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Papa Swift vs Paparazzi: Taylor Swift's dad accused of assault

<p>In the midst of celebrations marking the conclusion of Taylor Swift's Eras tour in Sydney, an unexpected and troubling incident has emerged involving her father – Scott Swift.</p> <p>The 71-year-old has been accused of assaulting an Australian photographer, Ben McDonald, in the early hours of Tuesday morning at a Sydney wharf in Neutral Bay.</p> <p>According to reports confirmed by NSW Police, the alleged altercation occurred around 2:30am, following Taylor Swift's final performance in the city.</p> <p>It's said that Taylor and her father had been enjoying post-show festivities when the incident took place, tarnishing what should have been a joyous occasion.</p> <p>McDonald, who serves as the chief executive of Matrix Media Group, recounted the events to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13128721/Taylor-Swift-father-Scott-assault-photographer-Sydney-wharf.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a>, shedding light on the confrontation. He stated that Taylor and Scott arrived at the wharf after travelling from Homebush on a luxury superyacht named <em>Quantum</em>.</p> <p>McDonald claims that after they disembarked, Scott allegedly 'charged' at him. McDonald originally thought that it was a security guard, and was surprised when he realised it was Taylor's dad.</p> <p>"In 23 years of taking pictures, I have never seen anything like it," he told the <em>Daily Mail</em>. "He probably decided he needed to defend his daughter, for some reason... She got off the boat, she walked towards security guards who were shoving umbrellas in our faces, and then he charged."</p> <p>Footage capturing the moments leading up to and following the alleged assault has surfaced, providing some insight into the incident. <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13128721/Taylor-Swift-father-Scott-assault-photographer-Sydney-wharf.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The video</a> shows Taylor and her father walking up from the wharf, shielded by large umbrellas held by security guards. Amid the commotion, McDonald attempted to capture the scene, and was obstructed by the guards protecting Taylor and her companions, including Mr Swift.</p> <p>In the aftermath, McDonald reported the incident to authorities. He did not sustain serious injuries, though he described experiencing discomfort and soreness on the left side of his face.</p> <p><em>Images: YouTube</em></p>

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Christine Taylor on reigniting her romance

<p dir="ltr">After splitting from their 17-year marriage, Christine Taylor has shared how she and Ben Stiller reignited their flame.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taylor appeared on <em>The Drew Barrymore Show</em>, on Tuesday, and the actor discussed her relationship timeline with Stiller, revealing they were engaged after only six months of dating, and married within a year after that. </p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to explain how their relationship unfolded, “Family was always a priority but I think Ben and I both sort of started to grow in different directions,” Taylor said, adding that the decision to separate was not one the couple “took lightly.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That time apart for each of us to sort of get to know who we are ... I think we have these growth spurts even as adults,” Taylor continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">Stiller and Taylor got married in 2000 and share two children, Ella, 20, and Quinlin, 17, with the couple first announcing their separation in 2017.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taylor shared that the pair, who had been living separately after their divorce, decided to move in together to their family with their children after the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">She revealed that living together was a “special” time for the couple and that they were able to reconnect without distractions.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3cf97636-7fff-f307-621d-9151ea4be8d7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Relationships

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“You better f**king not leave”: Ben Affleck finally reveals what was said at the Grammys

<p>The Grammys are always going to cause a little bit of tension, with sayings like “it should’ve been me”  bound to be heard, but for big shot actor Ben Affleck, the 2023 ceremony could be described as a “take your husband to work day”, so he said.</p> <p>A "tense moment" between the star and wife J.Lo appearing to get into a tiff went viral on the internet, and he’s finally responded, according to the <em>New York Post</em>.</p> <p>Affleck, 50, recalled the incident as a standard “husband-and-wife-thing”, despite the spawning of several memes.</p> <p>“I saw [Grammy host Trevor Noah approach] and I was like, ‘Oh, God,’ they were framing us in this shot, but I didn’t know they were rolling,” Affleck told the Hollywood Reporter, “I leaned into her and I was like, ‘As soon they start rolling, I’m going to slide away from you and leave you sitting next to Trevor.’”</p> <p>“You better f**king not leave,” Lopez responded, according to her husband.</p> <p>Affleck continued to play the doting husband, but Lopez appeared to be out of sorts after she threatened him, saying,“‘All right, who is this act?’ Like, I don’t keep up. My wife does, obviously. And yeah, it is your wife’s work event.”</p> <p>Affleck shared, "I had a good time at the Grammys. My wife was going, and I thought, ‘Well, there’ll be good music. It might be fun.’”</p> <p>Lopez seems used to her husband’s apparent case of resting ‘bro’ face, joking about it soon after the event, writing on Twitter about Affleck’s “happy face” during a trailer for his latest movie <em>Air</em>.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the director and co-star of the new film, which is based on a true story of Nike’s creation of Michael Jordan’s infamous shoe line, has had his fair share of award shows, “I’ve gone to award shows and been drunk, a bunch. Nobody ever once said I’m drunk.” He told the <em>Hollywood Reporter</em>.</p> <p>“[But at the Grammys] they were like, ‘He’s drunk.’ And I thought that’s interesting. That raises a whole other thing about whether or not it’s wise to acknowledge addiction because there’s a lot of compassion, but there is still a tremendous stigma, which is often quite inhibiting.”</p> <p>Affleck has struggled with alcohol abuse in the past but has since recovered.</p> <p>He previously made waves when he appeared to blame his unhappy marriage to ex-wife Jennifer Garner, claiming, “I probably still would’ve been drinking” if he was still with her, he told SiriusXM’s T<em>he Howard Stern Show</em> in 2021.</p> <p>He is now happily married to 53-year-old superstar Lopez, whom he married in July 2022 after their on-and-off again relationship over the years.</p> <p>The couple co-parent five children together from previous marriages and are reportedly moving into a $96 million Pacific Palisades estate.</p> <p><em>Image credit: YouTube</em></p>

