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“I need a future”: New details on boy kidnapped for six years

<p>When concerned motorist Fabien Accidini <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/missing-boy-found-alive-after-six-long-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">happened upon Alex Batty</a> walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees in France, he had no idea of the mysterious and tragic situation he had uncovered. </p> <p>“I said to myself, ‘That’s strange. It’s 3am in the morning, it’s raining, he’s all by himself on the road between two villages,’” Accidini told French news outlet BFMTV.</p> <p>Batty had gone missing from his home in England at the tender age of 11 back in 2017. Now 17, new details have emerged about the extraordinary six-year journey that unfolded since his disappearance.</p> <p>British and French authorities confirmed on Friday that the teenager discovered by Accidini was, indeed, Alex Batty. The initial family holiday to Spain turned into a six-year odyssey across Morocco, Spain and southwest France, as Alex and his family embraced a nomadic, off-the-grid lifestyle.</p> <p>French authorities revealed that Alex and his family moved from house to house, carrying their own solar panels, growing their own food, and living with other families in what the teenager described as a “spiritual community". However, last Wednesday marked a turning point as Alex suddenly appeared on a remote road in rural France, having parted ways with his mother.</p> <p>According to French prosecutor Antoine Leroy, Alex decided to strike out on his own when his mother expressed a desire to move yet again, this time to Finland. Leroy stated at a news conference in Toulouse, “When his mother indicated that she intended to leave for Finland with him, this young man understood that this journey had to stop.”</p> <p>Undeterred by the challenging circumstances, Alex walked for four nights, resting during the days and sustaining himself with whatever he could find in fields or gardens. It was during this solitary journey that Accidini spotted him on the rain-soaked road.</p> <p>Accidini offered assistance, and despite initial suspicion and a false name, Alex eventually opened up during the deliveryman's rounds. “He’d had enough. He said, ‘I am 17. I need a future.’ He didn’t see a future for himself there,” Accidini recounted.</p> <p>In an interview with La Depeche, Accidini shared more details about Alex's arduous journey: “He told me that he had been walking for four days, that he’d left from the mountains. He didn’t really know where.”</p> <p>Showing kindness, Accidini provided the thirsty teenager with water and allowed him to use his mobile phone to send a message to his grandmother.</p> <p>The message read, “Hello grandma, it is me, Alex. I am in France, Toulouse. I really hope that you receive this message. I love you. I want to come home.”</p> <p>Back in the UK, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Alex had spoken with his grandmother, Susan Caruana, via video call. Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes stated, “Whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex, we have further checks to do when he returns to the United Kingdom.</p> <p>“Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK.”</p> <p>Alex is expected to return to the UK in the coming days, as the investigation into the full circumstances of his disappearance continues.</p> <p><em>Images: Greater Manchester Police</em> </p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Missing boy found alive after six long years

<p>A 17-year-old British boy named Alex Batty, who went missing in Spain in 2017 at the age of 11, has been found after six long years.</p> <p>On a Wednesday morning, a concerned motorist discovered Alex walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This Good Samaritan, Fabien Accidini, picked up the young lad, offering water and kindness. Little did Fabien know, he was playing a crucial role in reuniting a family torn apart.</p> <p>Alex, who had been living in the remote Pyrenean valleys, was shy at first but eventually opened up to Fabien about his incredible journey. He revealed that he had been in France for two years, leading a nomadic life in an itinerant commune. His dream was to find a big city with an embassy to seek assistance.</p> <p>The touching part of the story was how Alex, carrying a backpack and skateboard, asked Fabien if he could borrow his phone. He then used the phone to send a message via Facebook to his grandmother back in England, Susan Caruana, telling her that he was fine and longing to see her.</p> <p>Susan Caruana, Alex's legal guardian, received the unexpected message, bringing tears of joy to her eyes. "I am so happy," she told The Sun newspaper. "I have spoken to him, and he is well. It is such a shock."</p> <p>The news of Alex's discovery spread like wildfire. A<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">s authorities worked diligently to unravel the mystery, it became apparent that Alex's mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty, who did not have parental guardianship, were still missing – and </span>are still wanted by police in connection with his disappearance.</p> <p>The reunion also brought together international cooperation, with British police and consular staff rushing to France to bring Alex back home. Greater Manchester Police confirmed their collaboration with French authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of Batty. "This is a complex and long-running investigation," they said in a statement, "and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place."</p> <p>The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued a statement, affirming their support for the British national in France and their ongoing communication with local authorities.</p> <p><em>Images: Greater Manchester Police</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Alex Jones to pay eye-watering sum in damages

