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Beloved sitcom star's cause of death revealed

<p>Beloved <em>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</em> actor Andre Braugher’s cause of death has been revealed, just days after his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/brooklyn-nine-nine-star-dies-at-age-61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passing</a>. </p> <p>His publicist confirmed to <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em> that the 61-year-old actor died of lung cancer on Monday, after previously describing it as a "short-illness". </p> <p>Braugher was known for his role as the loveable hilarious but stern Captain Raymond Holt, whom he played for eight seasons in the hit police comedy show. </p> <p>He won two Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and received four Emmy Award nominations, during his time on the show. </p> <p>Tributes have poured in from his co-stars and fans alike shortly after his passing. </p> <p>Melissa Fumero, who played the show’s ambitious detective Amy Santiago, recently shared an emotional tribute with some of her favourite memories with Braugher. </p> <p>“I will remember all the advice you gave me,” she wrote in the caption of a behind-the-scenes photo of her and Braugher laughing together during one of their scenes. </p> <p>“I will remember all the times we laughed because your laugh was one of the all time greatest laughs to have ever existed. I will remember the deep love and loyalty you had for your family. I will remember it every time I ask work to make time for me to be with my family. </p> <p>"I will remember how you sent me pictures of Fall trees in [New Jersey] because you knew how much I missed that time of year back east. I will remember you calling me Melly Fumé. I will remember so much,” she added before sharing her condolences to his family. </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/C0zHHhPrX7h/?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/C0zHHhPrX7h/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Melissa Fumero (@melissafumero)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Chelsea Peretti, who played Gina Linetti who is Captain Holt's lazy but quick-witted assistant also paid tribute to the actor. </p> <p>She said that she felt "forever lucky to have gone on such a journey" with Braugher - "ringside seat". </p> <p>"Is it weird that I am also grieving for what Cpt Holt meant to Gina?" she added in her tribute. </p> <p>Braugher is survived by his wife, actress Ami Brabson, and  sons Michael, Isiah and John.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

TV

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine star dies at age 61

<p>Two-time Emmy award-winning actor Andre Braugher has passed away at the age of 61. </p> <p>The <em>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</em> actor died on Monday, with his publicist confirming the devastating news in a statement to <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/andre-braugher-dead-brooklyn-nine-nine-1235835771/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>. </p> <p>The statement confirmed that Braugher passed away after a battle with a short illness. </p> <p>Braugher was best known for his role as the loveable, hilarious and stern Captain Holt in the sitcom <em>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</em>, which he starred in for the show's eight seasons. </p> <p>During his time on the show, he won two Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and received four Emmy Award nominations.</p> <p>Shortly after news broke of Braugher’s death, his <em>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</em> co-stars began sharing emotional tributes to the actor. </p> <p>Terry Crews, who played Braugher’s character’s second-in-command Sergeant Terry Jeffords, wrote on Instagram of his disbelief that his co-star was gone “so soon.”</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/C0xpgZUxIXt/?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/C0xpgZUxIXt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Terry Crews (@terrycrews)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent. This hurts,” Crews wrote alongside an image of Braugher.</p> <p>“You left us too soon. You taught me so much. I will be forever grateful for the experience of knowing you. Thank you for your wisdom, your advice, your kindness and your friendship. Deepest condolences to your wife and family in this difficult time. You showed me what a life well lived looks like... Rest In Peace, Andre. I love you, man.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, comedian Marc Evan Jackson - who played his on-screen husband, Kevin Cozner - shared a sweet portrait of the actor, writing simply: “O Captain. My Captain.”</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/C0xs3P7rQD0/?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/C0xs3P7rQD0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Marc Evan Jackson (@marcevanjackson)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Throughout his extensive career, Braugher also starred in <em>Men of a Certain Age</em>, <em>The Good Fight</em>, and most recently, drama film <em>She Said</em> alongside Carey Mulligan.</p> <p>He won an Emmy for his portrayal of Detective Frank Pembleton in <em>Homicide: Life on the Street</em>, as well as his role as Nick Atwater in the miniseries <em>Thief</em>.</p> <p>He is survived by his wife, actress Ami Brabson, along with sons Michael, Isiah and John.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Caring

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Nine-year-old Hamas hostage believed dead is reunited with her father

<p>Dozens of hostages are recovering after being freed from their captors, after a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect. </p> <p>Almost eight weeks of violence came to a halt as the truce began, with Hamas so far releasing 41 hostages in the first two days of the truce. </p> <p>Among those who were freed by the radical Palestinian group was nine-year-old Emily Hand, who's father thought <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/death-was-a-blessing-why-father-was-glad-to-hear-his-daughter-was-killed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">she was dead</a>. </p> <p>When Emily was at a sleepover on October 7th, the neighbourhood was bombed and her father Thomas, was told his daughter had died. </p> <p>Now, Thomas and Emily have been reunited, with their emotional reunion just one of many as families across Israel saw the return of their loved ones. </p> <p>Also released by Hamas was four-year-old Abigail Edan, an American-Israeli dual citizen who was abducted by Hamas almost eight weeks ago. </p> <p>US President Joe Biden commented on Abigail's release, saying she has been through "the unthinkable", as the four-year-old saw her mother get killed, before her father was also killed as he tried to shield her from the bombings.</p> <p>Biden said Abigail is receiving love, care and “the supportive services she needs” and adding he hoped “this is not the end of the temporary truce”.</p> <p>“What she endured was unthinkable. She has been through a terrible trauma,” he said. </p> <p>All 41 hostages released by Hamas from captivity in Gaza are stable, according to local medical professionals.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/11/24/israel-hamas-truce-comes-into-effect-how-it-could-now-unfold" target="_blank" rel="noopener">truce</a> between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Friday morning, marking the end of seven weeks of constant fighting since the bombing of southern Israel on October 7th. </p> <p>The four-day pause is expected to see the exchange of 150 Palestinian women and children imprisoned in Israeli jails for 50 women and children hostages held by Hamas. </p> <p>Israeli officials, while adamant that the truce is not an end to the war, have also agreed to pause fighting for an additional day for every further 10 captives freed by Hamas.</p> <p><em>Image credits: CNN</em></p>