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Cruise ship magician crash tackled mid-act

<p>An Australian magician has shared footage of him allegedly being assaulted onboard a cruise ship during the middle of his performance.</p> <p>Ben Murphy was performing on the cruise on March 1 when the man, believed to be the partner of a female volunteer who was taking part in a magic trick, allegedly stormed the stage and viciously shoved Murphy backwards.</p> <p>The magician shared a video of the ordeal to his social media, along with the caption, “My assault onboard.”</p> <p>In the footage, Murphy and the volunteer can be seen onstage performing a trick. Murphy and his volunteer were holding objects in their mouth and briefly leant towards each other to tap them against each other.</p> <p>At this point a man, understood to be the female’s partner, can be seen <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thebenmurphy_/video/7208878642292624641?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storming onstage and tackling Murphy.</a></p> <p>Murphy is pushed backwards while the woman attempts to stop the man.</p> <p>The man then walks off stage.</p> <p>“Entertainment, comedy, and magic are not contact sports,” the magician wrote online.</p> <p>“This guest should not have been allowed to enjoy the rest of his cruise.”</p> <p>Murphy said he was “physically bruised all over” from the incident. “Hit my head so have had blurry vision,” he said.</p> <p>The medical team onboard suggested he see a neurologist, and he said he was “quite shaken by it.”</p> <p>Many have voiced their support for the Aussie magician online, calling it “disgusting behaviour by a grown a** man”.</p> <p>“I am sorry to see this Ben,” a comment on Murphy’s Instagram post read.</p> <p>“I do hope the cruise does something about it.</p> <p>“It’s just not on.</p> <p>“I also feel sorry for his wife and kids too.</p> <p>“I hope you’re okay and that you’ve got a supportive team.”</p> <p>One user who commented said they were present during the incident. "We were in the audience for this and my jaw nearly hit the floor,” they said. “(I) feel sorry for not only you, but the poor wife and kids who saw the whole thing.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram/TikTok</em></p>

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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck splurge on their new dream home

<p>The gruelling search for a new home has come to an end for celebrity couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, with a multi-million dollar Los Angeles mansion reportedly stealing their hearts - and their wallets. </p> <p>Jennifer and Ben were spotted viewing the property this past weekend, and brought their kids along to get a second, third, and fourth opinion from their children - Jennifer’s twins, Emma and Maximillan, and Ben’s daughter, Seraphina. </p> <p>The home, set on an entire acre of land surrounded by Sycamore trees, boasts seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a six-car garage, a home theatre, an entire detached guesthouse, and a price tag of almost $50 million ($34.5m USD and $49.4m AUD). </p> <p>“The estate showcases the highest level of immaculate detail, timeless craftsmanship and design,” the home’s listing read. “Immerse yourself in a world of tranquillity with the feel of a meadow-like retreat surrounded by towering Sycamore trees."</p> <p>The luxuries don’t stop there, with the 2022 Palisades build also featuring a temperature-controlled wine cellar, a gym, a health spa, a pool, hot tub, and entire outdoor kitchen.</p> <p>Prior to finding their dream home, Jen and Ben had been looking at properties of an even higher price range - some reportedly as much as $85m USD (~$123m AUD).</p> <p>Although the price is enough to see many run the other way, it wouldn’t have come as a shock to Jennifer, who listed her nine-bedroom property in Bel-Air for $42.5m USD ($61m AUD) earlier this month. Jennifer had been in the French-style home for six years, and originally purchased it for $28m USD ($40m AUD). </p> <p>Meanwhile, Ben sold his seven-bedroom Pacific Palisades mansion last year, fetching just shy of $30m USD ($43m AUD).</p> <p>“They are looking forward to making the home their own and having a place together,” a source revealed to <em>Entertainment Tonight</em> when the couple began their search in 2022.  “They are also planning to decorate it together and any renovations that they choose to do will be theirs together.”</p> <p>"Jen and Ben are excited to further solidify their relationship and take this next step,” they added. “At this point, they know they are meant to be together and they are prepared to elevate their relationship in this way and include their families in the process and bring everyone together as a healthy unit. It will be great for the kids and everyone is excited and can't wait to get even closer.”</p> <p><em>Images: Realtor.com, Getty</em></p>

Real Estate

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"I'm lovin' it": McDonald's face public outcry over unfortunately placed ad

<p>McDonald's has faced the wrath of angry locals in Cornwall, UK, after a poorly placed advertisement was called out for being "tasteless". </p> <p>The advertisement in question was for the fast food franchise's new McCrispy burger, which was placed in a prime position on the side of a bus stop. </p> <p>However, what the company didn't realise was that the sign right next to it pointed to Penmount Crematorium across the road, in an unfortunate yet humorous coincidence.</p> <p>Local media outlet <a href="https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mcdonalds-remove-tasteless-sign-opposite-8133444" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>CornwallLive</em></a> was the first to report on the poorly placed ad, and asked local residents if they thought the sign should stay or go. </p> <p>"Fell off the chair laughing," one commenter who saw the picture online said. </p> <p>"I'm lovin' it," wrote another, in reference to the popular McDonald's slogan.</p> <p>"I only recently lost 2 loved ones &amp; to be honest if I'd seen that sign near the crematorium I would have smiled. I don't find it offensive at all," said another.</p> <p>"My parents are in this crematorium. My old man had a brilliant sense of humour, so I'm sure he would have chuckled at this!" another added.</p> <p>One concerned local said, "I think how funny it is will probably depend on how long ago you followed the crematorium sign wearing a black tie."</p> <p>One woman, who's mother-in-law was cremated at the crematorium, said, "Although I can see the funny side, it is tasteless and I'm sure some grieving family members won't like to see it when visiting Penmount for the funeral and cremation of a loved one."</p> <p>Cornwall Council, who are in charge of both the crematorium and the bus shelter, have yet to comment on the matter, while McDonald's are taking the concerns about the ad seriously. </p> <p>A spokesperson told <em>CornwallLive</em>, "We were unaware of the road sign in the vicinity of this bus stop. However, in light of the concerns raised by CornwallLive, we have asked for our advertisement to be removed."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

