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Nostradamus prediction on King Charles sparks fresh theories

An eerie prediction on King Charles made by 16th century astrologer Nostradamus has resurfaced following the royal's cancer diagnosis. The French physician is known for his uncannily accurate predictions which he wrote in a tome called Les Propheties in 1555. Les Propheties contains 942 predictions which have been analysed over the years, and some have claimed that it foresaw major events including the Great Fire of London in 1666 , the French Revolution and even 9/11. It is also believed to have accurately predicted Queen Elizabeth's death, as in his book Nostradamus said that the second Queen Elizabeth would die in "22" at "around" the age of 96. She passed away on the 8th of September 2022 at the age of 96. The astrologer also predicted that in 2024, the royal family would face turmoil with a King “driven out by force”. “King of the Isles driven out by force ... replaced by one who will have no mark of a king,” the passage in the book read. Nostradamus expert Mario Reading initially interpreted the prophecy to refer to an “unworthy” and unpopular King who would be driven out by the wishes of the people and replaced by someone who "never expected to be King". But now, with King Charles' cancer diagnosis, many have shared their own predictions on what might happen to the royal, mainly him being forced from the throne because of his illness. Others have raised the question on who is the man they “never expected to be King”? If Charles abdicates, and Prince William declines the throne and the role of Prince Regent as he faces his own battle with Kate's cancer diagnosis, then would William’s eldest son George, 10, become king? In today's monarchy, what are the implications of a 10-year-old becoming King and would they instead consider an adult, aka the fifth in line or “spare to the heir,” Prince Harry as a better option for King? There are so many possibilities floating around. Image: Shutterstock/ Instagram

Caring

Fresh signs that ANOTHER royal pic was manipulated

Ah, the royal family – the gift that keeps on giving, especially when it comes to Photoshop mishaps. It seems like they've developed a knack for stirring up a digital storm every time they release a photo. The latest kerfuffle involves a seemingly innocent snapshot released to celebrate what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 97th birthday. But oh, what a tangled web of pixels it turned out to be! The photo, featuring a gaggle of royal offspring including the adorable trio of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, quickly became the centre of attention, and not for the right reasons. According to the eagle-eyed sleuths at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/17/people-question-everything-now-how-kates-photo-scandal-rips-up-the-rules-for-royals-and-the-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a>, the photo looked more like a game of digital whack-a-mole than a family portrait. Prince Louis apparently decided to play hide-and-seek within the frame, magically teleporting to a new position. And let's not forget the hair-raising revelation that some locks on one of the granddaughters seemed to have been copy-pasted with reckless abandon. Maybe they were going for a stylish asymmetrical look? "The photograph taken by Catherine at Balmoral and released last year to mark what would have been the 97th birthday of the late Queen bears similar signs of digital alteration," reported The Guardian. "Prince Louis appears to have been moved back into the frame, while locks of a great granddaughter’s hair show telltale repetitions. Back then, though, the image was not urgently 'killed' by the leading international photo agencies, like the latest one, because it didn’t matter so much." But the fun didn't stop there. Oh no, Twitter had a field day with this one too. Allegations flew left and right faster than a royal corgi chasing a squirrel. The Queen's skirt? Edited. The green sofa? Definitely edited. Heck, there were probably bets being placed on whether the corgis were even real or just digital creations. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Did the late Queen ever pose with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Seems like no. 🤔 This photo, taken by Kate Middleton, was edited at least in 9 places. Now the mass media are reporting about it too. A little thread👇 <a href="https://t.co/Sx9XjOBr1J">pic.twitter.com/Sx9XjOBr1J</a> — Katerina 🇺🇦 (@Le__Katerina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Le__Katerina/status/1769399269365088335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a></blockquote> "People need to understand that it's not 'just a family photo'," wrote Twitter sleuth Katerina. "It's made for historical record. I don't think you'd want to see doctored photos in your history books." Meanwhile, in the land of hashtags and filters, speculation about the health of the Princess of Wales, Kate, reached a fever pitch, with <a style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/princess-kate-s-post-surgery-pic-ignites-even-wilder-conspiracy-theories" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Mother's Day photo</a> that looked like it had been through more edits than a celebrity's Instagram post. Kate, surrounded by her adorable brood, found herself at the centre of yet another digital debacle. Who knew a simple family photo could cause such a stir? In a rare move, <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/princess-kate-sensationally-speaks-out-over-photo-fiasco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kate herself stepped forward</a> to offer an apology, blaming her newfound love for amateur photography. Note to self: stick to selfies, Kate. But fear not, royal watchers, for this tale of Photoshop folly is far from over. With a family as unpredictable as the British weather, who knows what digital delights await us in the next instalment? Image: Twitter (X)