Caring

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The purrfect passenger gives the fright of his nine lives

<p>Some people are braver than others. And the same, apparently, can be said for cats. </p> <p>Onboard a flight from Canada’s Ontario International Airport to the USA’s JFK, one feline friend turned heads when he was caught prowling down the aisle, thousands of feet in the air. </p> <p>Columnist Yi Shun Lai was one of the passengers who caught sight of the apparent stowaway, and took to Twitter to share an image of the cat being held by a member of the flight crew, along with the caption “On last night's @JetBlue flight, ONT-JFK: 'Is anyone missing a CAT. A grey-and-white CAT.' Yes I woke up for this.”</p> <p>As the post blew up across social media, she noted later that the cat had been declared as “HEAVY”, while people in her comments begged for further updates. </p> <p>“Was the cat's owner found? Did it get trapped in a suitcase? Does a Canadian cat who stowed away need a visa now? I'M INVESTED IN THE OUTCOME HERE!!” declared one. </p> <p>“And I would have got[ten] away with it, too, if it wasn't for you meddling cabin crew,” joked another. </p> <p>“That is a giant version of my cat,” shared yet another follower. “How did she get hit by a growth ray and end up on a plane to JFK?”</p> <p>Meanwhile, one had a suggestion that many seemed to agree with, writing, “we must claim the cat!!! And name him Baggage!”</p> <p>And Cats with Jobs had something very, very important to share with everyone, telling them to “put him down, he’s the pilot.” </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">On last night’s <a href="https://twitter.com/JetBlue?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JetBlue</a> flight, ONT-JFK: “Is anyone missing a CAT. A grey-and-white CAT.” Yes I woke up for this. <a href="https://t.co/XE5ywPM9x7">pic.twitter.com/XE5ywPM9x7</a></p> <p>— Yi Shun Lai (賴儀遜) (@gooddirt) <a href="https://twitter.com/gooddirt/status/1636719492662263809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Luckily, people weren’t left waiting around for an answer for long, with the cat’s owners revealing just how the furry friend - known as Brian to his family, who were also on the flight, and his new fans - got himself into that situation. </p> <p>“Brian escaped from his carrier on our red-eye home from Ontario, California,” came the explanation. “Maybe cat backpacks aren’t the most practical for 8hr flights but he certainly has no regrets besides getting caught.”</p> <p>As well as confirming that Brian wasn’t lost - only adventurous - his owners also noted that he is, in fact, a very big 8.6kg cat. He was also, most importantly, home “safe and sound” after his big day out in the sky. </p> <p>The jokes kept rolling in from there, as well as one who spoke for everyone when he said “somehow, Brian seems like the perfect name for this dude.” </p> <p>But for others, they just wanted more information on how he was doing, and how exactly he’d managed to get himself out of his carrier like they’d said. </p> <p>“He’s doing great!” his owner, Alexis, shared with her followers. “My partner &amp; I travel with him in a cat-backpack and the bottom flap isn’t very secure. So Brian … must’ve nudged it open while we were asleep.”</p> <p>Yi Shun then commented, “at first we wondered if Brian weren't doped up on Benadryl; his expression seemed to be so over-it-all, but then it turns out no, this is Brian all the time.”</p> <p>And Alexis was all too happy to confirm this, telling everyone that “this is his attitude at all times. Fussy, over it, and refusing to be ignored.” </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">That’s our big boy Brian! Thank you for all the love, he’s safe &amp; sound but definitely not sorry haha <a href="https://t.co/GDg3Bwzv4p">pic.twitter.com/GDg3Bwzv4p</a></p> <p>— Alexis (@prof_goddess) <a href="https://twitter.com/prof_goddess/status/1637182633397420032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Nine things you don't know about cruises

<p>A favourite mode of voyage for a long time, here are some fun facts you might not have heard of before about cruising.</p> <p><strong>1.Delighted doggy</strong><br />Some cruise liners have kennels on board. That’s right — you can ship your pets over the high seas with you.</p> <p><strong>2.Money bags</strong><br />A single day visit by a major ship can pump up to $1 million into a port city as thousands of passengers and crew take tours, eat and buy souvenirs.</p> <p><strong>3. Blind dating</strong><br />Cruise lines like Azamara, Crystal, Oceania and Silversea, are bringing back the “Love Boat”. Aboard all four of these cruise lines, gentlemen hosts are ready to sweep women cruising solo off their feet during an elegant evening of drinks, dining and dancing. The Gentleman Host program pairs independent female travelers with dashing companions who can take the lead on the Foxtrot and carry on witty, charming conversation.</p> <p><strong>4. Friends of Bill W.</strong><br />Alcoholics Anonymous holds meetings on board under the title “Friends of Bill W” meeting. Initially concerned with how other passengers would feel about AA meetings taking place on board, cruise ships announced the meetings as Friends of Bill W.</p> <p><strong>5. Park view</strong><br />Some of the most decadent ships are decked out with parks. The Celebrity Solstice, based in Australia during the summer cruise season, has a rooftop deck featuring more than half an acre of live lawn. Fun fact: there is so much lawn that it requires permission from quarantine officials to dock in Australia.</p> <p><strong>6. Girl power</strong><br />No woman had captained a major cruise ship until 2007, when Karin Stahre Janson from Sweden took charge of the Monarch of the Seas.</p> <p><strong>7. Ahoy matey</strong><br />River cruise ships on busy waterways, like the Nile, often have to tie up abreast of each other, giving guests a sticky beak into other ships as they walk through adjoining ships to reach the dock.</p> <p><strong>8. Cookie, anyone?</strong><br />To the delight of many, Princess ships serve cookies and milk at around 3 or 3.30am on the pool deck and in the Piazza.</p> <p><strong>9. Shoestring tours</strong><br />If you book your shore tours privately, as opposed to through the cruise line, you can save money. While many cruisers worry that if they book excursions on their own they lose the guarantee that the cruise line offers for returning to the ship on time, some private booking companies actually make the same guarantee too.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