Caring

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Jennifer Lopez caught chastising “miserable” Ben Affleck

<p>The prestigious Grammy Awards are never without their share of drama, and the 2023 show has proven to be no exception.</p> <p>American singer, actress, and dancer Jennifer Lopez was there to present the award for Best Pop Vocal Album, and brought her husband Ben Affleck along as her date. But it was their time in the audience that caught the attention of eagle-eyed viewers, and propelled an exchange between the pair to viral heights.</p> <p>Affleck, who is no stranger to being the subject of “miserable” internet memes, became the focus of such attention all over again with his attendance at the ceremony. While he was there to support his wife and celebrate the other artists at Crypto.com Arena, Ben spent his night appearing as though he’d rather be anywhere else.</p> <p>As one Buzzfeed editor put it, “however bad of a day you’re having, I promise you’re not as miserable as Ben Affleck at the Grammys right now.”</p> <p>“Someone please check on Ben Affleck,” Chicks in the Office podcast tweeted.</p> <p>Later in the night, that same podcast suggested a save for the struggling actor, “Ben Affleck, blink if you're okay.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ben Affleck, blink if you're okay <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Grammys?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Grammys</a> <a href="https://t.co/qO6xBPAbXl">pic.twitter.com/qO6xBPAbXl</a></p> <p>— Chicks in the Office (@ChicksInTheOff) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicksInTheOff/status/1622415690052272128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>As social media got to work making the most out of Ben’s bad situation, another clip from the evening was set to overshadow them all.</p> <p>The video, shared across Twitter and TikTok, sees Ben lean in to whisper something in Jennifer’s ear. While it’s unclear what was said, Jennifer can be seen jumping in her seat, tense, before she responds and ushers her husband back to his own chair. She quickly turns her attention to Trevor Noah, the show’s host, who was nearby with cameras.</p> <p>“Her face when she saw the camera,” a viewer wrote of Jennifer’s response, “LOL.”</p> <p>While some called for a little help from lip readers in figuring out what had transpired, most were in agreement: Jennifer was not impressed.</p> <p>Ben’s situation wasn’t set to improve, with viewer commentary following his journey on what seemed to be a long, long night for the actor.</p> <p>“Ben Affleck is every introvert everywhere,” tweeted one fan, “you can see his batteries draining in real time. Man is already at 23%.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ben Affleck is every introvert everywhere. You can see his batteries draining in real time. Man is already at 23% 🪫 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GRAMMYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GRAMMYs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveBen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveBen</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yv5zmzbPhr">pic.twitter.com/Yv5zmzbPhr</a></p> <p>— Dr. Kinda Decent Human (@amsi81) <a href="https://twitter.com/amsi81/status/1622426018265944069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Ben Affleck is so consistent in his misery,” one noted, sharing a clip of J-Lo dancing by a dour Ben, “I almost have to admire it.”</p> <p>“Ben Affleck wants to go home, Jen,” another agreed, adding that “everyone in this video looks like they are vibing to a different song.”</p> <p>“Whoever keeps cutting to Ben Affleck as he gets more and more exasperated,” one viewer tweeted on behalf of the masses, “thank you.”</p> <p>The couple, who have been together on-and-off since 2001 and married since 2022, skipped the event’s red carpet. But if Ben’s attitude is anything to go by, that isn’t all he would like to have missed out on.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

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Hidden message in JLo’s engagement ring

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Lopez has shared a heartwarming detail that her husband Ben Affleck did to her engagement ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">The two lovebirds finally <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/jlo-and-ben-affleck-finally-tie-the-knot-20-years-later" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tied the knot in an intimate ceremony</a> in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Affleck first proposed to Lopez, now known as Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck, 20 years ago.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now the singer has kept her fans entertained revealing that her engagement ring has a secret message from her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not.going.anywhere,” the words on her ring read.</p> <p dir="ltr">"That's how he would sign his emails when we started talking again. Like 'Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere,'" Lopez told host Zane Lowe during the interview.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 53-year-old recently revealed that she has decided to take her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/jlo-defends-taking-ben-affleck-s-surname" target="_blank" rel="noopener">husband’s last name</a> and that it wouldn’t make much of a difference.</p> <p dir="ltr">“People are still going to call me Jennifer Lopez. But my legal name will be Mrs Affleck because we’re joined together. We’re husband and wife. I’m proud of that,” she told Vogue for the December issue.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think that’s a problem... it’s not traditional. It doesn’t have any romance to it. It feels like it’s a power move, you know what I mean?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person. I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that’s okay, too.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it’s romantic. It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair married in a stunning wedding where JLo wore <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/finally-jlo-shares-pics-of-her-three-stunning-wedding-dresses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three wedding dresses</a>, where each dress cost around $1 million.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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JLo defends taking Ben Affleck’s surname