Technology

Fresh location being searched in Maddy McCann case

Portuguese police have revealed they will resume the search for missing toddler Madeleine McCann who disappeared in the country’s Algarve region in 2007. Portugal’s Judicial police released a statement confirming local media reports that they would conduct the search at the request of the German authorities and in the presence of British officials. A spokesperson from the fire brigade said police were preparing to start searches at a dam in the southern region of Algarve about 50km inland from a beach resort where Madeleine disappeared from a rented apartment while on a family holiday. On May 22, Reuters TV footage showed police erecting tents and cordons in the area by the Arade dam, roughly 50km from Praia da Luza, where the three-year-old was last seen alive. Portugal’s investigative Judicial Police overseeing the operation declined to comment. Another source familiar with the investigation was not confident there would be a breakthrough, saying, “It will come to nothing”. In mid-2020, German police jailed German citizen Christian Brueckner, a 45-year-old convicted child abuser and drug dealer who was in the Algarve in 2007, for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve where Madeleine went missing. He was identified as a suspect in Madeline’s disappearance but has denied any involvement. Brueckner remains under investigation on suspicion of murder in the McCann case but hasn’t been charged. German police said in June 2020 that Madeleine was assumed dead and that Brueckner was likely responsible for it. In April, a German court dismissed additional charges against him related to other Portuguese child rape and sexual assault cases that led to German prosecutors no longer having jurisdiction to investigate the McCann case. Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann were questioned by Portuguese police as formal suspects in 2007 but ruled them out the following year due to lack of evidence that cleared them of any involvement. The parents continue to campaign to attract attention to their daughter’s disappearance, and British public figures from business tycoons to authors and soccer stars have made appeals for information. Rewards for finding Madeleine have reached several million dollars. Image credit: Getty

News

National Duck Day: Diana Chan’s Luv-a-Duck Peking Duck breast with egg noodles, five spice sauce and fresh cucumber salad

The family owned business and Australia’s leading duck producer Luv-a-Duck has partnered up with MasterChef alum and duck lover Diana Chan, to officially launch National Duck Day, which falls on Tuesday May 23rd, 2023. Diana Chan is a Malaysian-Australian and won the 9th season of MasterChef in 2017. She has since become a well-known TV host, menu designer, product creator and restaurateur, turning her passion for food into her career. Diana Chan’s Luv-a-Duck Peking Duck breast with egg noodles, five spice sauce and fresh cucumber salad Serves: 2 Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 10 mins INGREDIENTS: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 2 x precooked Luv-A Duck peking duck breasts </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 x 400g packet fresh egg noodles (medium thickness) </li> </ul> For the five spice sauce: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tbsp cooking oil </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 2 cloves garlic, minced </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 3 shallots, finely diced </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 50g galangal, sliced </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 50g ginger, sliced </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Leftover liquid from the packet </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tbsp five spice powder </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tbsp tapioca starch mixed with 2 tbsp of water </li> </ul> For the cucumber salad: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 continental cucumber, halved and sliced into 5mm thick chunks </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 30g coriander, roughly chopped </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tbsp black vinegar </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tsp sugar </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tbsp soy sauce </li> </ul> To garnish: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Freshly sliced spring onions </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds </li> </ul> METHOD: <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Cook the peking duck breasts according to the packet instructions (microwave or oven) and set aside somewhere warm. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Preheat a large braising pot or wok. Add cooking oil. Add the garlic, shallots, galangal and ginger and fry until aromatic - about 3 minutes or so. Add the sauce from the packet and the five spice. Allow to reduce for 10 minutes. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Mix tapioca starch with water. Pour it into the sauce liquid while stirring at the same time and the liquid will start to thicken. You can add more tapioca mixture if you don't think the sauce is thick enough. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> While the sauce simmers, reheat the noodles according to the packet instructions. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> To assemble, remove the cooked duck breasts from the packet and slice them into 5mm thickness. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> In a mixing bowl, add in all the ingredients for the cucumber salad and mix to combine. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Place the reduced sauce into the serving bowls, divide the noodles into 2 portions, top with the duck breasts and pour over the sauce. Serve with the cucumber salad on the side. Garnish with some spring onions and sesame seeds. </li> </ol> Image credit: Luv-A-Duck