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Paramedic who attended fatal accident did not realise it was her own daughter

<p><strong><em>WARNING: Distressing content</em></strong></p> <p>A paramedic who unknowingly responded to a serious car crash, involving her own daughter has publicly spoken out about the tragedy.</p> <p>Jayme Erickson from Alberta, Canada was dispatched to a collision at 4:30 pm on November 15 and tended to two injured patients.</p> <p>One of the patients was critically injured and trapped inside a vehicle.</p> <p>In a Facebook post, Erickson explained she tended to the critically injured person trying to free them from the wreckage.</p> <p>Once the air ambulance arrived and took over, Erickson’s shift was done for the day and she went home. However, once she walked through the door, she received the life changing news that her daughter was involved in an accident.</p> <p>“The Royal Canadian Mountain Police were at my door to inform me that my daughter had been in an accident,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>“The critically injured patient I had just attended to was my own flesh and blood. My only child. My mini-me. My daughter, Montana.”</p> <p>Erickson said she had not recognised the patient as her own daughter because of the horrific nature of her injuries.</p> <p>She rushed to hospital where she was told her 17-year-old would not make it.</p> <p>“I will cherish the memories we made and the time we had together. I am shattered. I am broken. I am missing a piece of me. I am left to pick up the pieces and expected to carry on,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>Erickson fronted the media on Wednesday, a week after the crash, alongside her co-workers and friends and family.</p> <p>Speaking about her unimaginable loss, several colleagues comforted Erickson when she began to break down.</p> <p>“(Montana) meant the world to all of us,” she said.</p> <p>“This tragedy is not only felt here by this community, it’s felt throughout the province and maybe even the country.</p> <p>“I think every first responder can relate to the pain that we’re feeling. Nobody wants to go through anything like this.”</p> <p>Erickson described her daughter as a “firecracker” and a “fighter”.</p> <p>“She fought until the day she died,” she said.</p> <p>A fundraiser has been set up to help Montana’s parents as they try to navigate the world without their daughter.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p> <p>A paramedic who unknowingly responded to a serious car crash, involving her own daughter has publicly spoken out about the tragedy.</p> <p>Jayme Erickson from Alberta, Canada was dispatched to a collision at 4:30 pm on November 15 and tended to two injured patients.</p> <p>One of the patients was critically injured and trapped inside a vehicle.</p> <p>In a Facebook post, Erickson explained she tended to the critically injured person trying to free them from the wreckage.</p> <p>Once the air ambulance arrived and took over, Erickson’s shift was done for the day and she went home. However, once she walked through the door, she received the life changing news that her daughter was involved in an accident.</p> <p>“The Royal Canadian Mountain Police were at my door to inform me that my daughter had been in an accident,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>“The critically injured patient I had just attended to was my own flesh and blood. My only child. My mini-me. My daughter, Montana.”</p> <p>Erickson said she had not recognised the patient as her own daughter because of the horrific nature of her injuries.</p> <p>She rushed to hospital where she was told her 17-year-old would not make it.</p> <p>“I will cherish the memories we made and the time we had together. I am shattered. I am broken. I am missing a piece of me. I am left to pick up the pieces and expected to carry on,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>Erickson fronted the media on Wednesday, a week after the crash, alongside her co-workers and friends and family.</p> <p>Speaking about her unimaginable loss, several colleagues comforted Erickson when she began to break down.</p> <p>“(Montana) meant the world to all of us,” she said.</p> <p>“This tragedy is not only felt here by this community, it’s felt throughout the province and maybe even the country.</p> <p>“I think every first responder can relate to the pain that we’re feeling. Nobody wants to go through anything like this.”</p> <p>Erickson described her daughter as a “firecracker” and a “fighter”.</p> <p>“She fought until the day she died,” she said.</p> <p>A fundraiser has been set up to help Montana’s parents as they try to navigate the world without their daughter.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Caring

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Shane Warne’s daughter blasts Channel Nine for “disrespect”

<p dir="ltr">Shane Warne’s daughter has blasted Channel Nine for their disrespectful advertising of a telemovie just six months after the cricketer’s death.</p> <p dir="ltr">Brooke Warne slammed Channel Nine's announcement of a telemovie about her father as “disrespectful” after his dedication and support for the network.</p> <p dir="ltr">On September 14, she took to Instagram calling them out writing: “Do any of you have any respect for Dad? Or his family? Who did so much for Channel 9 and now you want to dramatise his life and our families life 6 months after he passed away?</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are beyond disrespectful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The network is advertising the biopic <em>Warnie</em> as a “must-see drama event” that will be aired over two nights.</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/CiFG8BGoLM5/?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/CiFG8BGoLM5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by B R O O K E 🍿 W A R N E (@brookewarne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“This will be the fitting tribute to one of the greatest Australians of all time, the Aussie larrikin who lived and loved large,'' the network wrote about the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Shane Warne was an Aussie legend, a cultural icon, a cricketing genius, a charmer and a rogue. ‘Warnie’ transcended cricket.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Like all great characters, he inspired extreme reactions from people from all walks of life, in Australia and around the world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It is unclear whether or not Channel Nine sought permission from Warnie’s family but it is understood that filming will begin in Melbourne later in the year.</p> <p dir="ltr">The legendary cricketer, 52, died of natural causes on March 4 in a luxury villa on the Thailand holiday island of Koh Samui.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Homemade snack eaten by the Queen every day for over nine decades

