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Aussie billionaire's ambitious mission to recover family remains

Australia's richest man is undertaking an ambitious mission to bring the remains of a long-lost loved one home, to keep a promise he made to his father before he died. Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's uncle was one of many Australians who died during the conflict in Papua New Guinea in the 1940s. David Forrest was shot down piloting his RAAF Beaufort bomber into an attack on a Japanese-held airstrip at Gasmata in Papua New Guinea in 1943. The loss has haunted the family ever since, as David's remains were never found. "[We] got the letter, from the king in those days, saying that uncle David was missing and presumed killed in action," Twiggy told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-billionaire-andrew-twiggy-forrests-search-to-find-loved-ones-lost-in-world-war-ii/9c042a41-c3d1-4b73-af6e-af40c983b81b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "Dad went through extreme emotions and grief and since that day he never cried for the rest of his life. "For the next 80 years he couldn't shed a tear it was just overwhelming for him." Twiggy's dad Donald had long said he wanted to hold his brother's dog tags before he died, but after passing away last year at the age 95, he was unable to fulfil his final wish. "Unfortunately we lost dad six months ago so I haven't fulfilled that, but it's really to put closure around something that really wrenched our family," he said. In order to bring closure to the family, Twiggy and his sister Janine have travelled to PNG onboard a purpose-built research vessel and joined by a crew of experts, including marine archeologists. The mission has been ongoing for many years with the blessing of the PNG government and the assistance of RAAF members, but has remained under wraps until now. In 2021, the family thought they had a breakthrough with their mission. "It was really emotional, very heart-wrenching as you went down into the depths thinking, 'Am I going to dive on uncle David's plane and be part of solving the mystery maybe of his remains maybe even his dog tags?' The serial number on David Forrest's Beaufort bomber was A9-188, but the bomber they'd found was A9-186. "I had to tell Dad I can confirm it was a Beaufort bomber, I can confirm it was Australians, but I have to confirm it wasn't your brother's. That was tough." While Twiggy admitted that the chances of finding his uncle's remains are slim, he said he owed it to his father to keep looking. "For my kids and myself, the standard I hold myself to is doing your absolute best," he said. "It's not whether or not you achieve it, it's did you do your best?" Image credits: A Current Affair

International Travel

'Australia's Forrest Gump' reaches major milestone

The man dubbed Australia's Forrest Gump has arrived back Down Under to complete the final leg of a mammoth journey. Tim Franklin has long dreamed of becoming the fastest person to run from one end of the world to the other, and has already completed most of his journey. The 40-year-old has run over 19,000 kilometres through 17 countries across five continents, setting off on his epic adventure in December 2022. With a world record in his sights, has been averaging more than a marathon a day for the past 427 days, as he battled floods, snow, exhaustion and injury on his travels. The worst of his hurdles came when his father was dying, as he decided to pause his journey to come home and say his goodbyes to the man he describes as "my hero, my mentor". "That message he gave me of 'go out and finish that damn run' was the last thing he said to me before he passed away," Franklin told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australias-forrest-gump-tim-franklin-lands-australia-final-leg-tim-runs-the-world/c3dac7d4-8c71-4fc5-84e2-4fbd2fb5af61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. The pause in proceedings knocked him out of world record pace but it didn't derail his dream and only further fuelling the fire for him to achieve his goals. In order to "officially" run around the world, certain kilometres need to completed in each continent. Franklin started his journey in New Zealand, before heading coast to coast across the US, then South America, and across from Spain through Europe to the Black Sea. After a short stint in Asia he decided to head back to Australia, landing in Perth to a surprise greeting from his siblings. Now, it's the beginning of the end as Franklin makes his way from Perth to Brisbane, via Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. "[I'm] really excited to be back here in Aus for the last leg of my run." When he finally reaches Queensland, his friends and family will be waiting but there's one thing the 40-year-old is looking forward to most. "I just wanna give my mum a hug to be honest," he said. Image credits: 9News