Food & Wine

5 foods you shouldn’t store in the fridge

There are some foods that simply cannot stand the cold and if stored in the fridge will lose their flavour, texture and freshness. These five items are best stored in your pantry rather than the refrigerator. 1. Cucumbers They’re often stored in the fridge but according to researchers at the University of California, storing the vegetable under 10°C actually causes “chilling injuries” to the cucumber. At low temperatures, the skin shrivels and pits, and the pulp turns mushy. If you like your cucumbers chilled, pop them in the fridge an hour before you want to eat so the cold won’t do damage. 2. Garlic Garlic bulbs are prone to developing shoots if stored in the fridge as the cold environment is similar to their growing conditions. It’s best to store garlic in place where it’s cool and with low humidity, like an airy pantry. 3. Chocolate The fridge may seem like the obvious place to put a melting bar of chocolate, but unfortunately it’s not. Chocolate is sensitive to sudden temperature changes and can develop a white “bloom” that spoils the smooth texture of chocolate if stored in the fridge. Store well-wrapped chocolate at room-temperature, away from strong-smelling foods. 4. Basil Do you store the herb in the fridge to extend in shelf life? As delicate Mediterranean herbs such as basil come from warm, sunny climates, the chilled fridge temperature speeds up oxidisation, turning the leaves black and ruining the herb's scent and flavour. Store fresh basil at room temperature in a jar with water. This will lengthen its shelf life and prevent premature discolouration. 5. Bread This may come as a shock to many but refrigerating bread doesn’t actually prolong its shelf life. While it may stop bread going mouldy, the cool, drying environment dehydrates the bread and speeds up the process of staling. Instead, store your bread in the freezer, which does extend the life of bread. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/how-to-stop-crying-when-chopping-onions/">How to stop crying when chopping onions</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/kitchen-tricks-foodies-will-love/">16 kitchen tricks foodies will love</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/06/5-foods-you-should-never-reheat/">5 foods you should never reheat</a>

Home & Garden

7 tips to make fresh flowers last longer

It’s always such a nice treat to have fresh flowers in the house – whether they’ve been bought for you by a special someone, you’ve treated yourself, or you’ve just cut them straight from your very own garden. But many people don’t know the correct way to look after a bunch of flowers to ensure they get to enjoy their beauty for as long as possible. So here are some simple tips to remember. <ol> <li>Start with the right kind of vase. Don’t try to cram too many flowers into a small vase – make sure the flowers have room to open fully so you can see as much of them as possible.</li> <li>Remove any low-hanging leaves. You don’t want any leaves to be sitting in the water, so be sure to prune them before putting your bouquet into your vase.</li> <li>Change the water daily. Flowers don’t like to sit in the same water day after day.</li> <li>Trim the stems. Every few days, trim the stems a little, cutting at an angle.</li> <li>Keep the flowers away from direct heat and sunlight. A room that is too warm will lead to wilted flowers, so be sure to choose somewhere that stays cool if possible. If you really want to stretch things, consider keeping the flowers in your fridge when you’re not in the house.</li> <li>When flowers start to wilt, remove any that don’t look so hot and transfer the bouquet to a smaller vase to freshen things up.</li> <li>If you’re left with just one or two late-opening blooms, you can float it in a decorative teacup full of water.</li> </ol> Image: Getty

Home & Garden

Worrying photo sparks fresh concerns for Queen Elizabeth's health

The public has seen their first glimpse of Queen Elizabeth in almost 8 weeks as she appointed Britain's new prime minister in an official engagement. Rather than taking place at Buckingham Palace as per tradition, the ceremony was held inside the green-carpeted drawn room at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The monarch was supported by her walking cane as she invited Liz Truss, Her Majesty's 15th prime minister in her 70-year-reign, to form a new government. Despite Her Majesty looking lively and happy during the meeting, people were quick to spot the large bruise on the Queen's hand, reigniting concerns about the monarch's health. ITV's royal editor Chris Ship said the bruising was a sign of changing times in the Queen's advancing years. "I'm no medic but it could be some form of cannula that the Queen's had, we are guessing," Ship told Today. "Buckingham Palace never tells us about her ongoing medical conditions. She's 96 years old. A frail lady, let's be clear. And queen of advancing age. "We're going to get used to the constitutional diary having to be changed to suit the needs of an ageing monarch." The decision to call outgoing leader Boris Johnson, and his replacement, to Balmoral was taken due to the Queen's comfort. Reports claim that the Queen has been advised against excessive travelling, having reportedly endured "a change in the past few weeks" in her mobility, <a title="The Telegraph" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/09/06/queens-balmoral-audience-liz-truss-sign-changing-times/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Telegraph</a> UK reports. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Tips on keeping wine fresh

