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Christchurch attack victims' families reflect on tragedy five years on

It's been five years since 51 men, women and children, were murdered in a terror attack when a white supremacist opened fire at Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Now, the victims' families have reflected on the tragic day, and commemorated their loved ones on the five-year anniversary of the attacks. Dr Maysoon Salama, who lost her son Atta Elayyan, 33, relives the grief of losing her son every day. “The pain is still fresh,” she told 7NEWS. Five years on, the good memories she shared with her son still play back in her mind. “Atta was an amazing son,” she said. “He’s touched the lives of so many people.” Despite the tragedy, Dr Salama remains strong and finds herself healing through her granddaughter Aya. “I feel like I see her father when I see her,” she said. “It’s a really hard journey ... but she has always been my focus.” Aya was two when she lost her father, and Dr Salama was faced with the heartbreaking task of helping her granddaughter adjust to a life without her father. “When I look her in the eyes and she will ask, ‘Where is my dad?’, what am I going to tell her?” she recalled thinking. “How are we going to tell her when she’s so attached to her daddy? She loved him so much.” Dr Salama's husband, Mohammad Alayan, was among the dozens of people hospitalised following the attack, with doctors at the time saying he was “lucky to survive”. “He had been shot twice. One in his head and it affected his vision and one in his shoulder and she said it was just a few millimetres away from his heart,” Maysoon said. The couple run a Muslim childcare centre An-Nur, and have worked together to help children navigate New Zealand's darkest days. She recalled the sinking feeling when she first heard of the attacks while at work, and how her husband's first instinct was to tell her to protect herself and everyone at the childcare centre. “I got a call from my husband and he told me he was in hospital and that I have a big responsibility to protect the children and the teachers and lock down, close the doors because he was afraid the shooter would also come to our place because we are a Muslim childcare centre,” she said. “More families who were distressed started coming to pick up their children, and some of them even had blood on their shirts, some of them witnessed the thing. “It was really an awful situation.” Not long after, she learned that her own son had also been injured, but at the time had no idea of the reality of it all. Aya Al-Umari lost her brother, Hussein, on the fateful day. “It happened so suddenly, I had no time to grieve,” she said. Hussein spent the last moments of his life protecting other people, and even though Aya misses his hugs more than anything, she takes comfort in knowing that her brother's legacy will live on. “He had the opportunity to escape, but he didn’t,” she said. “He was running towards the terrorist. “It really goes to show, especially in his last moments, he was always a giver.” Both Aya and Dr Salama both take comfort in the belief that their loved ones died as as a Shahid – a true martyr who died in the name of their faith in Islam. Dr Salama hopes that the findings from last year’s coronial inquest, expected to be handed down this year, will provide a sense of closure to the victims' families. She also hopes that people will use the fifth anniversary of the shootings to reflect on the work that is yet to be done and call for more action in fighting Islamophobia and extremism. “We can fight Islamophobia by challenging the biases and educating ourselves also and intervening against discrimination. “See something, say something.” Canterbury's Muslim community will also gather today to honour the victims with a commemoration service at Masjid Annur in the evening, according to <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/511744/muslims-mark-5th-anniversary-of-christchurch-mosque-terror-attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RNZ</a>. Brenton Tarrant, who was behind the terror attacks, was sentenced to life in jail without parole – the first person in New Zealand's history to receive the sentence because his actions were deemed "so wicked". Images: 7News

Caring

9/11 victim’s remains identified nearly 23 years after terror attack

Almost 23 years on from the deadly attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, a victim’s remains have been identified. John Ballantine Niven, 44, was an executive at Aon Risk Services, an insurance firm on the 105th floor of Tower Two of the Trade Centre complex in September 2001. Niven is the 1,650th victim identified from the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil, when hijackers crashed planes into the Twin Towers, killing 2,753 people on September 11th. At the time of his death, he left behind a wife and an 18-month-old son, with his body remaining unidentified until now. “While the pain from the enormous losses on September 11th never leaves us, the possibility of new identifications can offer solace to the families of victims,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the ongoing work from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner that honours the memory of John Ballantine Niven and all those we lost.” In recent years, the medical examiner’s office has been utilising modern advanced DNA technology to identify victims through their remains. “We will forever remember our heroes who perished on 9/11 and we appreciate the continuous efforts of forensic experts to help identify victims,” Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a separate statement. “We’re hopeful that this amazing advance in technology helps bring peace to Niven’s family and allows him to eternally rest in peace.” Roughly 40 percent of victims of the World Trade Centre attack have yet to have their remains identified, as few full bodies were recovered when the towers collapsed. Image credits: Getty Images / legacy.com

Caring

“May her memory be a blessing”: Father of Hamas victim speaks out

The grieving father of a 23-year-old German-Israeli woman, Shani Louk, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival by Hamas militants on October 7, has shared his devastation after it was confirmed that his daughter had been found dead. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the discovery and identification of Shani Louk's body on Monday. Louk was attending the festival in southern Israel when Hamas breached the border between Gaza and Israel, leading to a series of tragic events. However, her father, Nissim Louk, remembers his daughter as someone who was enjoying herself "until the last moment". "Until about 6.45pm, Shani was still dancing, cheering, and going wild at the party and was surrounded by all her best friends — and they had fun all night," he told the Israeli news outlet, N12. He emphasised that she was killed instantly and didn't suffer. Just ten minutes earlier, she was still immersed in the festival's joy. “She was killed on the spot and not only did she not suffer, 10 minutes earlier she was still enjoying herself.” Mr Louk also criticised the government's response, calling it a failure. He claimed that the government ministries underestimated the situation, were unresponsive, and failed to take adequate measures. He pointed out the responsibility of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the events and expressed his discontent with the government's handling of the situation. Shani Louk was kidnapped at the festival and subjected to torture and captivity by Hamas terrorists. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that she "experienced unfathomable horrors", and expressed their condolences, saying, "May her memory be a blessing." The attack by Hamas militants on the festival was a horrifying event. They blocked off access to the festival site from both the north and the south before storming the area on foot. Videos from the site showed them encircling the crowds on three sides, leading to casualties and chaos. Shani's mother, Ricarda Louk, revealed that she last spoke to her daughter after hearing rockets and alarms sounding in southern Israel. She called to ensure her daughter's safety, and Shani informed her that she was at the festival with few places to hide. Her abduction occurred as she was trying to reach her car, with military personnel preventing people from leaving the scene. The tragedy at the Nova festival was immense, with more than 260 bodies found at the site by Israeli rescue service Zaka. However, based on CNN's analysis, the total death toll could be even higher. Additionally, a number of hostages were taken to Gaza during the attack, with the latest figures indicating that up to 239 hostages are believed to be held by Hamas in the enclave. In a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy, a female Israeli soldier who had been kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 was released during ground operations in Gaza, as confirmed by the Israel Defence Forces. The soldier received medical attention, is in good health, and has been reunited with her family. Images: CNN / N12

