/1290675854767513600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>President Aoun has declared a three-day mourning period and said that the government would release 100 billion lire ($66 million) of emergency funds.</p> <p>Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that it was a catastrophe and that those responsible must be held to account.</p> <p>Lebanon's prime minister also called for international help: "I make an urgent appeal to friendly and brotherly countries... to stand by Lebanon and to help us heal our deep wounds," Hassan Diab said.</p> <p>UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the "UK is ready to provide support in any way we can, including to those British nationals affected", and US President Donald Trump sent his deepest sympathies after what he called "a terrible attack".</p> <p>France is also sending aid and resources to Lebanon and Israel said in a statement that it had "approached Lebanon through international security and diplomatic channels and has offered the Lebanese government medical and humanitarian assistance".</p> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison said one Australian had been killed and Australia's embassy had been "impacted significantly" in the explosion.</p> <p>"We can report all of the staff there are well, but the building that the embassy is in has been significantly compromised. I'm pleased that apart from some cuts and scratches, our staff are all OK," he said.</p> <p>"But our sympathies to all of the people of Lebanon. There is such a large Lebanese Australian community here and they would be worried about loved ones."</p>

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Iran issues arrest warrant for Donald Trump

<p>Iran has issued an arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump over a drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad.</p> <p>Trump and 35 others whom Iran accuses of being involved in the January 3 strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani face “murder and terrorism charges”, said Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr on Monday.</p> <p>Alqasimehr said Iran would continue to pursue Trump’s prosecution even after he stands down presidency, <em>Reuters </em>reported.</p> <p>Iran said it had also asked Interpol to issue a Red Notice for these 36 people, which would have the international organisation locate and arrest the individuals named.</p> <p>Interpol told <em><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/29/middleeast/iran-arrest-warrant-donald-trump-intl/index.html">CNN</a></em> it “would not consider requests of this nature” because it was not in accordance with its rules and constitution, which prohibits “any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character”.</p> <p>US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook called Iran’s move a “political stunt”.</p> <p>“This has nothing to do with national security, international peace or promoting stability, so we see it for what it is – it’s a propaganda stunt that no one takes seriously,” Hook said during a press conference with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir on Monday.</p> <p>The US killed Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in January along with five others.</p> <p>The assassination came after months of rising tensions between the US and Iran.</p> <p>Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike at two military bases housing US troops in Iraq.</p>

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Police reveal brave new detail about Madeleine McCann case

<p><span>A German prosecutor is alleging Madeleine McCann may still be alive, after previously saying police were working on the assumption the young girl had died.</span><br /><br /><span>The investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance from Praia da Luz, Portugal, has garnered attention once again after authorities announced they were investigating a 43-year-old convicted German child sex offender.</span><br /><br /><span>Hans Christian Wolters who is a spokesman for the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office, announced in a statement on Monday that prosecutors had some evidence Madeleine was dead but did not have enough for a trial.</span><br /><br /><span>However, when speaking to the Sunday Mirror, he seemed to not agree with his previous statement.</span><br /><br /><span>“Because there is no forensic evidence there may be a little bit of hope (that she is alive),” he told the paper.</span><br /><br /><span>“We don’t want to kill the hope and because there is no forensic evidence it may be theoretically possible.</span><br /><br /><span>“I know it’s important for the British people when I say she is dead, but I did not know it was so important.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836505/madeleine-mccann-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/76d49060f24b4411a25a6c33da2c7fd2" /><br /><br /><span>Separately, speaking to The Sunday Times, Mr Wolters also said that prosecutors were investigating whether or not a hotel employee may have helped the suspect target the McCanns’ apartment knowing they were at a nearby restaurant.</span><br /><br /><span>The suspect is known to have lived on the Algarve coast.</span><br /><br /><span>When Madeleine went missing on May 3, 2007, the man’s Portuguese mobile phone received a half-hour phone call in Praia da Luz, around an hour before the abduction took place.</span><br /><br /><span>There is no suggestion the member of staff knew about Madeleine’s kidnap in advance, and Mr Wolters said: “The phone call made by the suspect could be between him and a member of staff who told him when to break into the McCanns’ apartment.”</span><br /><br /><span>He also went on to add that police hadn’t interviewed the suspect about Madeleine’s murder at the time, as they had not traced the person who called him.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836504/madeleine-mccann-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/16419601a58f411382058b21f8cd4ab4" /><br /><br /><span>Mr Wolters told the paper: “The person he spoke to could put the phone in his hand (by confirming that it was definitely the suspect to whom he spoke), which would mean he was in the area at the time.</span><br /><br /><span>“This is the evidence we want before we issue an arrest warrant and then interview him for the murder. It would help the case against him – but we would also need more evidence.”</span><br /><br /><span>In the days since the renewed appeal, Scotland Yard say it has received nearly a whopping 400 tips to its Operation Grange team.</span><br /><br /><span>Operation Grange refers to the force’s active investigation.</span><br /><br /><span>The case is still classed as a missing person inquiry as there is no “definitive evidence whether Madeleine is alive or dead”, a police spokesman said.</span><br /><br /><span>Madeleine vanished soon before her fourth birthday while her parents were eating dinner with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.</span><br /><br /><span>She would have turned 17 last month.</span></p>