We’ve all been in the situation (once or twice) before where we’re the only one home one evening, decide to have one glass with dinner and don’t finish off the bottle. So how can you keep the rest of the bottle as fresh as possible? Here we take a look whether simply resealing the bottle is enough or, is it worthwhile investing in one of the various gadgets on the market. Most wine connoisseurs will tell you that wine is almost always best enjoyed on the day it is opened. You’ll find that some restaurants don’t bother with fancy resealing devices and use the cap or cork it came with, as they say that some wines last well into the next day. So why should you bother with one of these whizz bang gadgets? On the other hand, research shows that some restaurants use an argon gas preservation system and that it works really well. As you may have discovered yourself at home, wine doesn’t go off that quickly, per se, but it can lose its quality before becoming unpleasant. The villain to blame in this process is oxygen. If you’re a red wine drinker, you’ve likely heard that giving it time to breathe is a good thing. Well although a little air is often good for wine, the longer it is exposed to oxygen the more it changes. Some wines, typically robust reds, benefit from a day or two of “development” in an open bottle. But in most, fruit smells and flavours dissipate. The wine starts to oxidise and taste sharp and “vinegary”. That’s why wine-saving devices are typically designed to limit contact with air. Winesave A user-friendly delivery system that uses gas that's used by many restaurants to form a protective “blanket” between the wine and the air in the bottle. The at-home version comes in a canister: you attach a tube to the nozzle to squirt the gas into the bottle before reapplying the original seal. Can keep wine well for at least five days. Wine Shield A piece of flexible, circular plastic inserted into a partly drunk bottle to become a floating lid, claiming to keep wine fresh for up to five days after opening. Fiddly to insert – it’s done via the sachet in which each “shield” is packaged – but not hard once you have the knack. You then reapply the original seal. Will keep the wine in good condition for at least three days. Vacu Vin This gadget is designed to suck air out of the bottle. Popular with wine critics, it vacuums out the air. While it is said to not be as great on day two as some of the other devices, it is better on day five than the others. Screw cap In some cases the original metal seal that came with the bottle will keep the wine pleasant on day two but it won’t last until day five like some of the others. At least it is free, though, right? Wine stopper Often made from stainless steel with a plastic interior, these don’t seem to do much. It’s a stretch to do anything that a cork (or screw cap) wouldn’t. So I guess this is a good option if you lose the cork or screw or you have trouble replacing it after you’ve finished.

Food & Wine

Fresh heartache as Oatlands killer wins appeal

The drunk and drugged driver who ran over a group of children in Sydney’s north-west over two years ago has had his sentenced reduced on appeal. The Abdallah siblings Antony, Sienna and Angelina and their cousin Veronique Sakr died in February 2020 when Samuel Davidson ran them over on a footpath as they were walking to get ice cream. He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the four children, as well as a raft of other charges. He was sentenced to a maximum of 28 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 21 years. Following an appeal, the maximum sentence was reduced by eight years taking it to 20 years, with a non-parole period of 15 years. Making him eligible for parole in January 2035. At the time of his initial sentence, Judge James Bennett said Davidson’s dangerous and aggressive driving showed a complete lack of care and concern for the safety of others. “The magnitude of the tragedy extended to the unimaginable” said Judge Bennett. Image: Instagram

Legal

Kevin Spacey speaks after fresh sex offence charges

Kevin Spacey has finally broken his silence after being charged with four counts of sexual assault. There had been suggestions he could have been extradited from the US to the UK if he didn’t willingly appear in a London court, however in a statement given to US television program Good Morning America, the two-time Oscar winner said he would “voluntarily appear” in the UK to face the charges. Spacey said he was “confident” he could prove his innocence, after being charged on May 26 with four counts of sexual assault, as well as a charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. All of the counts are alleged to have happened between 2005 and 2013. Four of the alleged offences are said to have taken place in London, while the other is alleged to have happened in Gloucestershire, in the south-west of England. Police opened an investigation into Spacey’s alleged crimes in 2017 and he was interviewed under caution by the police in 2019. In the statement to Good Morning America, Spacey said he “appreciated” that the CPS has pointed out he was entitled to a fair trial. “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.” he said. The alleged offences date from when Spacey was artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre, in the city’s south, between 2004 and 2015. Image: Getty

News

Charlise Mutten's alleged killer facing fresh charges

The man accused of murdering nine-year-old schoolgirl Charlise Mutten earlier this year has been hit with new charges. Jason Stein was <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/man-charged-with-murder-of-missing-9-year-old" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged with the murder of his fiancé’s daughter</a> in January, after the little girl’s body was discovered in a barrel near the Colo River, about an hour from the Blue Mountains where she had disappeared from. After his arrest, police conducted a search in the bushland near Mt Wilson - the area where Charlise was last seen - and found two firearms and ammunition, which was seized and forensically examined. Police then visited Silverwater prison and arrested the 31-year-old, charging him with two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, two for possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing ammunition without a licence or permit, and aggravated break and enter in company. Mr Stein has also been charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material for unrelated matters. Meanwhile, investigations continue under Strike Force Buena, which was established to investigate Charlise’s disappearance. Images: 9News / Twitter