Caring

Rebecca Loos claims Beckham is "playing the victim" over affair scandal

Rebecca Loos, the woman at the centre of the alleged <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/woman-at-the-centre-of-alleged-beckham-affair-breaks-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affair scandal</a> with iconic football legend David Beckham, has recently shared her thoughts on the new Beckham docuseries, which was released on Netflix. Loos, now 47 and residing in Norway with her husband and two children, expressed her concerns regarding the way the affair was handled in the docuseries, which was produced in collaboration with Beckham's production company. In the early 2000s, Loos gained notoriety for her claims of a romantic involvement with David Beckham during his time as a football superstar. In the docuseries, the Beckhams primarily discussed the media frenzy that ensued following Loos' revelations in 2003, but skirted around the specifics of the affair itself. It was during that tumultuous period that Loos had declared her connection with the football player while working as his personal assistant, even suggesting that the Beckhams had been dealing with marital issues before her involvement came to light. At the time, the celebrity couple vehemently denied any wrongdoing and even considered legal action against Loos. Victoria Beckham, 49, revealed in the docuseries, "It was the most unhappy I have ever been in my entire life," while David Beckham, 48, tearfully stated, "Victoria is everything to me. To see her hurt was incredibly difficult… what we had was worth fighting for." Loos, however, took issue with David's statement. In a <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12657157/rebecca-loos-affair-david-beckham-netflix.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candid interview with the Daily Mail</a>, she expressed her frustration: "The [worst] bit for me is that he says he didn't like seeing his wife suffer. That bothered me. Because he's the one that's caused the suffering. He can say whatever he likes, of course, and I understand he has an image to preserve, but he is portraying himself as the victim and he's making me look like a liar, like I've made up these stories. He is indirectly suggesting that I'm the one who has made Victoria suffer." Loos also argued that the docuseries had thrust the affair back into the spotlight, an issue that many had forgotten about since the news first broke 20 years ago, thereby further impacting her reputation. She emphasised, "Yes, the stories were horrible, but they're true. He talks in the documentary about this ultimately being his private life, shutting it down. I think it's one thing to keep your private life to yourself. It's another thing to mislead the public." She suggested that David could have chosen to acknowledge that it was not one of his proudest moments or characterised it as a challenging period and moved on from the subject. However, she felt that he continued to phrase his statements in a way that indirectly shifted the blame onto her. "If you don't want to take responsibility for things because of your family and your children, that's absolutely fine," Loos commented, "But he specifically made it look like… my fault, that he had nothing to do with this." Loos, after the 2003 allegations, embarked on a path as a media personality, participating in various English and Dutch TV shows. In 2008, while filming the Dutch TV show 71 Graden Noord, she crossed paths with her future husband, Norwegian doctor Sven Christjar Skaiaa. After becoming pregnant, the couple decided to relocate to Norway in 2009. Today, she works as a yoga teacher and a massage therapist in Norway while raising her two sons and only occasionally making media appearances. Images: Instagram

1 in 6 older adults fall victim to impersonation scams

More older adults are likely to fall victim to scams than are currently recognised according to new US research. The problems are global. <div class="copy"> A research team from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, US, says older Americans who aren’t cognitively impeded, are also at risk. In their study <a href="https://10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.35319" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> today in JAMA Network Open, the group reports on a behavioural experiment where they targeted 644 adults aged 64-104 in Rush’s Memory and Aging Project – a local scheme that draws on participants from metropolitan Chicago to participate in research – with a pitch mimicking a real-world impersonation scam. The study’s fictitious ‘US Retirement Protection Task Force’ pitched itself to participants as a government social security initiative. This USRPTF told participants via either post, email or a telephone call there’d been irregular activity on their Medicare or social security file and the inquiry was a routine account security check. As part of this, the fake agency asked participants to call a telephone hotline or login to a provided website to provide their details. Over two-thirds of the study failed to respond to any attempts to obtain information by the phoney scheme. The remainder were evenly split by either responding to requests for contact, but expressing scepticism at the authenticity of the USRPTF, or by responding and engaging with the request for information. Those who were engaged with the request for information, but expressed doubts, were also those with the highest cognitive performance, and lowest proportion of dementia. They were also the most financially literate participants, while those who provided their details had the lowest literacy. Those who provided details were also found to have the lowest scam awareness of all participants. Among this group, 1 in 10 willingly provided personal information and 1 in 5 provided details of their social security number. “If extrapolated to a population level, these numbers are astounding and suggest that a very large number of older adults are at risk of victimisation,” the authors say. They also note that, given the use of a fictitious US government organisation name, the number of people vulnerable to well-organised scams is likely much higher. Last year, the US National Council on Aging reported 92,371 older Americans were defrauded of a total of US$1.7 billion. Most were victims of government department impersonation, sweepstakes and robocall scams. Often such scams will simply demand payment while ‘spoofing’ the phone number of a government agency to add the veil of legitimacy. It’s a similar story around the world. This year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found Australians lost a record $3.1 billion last year, mostly via phone scams. Australians over 65 years of age accounted for a quarter of losses and reports. The UK’s Action Fraud initiative found Britons lost about ₤2.35 billion in the 2020/21 financial year, with those aged 50-69 most susceptible to falling victim. <div> Image credits: Getty Images <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/society/1-in-6-older-adults-fall-victim-to-impersonation-scams/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="null">Cosmos</a>. </div> </div>