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Affleck, formerly known as Jennifer Lopez, has defended taking her husband’s surname saying it’s a “power move”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 53-year-old singer married Ben Affleck, 50, in an intimate ceremony in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to Vogue for the December issue, Mrs Affleck said that her decision to take her husband’s surname didn’t make much of a difference. </p> <p dir="ltr">“People are still going to call me Jennifer Lopez. But my legal name will be Mrs Affleck because we’re joined together. We’re husband and wife. I’m proud of that,” she told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think that’s a problem... it’s not traditional. It doesn’t have any romance to it. It feels like it’s a power move, you know what I mean?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person. I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that’s okay, too.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it’s romantic. It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mrs Affleck then went on to divulge more details about the couple’s engagement 20 years ago and why it didn’t work out.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We were so young and so in love at that time, really very carefree, with no kids, no attachments,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We were just living out loud, and it turned out to really bite us. There was a lot underneath the surface there, people not wanting us to be together, people thinking I wasn’t the right person for him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I became very guarded because I realised that they will fillet you. I really wish I could say more. I used to be like that. I am like that. But I’ve also learned.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple co-parent five children - Max and Emme from Mrs Afflec’s ex-husband Marc Anthony, and Mr Affleck co-parents Violet, Seraphina and Samuel with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Ben Roberts-Smith intends to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral

<p dir="ltr">Controversial soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has revealed he plans to travel to London to take part in official commemorations for Queen Elizabeth II, due to his status as a Victoria Cross recipient.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ben-roberts-smith-to-attend-queen-elizabeth-funeral-commemorations-20220913-p5bho3.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>, government sources said winners of the medal from several Commonwealth countries have been invited to participate in an order of chivalry procession during the Queen’s funeral on September 19.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mark Donaldson, an Afghanistan war veteran who received the Victoria Cross in 2009, is expected to represent recipients of the Australian Victoria Cross and George Cross in the procession and will see the Queen lying in state.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fellow Victoria Cross recipients Daniel Keighran and Keith Payne, veterans of the Afghanistan and Vietnam wars respectively, are also expected to attend if possible.</p> <p dir="ltr">Payne, the last living recipient of the original “Imperial” Victoria Cross, told the Courier Mail that he hoped to travel to London for the funeral but would need to pass a physical exam first.</p> <p dir="ltr">A spokeswoman for Mr Roberts-Smith confirmed the SAS soldier was invited to participate, and she believed he would travel to the event.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement he shared with the <em><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/ben-robertssmith-invited-to-join-queens-funeral-procession/news-story/b8905f99bfb9fc387603dc744f4b522b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Telegraph</a></em> on Tuesday, Mr Roberts-Smith said he was “deeply saddened” by the Queen’s passing, describing her as “a stoic leader” and “a lovely lady”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I feel deeply saddened by Her Majesty’s passing, I had an immense respect for her and she was someone I admired greatly. In every interaction I had with the Queen she was warm, insightful and engaging,“ Mr Roberts-Smith said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was a magnificent monarch, a stoic leader, and importantly just a lovely lady. I feel extremely honoured to be fortunate enough to pay my respects to the Queen and humbled that she saw fit to include the Victoria Cross recipients in her funeral procession.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Roberts-Smith was pictured meeting with the Queen in 2011, telling reporters at the time that they mostly talked about Afghanistan and what he and his patrol did.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We talked mainly about Afghanistan and obviously a great opportunity for me to tell her about what everyone else in my (patrol) did that day, so I got to explain to her a bit of what everyone did as opposed to just myself,” he told reporters after the meeting.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Roberts-Smith’s invite comes as he awaits the outcome of his high-profile defamation case against Nine newspapers over reports where he alleges he was wrongly portrayed as a war criminal and murderer.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c79db95-7fff-ce6c-9dce-8721c296f151"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“This is heaven”: New details from JLo as she describes wedding to Ben Affleck

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Lopez has finally revealed the romantic details of her wedding to Ben Affleck after the newlyweds married in a beautiful three day ceremony which she described as “heaven”. </p> <p dir="ltr">"This is heaven. Right Here. We're in it now," JLo wrote in her third letter, OnTheJLo, since the pair said their vows in an intimate ceremony in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Those words were written by Affleck for the film <em>Live by Night</em>, which he also directed, and one he said again on the evening of their wedding reception.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He also said it the night of our wedding reception in his speech, and I thought...how perfect.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Affleck first proposed to Lopez, now known as Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck, 20 years ago. </p> <p dir="ltr">The singer had previously shared stunning images of the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/finally-jlo-shares-pics-of-her-three-stunning-wedding-dresses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three wedding dresses</a> which are each estimated to cost around the $1 million mark.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now her third newsletter since saying “I do”, JLo has revealed that “this was perfect timing” for the pair to get married. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Nothing ever felt more right to me, and I knew we were finally ‘settling down’ in a way you can only do when you understand loss and joy and you are battle tested enough to never take the important things for granted or let the silly insignificant nuisances of the day get in the way of embracing every precious moment,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We find ourselves in that long-desired time of life: having gratitude for all that life has shown us, even its trials and tribulations. That night really was heaven.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She said guests were worried because of the unsettling weather with thunder and lightning occurring every night of the week, and on top of that people caught a stomach bug. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The truth is, I never had one doubt. All week I felt the calm and easy certainty that we were in God’s hands,” JLo wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">But on August 20, the sun shone on the love birds with JLo happy that after all these years she was celebrating her marriage to a man she truly loved. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The twenty years between those dreams of youth and the adult world of love and family we embraced that day, brought more to this marriage than either of us ever could have imagine,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We weren’t only marrying one another; we were marrying these children into a new family. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They were the only people we asked to stand up for us in our wedding party. To our great honor and joy, each one did.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Twenty years ago, when they were meant to get married, they spoke about Marc Cohn’s ‘True Companion' as the perfect wedding love song.</p> <p dir="ltr">The song began to play after the last child walked down the aisle with JLo describing it as “a song we first listened to together what seemed both like yesterday and forever ago — and life came, strangely, beautifully, mysteriously, divinely full-circle.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Later Ben told me that the chords of the song and seeing Marc Cohn both shocked him and allowed him to feel the way both roads we had walked found their way, inevitably, inexorably, and perfectly together. </p> <p dir="ltr">“And when he saw me appear at the top of the stairs that moment it both made absolute sense while seeming still impossibly hard to believe, like the best dream, where all you want is never to awaken. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I would have had many of the same thoughts probably had I not been focusing so hard on not tripping over my dress, but when I got close enough to see his face, it made the same wonderful sense to me. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Some old wounds were healed that day and the weight of the past finally lifted off our shoulders. Full-circle — and not at all the way we planned it. Better.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After the reception, the newlyweds finally shared a “yummy brunch by the lake” before she signed off wishing everyone to find the same love she has. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Years ago, we had no idea the road ahead would mean navigating so many labyrinths and hold so many surprises, blessings, and delights,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It all culminated in this moment, one of the most perfect of our lives. We couldn’t have been happier. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I wish all of you the same kind of happiness...the hard-earned kind that’s all the sweeter for the journey that came before it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We love you guys ...forever... OnTheJLo.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Finally! JLo shares pics of her THREE stunning wedding dresses