International Travel

“You look like Nicolas Cage!”: Tiny Busselton store shocked by megastar’s visit

Busselton, Western Australia - It's not every day that you walk into your local neighbourhood store and encounter a Hollywood A-lister browsing the snack aisle. Yet, that's precisely what happened to shop owner Annie Liban in her small Asian grocery store in Busselton, when none other than Nicolas Cage strolled through her doors. Cage, known for his eclectic roles and memorable performances, is rumoured to be filming his latest movie, The Surfer, in the scenic Western Australian region. The film apparently revolves around his character's return to his hometown and his unexpected feud with a local gang of surfers. A picturesque backdrop indeed for a film about beach drama, but it seems even Nic Cage needs to restock the fridge occasionally. The rumour mill had been buzzing with whispers of Cage's impending visit for a while now, but these tidbits of information didn't reach Ms Liban until the actor himself, in all his enigmatic glory, was casually perusing her store shelves one sunny afternoon. "I said, 'oh, he looks like Nicolas Cage,' but I was like, 'what's he doing in this store?'" Ms Liban recalled with astonishment <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-17/nicolas-cage-sighted-in-busselton-filming-the-surfer-movie/102986390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to the ABC</a>. "Why is he grabbing some eggs and kimchi? We couldn't stop staring." It seems that even Ms Liban's eagle-eyed staff had a hard time recognising the star at first, but eventually, curiosity got the better of them, and they mustered up the courage to ask the million-dollar question: "Who are you?" Ms Liban described the uncanny clues that finally cracked the Cage case. "There were some clues … he was wearing boots in hot weather and a jacket, wearing some Prada sunglasses and the voice as well," she said. "And then when he picked up the oranges in front of the shop we said to him 'we only accept cash' and he said 'I only have US dollars.'" "We said, 'oh you do look like Nicolas Cage' and he said, 'I am.'" It appears that Busselton's small Asian grocery store unexpectedly became a portal to Hollywood for a brief moment. The Surfer is expected to feature local surfers from WA's South West and will be shot in the stunning locales of Margaret River and Yallingup. A call-out for the movie even went to high school students a while back, seeking youngsters with the right amount of "attitude" to star in the film. Ms Liban, a fan of Nicolas Cage from her days growing up in the Philippines, is eagerly looking forward to the movie. "We love Nicolas Cage, so I'm excited to see what he's doing here in Australia," she said with a smile. City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley shared his enthusiasm for the unexpected Hollywood cameo in the region. "[These types of productions] have a significant economic impact on the area. Accommodation and costs for a crew of this magnitude, with 100 people here for a month, inject a substantial amount of money into the local economy," he explained. While Busselton has seen its fair share of Australian film productions like Drift with Sam Worthington and the karting-themed Go!, having Hollywood come to town adds a new layer of excitement. "I think this movie clearly has star power to bring someone like Nicolas Cage on board," Mr Henley mused. "It's a higher magnitude than some of the Australian-made films with smaller budgets and distributions. I might just bump into him while he's out exploring the region and having some fun." So if you're in the area, keep your eyes peeled as you stroll the aisles of your local grocery store – you never know when you might bump into a world-famous actor picking up some oranges and kimchi. Cage, with his eclectic filmography, truly knows how to keep us all on the edge of our seats, even when he's just shopping for groceries. Images: Facebook

Domestic Travel

Mining tycoon's father dies aged 95

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest's father, Donald Forrest, peacefully passed away at their ancestral Western Australian home at the age of 95 on a Sunday morning. In a heartfelt obituary, the Forrest family shared, "Don passed away peacefully in his sleep, knowing he was with people and places he loved." “We all wish him well in his onward journey. “He goes with the love, deep affection and enduring memories of all those whose lives his 95-year history has embraced. “His legacy will be cherished by all who knew him.” Donald was remembered as a “loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, stepfather, uncle and patriarch”. The family will host his funeral on Sunday October 1 “at his beloved Minderoo Station”, which has been in the family for four generations and is located in WA’s Pilbara region. A memorial service will be held in Perth afterwards for family and friends unable to attend his funeral. The Forrest patriarch is survived by his wife Marie, sons David and Andrew and daughter Jane. The sad news comes just two months after Andrew announced his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/australia-s-richest-couple-call-it-quits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shock split</a> from his wife of 31 years, Nicola. Andrew and Nicola, who are known as Australia's richest couple, have <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/the-real-reason-behind-australia-s-richest-couple-s-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insisted </a>that the divorce won't affect the direction of their mining empire or philanthropic interests. Image: Getty