Legal

Assault victim breaks silence after Rolf Harris' death

Warning: This article contains information about sexual assault which some readers may find distressing. One of Rolf Harris's victims has spoken out about the "impact of evil" the disgraced entertainer had on her life, after the news of his death broke around the world. Karen Gardner, a presenter for the the BBC, accused the convicted pedophile of assaulting her three times when she was his 16-year-old bag carrier for the show Star Games in 1977. Upon hearing the news of his death, Gardner wrote on Twitter, "Very few of us escape the impact of evil people. What we have to do is expose them, share and stand together to dilute the pain." "For me it was Rolf Harris but he inflicted much worse on other girls." Ms Gardner shared the details of her harrowing experience in the recent ITV documentary Rolf Harris: Hiding in Plain Sight, which aired just last week. She told the program, "In the space of I guess about 35 minutes, he assaulted me three times in plain sight. And it was horrible because you're surrounded by people, and he had a method of operating." "I won't talk about the actual details, but he was paying me attention, he was saying how great I had been, and he, he hugged me, and that that's when, when it happened. And it was humiliating and degrading and awful and your, your blood turns to concrete." "And then it was mid-afternoon and they had organised a couple of taxis and one of the cars came to get him. And I had to get in the back seat of the car." Ms Gardner said Rolf got beside her and assaulted her again, adding, "Maybe because there wasn't anyone there, I did tell him to f**k off. And he said something, which makes, still makes me feel sick now. He said to me, 'You're irresistible.' I was 16. He was 48. He was 10 years older than my dad." Harris was acquitted of assaulting Ms Gardner after the jury could not reach a verdict at two trials. Rolf Harris' <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/news/news/rolf-harris-cause-and-date-of-death-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death</a> was confirmed on May 23rd, while his death certificate states he died at the age of 93 on May 10th, after a battle with neck cancer. Image credits: ITV / Getty Images

Caring

“A special girl”: Orphaned crash victim receives bravery award for saving baby brothers

Synthia Rose Day, a five-year-old girl from Western Australia, has received a Children of Courage award for her actions in the devastating crash that orphaned herself and her two younger brothers. Synthia was in the car with her mother Cyndi Braddock, Cyndi’s partner Jake Day, and her two brothers when their Land Rover left the road in Wheatbelt and flipped a handful of kilometres short of their home. Jake was 28, and Cyndi only 25. In the backseat with her little brothers, Synthia survived the accident, but the trio were not found for 55 hours in the wake of the tragedy despite a frantic search by both their loved ones and the local authorities. While the situation the children found themselves in was nothing short of devastating, Synthia stepped up, and took action to make sure her brothers got out of there okay. "She took the seatbelt off the one-year-old Charles,” the childrens’ uncle, Al Slatter, informed 9News, “[she] got him out of the seat and then got her foot stuck so she couldn't move … and what she did for Bevan was amazing." The children, freed from the vehicle and watched over by young Synthia, were eventually found on the roadside. For her actions that day, Synthia has been presented with a Children of Courage award, and was nominated by her teacher, Tony Smeed. “She's always been a caring and compassionate person,” Smeed said of the decision to put Synthia forward for the award, “and obviously the bravery she showed in 50 hours of heat to keep her brothers alive was just amazing.” “The award will mean that much to her,” their uncle, Al Slatter added, “and I even had a tear in my eye when they read it out to me, because she’s a special girl.” Synthia’s beloved brothers - two-year-old Bevan and one-year-old Charles - were in attendance to support their hero big sister, and the family had to travel more than three hours from their home in Kondinin to Perth to attend the ceremony. Slatter also opened up to 9News about Synthia’s attitude since the tragedy, as the children adjust to their lives in their grandparents’ care, saying, “Charles, she loves him, but Bevan, wherever he goes - if he’s out riding his pushbike out the front - she’s got to be out there checking on him, making sure he’s not too far from Nanny.” Synthia was one of 38 exceptional children across Western Australia to be recognised for demonstrating resilience, determination, and positivity while living with trauma and various health challenges. Images: 9News

Family & Pets

Victims of child sexual abuse react to Cardinal Pell's death

Victims of childhood sexual abuse have shared their reactions to the news of the death of Cardinal George Pell. Pell, who was previously convicted for historic sex crimes, died at age 81 in Rome on Wednesday after complications from hip replacement surgery. Phil Nagle, who was assaulted by a priest at the age of nine, said bluntly, "He's certainly burning in hell right now." "I'm glad he's passed on," he told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/reaction-to-cardinal-george-pells-death/33dd1fd4-fb5a-4fd0-9cba-54da4d4de15b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. Nagle went on to say he believed Pell "was a liar and a protector of paedophile clergy". "(He) had plenty of opportunities during his lifetime to try and redeem himself," he said. "It's a bit of a shame he's taken the secrets to the grave." Victims advocate Helen Last said she "felt really numb" when she heard about Pell's death. "It's a tragedy of great proportions. There's so many survivors in Victoria still who have not been able to come forward about alleged abuse by him, on them," she said. "I personally believe on the basis of evidence that George Pell has been involved in a network of sexual offending clergy that goes right back." Sex abuse victim Michael Advocate said his shed weren't of sorrow when he heard about Pell's passing. "He was a terrible, terrible human being that just damaged so many child sex abuse victims, including me," Advocate said. "There's so many of my fellow sufferers, you know … he got off so lightly. I hope he really gets justice." "If there is a God, dear God may he be forthright in his punishment." Despite an onslaught of similar comments from members of the public who stand with Pell's accusers, famous friends of the Church were quick to share their sadness over the Cardinal's death. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a Catholic and staunch Pell supporter, described the cardinal as a "saint" and compared the sexual abuse charges that effectively ended his ecclesiastical career to "a modern form of crucifixion". Reacting to Abbott's statement on Instagram, former 7News Melbourne host Jacqui Felgate summed up the anger felt by Pell's critics with a brutal, three-word response. "Beyond the pale," she wrote. Many of Felgate's followers agreed, with former Bachelor star Matthew Johnson saying, "This is absolutely abhorrent and really puts into perspective what type of person [he is]." Image credits: Getty Images