<p dir="ltr">A former royal chef has revealed that Queen Elizabeth II has been eating one particular snack ever since she was first served it as a child in the royal nursery.</p> <p dir="ltr">Darren McGrady worked for the royal family for almost two decades according to <em>The Sun</em>, and has since revealed some of the Queen’s favourite dishes and frequent requests, including one known as Jam Pennies.</p> <p dir="ltr">McGrady described Jam Pennies as a simple sandwich of “bread and jam with a little butter - usually strawberry jam”, and said the Queen has been eating them every day for 91 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’d make the jam at Balmoral Castle with the gorgeous Scottish strawberries from the gardens,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, another former royal chef has said the Queen is partial to a tuna and mayonnaise sandwich, a popular combination among Brits, but with her own twist.</p> <p dir="ltr">Owen Hodgson told the <em>Telegraph </em>that the monarch prefers hers well-buttered with cucumbers and pepper.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aside from sandwiches, McGrady has shared more insights into Her Majesty’s dining habits, including her insistence on having afternoon tea no matter where in the world she happens to be.</p> <p dir="ltr">The chef recalled one particular instance when he flew to Australia and settled aboard a royal yacht at 5am local time, which was five in the afternoon for the Queen - meaning his first task was to make scones.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In terms of scones - one day plain and one day with raisins folded through,” he said of the Queen’s usual afternoon tea spread.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Also, tiny pastries like raspberry tartlets and a cut cake, honey and cream sponge, fruit cake, banana bread, or her favourite chocolate biscuit cake.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-173e3f25-7fff-7124-bfda-aae4a4b6d2c9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“It would all be washed down with a delightful steaming hot cup of Earl Grey tea.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Prince George is nine!

<p dir="ltr">Prince George of Cambridge has celebrated his ninth birthday!</p> <p dir="ltr">The eldest child of Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton turned nine on July 22.</p> <p dir="ltr">In honour of his birthday, Kensington Palace released an adorable portrait of the future king on holiday in the UK earlier this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“George is turning 9!” the caption simply read with a cake and balloon emoji.</p> <p dir="ltr">The image shows a huge grin from the young prince as he enjoys a holiday at Norfolk with his family.</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/CgSe4v0NTfN/?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/CgSe4v0NTfN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The photo was taken by the Duchess who has regularly been sharing snaps of her family as they celebrate milestones.</p> <p dir="ltr">The comment section was filled with warm wishes of “happy birthday” to the tiny prince on his special day.</p> <p dir="ltr">It remains unclear how the royal family will be celebrating his birthday but it is believed they are still on summer break.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince George was born on July 22, 2013 at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London and made his first appearance as a day old baby in his mother’s arms as she left the hospital.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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SAS soldier claims Ben Roberts-Smith threatened to shoot him in the head

<p dir="ltr">A former soldier who served alongside Ben Roberts-Smith <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ben-roberts-smith-defamation-trial-new-witness-claims-bullying-death-threat/7df734b2-d86b-44c5-ab2d-a57f1e26a7d3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has testified</a> in the SAS soldier’s ongoing defamation trial, claiming Roberts-Smith bullied and threatened to kill him during their time serving together.</p> <p dir="ltr">The soldier, known as Person 1, told the Federal Court he was a victim of a seven-year intimidation campaign while giving evidence for Nine newspapers.</p> <p dir="ltr">During the trial, the court heard of a mistake Person 1 made during a 2006 mission in the Chora Valley, with the same mission seeing Mr Roberts-Smith receiving a Medal for Gallantry for single-handedly fighting off 16 Taliban insurgents.</p> <p dir="ltr">Person 1 admitted that his machine gun jammed at least three times during the mission because he forgot to bring his weapon oil.</p> <p dir="ltr">His error later prompted a commanding officer to issue him a warning for “not performing to standard”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The incident was followed by several alleged run-ins between Person 1 and Mr Roberts-Smith which the witness claimed became threats.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[He] said words to the effect of ‘if your performance doesn’t improve on the next patrol, you’re gonna get a bullet in the back of the head’,” Person 1 said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nine’s barrister Nicholas Owens SC <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-17/soldier-tells-oourt-ben-roberts-smith-threatened-to-shoot-him/100833982" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> the witness what he understood Mr Roberts-Smith to mean by that comment, to which Person 1 replied: “That he was going to shoot me in the back of the head on the next patrol if my performance doesn’t improve”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Person 1 told the court he lodged a formal complaint about the remark, which he said led to another confrontation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you’re going to make accusations **** you better have some f***ing proof,” he claimed Mr Roberts-Smith said to him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only did I have to worry about the Taliban, but I also had to look over my own back at my own people,” Person 1 told the court.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also claimed that even after he switched patrols and climbed the ranks, Mr Roberts-Smith described him to other soldiers as “incompetent” and a “coward”.</p> <p dir="ltr">When they entered mediation in 2013, the soldiers agreed to disagree and shook hands.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Roberts-Smith has denied the claims while giving evidence last year and said Person “just wasn’t a very good soldier”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also accused the witness of attempting to “cover up his poor performance”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The soldier’s testimony comes as part of Mr Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial, in which he is suing Nine newspapers over articles alleging he is a war criminal.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 9News</em></p>