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Lopez and her new husband Ben Affleck celebrated their marriage once again after already tying the knot.</p> <p dir="ltr">The newlyweds <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/jlo-and-ben-affleck-finally-tie-the-knot-20-years-later" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said their vows in an intimate ceremony</a> in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Affleck first proposed to Lopez, now known as Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck, 20 years ago. </p> <p dir="ltr">The loved up couple however wanted to celebrate their marriage and did so on August 20, with Mrs Affleck showing off three stunning wedding dresses designed by Ralph Lauren. </p> <p dir="ltr">In her newsletter, On The JLo, the singer shared stunning images of the three wedding dresses which are each estimated to cost around the $1 million mark.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The dresses were dreamy...thank you Ralph Lauren,” she wrote with a heart. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I will be sharing a few more pics and delicious details on our big day coming very soon On The JLo…”</p> <p dir="ltr">The first photo showed the bride in a breathtaking curve-snatching dress with a spectacular 20 foot ruffled train.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another image showed Mrs Affleck wearing a second wedding dress with a plunging neckline and crystals sewn on. </p> <p dir="ltr">The third and final image showed Mrs Affleck sitting on a swing in the dress which was covered in strings of pearls sewn onto the gown with Swarovski crystal detailing. </p> <p dir="ltr">When the pair married, JLo shared the news to her devoted followers in her newsletter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“WE DID IT!” she began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Exactly what we wanted. Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mrs Affleck said there were different couples around them who were “wanting the same thing” as they waited patiently for their turn. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight. They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed),” she joked. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben’s closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They even had Bluetooth for a (short) march down the aisle. But in the end it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. </p> <p dir="ltr">“One we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible and one another) at very, very long last.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When love is real, the only thing that matters in marriage is one another and the promise we make to love, care, understand, be patient, loving and good to one another. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We had that. And so much more. Best night of our lives. Thank you to the Little White Wedding chapel for letting me use the break room to change while Ben changed in the men’s room.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They were right when they said, ‘all you need is love’. We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“With love, Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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“May justice be done”: Ben Roberts-Smith’s trial comes to an end

<p dir="ltr">The defamation trial launched by Ben Roberts-Smith against Nine newspapers has come to an end after four years, with Justice Anthony Besanko left with the final task of condemning or clearing the war veteran’s name.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Roberts-Smith’s lawyers are hoping that finding in their client’s favour will see his name cleared and result in the largest defamation payout in history, while a finding in favour of his journalist opponents could validate their claims he committed “the most heinous acts of criminality” while serving in the SAS.</p> <p dir="ltr">The lengthy case drew to a close on Wednesday after over 100 days of evidence, more than $25 million in legal fees and two weeks of closing speeches.</p> <p dir="ltr">Arthur Moses SC, Mr Roberts-Smith’s barrister, used his closing statement to push the fact that Nine had the burden of proof to prove their claims the Victoria Cross recipient had murdered unarmed prisoners, </p> <p dir="ltr">“(Nine) published allegations and stories as fact that condemned Mr Roberts-Smith as being guilty of the most heinous acts of criminality that could be made against a member of the Australian Defence Force, and indeed any citizen,” Mr Moses said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It depends upon recollection of events that occurred during missions more than 10 years ago… Recollections which are contradicted either by their own witnesses, our witnesses and Defence Force documents.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“They have urged upon the court a case which is one of mere suspicion, surmise and guesswork to condemn a man, who served his nation with great distinction, as a war criminal.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Moses called on Justice Besanko to reject Nine’s case “in all forms”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Nicholas Owens SC, representing Nine, closed his case by returning to the claims and counterclaims, including the question of Mr Roberts-Smith’s motive in killing six detained Afghans when he had transported hundreds of others safely back to Australia bases, which Mr Roberts-Smith said Nine had left unanswered.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he opened his case in June 2021, Mr Owens said that even “the most brutal, vile member of the Taliban imaginable” can’t be killed once detained and “to do so is murder”.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Wednesday, he returned to this point and said Mr Roberts-Smith killed the detainees simply because they were “enemy combatants”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We say that was a powerful motive that operated in relation to all of these incidents… it was a motive to kill Taliban insurgents regardless of the lawfulness of doing so,” Mr Owens told the court.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justice Besanko thanked lawyers on both sides, as well as the legal team for the Commonwealth government who had been on-hand every single day in court to keep highly classified material out of the public sphere.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the trial conducting itself in a combination of open and closed court, with sensitive information and testimonies being held in closed court, the full scope of evidence Justice Besanko must consider isn’t well-known.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is also unknown just how long it will take Justice Besanko to reach a verdict, given the sheer volume of evidence and documents, but it is expected to take many months.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ebdbd3ac-7fff-5171-1cfa-d53402605665"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Nick McKenzie, one of the journalists Mr Roberts-Smith launched his case against, took to social media following the trial’s conclusion to summarise the claims made against Mr Roberts-Smith and call for justice to be done.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Roberts-Smith trial is now over, save for judgment. 4 years ago RS launched it. Such stress for all involved: SAS eye witnesses who accuse RS of murders/cliffkicking of innocent Afghan father, Afghans who witnessed the same, brave woman who spoke up about DV.<br />May justice be done.</p> <p>— Nick McKenzie (@Ageinvestigates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ageinvestigates/status/1552124223669149696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Roberts-Smith trial is now over, save for judgement,” the <em>Age </em>journalist wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“4 years ago RS (Roberts-Smith) launched it. Such stress for all involved: SAS eye witnesses who accuse RS of murders/kicking of innocent Afghan father, Afghans who witnessed the same, brave woman who spoke up about (domestic violence).</p> <p dir="ltr">“May justice be done.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-66f1c50f-7fff-6c69-c33f-cb92127519d5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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Inside J Lo and Ben Affleck's massive new marital mansion