News

Crypto scams will increase over the holidays – here’s what you need to know to not fall victim

Each year, as the festive season arrives, we must also keep an eye out for potential scammers trying to ruin the fun. This is because scammers become more active <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/scam-statistics?scamid=all&date=2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during the holidays</a>, targeting us while we have our guard down. So far in 2022, Australians have lost around <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/scam-statistics?scamid=all&date=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">half a billion dollars to scams</a>, which is already significantly more than had been lost by this time last year. The majority of these losses – <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/scam-statistics?scamid=26&date=2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around $300 million</a> – have involved investment or cryptocurrency scams. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=370&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=370&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=370&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494108/original/file-20221108-14-vbvqlj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A chart showing a steady rise of crypto scams, with a spike in April 2022" /></a><figcaption>Investment scams 2019-2022. scamwatch.gov.au</figcaption></figure> Researchers from <a href="https://cybercentre.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deakin University’s Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation</a> had a opportunity to interview recent victims of these scams. Here is what we found. Anyone can fall for a scam <blockquote> I was shocked and could not accept that this happened to me although I was very careful […] I was numb for a couple of minutes as it was a large amount of money. – (26-year-old female office manager from South Australia) </blockquote> These scams have become highly sophisticated and criminals have become less discriminating about whom they target. This is reflected in recent victim demographics, showing a wide variety of backgrounds, a more even distribution across several age groups, and an almost even split on gender. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=343&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=343&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=343&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=431&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=431&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494408/original/file-20221109-21-4mauh4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=431&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A bar chart showing most age groups are almost equally targeted" /></a><figcaption>Age groups of scam victims. scamwatch.gov.au</figcaption></figure> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494409/original/file-20221109-24-24ku3v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494409/original/file-20221109-24-24ku3v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=367&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494409/original/file-20221109-24-24ku3v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=367&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494409/original/file-20221109-24-24ku3v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=367&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494409/original/file-20221109-24-24ku3v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=461&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494409/original/file-20221109-24-24ku3v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=461&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494409/original/file-20221109-24-24ku3v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=461&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A radial chart showing female scam victims comprise 49%, male 48% and gender X the rest" /><figcaption>Gender distribution for reported scams. scamwatch.gov.au</figcaption></figure> So, how can you spot these scams and where can you get help if you have fallen victim? If it sounds too good to be true, it might just be a scam <blockquote> I was dumbfounded, to say that ground shattered under my feet would be an understatement, it will take me a very long time to recover from it, financially and mentally. – (36-year-old female, legal practitioner from Victoria) </blockquote> Most crypto scams involve getting the victim to buy and send cryptocurrency to the perpetrator’s account for what appears to be a legitimate investment opportunity. Cryptocurrency is the currency of choice for this type of crime, because it’s unregulated, untraceable and transactions cannot be reversed. Victims of such scams are targeted using a number of different methods, which include: Investment scams: scammers pretend to be investment managers claiming high returns on crypto investments. They get the victim to transfer over funds and escape with them. “Pump and dump”: scammers usually hype up a new cryptocurrency or an <a href="https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/preemptive-safety/how-to-avoid-nft-scams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NFT project</a> and artificially increase its value. Once enough victims invest, the scammers sell their stake, leaving the victims with worthless cryptocurrency or NFT. Romance scams: involves scammers using dating platforms, social media or direct messaging to engage with you, gain your trust and pitch an amazing investment opportunity promising high returns, or ask for cryptocurrency to cover medical or travel expenses. Phishing scams: an old but still effective scam involving malicious emails or messages with links to fake websites promising huge returns on investment or just outright stealing credentials to access users’ digital currency wallets. Ponzi schemes: a type of investment scam where the scammers use cryptocurrency gathered from multiple victims to repay high interest to some of them; when victims invest more funds, the scammers escape with all the investments. Mining scams: scammers try and convince victims to buy cryptocurrency to use in mining more of it, while in reality there is no mining happening – the scammers just make transfers that look like returns on the investment. Over time, the victim invests more, and the scammers keep taking it all. Although methods evolve and change, the telltale signs of a potential scam remain relatively similar: <ul> <li>very high returns with promises of little or no risk</li> <li>proprietary or secretive strategies to gain an advantage</li> <li>lack of liquidity, requiring a minimum accumulation amount before funds are released.</li> </ul> Where to seek help if you’ve been scammed <blockquote> I felt helpless, I didn’t know what to do, who to reach out to, I was too embarrassed and just kept blaming myself. – (72-year-old male, accountant from Victoria) </blockquote> If you think you have fallen victim to one of these scams, here is what you need to do next: <ul> <li> inform the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> or reach out to relevant authorities <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/get-help/where-to-get-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as per advice on the ScamWatch website</a> </li> <li> reach out to your friends and family members and inform them of the scam; they can also be a source of help and support during such times </li> <li> as these events can have a psychological impact, it’s recommended you talk to your GP, a health professional, or someone you trust </li> <li> you can also reach out to counselling services such as <a href="http://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LifeLine</a>, <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beyond blue</a>, <a href="http://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sucide Call Back Service</a>, <a href="http://www.mensline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mens Line</a>, and <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/get-help/where-to-get-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more</a> for help and support. </li> </ul> If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, please remember help and support is available. Finally, to prevent yourself becoming the next statistic over the holiday period, keep in mind the following advice:<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194064/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <ul> <li>don’t share your personal details with people online or over a call</li> <li>don’t invest in something you don’t understand</li> <li>if in doubt, talk to an expert or search online for resources yourself (don’t believe any links the scammers send you).</li> </ul> Writen by Ashish Nanda, Jeb Webb, Jongkil Jay Jeong, Mohammed Reza Nosouhi, and Syed Wajid Ali Shah. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/crypto-scams-will-increase-over-the-holidays-heres-what-you-need-to-know-to-not-fall-victim-194064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #ffffff;">Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