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“Sorry, not sorry”: Wedding videographer refuses to issue refund after bride-to-be dies

<p>A man who lost his fiancée in a car crash has been threatened with a lawsuit after he requested a refund from the wedding videography company the couple had hired.</p> <p>Justin Montney, 24, was forced to cancel his May wedding after his 22-year-old bride-to-be Alexis-Athena Wyatt died in February.</p> <p>Montney said the Texas, US-based videography company Copper Stallion Media refused to refund his US$1,800 deposit, saying it was non-refundable.</p> <p>The man told <em><a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/wedding-videographer-refuses-refund-fiance-death">Buzzfeed News</a> </em>he reached out to the company again last week, informing them he planned to share the dispute on social media. The company threatened to sue him and Wyatt’s family in response to a review her mother wrote on wedding website The Knot.</p> <p>“They should have been able to [issue a refund] because they didn’t render any services,” Montney told KRDO-TV.</p> <p>He said the company offered to extend their service to his next wedding, which was “a very a very insensitive thing to tell me”.</p> <p>Montney said other vendors did not hesitate to refund their money after learning about Wyatt’s death. “They obviously felt terrible for what had happened,” he said.</p> <p>After Montney went public with his experience, Copper Stallion Media created a website using Montney’s name – JustinMontney.com – to rebut his claims, accusing him of driving a “smear campaign”.</p> <p>“We understand a death occurred, but it’s not right for people to turn to the internet and sodomize the reputation of a company,” read the text, which has since been removed on the website.</p> <p>“He could have quietly filed a small claim to ‘try’ to recoup the non-refundable deposit. Instead, he chose the internet to shake us down.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836261/jm2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/42c8a0c6a3154718a7ebc539453dc355" /></p> <p>On May 23, the company posted a photo of the couple with the caption: “Today would have been the day where we would have filmed Justin and Alexis’ wedding in Colorado Springs.</p> <p>“After what Justin pulled with the media stunt to try and shake us down for a refund, we hope you sob and cry all day for what would have been your wedding day.</p> <p>“Sorry, not sorry.”</p> <p>Copper Stallion Media has since shut down their pages on Facebook and The Knot.</p> <p>Videographer Alex Murphy, who used to work for the company, told <em><a href="https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/contact7/wedding-videographer-refuses-to-provide-refund-after-brides-death-harasses-her-family">The Denver Channel</a></em> he left because they refused to pay him.</p> <p>He said his final paycheck came from Las Vegas-registered company Organized Weddings LLC, which is associated with a man named Jesse J Clark.</p> <p>Clark was sued by Massachusetts’ attorney general in 2013 for defrauding 90 couples by accepting payments and failing to provide their wedding videos, according to the <em><a href="https://www.telegram.com/article/20130426/NEWS/104269782">Telegram &amp; Gazette</a></em>.</p>

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COVID-19 epicentre Wuhan records new cluster of cases after relaxing lockdown

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>The Chinese city of Wuhan has reported six new cases of COVID-19 over the last few days which marks the first officially documented re-emergence of the virus in over a month.</p> <p>Wuhan is the city where the coronavirus first broke out last December and had not recorded a new case since April 3rd. The city had since eased lockdowns and reopened schools.</p> <p>The first new Wuhan case was previously asymptomatic, and the 89-year-old man had not left his residential compound since the Lunar New Year in late January.</p> <p>His wife also tested positive for the virus despite showing no symptoms, the Wuhan municipal health commission said.</p> <p>The residential compound has had 20 confirmed cases and experts say that the new round of infections was mainly due to previous community infections.</p> <p>The new cases highlight the potential for new clusters of infections due to carriers who do not look ill or have a fever.</p> <p>On Sunday, authorities also reported new coronavirus cases in northeast China, with one city in Jilin province being reclassified as high-risk, the top of a three-tier zoning system.</p> <p>The city of Shulan was raised from medium to high after raising it from low to medium the day before after a woman tested positive on May 7th.</p> <p>The new cases spike the overall number of confirmed new cases in mainland China to 14, which is the highest reported number since April 28.</p> <p>In Wuhan, more than 20,000 people will be tested in the area where the cluster of new cases was found.</p> <p>Almost 4,000 people have died across the city according to the official tally.</p> <p>There is speculation that the figure could be higher as China faces questions from other countries about the accuracy of its reporting on COVID-19 cases.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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“You have no idea what’s coming”: Italian warns of six ‘stages’ of a global pandemic