<p>Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have officially tied the knot and it seems they’ve celebrated their nuptials by living large and purchasing a lavish new property.</p> <p>The two stars were spotted house hunting back in May, and in June, it was reported that they had settled on a stunning Beverly Hills mansion that was once owned by Danny DeVito.</p> <p>While the couple has yet to confirm if they have purchased the property, moving vehicles were also reportedly spotted outside of each of their respective homes, leading many to believe that they have now moved into the mansion together.</p> <p>Lopez and Affleck's rumored new abode was most recently owned by Australian billionaire James Packer, who's the former fiancé of Mariah Carey.</p> <p>DeVito and Perlman sold the seven-bedroom home in 2015 for $28 million to developers Stuart and Stephanie Liner. The Liners then made numerous upgrades to the estate and listed it for $85 million. Packer then bought the property for around $60 million in 2018.</p> <p>It's unclear what Lopez and Affleck paid for the house, and there's a shroud of mystery surrounding the deal, since the house was not even listed for sale when they reportedly bought it.</p> <p>In fact, real estate experts have said it hadn't even been shown off-market, with the exception, potentially, being to Lopez and Affleck.</p> <p>The house sprawls across 29,000-square-feet, which would allow ample space for the couple's blended brood of five children.</p> <p>The massive estate is also said to have many luxury amenities and perks, including an at-home movie theater, a hair salon, a gym, an entertainment room, a wine cellar, a sprawling pool, and even multiple guest houses.</p> <p>The marble kitchen is a chef’s dream, complete with two ovens, an 11-burner stove, two islands, and multiple drawers and cabinets for optimal storage space.</p> <p>The spacious dining area can seat up to 12 people, so the family will certainly have enough space to stretch out during dinner time.</p> <p>The master bedroom is fit for royalty and comes with an enormous walk-in closet with rows upon rows of storage for the couple's glamorous wardrobes.</p> <p>The mansion sits on 1.29 acres of land, and it also comes complete with an eight-car garage.</p> <p>The couple was spotted shopping for homes around various swanky areas of Los Angeles for several months before reportedly making the purchase.</p> <p><em>Images: Hilton &amp; Hyland</em></p>

Real Estate

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“Target on his back”: Ben Roberts-Smith’s spectacular closing remarks

<p dir="ltr">After 100 days of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/key-witness-arrested-in-ben-roberts-smith-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testimony</a>, cross-examination, and dissection of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/multiple-bombshells-dropped-in-ben-roberts-smith-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evidence</a>, Ben Robert-Smith’s defamation trial is at the beginning of the end.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lawyers representing the veteran began their closing submissions by accusing <em>The Age</em>, <em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em>, <em>The Canberra Times</em>, and three journalists of embarking on a “sustained campaign” to falsely portray him as a war criminal, bully and domestic abuser.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mr Roberts-Smith was an exceptional soldier; highly organised, disciplined, a leader, resourceful and extraordinarily brave,” his barrister, Arthus Moses SC, told the Federal Court on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He did not seek, nor did he want any recognition for performing his duties as a member of the Australian Defence Force. What he did not expect is, having been awarded the Victoria Cross, he would have a target on his back.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Moses told Justice Anthony Besanko, who has been overseeing the proceedings, that the trial had been called “a great many things”, including the “trial of the century”, a “proxy war-crimes trial” and an “attack” on press freedom.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is none of these,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This has been a case about how Mr Roberts-Smith, the most decorated Australian soldier, and a man with a high reputation for courage, skill and decency in soldiering, had that reputation destroyed by the respondents.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The articles, published in mid-2018, claimed that Mr Roberts-Smith killed or was complicit in the killing of six unarmed prisoners during his deployment in Afghanistan with the SAS.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was alleged he also bullied other soldiers and physically abused a woman he was having an affair with.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Victoria Cross recipient has emphatically denied all allegations, while the newspapers have relied on a truth defence during the trial, calling dozens of current and former SAS soldiers to testify.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Moses began his address by denouncing the conduct of the Nine newspapers, claiming they refused to back down from errors in their stories and taking aim at the evidence provided by three of their witnesses: Person 7, Person 14, and Andrew Hastie, a former soldier-turned politician.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The publications of the respondents were based on rumour, hearsay and contradictory accounts from former colleagues who were, some, jealous, and/or obsessed with Mr Roberts-Smith,” Mr Moses said, adding that Mr Hastie was “obsessed” with Mr Roberts-Smith but failed to provide evidence to support the murder claims.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Hastie, who served with Mr Roberts-Smith briefly in 2012, was called to testify about a mission in Syahchow and claims that the veteran soldier had ordered a junior soldier, referred to as Person 66, to execute an Afghan captive during the mission.</p> <p dir="ltr">The MP told the court he was at Syahchow that day and saw a dead body with an AK-47 rifle, and that Person 66 looked uncharacteristically uneasy.</p> <p dir="ltr">He claimed that Mr Roberts-Smith walked past and said, “Just a couple more dead c***s”.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Person 66 refused to testify about the mission on the grounds of self-incrimination.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Moses claimed there was no evidence to support Nine’s claim of murder, and that the “sensationalist” stories came from bitter and jealous SAS insiders who wanted to take Mr Roberts-Smith down.</p> <p dir="ltr">"What is apparent is that both journalists (Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters) have mounted a sustained campaign to unfairly create a belief that Mr Roberts-Smith had committed war crimes in Afghanistan, including during the course of these proceedings," he said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-49c8da02-7fff-5dad-8a44-7edea12667de"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Each side has been allocated four days for a closing address.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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JLo and Ben Affleck finally tie the knot 20 years later