US comedian cracks cruel ‘jokes’ about rollercoaster victim Shylah Rodden

A US comedian has cracked a series of distasteful jokes about Shylah Rodden, the Melbourne woman who was hit by a rollercoaster last month. The 26-year-old suffered severe facial and brain injuries after being struck by the 70 km/h Rebel Coaster Ride at the Royal Melbourne Show, and she remains in hospital in a serious condition. It is believed she had walked onto the tracks to retrieve her phone when she was hit. But, comedian Anthony Jeselnik seemed to find the situation quite funny while discussing the accident with NFL Network analyst Gregg Rosenthal on their podcast, The Jeselnik & Rosenthal Vanity Project. “This story is absolutely hilarious to me,” Jeselnik said during the episode, titled ‘Your Luck Is Like A Rollercoaster, Baby-Baby’. “I bet no one could believe it. I bet she feels dumb.” Rosenthal then explained how Ms Rodden had only just re-learned how to walk when she was struck, having been involved in a car crash in January 2021 that saw her car collide with a truck and flip over, with Jeselnik bursting into laughter. “Now you’re wondering why is this funny to us?” Jeselnik said. “Walking onto a rollercoaster track is a bad idea. If you drop your cell phone, ask someone who works there to get your phone for you. Do not jump onto the rollercoaster tracks. “She’d gotten hit by a car a few years ago, had to go through physical therapy to be able to walk again. To celebrate learning to walk again… she goes to an amusement park and immediately gets hit by a rollercoaster “Can you be forgiven because you haven’t been walking around that much that you don’t really know how to walk, and so you think walking onto rollercoaster tracks are fine? “It’s bad luck but rollercoasters only go in two directions. It’s hard to get hit by them. “A car, ok anything could have happened, maybe you’re in the street, maybe the car jumped the kerb. “A rollercoaster, that’s your fault every single time.” Jeselnik’s comments come amid a growing number taking to social media to criticise Ms Rodden’s actions in the lead-up to the accident, with some claiming that she isn’t a victim and deserves to be in intensive care. Meanwhile, a friend of Ms Rodden has appealed for prayers for the young woman, who he described as having a “heart of gold”. “Please pray for Shylah Rodden. Shylah Rodden is one of my best friends [and has a] heart of gold. Shyla has always been there for me and is always there for anyone, not just her friends,” Mr Nawar wrote on Facebook. “She has suffered a horrible accident at the Melbourne Show and was put in a induced coma. I don’t know her current status but please ask anyone who sees this to make a small prayer for her and her family, even if it’s [as] small as please God help them heal. “Shylah and her family lost their son/brother a few months ago and were all still grieving. I saw the pain this had on Shylah.” Images: YouTube / Facebook

News

Thailand in mourning as victims of daycare massacre farewelled

Warning: Some readers may find the content of this article distressing. Hundreds of mourners have gathered in temples in north-east Thailand to farewell more than 30 victims who were killed in a heartless massacre in a children's daycare. On Thursday, a man armed with a gun and a knife stormed a daycare centre, killing 12 adults and 24 children between the ages of two and five. Relatives and grief-stricken members of the community gathered at the Si Uthai temple in the village of Uthai Sawan on Saturday to pay their respects to the victims. They lit candles in front of coffins topped with floral wreaths and framed photographs of the dead, as loved ones placed toys, clothes and their children favourite foods atop their caskets. One of the coffins belonged to toddler Pattarawat Jamnongnid, whose photo showed him dressed in a pink sports shirt On his coffin was a model dinosaur and a bottle of milk. His mother, 40-year-old factory worker Daoreung Jamnongnid, said her only child was energetic and talkative. At just two years and 10 months, he was the youngest of the children killed but his mother said he already knew the alphabet. "He was so smart. He liked to watch documentaries with his father," she said. Police have identified the attacker as Panya Khamrap, 34, a former police sergeant who was facing trial on a drugs charge. His autopsy showed no evidence of drug use at the time of his death, according to police. Deputy police chief Surachet Hakpan said officers were still interviewing 180 people about the incident, and when asked about the killer's motive, he said it was "because of his constant stress … his family, his money and his legal cases. So he acted aggressively". Three boys and two girls survived the attack and four of them remain in hospital, police said. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn visited the hospital on Friday to express his sorrow over the "evil incident". <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> "There are no other words to describe this feeling," he said. </div> "I want to give you all moral support to be strong so that the souls of those children can have a sense of relief that their families will remain strong and be able to move forward." Meanwhile Kittisak Polprakan, a witness to the attack, described the killing spree. "It was so quiet," he said. "There was no noise, no screaming, nothing." Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

"The injuries are horrific": Rollercoaster victim identified

The victim of a <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/the-screaming-was-so-loud-young-woman-struck-by-roller-coaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shocking roller coast accident</a> has been identified as Melbourne based woman Shylah Rodden. Ms Rodden, aged 26, remains in intensive care after sustaining horrific injuries in the accident, which remains under investigation. Her father, Alan Ridden, says there is great mystery surrounding the situation. On Monday, police claimed Shylah was struck by the ride at the Royal Melbourne Show while trying to retrieve her mobile phone from the tracks, however eye witnesses claim she had been on the ride. Horrified audience members watched on as the chaos unfolded, with paramedics treating Shylah for serious injuries before she was taken to hospital. Her father suggests these injuries are life-changing. “Obviously I can't talk to my daughter. She's going to be in a coma for quite a while,” Mr Rodden told Daily Mail Australia. “The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She's brain damaged. It's pelvic, her arms, legs, back, neck - there's hardly a thing that's not broken. I just can't work out how the hell so much damage has been done. Even the doctors have said they haven't seen anything as bad as this for a long time.” One witness, who had been positioned next to the ride, claimed police assertions the woman had been retrieving a phone were not accurate. "I did not see her walking or climbing on the tracks at all, we saw her flying from the ride, where she landed and how she landed is not consistent with being hit," a woman claimed. "Not from what we witnessed. We were standing right next to the ride when it happened." The witness had taken her young son on the ride shortly before the accident. "We saw her fall from the ride, (heard) the scream and the crack of her hitting the ground. My husband was one of the first on the scene. We were standing right next to it when it happened ," she said. In a statement issued by Victoria Police, investigators claimed the woman may have walked onto the track to try and retrieve a dropped phone. Speaking to ABC Mornings host Virginia Trioli on Monday, Show CEO Brad Jenkins refused to say whether there was a fence around the ride or how high that fence was. The incident remains under investigation and anyone who witnessed it are urged to call crime stoppers. Image: Facebook