News

Fresh charges for William Tyrrell's foster mother

Foster mother of missing boy William Tyrrell has been charged by NSW police with stalking offences. This follows two months after the woman was charged with a separate count of common assault. According to The Australian, a court has previously heard that the foster mother intended to have the assault charges dealt with under the Mental Health Act and medical assessments had been undertaken. Both foster parents have also pleaded not guilty to separate assault charges laid in November 2021. All of the charges are unrelated to the child's disappearance from his home in Kendall on the state’s mid-north Coast in 2014. The 56-year-old woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was charged on Friday. Police reported that Tyrrell’s foster mum and late foster grandmother were being treated as persons of interest in the little boy’s disappearance in November. The foster-parents have maintained their denial of any wrongdoing and no charges have been laid against them in relation to Tyrrell vanishing. Image: ABC

News

ALDI looking for fresh meat (graduates)

ALDI Australia is looking to hire a fresh batch of graduates for their insanely popular program. The German retailer’s graduate program is inundated with applications each year thanks to the attractive $92,000 starting salary, a company car and iPhone, as well as five weeks annual leave. Successful applicants will undertake a comprehensive program over a two-year period while rotating through the exciting challenge of the business. “Our graduate jobs aren’t easy but the greater the challenge, the greater the reward,” their <a href="https://www.aldicareers.com.au/Graduate-Program-Application-Process" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> reads. “You’ll have exposure to serving customers on registers, managing sections in our distribution centre, undertaking site meetings with our property team, and developing your skills as a leader - a career achievement you can be proud of.” Applicants who succeed in their training will take on the role of an Executive Manager, giving them the opportunity to run up three-to-five stores. Peter Slaven recently completed the program and is now an Executive Manager of Store Operation in NSW. “I was prepared for a lot of observation and structured training, however I was pleasantly surprised with how hands-on ALDI’s graduate program is,” he told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/aldis-insane-92000-job-for-uni-graduates/news-story/fbba33620c65bfad5a5f80df3e730155?utm_campaign=EditorialSB&utm_source=news.com.au&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_content=SocialBakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “During the program I worked in three cities and over 30 stores, building relationships with close to 500 people. No two days are the same and I learnt to adapt quickly to constant change and I am still learning new things every day.” ALDI group director of human resources and projects Hayden Rydberg said the program attracted people from all walks of life. “It’s an opportunity for ambitious future leaders to hit the ground running in a supportive environment where you will learn directly from industry leaders, all while accelerating your career with a rewarding and dynamic retail business,” he said. Applicants must be in their final year of study or recently completed a master’s degree in any subject. Applications for ALDI's 2023 graduate program close on Monday March 28, 2022. Image: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Fresh heartache for Queen after third death in a month

Image: Getty The Queen is mourning the loss of a close friend, the third to die in the span of a month. Racing journalist, trainer and author, Ivor Herbert, passed away aged 96 on January 5. British media reports Herbert was a longtime friend of the monarch and was a regular visitor to the Queen's Balmoral estate in Scotland. He also trained the winning horse of the 1957 Cheltenham Gold Cup and collaborated with Princess Anne on her 1991 book Riding Through My Life. Herbert is the third close friend of the Queen to pass away in just over a month. Only four days after Christmas, Her Majesty's Lady-in-Waiting Lady Diana Farnham died aged 90. Lady Farnham served as the Queen's Lady of Bedchamber since 1987, and also attended events during the 2012 Diamond Jubilee service, when Prince Philip was unable to be there due to illness "It is very sad for the Queen," a royal source told The Telegraph "Everyone loved Lady Farnham, she was always so good humoured. "She was also a very glamorous and attractive woman. She was always very generous to new people joining the household. "It has not been a good year for the Queen — losing her husband and then the Duchess of Grafton and now Lady Farnham. "They were dear friends who supported the Queen on official duties." On December 5, the Queen lost her close confidant the Dowager Duchess of Grafton. The duchess was the second Mistress of the Robes of the Queen's reign and the most senior of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. She and the Queen formed a close bond over the years and the duchess was by Her Majesty's side at countless official events and overseas royal tours. The Duchess of Grafton was appointed the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1980, an honour given by the monarch for services to the sovereign. The Queen became godmother to the duchess' second daughter in 1954. The loss of the Queen's close friends so closely together is surely another blow to what already has been a trying 12 months for the British royal family following the death of Prince Phillip, Prince Andrew's ongoing legal battles, Prince Harry and Meghan's verbal attacks against the family and her own health battles.