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have (finally) tied the knot!</p> <p dir="ltr">The Hollywood couple have been engaged for three months for a second time and said their vows in an intimate ceremony in Vegas. </p> <p dir="ltr">Affleck first proposed to Lopez, now known as Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck, 20 years ago. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mrs Affleck confirmed to her beloved fans the news in her personal newsletter, On The JLo, and shared beautiful stories from the event. </p> <p dir="ltr">“WE DID IT!” she began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Exactly what we wanted. Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mrs Affleck said there were different couples around them who were “wanting the same thing” as they waited patiently for their turn. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight. They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed),” she joked. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben’s closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They even had Bluetooth for a (short) march down the aisle. But in the end it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. </p> <p dir="ltr">“One we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible and one another) at very, very long last.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When love is real, the only thing that matters in marriage is one another and the promise we make to love, care, understand, be patient, loving and good to one another. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We had that. And so much more. Best night of our lives. Thank you to the Little White Wedding chapel for letting me use the break room to change while Ben changed in the men’s room.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They were right when they said, ‘all you need is love’. We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“With love, Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

Relationships

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Neighbours star welcomes baby boy

<p><em>Neighbours</em> star Ben Nicholas and his wife Stephanie have welcomed a baby boy into their lives. </p> <p>Ben, who played Scott ‘Stingray’ Timmins on the show, is adjusting to his new life as a dad just days after Stephanie gave birth to Jesse Lilja Nicholas last Thursday.</p> <p>“On the 23rd of June we welcomed our little bundle of poop and sleep deprivation into this world,” he announced on Instagram. </p> <p>“My super hero wife was an absolute beast, couldn’t have been prouder or more in awe! Prepare for photo bombs!!”</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/CfVjwbzhYge/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/CfVjwbzhYge/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ben Nicholas (@bigbennicholas)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ben then posted a series of photos of little Jesse, as did doting mum Stephanie. </p> <p>“What an amazing ride. Welcoming this little bundle into the world,” she said in a touching Instagram post.</p> <p>Stingray was arguably one of the most loveable characters on <em>Neighbours</em>, with his cheeky antics winning over audiences each and every night. </p> <p>Stingray’s character left Erinsborough in 2007 after the fan favourite was killed off. </p> <p>Since leaving the soap, he featured in a TV mini series called <em>Neighbours vs. Zombies</em>.</p> <p>In 2015 he starred in a spoof game show called<em> Footballer Wants A Wif</em>e – a series he wrote and starred in – where he played hunky and arrogant Steven.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"He should never be released": Ben Fordham speaks out against killer's parole

<p dir="ltr">The heartbroken parents whose teenage daughter was brutally killed by a 16-year-old boy have spoken about her killer potentially being released on parole. </p> <p dir="ltr">Tania Burgess was on her way home from school on the Central Coast on July 19, 2005 when a 16-year-old boy followed and stabbed her 48 times before running off.</p> <p dir="ltr">The school girl named her killer  in her dying moments, who was then found and sentenced to 22 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 17 years. The sentence was appealed and reduced by four years. </p> <p dir="ltr">The killer, known only as DL because he was a minor at the time of the murder, has been eligible for parole since 2018 and this is his last chance of it being granted. </p> <p dir="ltr">Tania’s parents Mandy and Chris spoke to 2GB’s Ben Fordham saying DL’s release would be a “shock”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s hard to comprehend that, first of all, DL has never really admitted any kind of remorse. And yet his time is up. He may be set free,” Mandy said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He will never own the crime that he did. He virtually is unnamed as DL. (He’ll) just wipe 17 years off and start a new life, yet we lost our daughter.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fordham said the community would “be in danger from this person” as Mandy reflected on what her daughter’s life may have been.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can only dream what kind of life she might have had,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was such a beautiful, caring, loving teenager. She could have maybe become a nurse, or some kind of health community worker. It’s hard to say. She loved her ballet. She might have been a ballerina.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can only let your imagination run really wild. But she was taken away from us. She was just a girl. She was just starting to bloom at 15. She was stolen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I try to block out those horrible images of what we saw that day, and remember Tania for who she was. Not what we saw, not what he did, but for what she was at the time. She was a beautiful, loving, caring girl, just starting her life.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The reality is that he should never be released,” Fordham responded.</p> <p dir="ltr">DL’s case has two options - either he is granted supervised parole, or he can walk free at the end of his sentence without supervision.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mandy said it would probably be better that DL be monitored to see what he’s like in public saying it would be “frightening” to know if he was out there not being supervised. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