News

Hero dad coward-punched while trying to rescue car crash victim

A 63-year-old father is fighting for his life after being coward-punched in the head while helping a teen in a car accident. Rob Seddon rushed to help a 17-year-old who crashed his Toyota Corolla into a caravan outside his home on Skyhawk Ave in Hamlyn Terrace on the Central Coast around 10pm on Saturday. Along with other neighbours, Mr Seddon assisted the teen before they were ambushed by a group of males who attacked them. Mr Seddon was allegedly hit from the back on the head which caused him to fall backwards, hit his head and lose consciousness. He was flown to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition where he underwent brain surgery and remains in intensive care in a coma. Mr Seddon’s 21-year-old son was also allegedly attacked and suffered a broken nose. “I could hear the sheer horrible noises from this guy that was being hurt, I had tears in my eyes, I knew it was bad,” neighbour Diane Gardner told Nine News. “It was absolutely horrible. You could hear his pain and he wanted help.” Police are asking anyone with information about the alleged attackers to come forward. The 17-year-old driver who crashed into Mr Seddon’s caravan was breathalysed at the scene and returned a positive blood-alcohol reading. He was then charged with negligent driving and drink-driving on P-plates. Images: Nine News

Caring

Dream home turns into nightmare for scam victims

A Queensland couple who thought they had snapped up the home of their dreams have been left devastated after they lost almost $40,000 to a “cunning” email scammer instead. When Mitch Wilson and Penny Davies received an email from what appeared to be their real estate agent’s email address, they believed they were following their agent’s advice to then transfer the deposit for their house into a bank account. “It plays over and over in my head all of the time,” Ms Davies said. “We got an email from the real estate agent we had been dealing with, from their email account, saying in light of the contract please pay money to this account,” Mr Wilson told 9News. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/receipts.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The couple lost nearly $40,000 after receiving the fraudulent email (left), realising their costly mistake while messaging the actual real estate agent (right). Images: 9News After transferring the $39,000 sum, they thought nothing of it until the agent contacted them several days later asking where the funds were. “We went back and forth, we exchanged screenshots and emails from their side and ours, and what was obvious is the money didn’t go where it was supposed to go which was their account,” Mr Wilson said. “(It) ended up in some fraudster‘s account and then offshore to a crypto account.” But, the couple aren’t the only victims of this kind of scam, which police refer to as an email compromise scam. The scammers infiltrate an email account and use it to send emails to victims - making it difficult to identify that they are being scammed. Constance Hall, a mummy blogger, told news.com.au she felt “stupid” after losing thousands of dollars to the scam after she transferred money via a link sent from the real estate agency that managed the rental property she believed she was paying a deposit for. When she contacted the bank, she was told that the chance of recovering the funds was minimal as she had authorised the transaction, and that she should report it to the police. In the end, only $7.57 was recovered. “To have it all stolen in an instant … felt unbelievably unfair,” she said. Ian Wells, of Queensland Police’s Cyber Crime Group, told 9News: “These people with these skills, they‘re very cunning, they’re very calculated.” Police are advising home buyers to contact the business before paying invoices online to confirm bank account numbers, as the hackers change the bank accounts in invoices sent by business owners before forwarding the altered invoices to unsuspecting customers. Victims are also urged to contact their bank as soon as possible to report the fraudulent transaction. As for businesses impacted by the scams, the Australian Cyber Security Centre advises that they report the incident at <a href="https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report</a>, alert other employees and clients, and report the breach to their email service provider. Image: 9News

Real Estate

"You opened the door to hell": Epstein victims address Ghislaine Maxwell as she is sentenced

Content Warning: This article discusses Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting and grooming four teenage girls who were sexually abused by her then-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein. At her sentencing hearing in Manhattan federal court, the 60-year-old showed no emotion as she was sentenced early Wednesday (Australia time). Before learning the sentence, four of the survivors read out victim impact statements, describing the abuse they faced at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein, as well as the long term emotional impacts they have experienced as a result. “For a long time I wanted to erase from my mind the crimes that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell committed against me … but I’ve had to acknowledge the long-lasting effects,” Annie Farmer, the fourth victim to take the stand, said, breaking into tears during her statement. “One of the most painful and ongoing impacts of Maxwell and Epstein’s abuse was the loss of trust in myself.” Sarah Ransome, Elizabeth Stein, and the accuser known as “Kate” also shared their statements, while the attorney for Virginia Giuffre read out her statement in court. Standing up at a Plexiglass-enclosed lectern, Maxwell described Epstein as a “manipulative, cunning and controlling man” who fooled everyone around him and said she was “sorry” for the pain his victims experienced. “It is my greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein,” she said. “I also acknowledge that I have been convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes. “And despite the many helpful and positive things I have done in my life and will continue to do … I know that my association with Epstein and this case will permanently stain me.” However, she attempted to shift the blame onto Epstein, emphasising that he “should have been here before all of you”, echoing arguments her lawyers made that she had been scapegoated for Epstein’s crimes. This is despite her involvement as the person to introduce the victims to Epstein and statements from victims describing her abusing them as well. During sentencing, US Circuit Judge Alisan Nathan said Maxwell didn’t appear to express remorse or take responsibility for her actions. “Maxwell directly and repeatedly and over the course of many years participated in a horrific scheme to entice, transport and traffic underage girls, some as young as 14, for sexual abuse by and with Jeffrey Epstein,” Judge Nathan said. “The damage done to these young girls was incalculable.” The sentencing comes after Maxwell was convicted of five of six charges laid against her in December 2021, which followed a month-long trial and 40 hours of deliberation by jurors. Maxwell was convicted of: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> sex trafficking, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> conspiracy to entice individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> conspiracy to transport individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Transportation of an individual under the age of 17 with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, and, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of individuals under the age of 18. </li> </ul> Prosecutors last week called Maxwell’s conduct “shockingly predatory” and said she deserved to spend at least 30 years behind bars, based on their interpretation of sentencing guidelines. Maxwell’s lawyers argued that she should be sentenced for no more than five and one-quarter years, due to her being scapegoated and the time she has already spent in prison since her arrest in July 2020. However, her official sentence is far lower than the maximum possible sentence of 55 years that she could have received. Judge Nathan calculated that the sentencing guidelines called for 15.5 to 19.5 years in prison, but delivered a higher sentence due to the victims’ disturbing testimony and Maxwell’s “direct and repeated participation in a horrific scheme”. “Miss Maxwell is not punished in place of Epstein,” she said. “Miss Maxwell is being punished for the role that she played.” Image: Getty Images