Legal

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Vital clue emerges in search for missing nine-year-old

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Five days into their search for missing nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, police have received a vital clue from witnesses.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Police and volunteers have continued to search bushland in the NSW Blue Mountains for signs of the girl, while droves of detectives searched for clues around the Mount Wilson estate where she was last seen.</span></p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news_article?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGOTk1OTYuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Officers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from local police, Police Rescue, the Dog Unit and PolAir are also involved in the search efforts, with assistance from the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service (RFS), and NSW Ambulance.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">A large scale coordinated search operation continues in the Blue Mountains. Charlise was last seen wearing a pink top w/ a round neck collar, black skirt &amp; pink Nike thongs. <br /><br />Anyone with info regarding the whereabouts of Charlise should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. <a href="https://t.co/JHtK9Nsgsb">https://t.co/JHtK9Nsgsb</a></p> — NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/nswpolice/status/1482132460527886343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Monday, neighbours provided </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/blue-mountains-missing-girl-charlise-mutten-police-new-south-wales/cbeb653e-c0da-44f4-ac10-80421b64c2fc" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">new information</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> about events prior to the reporting of Charlise’s disappearance on Friday, telling police they saw a car driving through the gates of the property at 4.30am.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Charlise’s mother Kallista told police her daughter had disappeared on Thursday, but didn’t make a report until Friday morning.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her fiance Justin Stein then spent several hours speaking to police at Penrith on Friday afternoon, with his car being towed while he was at the station.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the weekend, police seized a white boat from the Mount Wilson property where Charlise was last spotted, before divers searched the Hawkesbury River at Windsor on Sunday.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846882/mutten.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fc3a0795d42b4d32bb85138db1553c25" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Divers searched the Hawkesbury River for signs of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, who has been missing since Thursday, January 13. Image: 9News</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monday’s search saw crews of volunteers trek across hundreds of kilometres, with NSW Rural Fire Service commander Peter Bennet saying one crew walked 10 kilometres across rough terrain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s very rough terrain out here with canyons,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Officers from the Homicide Squad are also heavily involved, though their investigations have been made difficult by conflicting accounts.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 419.46308724832215px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846881/fjc1b-qacachmk4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b998ff4eb1954831b0b62406200e7c72" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Charlise is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 130 and 140cm tall, and has brown hair and brown eyes. Image: NSW Police (Twitter)</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acting Superintendent John Nelson said police were working closely with Charlise’s family, including her mother.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“For any parent, it’s a very distressing scenario,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She is quite distressed and we are providing her with support.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Charlise was last seen wearing a pink top with a round neck collar, a black knee-length skirt, and pink Nike thongs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: NSW Police (Twitter)</span></em></p>

News

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Mum outraged after nine-year-old daughter given alcohol at a sleepover

<p dir="ltr">A British mum has taken to the internet to vent her frustrations after her daughter was given alcohol at a sleepover without her permission.</p> <p dir="ltr">Susan wrote on the Netmums forum about a birthday sleepover her nine-year-old daughter attended for a friend’s 10th birthday. She wrote, "My daughter attended a 10th birthday sleepover with five girls (mix of nine and 10 year old's) from school. I'm very friendly with all the mums. They had a great time and my daughter came back exhausted but in good spirits.</p> <p dir="ltr">“During the day she told me bits and bobs of what they got up to and it all sounded lovely until she mentioned that she tried a snowball (Advocaat and lemonade) and I'm furious.</p> <p dir="ltr">"At home she's had the odd sip of bucks fizz (champagne and orange juice) with me and my husband, but the mum has given my child (and other children) some alcohol without my permission. Worst of all my daughter thought it was her fault and got [very] upset."</p> <p dir="ltr">The post attracted a lot of attention, with most commenters agreeing that Susan was right to be angry, with some even calling it child abuse and urging her to call the police or child protective services. One commenter wrote, "I agree that this was not on at all! At the very least, if she was planning on letting them try the snowball she should have checked with the parents first that it was OK."</p> <p dir="ltr">Another mum shared her own experience in a similar situation, saying, "I'd also be absolutely livid. I've been there with my 14-year-old daughter. If there's alcohol involved the parents' permission should be obtained. I'd not be letting my child near that house again as trust would be completely shattered."</p> <p dir="ltr">Others said they couldn’t see the issue as she had given her daughter alcohol in her own home, with one commenter saying, "I think if she is allowed a bucks fizz at home then a little snowball is not really that bad? You need to talk to your daughter about drinking alcohol and what is allowed and what isn't.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the UK, it is against the law to give children alcohol at home if they are under the age of five. That means that on private premises like homes, children aged five to 16 are allowed to consume alcohol, although<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/alcohol-and-the-law/the-law-on-alcohol-and-under-18s" target="_blank">Drinkaware</a><span> </span>and the Chief Medical Officers advise against it.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: hobo_018</em></p>

Family & Pets

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New heart attack treatment hailed as landmark discovery