<p dir="ltr">Alex Jones, the host of far-right radio show InfoWars, has been ordered to pay a total of $US 49.3 million ($NZD 78.43 million) in damages for falsely claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax.</p> <p dir="ltr">A Texas jury ruled that Jones pay $45.2 million in punitive damages, after awarding $4.1 million in compensatory damages the previous day, per <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62444302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC News</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jones has repeatedly claimed that the shooting at Sandy Hook primary school, Connecticut, where 20 children and adults were killed was a “hoax” carried out by actors who opposed the Second Amendment right to bear firearms.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nail Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, the plaintiffs in the case and whose son died in the shooting, asked the court for $150 million, claiming they endured harassment and emotional distress as a result of his misinformation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Heslin told the court that Jones’ falsehoods had made his life “hell” and led to harassment and death threats from people who believed he had lied about his son’s death.</p> <p dir="ltr">The $4.1 million in compensatory damages were issued on Thursday to cover the actual costs incurred by the plaintiffs as a result of Jones’ defamation, including the private security they hired out of fear a Jones supporter may attack them during the trial.</p> <p dir="ltr">The following day’s $45.2 million are meant to deter Jones from repeating his offence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We ask that you send a very, very simple message and that is: Stop Alex Jones,” a lawyer for the parents said in court on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Stop the monetisation of misinformation and lies. Please.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Lawyers representing Heslin and Lewis accused Jones of trying to hide evidence, arguing that he committed perjury by denying having sent any messages about the shooting - with one attorney revealing that Jones’ legal representative accidentally sent them two years of Jones’ text messages.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Did you know 12 days ago your attorneys messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cell phone with every text message you’ve sent for the past two years?” said attorney Mark Bankston, according to HuffPost.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And when informed did not take any steps to identify it as privilege?”</p> <p dir="ltr">"If I was mistaken, I was mistaken, you've got the text messages right there," Jones said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite his long-held position that the shooting was fake, Jones acknowledged that it was “100 percent real” in court.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I unintentionally took part in things that did hurt these people’s feelings, and I’m sorry for that,” Jones said.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the radio host has continued to use his media platform to claim the case was rigged against him, with his InfoWars depicting a judge being consumed by flames.</p> <p dir="ltr">During his brief appearance in court, Jones was rebuked several times by the judge for lying under oath, including one moment where he was told: “This is not your show.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The trial is one of three brought against Jones by family members of the Sandy Hook victims, and comes after he has lost a series of defamation cases filed by parents by default after he failed to produce documents or testimony.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, this is the first trial where a jury agreed to award financial damages.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-71a17443-7fff-4a6b-001a-e0fe0b49116b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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See inside “Jeopardy!” star Alex Trebek’s luxe LA home

<p dir="ltr">Just over a year after Alex Trebek, the beloved host of<span> </span><em>Jeopardy!</em>, passed away at 80, his children have decided to list his home near Los Angeles for a whopping $10.58 million ($USD 6.995 million).</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3405-Fryman-Rd_Studio-City_CA_91604_M12859-49929" target="_blank">listing</a>, Trebek first bought the five-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom home in 1991 for $3.25 million.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an interesting turn of events, Trebek’s daughter Emily is the listing agent for the property, along with Renee Oigens at Compass.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the Trebeks have been forced to slash the price of their last home that hit the market - to the tune of $USD 200,000 ($NZD 300,000) - some experts believe they will actually sell the LA home for more than the asking price.</p> <p dir="ltr">Real estate experts have pointed to the home’s location in LA’s Fryman Canyon, a secluded hotspot for celebrities, as well as its famed pedigree.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We believe this home will go at or above the asking price,” Amy Herman, a licensed real estate salesperson who works with high-profile clients, told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/inside-alex-trebeks-home-los-angeles-how-much-its-worth-today/" target="_blank"><em>Realtor.com</em></a>. “This is in part because of Alex Trebek’s legacy, and in part because of the fabled Studio City urban/suburban, super niche neighbourhood.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Herman pointed out that the area is home to A-list celebrities such as Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, and George Clooney.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Plus, a 99-year-old Mediterranean mansion on 1.5 acres is super difficult to find,” she said. “The house has an extra-special library and movie theatre, which are especially reflective of Trebek’s iconic Hollywood legacy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jason Gelios, an author and real estate agent in Detroit, said the kinds of buyers attracted to celebrity homes will tend to pay a higher price.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Celebrity properties tend to appeal to a different type of homebuyer in the luxury market,” he said. “Homebuyers who look for that celebrity touch on a property will pay the higher price.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the home does require some renovating, which could see the selling price take a hit, Californian broker and real estate agent Khari Washington says it’s a reasonable price.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are smaller houses nearby that are fixed up and have sold in the $5 million range. With this home being more significant, the asking price is right on.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With features including a twin wrought-iron staircase in the double-height foyer, as well as cathedral-style ceilings, uniquely designed windows, and a separate wing housing a 13-metre-long home theatre, its new owners will have a lot to enjoy.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images, Realtor.com</em></p>