Legal

“We’re all still living with it”: ‘Hey Dad!’ abuse victim speaks out

Content warning: This article includes mentions of sexual assault and child sexual abuse. Former Hey Dad! child star Sarah Monahan has spoken out after she learning the man who sexually abused her on national television will be released from prison. Monahan told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/former-hey-dad-child-star-sarah-monahan-speaks-out-as-robert-hughes-granted-parole/39c59cbe-394b-4a09-8ca3-63f2504d8acf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a> that the release of her former TV dad, Robert Hughes, had made her feel emotional, angry, and relieved. “I think we went from sadness, to despair, to bitterness,” she said. “I did not make it through the phone call without like, just tears coming out. There’s just been so much over so long and I guess it is now… it’s just … it’s over.” “He will never say sorry and I’m fine with that. He’ll never say it. I’m not going to beg for it; I’m not going to ask for it,” she added. In 2014, Hughes was convicted for sexual assault offences involving four girls and wasn’t eligible for parole until 2020. After serving eight years of his decade-long prison sentence for sexually abusing four girls, the 74-year-old TV star has been granted parole. In a 13 page judgement, the New South Wales State Parole Authority announced the decision, writing that the “offences took place in particular settings in which the offender abused his power and his position of trust”. While the parole authority was considering the decision at a public hearing last week, Monahan arrived in Sydney from the US and spoke with A Current Affair about her abuser. “I’m not scared of him anymore … he’s not going to be able to intimidate me anymore,” she said. With Hughes being granted parole, Monahan said she and the other victims would no longer have to face yearly parole applications. Now, Hughes will be heading to a detention centre before being deported back to the UK, having previously renounced his Australian citizenship. “He gets to move on with his life to go to England, but we’re still all living with it. So I guess it’s not really the release that I thought it would be,” Monahan said. He will also be subject to Interpol notification orders, meaning he’ll have to report to the UK police within days of arriving, as well as yearly, and inform Interpol of his address, any travel plans, and if he plans to stay at an address where a child is present for longer than 12 hours. His wife, Robyn Gardner, has promised that Hughes will undergo psychological counselling. Hughes is also prohibited from contacting, communicating with, stalking, harassing or intimidating his victims or their families, and he cannot be in the company of a person under the age of 16 without a responsible adult present. “I’m sure he thinks he’s won and he’s very happy that he’s going to get to go home,” Monahan said. She added that now she just wants to put Hughes out of her life. “This has consumed my entire life for the last 12 years, 14 years, so I guess I’ll have to find a new me now,” she said. “I don’t want to be a victim anymore.” Image: A Current Affair

Legal

Texas police admit wrongdoing following school shooting

Texas police have admitted that key elements in their response to the shooting at the elementary school which saw 21 people die were wrong. Gunman Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, was armed with a gun when he stormed Robb Elementary School on May 24 and shot dead 19 children and two teachers. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw admitted on Friday that the tactical decisions made during the response to the events leading up to the shooting were wrong. “From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision. There’s no excuse for that,” he said. “A decision was made that this was a barricaded subject situation, there was time to retrieve the keys and wait for a tactical team with the equipment to go ahead and breach the door and take on the subject at that point. “That was the decision, that was the thought process at that particular point in time.” According to audio evidence from the time of the shooting, Ramos fired almost 100 shots inside classrooms 111 and 112 about 11.30am. Two minutes later, three officers entered the school from the same back door Ramos came in from. About 12.03pm, there were at least 19 officers standing in the hallways but it was only at 12.50 pm that police used a key from the janitor to open the classroom doors. It was then they shot Ramos dead. Texas Governor Greg Abbott slammed the police for their response telling them to “get to the very seconds of exactly what happened with 100 per cent accuracy and explain it to the public and most importantly to the victims who have been devastated,” “There will be ongoing investigations that detail exactly who knew what when, who was in charge and what strategy (was used), why was it that particular strategy was employed, why were other strategies not employed?” he said. “Bottom line would be, why did they not choose the strategy that would have been best to get in there to eliminate the killer and to rescue the children.” Image: Twitter

News

Meghan Markle visits memorial of school shooting victims

Meghan Markle has visited a memorial dedicated to the 19 children and two teachers killed at school earlier this week. The victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas were between the ages of seven and 10, including teachers Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles. The Duchess of Sussex arrived at the memorial on Thursday and lay a bouquet of white roses among several others. She also walked past each of the white crossed which had the names of all the victims who lost their lives on Tuesday. Gunman Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, was armed with a gun when he stormed the elementary school on Tuesday and killed the young victims and their teachers. He was then allegedly killed by the responding officers. The murdered children have since been identified as 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza, 10-year-old Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, fourth grader Eliahana Cruz Torres, 9-year-old Eliana “Ellie” Garcia, 10-year-old Jackie Cazares, 10-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old cousins Jayce Luevanos and Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old Jose Flores, 10-year-old Makenna Lee Elrod, Maite Rodriguez, Nevaeh Bravo, 10-year-old Rojelio Torres, Tess Marie Mata, 8-year-old Uziyah Garcia, and 10-year-old Xavier Lopez. Teachers Irma Garcia, 46, and Eva Mireles, 44, selflessly put themselves in front of the children in defence but were also killed. Images: Twitter