Relationships

Fresh insight into troubled past of Cleo's alleged abductor

Content warning: This article contains references to deceased Indigenous individuals. Audio has emerged of the woman who raised Terence Darrell Kelly, Cleo Smith’s alleged abductor, revealing that he had a tumultuous early life. The 36-year-old Carnarvon man was removed from his mother’s care as a two-year-old and was raised by Penny Walker, a respected member of the Indigenous community. “His mum didn’t want him and she threw him away,” she <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cleo-smith/cleo-smith-found-accused-kidnapper-terence-darrell-kellys-traumatic-childhood-revealed-c-4476537">said </a>in an interview from 2019. “I looked down at him and this little boy - God was giving me something back in my life what the welfare took off me - my children.” Ms Walker said Mr Kelly’s mother was a drug addict and didn’t want him. She then took him in and raised him alongside her two grandsons - who she was caring for after her daughter died from multiple sclerosis (MS). In the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/audio-files-reveal-difficult-upbringing-of-cleo-smith-s-alleged-abductor-terence-kelly-20211108-p596y8.html" target="_blank">interview</a>, she also spoke about her own traumatic childhood as a member of the Stolen Generation. She spoke of the poor treatment she received as a child at the Moore River Native Settlement and New Norcia Mission, where she was the victim of sexual abuse and beatings. Ms Walker said this led her to become an alcoholic, which resulted in her six children being taken away. She then turned her life around and became a respected member of the Indigenous community in Carnarvon. Ms Walker died in 2020, leaving Mr Kelly alone in their Carnarvon home. When police arrived at the home last week, they found Cleo in a room sitting upright and playing with toys. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845436/terence-kelly1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e959eb1a366f41e8bff36ecb3282bf94" /> Terence Darrell Kelly boards a plane to Perth, where he will stay in custody until he returns to court in December. Image: Getty Images Mr Kelly was then arrested and faced Carnarvon Magistrate’s Court for several <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/i-m-coming-for-you-suspect-charged-in-cleo-s-alleged-abduction" target="_blank">charges</a>, including forcibly taking a child under 16. His neighbours described Mr Kelly as a “quiet” and “lonely” individual. The day after his court appearance, he was flown from Carnarvon to Perth and spent his first night in a maximum-security prison. Detectives have since returned to his home as part of their investigation into Cleo’s abduction. Police said they don’t believe the alleged abduction was planned and are investigating a theory that Mr Kelly came across Cleo by chance, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cleo-smith/cleo-smith-found-accused-kidnapper-terence-darrell-kellys-traumatic-childhood-revealed-c-4476537" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. Mr Kelly has been remanded in custody for four weeks and is due to return to court in December. Image: Getty Images

Legal

No alibi: Fresh twist in William Tyrrell case

A key person of interest in the high-profile William Tyrrell case has been unable to give investigating police an alibi for the day of the boy's disappearance. A <a rel="noopener" href="https://7plus.com.au/7news-disappearance-of-william-tyrrell" target="_blank">7News investigation</a> revealed that convicted pedophile Frank Abbott was living approximately 12 kilometres from the town William went missing from in September 2014. The elderly man is now serving time in jail for the sexual assault of three young children, to which he maintains his innocence over. Police repeatedly questioned Abbott about his movements on the day William disappeared, and has been unable to provide a suitable alibi or someone to vouch for his movements. Despite the mounting suspicions, Abbott maintains he has nothing to do with the disappearance. A witness in the case named Steve, whose true identity is suppressed by a court order, claims a lot of the key evidence points to Abbott. “I believe that he, Frank, dropped (friend Ray Porter) off at hospital and had access to Ray’s car,” Steve told 7NEWS. When asked whether the car claim supports evidence supplied by William’s foster mother, Steve replied, “100 per cent.” Child protection advocate Adam Washbourne claims police had relented to disclosing the number of pedophiles living near the town of Kendall at the time of William's disappearance. “There were 20 sex offenders in the Kendall area,” he said. “Do you think there’s a street where there isn’t a registered sex offender? I’ve got news for you if you do." “They are in every town, every suburb, the safest places. They are monsters, predators, stalkers, and they live among us.” It’s hoped that the findings of a coronial inquest into William's disappearance will shed more light on the case, after out concluded in October last year due to the pandemic. In September, police returned to where William was last seen on the seven year anniversary of his disappearance, saying, "<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/shock-twist-in-seven-year-search-for-william-tyrrell" target="_blank">Further information has come to light</a>." William was only three years old when he disappeared from his grandmother's home in Kendall, NSW, on Friday September 12th 2014. Despite hundred of volunteers, emergency services workers and locals scouring the town, no one could find a trace of the missing boy. Image credits: NSW Police/PR Image