Real Estate

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Karl's joke about the Queen's walking stick goes global

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Karl Stefanovic has made headlines across the UK after making a crude joke about the Queen using a walking stick at a public engagement for the first time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The monarch was seen using the stick while attending a service at Westminster Abbey marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844816/queen-stick.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3cde2b26359944cc9093727c65ca4188" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Alex Cullen reported the day’s headlines on Wednesday, he said, “She was using a cane. She was 95.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stefanovic replied: “She could use it to beat you up.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’d let her win. She’s 95,” Cullen joked.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844814/cullen-queen.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3b7ca1c8bc49433780edab0d74303d73" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Today / Channel 9</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She would smash you bro,” Stefanovic continued, to which Cullen said: “She would smash me and then jump on me.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I suppose she is single,” Stefanovic replied, prompting laughter across the panel.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And shout at me for being a proud Republican,” Stefanovic added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since the episode aired, the hosts have received some backlash on social media.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">British supporters of the Queen took to Twitter to share their criticisms and call for Stefanovic’s firing, while British and US news publications described the joke as “crude”, “gross”, and “uncolored”.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Today host Karl Stefanovic makes gross joke about Queen Elizabeth, 95, using a walking stick <a href="https://t.co/vsQdM43R2L">https://t.co/vsQdM43R2L</a></p> — USMAIL24 (@usmail24) <a href="https://twitter.com/usmail24/status/1448255493621886976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Not the 1st time Aussie showbiz clowns have mocked Our Royal Family to try &amp; improve their status, when it just shows how pathetically desperate the Aussie mainstream media is for presenters, they have to scrape scum from the barrels,” user Upstart Eagle tweeted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m assuming [Stefanovic’s] aged about 12, in which case he needs his arse smacked and no supper,” author Peter Maughan tweeted.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Karl Stefanovic makes crude joke about the Queen using a walking stick. Stefanovic &amp; Cullen should be fired for their rudeness, disrespect &amp; crude insinuations, that stick is to help our 95 year old Queen &amp; that sort of rubbish on our TV program should be dealt with harshly,</p> — Old Bill (@Cuthred) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cuthred/status/1448119643206529029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was the first time the Queen used the walking aid since 2004, when she was recovering following a knee operation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though many are concerned for the Queen’s health, it is understood she used the stick for comfort.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Today / Channel 9</span></em></p>

TV

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Roger Federer praises young gun Aussie “demon”

<p>Roger Federer has tipped “so many more things to come” for Australian tennis player Alex De Minaur after defeating him again. </p> <p>The 28-year-old sportsman has now won an unbelievable 103 career single titles - six shy of Jimmy Connors’ all time record. </p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4I4eb_H1t3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4I4eb_H1t3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Phil Bonney 🇦🇺 (@phil_bonney)</a> on Oct 27, 2019 at 3:41pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>De Minaur is making his own strides in the tennis world however, who has three titles under his belt at 20-years-old. </p> <p>"I was really hoping that Roger was going to get sick of winning here and give someone else a chance," de Minaur said.</p> <p>"Too good again. That was amazing."</p> <p>Federer praised his opponent, saying: "So many more things to come for you. You are going up from here."</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4D_xRjA9hs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4D_xRjA9hs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Alex De Minaur Fan Page (@alexdeminaur_fan_page)</a> on Oct 25, 2019 at 6:09pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>De Minaur had won all three of his finals this year, but proved to be no match for Federer, who converted four of 10 break points and also didn't drop serve during the 68-minute clinic.</p> <p>"It was fast but very nice, I think I played a great match," Federer said. </p> <p>While Federer claimed a fourth title of the season to go with Halle, Miami and Dubai, de Minaur got a rankings rise into the world's top 20 for the first time on Monday - an incredible achievement in itself. </p> <p>"I thought Alex played a great tournament as well, and I think we both can be very happy," Federer said.</p> <p>"But what a moment for me to win my 10th here in my hometown of Basel."</p> <p>De Minaur’s defeat was his first loss in four title deciders this year, having won in Sydney, Atlanta and Zhuhai.</p>

International Travel

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Little Princess Charlotte steals the show in candid photo from Princess Eugenie’s wedding