Caring

Husband of Texas school shooting victim dies “due to grief”

The husband of one of the teachers killed in the <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/21-dead-at-primary-school-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mass shooting in Texas</a> has suffered a heart attack and died just two days later. Joe Garcia was married to Irma Garcia, <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/victims-of-the-texas-primary-school-shooting-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two faculty members</a> who were fatally shot by 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Two days after his wife passed away, Mr Garcia died of a heart attack. The couple had been together since high school and leave behind four children, as reported by <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/joe-irma-garcia-texas-shooting-dead-b2088371.html?utm_content=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3ME_I96lfeL_U8FWo-YXPmPGGy96juTVn8iUtWhTNN6bBS1C7T0tfLRvE#Echobox=1653590028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dallas News</a>. One family member confirmed his passing on Twitter, saying he “passed away due to grief”. John Martinez, Ms Garcia’s nephew, also took to Twitter to share his grief, writing: “EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia (aunt) Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief, i truly am at a loss for words for how we are all feeling, PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy <a href="https://t.co/GlUSOutRVV">pic.twitter.com/GlUSOutRVV</a> — john martinez ❤️‍🔥 (@fuhknjo) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuhknjo/status/1529870121023557632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></blockquote> “I am at a loss for words for how we are feeling,” Mr Martinez continued. “PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy.” A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/joe-irma-garcia?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=more&utm_source=customer&fs=e&s=cl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up by Ms Garcia’s cousin to raise funds for the family and her funeral expenses, describing the 46-year-old teacher as “sweet, kind, [and] loving”. “She sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom,” the page says. “She was a hero. She was loved by many and will truly be missed.” In an update, her cousin shared the news of Mr Garcia’s death. “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life of more than 25 years was too much to bear,” she wrote. As of publication, $USD 532,553 has been donated by more than 12,000 people, surpassing the $USD 10,000 goal at least 50 times over. Ms Garcia worked as a fourth grade teacher at Robb Elementary School for 23 years before she was killed and had been recognised for her excellence as an educator. In 2019, she was named as a finalist for the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching, which recognises exceptional teachers in the San Antonio area. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia were two of the greatest teachers Uvalde, TX has ever known. Their classroom was full of fun, growth, giggles, teamwork, and, most of all, love. Their legacy will live in the hearts of our community forever. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uvaldestrong?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uvaldestrong</a> <a href="https://t.co/Es95ZIURUi">pic.twitter.com/Es95ZIURUi</a> — Natalie Arias, M.Ed. (@natariastx) <a href="https://twitter.com/natariastx/status/1529332348415795200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2022</a></blockquote> Eva Mireles, a second teacher killed in Tuesday’s attack, shared a classroom with Ms Garcia and worked with both English and Spanish speaking students. Her cousin and grandmother shared their grief on social media, with her cousin describing her as a “beautiful” person. “My beautiful cousin! Such a devastating day for us all! My heart is shattered into a million pieces,” Arizmendi Mireles wrote. On the school’s website, Ms Mireles described herself as a mother of a college graduate and said she loved running and hiking with her “fun and loving” family. She leaves behind her husband, Robb Ruiz, a school police officer, and their daughter Adalynn Ruiz. Image: GoFundMe

Caring

Victims of the Texas primary school shooting identified

The innocent faces of the Robb Elementary School <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/21-dead-at-primary-school-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shooting</a> in Uvalde, Texas, have been identified. Among the deceased were at least 19 school children and two teachers, who died at the hands of 18-year-old shooter Salvador Ramos. The children who died were between the ages of seven and 10, with some of them having just received awards for great school work. Amerie Jo Garza was one of the first children to be confirmed dead. She had celebrated her 10th birthday just two weeks ago, and was shot while trying to call emergency services. A member of Amerie's family wrote on Facebook, "Please don't take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them." Among the other young victims were 10-year-old Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, fourth grader Eliahana Cruz Torres, 9-year-old Eliana “Ellie” Garcia, 10-year-old Jackie Cazares, 10-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old cousins Jayce Luevanos and Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old Jose Flores, 10-year-old Makenna Lee Elrod, Maite Rodriguez, Nevaeh Bravo, 10-year-old Rojelio Torres, Tess Marie Mata, 8-year-old Uziyah Garcia, and 10-year-old Xavier Lopez. At least two teachers also died during the tragedy, who have been identified as fourth grade teacher Irma Garcia and 44-year-old teacher Eva Mireles. While police continue to have the school locked down as a crime scene for their investigation, locals have begun laying flowers at the welcome sign of the school in remembrance of those who have died. In an emotional press conference about the shooting, Texas politician Beto O’Rourke erupted with anger as he called out state governor Greg Abbott for "doing nothing" to prevent the unimaginable tragedy. “The time to stop the next shooting is now and you’re doing nothing!” Mr O’Rourke shouted at Mr Abbott during the televised briefing with a slew of other Texas officials. Don McLaughlin, the mayor of Uvalde, Texas, where the shooting occurred, yelled back angrily at Mr O’Rourke. “I can’t believe that you’re a sick son of a b**ch that would come to a deal like this to make a political issue,” Mr McLaughlin said, according to the Texas Tribune. At one point, Mr O’Rourke, a Democrat who is running for governor of the state, also said that the shooting was “totally predictable”. Mr O’Rourke was then escorted out of the building, where he blasted his political rival to reporters outside. “The majority of Texas is not reflected by that Governor or those people around the table who talk about mental health care and say that this is pure evil but that it is completely unpredictable,” said Mr O’Rourke, a former congressman from El Paso, Texas, who has been vocal about gun control since a 2020 mass shooting there. “This is predictable. It will happen and it will continue to happen until we change course.” Image credits: Getty Images

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