Legal

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

The case between Ben Roberts-Smith and The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Canberra Times newspapers, as well as several journalists, has recommenced, with an Afghan villager currently testifying. The man has told the court a radio device was planted on the farmer’s dead body the day he was allegedly killed. 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. 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. 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. 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. He said one soldier told him to “shut up” and pointed a pistol at his forehead after he denied being a Taliban member. 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”. 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. “He was rolling down, rolling down, until he reached the river,” Mr Hanifa said. “The soldier was looking at him, he was standing there and looking at him.” He said he then heard a shot and saw two soldiers “dragging” Ali Jan. 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. “These other things, the bag and the other device, they were not there,” he said. “They have put these things on his body.” Barrister Nicholas Owens SC, who is representing Nine, asked the witness whether he had seen Ali Jan carrying a radio that day. “By God, by God, he had nothing with him,” Mr Hanifa replied. Earlier, Mr Hanifa said the farmer was not connected to the Taliban. “He was providing for his children and he was protecting his family and his property.” 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. Mr Hanifa’s testimony comes as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed an image of Mr Roberts-Smith which was altered by the Department of Defence. <img style="width: 335px; height: 223px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842683/7ab17256de68be9cbd6e333ff20fcb433ddc0944.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2e9957241a6b46a6a632eda515190197" /> Image: ADF The photo, released in early 2011, shows Mr Roberts-Smith wearing a blank patch on the front of his uniform. The newspapers allege they have obtained the original photo, taken on April 6 2010, which shows Mr Roberts-Smith wearing the Crusader’s Cross. The Crusader’s Cross symbol dates back to the Crusades in the Middle East during the 11th and 12 centuries. Many Muslims find the symbol offensive, especially when it is displayed by western soldiers in their country. EDITOR’S UPDATE 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. Mr McClintock asked whether Mr Hanifa “hated” the soldiers. “If they are coming to our houses, go inside to our women, of course that’s what you call them - infidels,” the witness said. 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. The court had previously heard Mr Roberts-Smith had swum across a river to catch a suspected Taliban member prior to the raid. “The evidence you’ve given about seeing the big soldier wet is completely untrue, isn’t it?” Mr McClintock asked. “Whether you call it a lie that’s up to you, but I have seen this person with my own eyes,” Mr Hanifa replied. Key images of the “cliff” from which Ali Jan is alleged to have been kicked have also been released to the public. The photographs of Mr Hanifa’s village had been marked by Mr Roberts-Smith while he gave evidence several weeks earlier. <img style="width: 500px; height: 199.41634241245137px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842692/capture.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c144cfe3755e4628938144e11a1abd37" /> Image: Federal Court of Australia 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. 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.”

Legal

“Absolutely devastated”: The Queen suffers fresh heartache

The Queen faces more heartache following the death of one of her two dorgi - Dachshund-Corgi cross - pups. Fergus was one of the pair of puppies given to the monarch to help cheer her up after Prince Philip first became ill. She was said to be “devastated” when the five-month-old dog died over the weekend - just over a month following the death of her husband. She walked Fergus and Muick most days in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The pups were a surprise gift from her son, Prince Andrew, in February and they stayed by the Queen’s side while the Duke was in hospital. “The Queen is absolutely devastated,” a Windsor Castle insider said. “The puppies were brought in to cheer her up during a very difficult period. “Everyone concerned is upset as this comes so soon after she lost her husband. “On top of that there’s been problems with her grandson, Harry.” With insiders saying the Queen feared a trip hazard, many thought she had given up on owning new pets following the death of her corgi, Vulcan, last October. Fergus was named after the Queen’s uncle, Captain Fegus Bowes-Lyon, who died in 1915 as he led an attack on German lines at the Battle of Loos in France during WWI. Muick - pronounced Mick and named after Loch Muick in Balmoral, Scotland - and older dorgi Candy will continue to keep the Queen company. Candy is the last living descendent of corgi Susan who was given to the Queen on her 18th birthday. Buckingham Palace did not want to comment.