<p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p> <p>A ground-breaking discovery made by Australian doctors in the treatment of heart attacks is, according to researchers, a breakthrough as significant as landing on the moon.</p> <p>As a result, $8 million dollars has been given as a boost to run a major trial, with heart attack survivor Wayne Cook the first participant in the world to receive the breakthrough treatment.</p> <p>“I had a pain in both my biceps and across my back,” the 57-year-old, who had a major blockage, said of his heart attack.</p> <p>“I didn’t think my symptoms were a heart attack but the pain was excruciating.”</p> <p>The Perth man was able to receive life-saving treatment – a balloon unblocking his artery and a stent placed to hold it open.</p> <p>Professor Martin Ng from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney said the treatment for heart attacks had not advanced in over 20 years.</p> <p>One in two treated patients also have blockages downstream, in the micro vessels of their heart, which increase their risk of dying.</p> <p>"There's a fundamental serious problem that still isn't resolved," he said.</p> <p>"These vessels are so small so they can't be seen on the X-ray equipment from which we do the angiogram."</p> <p>Now, a wire with sensors measures blood pressure and flow.</p> <p>It's used to identify blockages downstream, so patients can then receive a clot-busting drug.</p> <p>An earlier study, funded by taxpayers, uncovered astonishing results.</p> <p>"This observation is, for us, like a landing on the moon," Professor Ng said.</p> <p>This new larger trial will involve more than 500 heart attack patients, who are identified as being higher risk.</p>

Caring

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Nicole Kidman shares the moment she knew Keith was 'the one'

<p>Nicole Kidman has revealed the sweet moment she knew she was "a goner" for her husband Keith Urban, when he turned up at the door of her New York apartment at 5 am with flowers.</p> <p>The Aussie actress told Jimmy Fallon about the special moment during an appearance on <em>The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon</em>.</p> <p>"He sat on the stoop of my New York apartment,” she said. “I came out, it was 5 am in the morning and it was my birthday, and he had flowers," Kidman recalled of the day back in June 20, 2005.</p> <p>"And that was it. I was a goner. I'm like, 'Yes I'll marry you'," she added.</p> <p>Kidman didn’t elaborate if that was the moment Urban proposed to her or just the moment she realised she wanted to marry the country singer.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uk9wV_Cm7qE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>Celebrating 15 years of marriage</strong></p> <p>The couple, who first met at G'Day LA in 2005, married on June 25, 2006 in Sydney.</p> <p>In the interview on <em>The Tonight Show</em>, Fallon congratulated the pair on their recent 15th wedding anniversary in June of this year.</p> <p>"For a second there, I thought you said 50 years," Kidman laughed, before adding: "Hopefully one day, but 15 years, which is pretty amazing, right?"</p> <p>Fallon tried to get the actress to divulge how the couple celebrated their relationship milestone but Kidman kept details of the celebration private.</p> <p><strong><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca21f771ab00460e9382cb079b8d38f0" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 359.70636215334423px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844350/nicole-kidman-1-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca21f771ab00460e9382cb079b8d38f0" /></strong></p> <p><strong>No joint albums coming out soon</strong></p> <p>It's certain the happy couple won't be marking the milestone by creating an album of duets together because the actress was horrified when Fallon asked if that will ever be on the agenda.</p> <p>While Kidman has sung in musicals like <em>Moulin Rouge</em><br />and <em>Nine</em> as well as a duet with Robbie Williams, she says she's not confident as a performer and would rather "stay in my lane" and leave the music to her hubby.</p> <p>Kidman previously told <em>People </em>magazine in a 2019 interview it was her 38th birthday when she knew Urban was the one for her.</p> <p>"I believed by that point he was the love of my life," she said.</p> <p>"Maybe that's because I am deeply romantic, or I'm an actress, or I have strong faith as well, but I just believed, 'Oh, okay, here he is,'" she added.</p> <p>And speaking of their relationship in 2007 with <em>Vanity Fair</em>, the actress described it as the right timing.</p> <p>"I would probably say that two very lonely people managed to meet at a time when they could open themselves to each other. We were a mixture of frightened and brave," Kidman said.</p> <p>The couple share two daughters together Sunday Rose, 13, and Faith, 10.</p> <p><em>Image: The Tonight Show and Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Nine-year-old competition winner will have her art displayed in the White House

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A talented nine-year-old girl has won a coveted prize with her original drawing that holds an aspirational message. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gabrielle Faisal from Detroit </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">entered a White House student art competition with a drawing inspired by African-American history, and won against over 500 competitors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The artwork, titled Enslaved African Americans Built the White House, features two Black hands bound in shackles holding up the White House with an American flag in the background. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The young artist explained the meaning behind her artwork to Fox 2 News Detroit, explaining its historical significance. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The white stripes represent the purity of the struggle,” Gabrielle said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The blue means justice and the white stars represent the unity for all people.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The organisers of the White House History Association’s National Student Art Competition were on the lookout for creativity, depth and historical relevance from the hundred of entrants. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rashid, Gabrielle’s father, said his daughter’s choice of art came naturally as she was inspired by things she had learned about African-American culture and history.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I have a home library which is filled with books on African-American history, Blacks who were part of building the White House.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So for her, when it came to time to do art, it was just organic for her,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As well as winning first place in her age bracket, Gabrielle also won a $1,000 cash prize and a trip to Washington, D.C.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her painting will be displayed in the White House visitor centre until September 22nd. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Shutterstock/Instagram</span></em></p>

Art

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“That’s not a cliff”: Ben Roberts-Smith downplays fresh allegations in court