<p>For the first time since her wedding to Jack Brooksbank on Friday, Princess Eugenie has taken to Instagram to post a charmingly candid wedding photo to her 526,000 followers.</p> <p>But it’s not the bride or the groom who are the centre of attention, but playful Princess Charlotte.</p> <p>In the photograph, Princess Eugenie and her new husband are surrounded by their bridesmaids and page boys including Isla Phillips, Maud Windsor, Theodora Williams, Louis De Givenchy and Prince George in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo__xuAgO9w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo__xuAgO9w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Jack and I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making our day so special and for all the wonderful wishes as we start married life laughing together. @alexbramall</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Oct 16, 2018 at 9:01am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Isla’s older sister, seven-year-old Savanah Phillips, embraces the bride who looks lovingly at her little second cousin Princess Charlotte, who is cheekily pulling a face. Both the bride and groom look highly amused, in this joyous behind-the-scenes shot.</p> <p>Fittingly with the image, which has been liked almost 160,000 times, Princess Eugenie included the caption: “Jack and I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making our day so special and for all the wonderful wishes as we start married life laughing together.”</p> <p>In a throwback to their earlier collaboration, wedding photographer Alex Bramall shared some stunning black and white portraits of Princess Eugenie, taken for a <em>Harper's Bazaar</em> US shoot in 2016.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_gPzPB-pq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_gPzPB-pq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">This is where it all started. Thank you to @princesseugenie @theroyalfamily @hrhthedukeofyork @harpersbazaarus @laurabrown99 @hayley_caine @attractabeauty @kenorourke1 @mfurlonger @john_munro @bencrawford__</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/alexbramall/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> A L E X B R A M A L L</a> (@alexbramall) on Oct 16, 2018 at 4:25am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p>He wrote: “This is where it all started.”</p> <p>What is your favourite photo from Princess Eugenie's wedding? Let us know in the comments section below.</p>

Art

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A trip to Tibet changed my life

<p><strong>Over60 community member, Don Cullen, 68, talks about how a trip to Tibet changed his perspective on the world and convinced him to do some much-needed humanitarian work.</strong></p> <p>I sit in the back of Samye Monastery, the oldest monastery in all of Tibet, my back to the wall, eyes closed listening to the mystical sounds of 100 Monks chanting in unison. The drums, the drifting spirit of incense, created by burning Juniper, all seem to reach the soul and lift it to a seemingly higher plane.</p> <p>At 68 I take small groups on an adventure to the Land of Snows, twice a year, where we step back some 1,500 years and become part of this transcendent realm.</p> <p>I have been travelling to this magical part of the Himalaya for some 16 years and for the past 10 of those years, I have been actively involved in doing humanitarian work, plus taking in like-minded people to view our projects and stay among the villagers and nomads.</p> <p>From the age of 17, Tibet called me like the Sirens in Ulysses. It became a sort of obsession and the library became my base to learn and read about this land of mystery. After 35 years, with my head full of the history and culture learned from my studies, my dream became a reality! I travelled there for the first time. Tibet had been closed for 1,000 years, yet some got through, Heinrich Harrier, Alexander David Neal and a handful of others at different times. It officially opened it’s doors to the west in 1985, yet not many travelled there until the 1990s when news spread to the west that one could finally travel there. Even now, relatively few westerners make the journey.</p> <p><img width="497" height="315" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/3392/don-cullen-2_497x315.jpg" alt="Don Cullen 2"/></p> <p>It is not for everyone, but for those seeking a journey of adventure, it is the most fulfilling thing one can do.</p> <p>Over the years, we have made some wonderful contacts that have guided us on many adventures. These delightful people look after our small bands of explorers to make their trip a memorable experience.</p> <p>Ten years ago, we decided to assist with humanitarian aid projects and launched programs in educational, medical, agricultural and basic assistance to poor families. We decided to be non-political, non-religious, to be non-biased so that we could cross boundaries with one aim in mind and that is to help fellow human beings. Part of our travel allows us to visit some of these programs where we interact with the children and villagers. We sometimes stop off and drink tea with nomadic families and share in their unbounded hospitality.</p> <p>Having travelled there dozens of times, one never gets tired of the tranquillity of this place on top of the world, the feeling of peacefulness, the slow pace of life, the friendliness of the people all combine to reinvigorate the soul and see the good in human nature.</p> <p><em>Find out more at Don's charitable organisation <a href="http://www.tvpaustralia.org.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tibetan Village Project Australia Inc.</strong></span></a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/08/confessions-of-a-house-swapper/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>We spoke to an Over60 member about her experiences with house swapping.</strong></span></a></p>

International Travel

Over 60

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