News

Fresh probiotics to keep you and your gut happy and healthy

<div class="Maincontent"> In recent years, awareness of the importance of the ‘gut microbiome’ (simply put, the bugs that live in your gut) has grown enormously. Probiotics, or friendly gut bacteria, are recognised around the globe for the vital role they play in gut health. When ingested, the good gut bugs help improve digestive and immune function, fight illness and disease, and may significantly improve a person’s overall health. According to the International Journal of Food Microbiology, there is ample evidence that the ingestion of probiotic microbes alleviates or prevents various disorders. The systems of our body, including much of the immune system, interact with our gut through a complex microbial biofilm. When this biofilm, the slimy layer protecting our gut, is damaged – say through stress, antibiotics or illness – the tissue of the gut is left exposed to irritation and to ‘leaky gut’ issues. Pathogenic or ‘bad’ microbes will often challenge a weakened gut immune system. Probiotic or ‘good’ microbes, on the other hand, contribute to the rebuilding of the biofilm and can kill or limit the ability of ‘bad’ microbes taking hold. So why is gut health such an issue in the present day? Before refrigeration, much of the food our ancestors ate was preserved through fermentation. These fermented foods provided them with a supply of friendly bacteria and their beneficial metabolites. Today, fermented foods containing bacterial-rich cultures and/or their metabolites can be found in some items such as pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, kombucha and of course yoghurt. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835152/060-69503268_1143732425822895_1892921821129342976_o.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fdd2943182bd4389a85f96afa18ee2da" /> However, not everyone is partial to these foods from yesteryear, the number of probiotic microbes in traditional food is highly variable, and thus many people turn to probiotic supplements to improve their gut health. But if you are taking a freeze-dried variety, you may not be getting what you think. The ‘viable’ microbes in most freeze-dried probiotic powders or pills are not alive or active, and are vulnerable when exposed to the acid and bile in the upper gastrointestinal tract. As a result, fewer than that shown on the label ever do the job they are purchased to do. Freeze-dried cultures are also susceptible to rapid damage from exposure to air and humidity. And don’t be fooled by the huge numbers of microbes listed on the labels of many probiotic products. What these labels often don’t tell you is that these high numbers refer only to the microbes present AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. Not the actual number of microbes that will enter your gut, which will be far fewer than what is shown on the label. So, what can fresh probiotics do that freeze-dried can’t? “A fistful,” says Dr Craig Bunt, Associate Professor in Animal Science at Lincoln University. Products using fresh, live and active microbes, such as<a href="https://www.livebrew.co.nz/"> LiveBrew</a>, can easily handle acid and bile challenges in the gut, and start working the moment they are ingested. According Dr Bunt, when it comes to probiotics, “fresh is best”. LiveBrew is a liquid probiotic, a combination of lots of fresh, live and active lactobacilli and other microbes, along with beneficial microbial metabolites. It is also the only probiotic on the market guaranteed to deliver a minimum of more than a billion live and active probiotic microbes in every dose – all the way through the shelf life shown on the bottle. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835154/060-fullsizeoutput_1c25.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/646bddcc4b66455fa529967ac301fe23" /> In 2010, BioBrew, the parent company of LiveBrew, began work in collaboration with Lincoln University, supported by Callaghan Innovation, to develop their prototype into a range of livestock and pet probiotic products. In 2017, the company worked with researchers from Callaghan Innovation to transfer the technology into a new human health product. The result was LiveBrew, a superior New Zealand product to promote ‘good’ bacteria to keep you and your gut happy and healthy. The beneficial species used to make LiveBrew are: <ul> <li>Lactobacillus acidophilus</li> <li>Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp bulgaricus</li> <li>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</li> <li>Lactobacillus paracasei</li> <li>Bifidobacterium lactis</li> <li>Streptococcus thermophilus</li> <li>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</li> </ul> This is sponsored content brought to you in conjunction with <a href="https://www.livebrew.co.nz/">LiveBrew</a>. </div>

Body

Garden-fresh asparagus soup

Love the healthy snap of a bright-green new-season asparagus stalk? Enjoy their uniquely grassy, sweet flavour and their healthy-bacteria-boosting proteins in this fresh and uplifting soup. Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 tablespoons butter</li> <li>2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve</li> <li>2 spring onions (scallions), finely chopped, plus extra, curled in cold water, to serve</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon curry powder</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon ground ginger</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric grated zest and juice of 1 lemon</li> <li>2 medium turnips, peeled and diced</li> <li>750 ml (3 cups) vegetable stock</li> <li>270 ml tin additive-free coconut milk</li> <li>175 g (1 bunch) asparagus, cut into 1.5 cm pieces</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt</li> <li>freshly cracked black pepper, to taste</li> </ul> Directions: <ol> <li>Melt the butter with the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.</li> <li>Add the spring onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft. Add the curry powder, ginger, turmeric, lemon zest, juice and turnip and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.</li> <li>Add the stock, coconut milk and asparagus, and simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes or until the turnip is tender, then add the salt.</li> <li>Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly, then purée the mixture in batches in a food processor or blender until smooth.</li> <li>Reheat gently if necessary, then drizzle with olive oil, grind over black pepper and garnish with curled spring onion.</li> </ol> Recipe and image from <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.murdochbooks.com.au/browse/books/healthy-cooking/Heal-Your-Gut-Lee-Holmes-9781743365601" target="_blank">'Heal Your Gut'</a> by Lee Holmes (Murdoch Books). Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/garden-fresh-asparagus-soup.aspx" target="_blank">Wyza.com.au</a>.

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