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Senior soldier confirms Ben Roberts-Smith’s story, contradicts another

<p dir="ltr">A senior SAS soldier has testified in the defamation case launched by Ben Roberts-Smith, backing claims made by the veteran but contradicting another of his key witnesses.</p> <p dir="ltr">The soldier, referred to as Person 81, began his evidence in the Federal Court on Wednesday and is likely to be the last of 40 witnesses called by Mr Roberts-Smith in the year-long trial against Nine newspapers.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court heard that Person 81 was heading a patrol of a Taliban compound known as Whiskey 108 in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province in 2009.</p> <p dir="ltr">The newspapers alleged in their defence that two men who were found in a tunnel in Whiskey 108 were killed, with one elderly man being shot by a “rookie” on Mr Roberts-Smith’s orders, and the other, who had a prosthetic leg, being shot by Mr Roberts-Smith with a machine gun.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Mr Roberts-Smith denied the allegations as impossible and that “there were no men in the tunnel”. He said he shot and killed the man with the prosthetic leg, who was armed and running, outside the compound.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 43-year-old said the elderly man was also killed outside the compound by another soldier who was unknown to him.</p> <p dir="ltr">Person 81 backed up these claims, telling the court he heard no engagements at Whiskey 108 and wasn’t told of any insurgents being killed. He testified that he entered the compound after SAS troops stormed and secured the site, and that he saw Afghan civilians inside.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also said he saw “body parts” amongst “rocket paraphernalia” in the rubble.</p> <p dir="ltr">Defence barrister Arthur Moses SC, representing Mr Roberts-Smith, asked Person 81: “Did you see any engagements in the Whiskey 108 compound after the compound was declared cleared?”<br />“No,” Person 81 answered.</p> <p dir="ltr">Moses: “Do you recall hearing any engagements while you were in the compound?”<br />Person 81: “No.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Moses: “Do you recall reports of any engagements?”<br />Person 81: “No.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Person 81 also said he “would have reported it” when asked if any members of his troop had told him that unlawful activity had occurred that day, as reported by <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/news/crime/senior-sas-officer-backs-ben-roberts-smith-c-7017617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though his testimony supports Mr Roberts-Smith’s claims, it contradicts evidence given by Person 5, Mr Roberts-Smith’s patrol commander, who said he heard gunshots from outside the compound during a “rendezvous (RV) meeting” with other patrol and troop commanders.</p> <p dir="ltr">Person 5 told the court he discovered Mr Roberts-Smith killing an insurgent, who was later discovered to be the man with the prosthetic leg, and returned to the meeting after he confirmed the man was killed in action (KIA).</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you went back to the RV meeting, did you say anything to Person 81 or anybody else?” Mr Moses asked Person 5 during his testimony.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I informed Person 81 there were two KIA on the north-west corner of the compound,” Person 5 said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though it is undisputed that the two men were killed during the raid on Whiskey 108, the question of whether they were legitimately killed or unlawfully killed as prisoners has become a point of contention during the trial.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Roberts-Smith and five other soldiers have said no men were found in the tunnel, while another five said there were men in the tunnel.</p> <p dir="ltr">Person 4, another soldier who is alleged to have shot the elderly men on Mr Roberts-Smith’s order, has also refused to testify on grounds of self-incrimination.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-668a94c1-7fff-8f9a-6e90-a35aed6d53e5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Most of Person 81’s evidence was concealed behind a closed courtroom on Wednesday, and he is due to continue his testimony on Thursday before Justice Anthony Besanko.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Toddler orders $130 worth of McDonald's cheeseburgers

<p>A DoorDash driver handed one very confused mum 31 cheeseburgers and thanked her for leaving a generous tip.</p> <p>When Kelsey Burkhalter Golden checked her phone she realised her toddler Garrett had been “playing” on her phone, logging the large order.</p> <p>"He was really just flicking it around and making like roller coaster moves with his arms and fingers," she said. "I thought he was just looking at his reflection and carrying the phone around and about 30 minutes later, I got a text from the DoorDash company that was like, 'Hey, it's gonna take a little bit longer than usual to take your order.'"</p> <p>When the doorbell rang and Golden saw the size of the order, she was shocked.</p> <p>"So I go and open the door and there's this girl standing there and she's like, 'Your 31 cheeseburgers?'" Golden laughed. "I just stared at her awkwardly for like 15 seconds but then I just took them, like, 'Oh, thank you!'"</p> <p>"And she was like, 'Thank you for the tip!'."</p> <p>The cost of the cheeseburgers came to $US61.58, but with a $16 tip and app fees, the total came to $91.70 ($AU131.85).</p> <p>"He actually doesn't even like cheeseburgers. He ate half of one," the mum said. "We had about 30 and a half cheeseburgers on our hands."</p> <p>Trying to find a solution, Kelsey posted in a neighborhood Facebook group that she had "31 free cheeseburgers from McDonald's if anyone is interested. Apparently my 2 yr old knows how to order DoorDash," accompanied by a hilarious picture of Garrett sitting next to the stacked cheeseburgers with a smug smile on his face.</p> <p>The majority was taken by a large local family, as well as other neighbours.</p> <p>"It was an innocent thing. He was just playing with my phone," she said.</p> <p>"I don't strive too much for perfection. My kids are really super happy and that's what matters."</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

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