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The case between Ben Roberts-Smith and <em>The Age</em>, <em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em>, and <em>The Canberra Times</em> newspapers, as well as several journalists, has recommenced, with an Afghan villager currently testifying.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The man has told the court a radio device was planted on the farmer’s dead body the day he was allegedly killed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The claim ties into the central allegation that the war veteran kicked a handcuffed, unarmed famer named Ali Jan over a cliff during a September 2012 mission.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nine Entertainment Co, the publisher of two of the papers, alleges Mr Roberts-Smith made an agreement with Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) colleagues to execute Ali Jan, which the soldiers then attempted to cover up.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Roberts-Smith has denied all wrongdoing and previously recalled in court that he encountered a suspected Taliban spotter in Darwan who was legitimately engaged and killed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mohammad Hanifa, who says he is Ali Jan’s step-nephew, told Sydney’s Federal Court through an interpreter and via video link that he and Ali Jan were interrogated and beaten up by soldiers during a raid on the village.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said one soldier told him to “shut up” and pointed a pistol at his forehead after he denied being a Taliban member.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Hanifa said there was an interpreter with the group and described one of the men as a “big soldier” with “blue eyes”, who punched him “many times”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said he warned Ali Jan not to laugh or smile, and that he saw Ali Jan “kicked really hard” by the big soldier after Ali Jan smiled again.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He was rolling down, rolling down, until he reached the river,” Mr Hanifa said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The soldier was looking at him, he was standing there and looking at him.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said he then heard a shot and saw two soldiers “dragging” Ali Jan.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the witness was shown a photograph of the dead man, he identified the man as Ali Jan and became animated when he saw a device in the photo.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“These other things, the bag and the other device, they were not there,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They have put these things on his body.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barrister Nicholas Owens SC, who is representing Nine, asked the witness whether he had seen Ali Jan carrying a radio that day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“By God, by God, he had nothing with him,” Mr Hanifa replied.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earlier, Mr Hanifa said the farmer was not connected to the Taliban.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He was providing for his children and he was protecting his family and his property.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trial had been on hold for a month due to Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak, but has since resumed after concerns were raised regarding the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan which could make it difficult to hear from Afghan witnesses.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Hanifa’s testimony comes as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sydney Morning Herald </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Age</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> revealed an image of Mr Roberts-Smith which was altered by the Department of Defence.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 335px; height: 223px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842683/7ab17256de68be9cbd6e333ff20fcb433ddc0944.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2e9957241a6b46a6a632eda515190197" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: ADF</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The photo, released in early 2011, shows Mr Roberts-Smith wearing a blank patch on the front of his uniform.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The newspapers allege they have obtained the original photo, taken on April 6 2010, which shows Mr Roberts-Smith wearing the Crusader’s Cross.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Crusader’s Cross symbol dates back to the Crusades in the Middle East during the 11th and 12 centuries.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many Muslims find the symbol offensive, especially when it is displayed by western soldiers in their country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDITOR’S UPDATE</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While under cross-examination by Bruce McClintock SC, Mr Roberts-Smith’s barrister, the farmer agreed that he referred to the soldiers who had conducted the raids on the villages as infidels.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock asked whether Mr Hanifa “hated” the soldiers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If they are coming to our houses, go inside to our women, of course that’s what you call them - infidels,” the witness said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock also accused Mr Hanifa on several occasions of lying to the court, including his description of the uniform of the “big soldier”, which he described as wet and sandy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The court had previously heard Mr Roberts-Smith had swum across a river to catch a suspected Taliban member prior to the raid.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The evidence you’ve given about seeing the big soldier wet is completely untrue, isn’t it?” Mr McClintock asked.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Whether you call it a lie that’s up to you, but I have seen this person with my own eyes,” Mr Hanifa replied.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Key images of the “cliff” from which Ali Jan is alleged to have been kicked have also been released to the public.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The photographs of Mr Hanifa’s village had been marked by Mr Roberts-Smith while he gave evidence several weeks earlier.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 199.41634241245137px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842692/capture.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c144cfe3755e4628938144e11a1abd37" /></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Federal Court of Australia</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the locations, marked as point “B” on the photograph, is a source of contention, with Mr Roberts-Smith saying it represented a rooftop where his squad waited for extraction after the mission, whereas Nine claim it represents the area where Ali Jan was kicked into the creek bed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While looking at photographs and images showing a steep embankment down into the creek, the veteran told the court: “A cliff is a cliff - and that’s not a cliff to me.”</span></p>

Legal

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Bombshell claims revealed in Ben Roberts-Smith trial

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shocking claims have been heard in court alleging Ben Roberts-Smith lied about being a mass-murderer and colluded with a former girlfriend to cover up his alleged assault of her.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before the Victoria Cross recipient was due to enter the witness box, defense barrister Nicholas Owens briefly summarised the defence’s case.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He alleged that although the six murdered Afghani men may have been Taliban insurgents, the persons were under control and that they were not killed in the heat of battle, as Mr Roberts-Smith had asserted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Owens alleged Mr Roberts-Smith had used “burner phones” to communicate with other soldiers and get his story straight before he gave evidence during the national inquiry into the Australian Army’s behaviour in Afghanistan.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He also alleged Mr Roberts-Smith violated the Geneva Conventions by killing the Afghani men, as the Conventions make it unlawful to kill unarmed persons taken prisoner during combat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Owens said none of the deaths “involve[d] judgement calls, or the difficulty of distinguishing between a civilian and a non uniformed insurgent.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Under the Geneva Conventions once a person has been placed under control … no matter if he may be the most brutal, vile member of the Taliban ever, an Australia soldier cannot kill them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To do so is murder.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Owens also said Mr Roberts-Smith had constructed a “false narrative to make it appear a murdered PUC (person under control) had been killed in combat”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said the defence would call 21 current and former SAS members to support claims Mr Roberts-Smith was lying.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Owens also read a text exchange between Mr Roberts-Smith and a woman he had been having an affair with from 2017 until 2018.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Roberts-Smith asserts she fell down stairs at a function.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the text exchange, Mr Owens said, the woman – known as Person 17 – said about her husband “I think he believes me, but is a bit sceptical”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Roberts-Smith’s text response: “Does he think I did it?”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Person 17 replied: “He didn’t believe I’d fallen down the stairs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve some other bruises … including a massive bruise on my thigh which hopefully will make the falling story more believable.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked by Bruce McClintock, SC, about whether he had listened to Mr Owens’ statements and how he had reacted to “being called a mass murderer”, Mr Roberts-Smith said: “I spent my life fighting for my country. I did everything I possibly could to ensure I did it with honour.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I listened to that … and it breaks my heart actually,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s devastating, quite frankly.”</span></p>