<p>An Italian social media user has warned citizens of other countries about the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic as the country remains under lockdown.</p> <p>The user took to Reddit to share <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1238977743653687296" target="_blank">what it’s like living in the country</a>, where the COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 1,800 people.</p> <p>“To the rest of the world, you have no idea what’s coming,” the person wrote.</p> <p>“This situation is bad, but what’s worse is seeing the rest of the world behaving as if it isn’t going to happen to them. We know what you’re thinking because we were in your place too.”</p> <p>The person went on to outline the six stages they experienced, which are different from the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.int/influenza/resources/documents/pandemic_phase_descriptions_and_actions.pdf" target="_blank">pandemic influenza phases as defined by the World Health Organisation</a>.</p> <p>The user said ‘Stage 1’ began when the first cases were reported in the country. “I’m not 75+yo so what could possibly happen to me?” the Italian wrote.</p> <p>“I’m going to live my life as usual, there’s no need to freak out.”</p> <p>The number of cases started increasing in ‘Stage 2’, when the government would declare “red zone” and quarantine small cities. “Well that’s sad and somewhat worrisome but they’re taking care of it so nothing to panic about.”</p> <p>‘Stage 3’ would see the number of reported cases doubling up in a day, along with rising death toll. In Italy’s case, a quarter of the country was under quarantine while the rest carried on as usual.</p> <p>National health emergency could be observed in ‘Stage 4’, with the health system struggling to keep up with the increasing cases.</p> <p>“Hospitals are at capacity, entire units are cleared to make space for coronavirus patients,” the post read.</p> <p>“There aren’t enough doctors and nurses … There’s no shifts any more, just work as much as you can.</p> <p>“Of course doctors and nurses are getting infected, spreading it to their families.”</p> <p>Because there were not enough places for every patient in health facilities, medical professionals would have to distribute resources as best as they could.</p> <p>“At this point is like being at war: doctors have to choose who to treat based on their survival chance,” the person wrote.</p> <p>“That means that the elderly and trauma/stroke patients can’t get treated because corona cases have priority.”</p> <p>In ‘Stage 5’, the entire country would be declared under quarantine. People could go to work and shop, but would not be allowed to move from their commune except for special reasons.</p> <p>“Now there’s fear, you see a lot of people with masks and gloves around but there are still are people who think that they’re invincible, who go to restaurants in large groups, hang out with friends to drink and so on.”</p> <p>The person said in Italy’s ‘Stage 6’, most businesses except supermarkets and pharmacies are closed. People were only allowed to move around if they had certification, and those found outside with no valid reason could risk fines.</p> <p>“That’s what the situation is like now today as of the March 12th. Keep in mind that it all happened in around 2 weeks... 5 DAYS FROM STAGE 3 TO TODAY.”</p> <p>The person warned that countries outside of Italy, China and Korea should be wary of the “consequences” that the virus brings.</p> <p>“You have no idea what’s coming to get you. I know because 2 weeks ago I was the one who had no idea and though it wasn’t bad,” the user wrote.</p> <p>“It’s hard to see all these countries act like it’s not coming and not taking the precautions that are necessary for the well-being of its citizens while they still can.”</p> <p>As of Sunday, there were 153,517 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, with 212 being from Singapore.</p>

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Newborn tested positive for coronavirus 30 hours after birth

<p>A 30-hour-old infant born in a Wuhan hospital has become the youngest person to catch the new coronavirus.</p> <p>The newborn’s mother was found to have contracted the virus before giving birth on February 2 at Wuhan Children Hospital. The baby’s case suggested that the new virus could be passed on to unborn children, scientists said.</p> <p>“This reminds us to pay attention to mother-to-child being a possible route of coronavirus transmission,” said Zeng Lingkong, the chief physician at the hospital’s neonatal department.</p> <p>The infected infant has no fever or cough but experienced shortness of breath, according to <em>CCTV</em>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">An infant in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wuhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wuhan</a> has tested positive for the novel <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirus</a> just 30 hours after birth, said the city's children's hospital, raising concerns that infection could be contracted in the womb <a href="https://t.co/j8FIdqKgAS">pic.twitter.com/j8FIdqKgAS</a></p> — People's Daily, China (@PDChina) <a href="https://twitter.com/PDChina/status/1225042136980230144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>The hospital also confirmed a second case of a newborn showing symptoms 16 days after their birth. The baby’s mother and nanny were <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/newborn-infected-with-coronavirus-raising-fears-illness-can-be-transmitted-from-mother-to-unborn-baby/ar-BBZGdIh?li=AAgfYrC">found to be infected</a> in the days following the birth on 13 January. The infant is not in a critical condition, doctors said.</p> <p>“Whether it was the baby’s nanny who passed to the virus to the mother who passed it to the baby, we cannot be sure at the moment,” Zeng said.</p> <p>“But we can confirm that the baby was in close contact with patients infected with the new coronavirus, which says newborns can also be infected.”</p> <p>However, Stephen Morse, an epidemiologist at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, told <em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/wuhan-coronavirus-in-infant-born-from-infected-mother-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">Business Insider</a></em> that an in-utero transmission was unlikely.</p> <p>“It’s more likely that the baby contracted the virus from the hospital environment, the same way healthcare workers get infected by the patients they treat,” Morse said.</p> <p>“It’s quite possible that the baby picked it up very conventionally – by inhaling virus droplets that came from the mother coughing.”</p> <p>More than 24,500 people around the world have now contracted the virus, with the death toll approaching 500.</p>

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