News

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"War is violent": Ben Roberts-Smith trial's explosive opening statements

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The defamation lawsuit launched by Ben Roberts-Smith against Nine-owned newspapers, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times, has commenced with an explosive statement from the soldier’s lawyers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bruce McClintock SC said the reports published in 2018, which contained allegations including involvement in the unlawful killing of Afghans and bullying of Special Air Services Regiment (SAS) colleagues, “destroyed” Mr Roberts-Smith’s reputation as an “exceptional solder” with “dishonest”, “corrosive” journalism. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is a case about courage, devotion to duty, self sacrifice,” Mr McClintock told the court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is a case about how a man with a deservedly high reputation of courage, skill and decency in how he carried out his military duties had his reputation destroyed by a campaign of jealous people,” he told Justice Anthony Besanko.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The court also heard of the decorated soldier’s high kill count during his time in Afghanistan.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Roberts-Smith alleges he was defamed by accusations that he “broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement” while deployed and is “therefore a criminal”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock spoke of Australia’s pride in its military, but that many were unwilling to confront the real, violent nature of war.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The people reporting on matters involving [Mr Roberts Smith] have forgotten [that war is violent] in their rush to tear him down,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The court also heard Mr Roberts-Smith was a recipient of “puerile” behaviour from fellow soldiers after he was awarded the Victoria Cross in recognition for his bravery.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nine have claimed one witness, known as Person 1, was bullied by Mr Roberts-Smith.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The media giant’s court documents claim Mr Roberts-Smith and the late Sergeant Matt Locke shot and killed a teenage boy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock countered that the boy was a “fighting age male” and a “spotter” for the enemy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Roberts-Smith is expected to tell the court of an incident with another soldier, Person 10, who Roberts-Smith saw shooting towards a woman and child. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When they returned to base, Mr Roberts-Smith confronted Person 10 and asked why he’d shot at unarmed civilians.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock said when Person 10 “giggled” in response Mr Roberts-Smith punched him in the face.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He shouldn’t have done this but he was shocked by Person 10’s intention and the lack of understanding of the gravity of his actions,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The potential impact of killing an innocent woman and child, not just on the SAS and our country generally, but on Person 10 himself would have been a disaster.”</span></p> <p><strong>The prosthetic</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock said the leg of an Afghan man Mr Roberts-Smith was alleged to have shot dead, was “souvenired” by another SAS officer - an enemy of Mr Roberts-Smith - who took it and mounted it back at the base.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The leg was later used as a “novelty-drinking vessel”, with pictures of soldiers drinking from it having since emerged.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"It might appear bad taste to drink from a souvenir prosthetic leg taken from a dead enemy," Mr McClintock told the court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"In the scheme of human wickedness, it does not, in my submission, rate terribly high. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"And allowances should be made — my client will say something along these lines — for the necessity for men who've engaged in armed combat to decompress afterwards."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock said his client did not drink from the leg.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr McClintock’s opening address is expected to run for two to three days before Mr Roberts-Smith takes the stand as a witness.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trial will run for two months.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Legal

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Ben Roberts-Smith’s ex-wife accused of leaking shocking photos

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Lawyers representing Ben Roberts-Smith have told the Federal Court his ex-wife leaked images to the media of soldiers drinking out of a prosthetic leg.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Victoria Cross recipient is suing newspapers owned by Nine over stories alleging he committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012 and punched a woman in the face in 2018.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The high-profile trial is due to start on Monday, June 7, where the newspapers will rely on truth as a defence.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Matthew Richardson, one of the barristers on Mr Robert-Smith’s legal team, told a pre-trial hearing the team was still looking through the various images on USB drives that were part of the case.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:333.33333333333337px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841599/roberts-smith.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/cc74fc57c8b84074a7e0111e81b861e6" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nine alleged the images of soldiers drinking from the prosthetic leg of a deceased Afghan man were contained on the drives, which it alleges were found buried in Mr Robert-Smith’s backyard.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the court heard the newspaper’s legal teams were still unable to access the content of the USB drives, Mr Richardson said Mr Robert-Smith’s former wife, Emma Roberts, leaked the images.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He also said processing the images depicting the prosthetic leg has been such an “onerous” task that it won’t be completed by the time the trial opens.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:333.33333333333337px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841598/roberts-smith-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b27f5b79e2c143789a7bfe1afc19d995" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lyndelle Barnett, one of the lawyers acting for the newspapers, disputed the claim and said her clients did not have the material nor did they receive it from Ms Roberts-Smith.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Barnett continued, saying only one of her clients had the information being discussed but couldn’t share it with lawyers due to national security laws.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Justice Anthony Besanko said that though the court would be open to the public during the trial, live-streaming the proceedings was unlikely due to the risk of revealing national security information.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My present inclination is not to,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That risk seems to be one that needs to be taken into account.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trial is expected to run for up to 10 weeks, with the court hearing that the opening address by Bruce McClintock SC - Mr Robert-Smith’s chief barrister - would run for two to three days.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Roberts-Smith will be the first witness, with his evidence likely taking four days.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Nine</span></em></p>

Legal