Caring

The real reason behind Australia's richest couple's split

Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest has broken his silence on his shock split from his wife of 31 years, saying the decision to separate was "better for everyone". The mining magnate and his wife Nicole, who are known as Australia's richest couple, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/australia-s-richest-couple-call-it-quits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced their divorce</a> in a joint statement in July, saying they would remain friends and colleagues. At a trade forum in Perth on Wednesday, the Fortescue Metals Group CEO opened up about the split for the first time. "Nic and I are good mates, we speak all the time she's a fantastic lady," Mr Forrest told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/andrew-forrest-twiggy-split-nicola-forrest-first-interview-fortescue-metals-group/b278d0bb-867b-40df-b157-573ce8cc2a8f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine News</a>. "We made the call that it was better for everyone if we didn't live right on top of each other but we still absolutely support each other." Since announcing their split, the couple have insisted the separation won't affect the direction of their mining empire or philanthropic interests. Mr Forrest was asked what assurances he could give to shareholders that the former couple's new arrangement wouldn't impact the business, to which he announced that his estranged wife is now Fortescue's largest shareholder. "I give them complete reassurance - Nic and I are lockstep on that," Mr Forrest added. "We are completely committed to Fortescue, to Tattarang, all the objectives of Mindaroo, we are completely united." The news of the Forrest's split comes after Mr Forrest gave Ms Forrest half the ownership of their flagship company, Tattarang, and more than $1.1 billion worth of Fortescue shares was moved into a new company, Coaxial Ventures, owned by her, according to the <a title="Australian Financial Review" href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/andrew-and-nicola-forrest-to-pursue-separate-lives-20230712-p5dnpi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Financial Review</a>. Mr Forrest remains Australia's second-richest person in the latest AFR <a title="Rich List" href="http://Australian%20Financial%20Review's%20annual%20Rich%20List" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rich List</a>, with an estimated wealth of $31.44 billion, as only fellow mining magnate Gina Rinehart is richer, with $44.33 billion to her name. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

Bombshell twist in split between Australia's richest couple

Just days after announcing their separation, there has been a bombshell twist in the split between Australia's richest couple Andrew and Nicola Forrest. The couple, who were married for 31 years and have a shared fortune of $32 billion, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/australia-s-richest-couple-call-it-quits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed their separation</a> in a joint statement on Wednesday after living apart for months. During those months apart, it has been revealed that Andrew's own mining company investigated allegations he had a secret relationship with an employee. The board of Mr Forrest's company Fortescue Metals Group became aware of an anonymous letter that made allegations against the mining billionaire while the Forrests were figuring out their separation. The board contacted an outside law firm to investigate claims made in the letter about the behaviour of the executive chairman towards a lower level employee. The Australian Financial Review reported the investigation included a review of whether he had a relationship with an employee at the mining company, with the investigation concluding that the allegations were unsubstantiated. "The directors of Fortescue became aware of an anonymous letter concerning the behaviour of the executive chairman," Fortescue Metals said in a statement. "The board immediately met and engaged Seyfarth Shaw LLP, to independently investigate the letter and provide a report. Seyfarth Shaw LLP provided a full report to the board." "The investigation concluded that none of the matters in the letter were substantiated. There were no adverse findings." It added that Mr Forrest was excluded from the investigation as "it related to him". Fortescue went on to say that the report in full would not be released to shareholders or to the public. The revelations the investigation emerged just days after Andrew and Nicola announced their separation. "After 31 years of marriage, we have made the decision to live apart," the couple said in a joint statement. "Our friendship and commitment to our family remains strong." Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Australia's richest couple call it quits

Australia's richest couple have announced their separation after 31 years of marriage. Andrew and Nicola Forrest, who made their fortune through their mining company Fortescue Metals, said their split would have no impact on their work projects. "After 31 years of marriage, we have made the decision to live apart," the couple said in a joint statement. "Our friendship and commitment to our family remains strong." "There is no impact on the operations, control or direction of Fortescue, Minderoo or Tattarang." The couple said they would aim to convey a sense of stability for their business during the transition. "We will continue our shared mission to create and gift our wealth to tackle community and global challenges, as recently shown by last month's donation of one-fifth of our Fortescue shareholding to Minderoo Foundation," they said. The news of their split comes after Mr Forrest gave Ms Forrest half the ownership of their flagship company, Tattarang, and more than $1.1 billion worth of Fortescue shares was moved into a new company, Coaxial Ventures, owned by her, according to the <a title="Australian Financial Review" href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/andrew-and-nicola-forrest-to-pursue-separate-lives-20230712-p5dnpi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Financial Review</a>. Mr Forrest remains Australia's second-richest person in the latest AFR <a title="Rich List" href="http://Australian Financial Review's annual Rich List" target="" rel="">Rich List</a>, with an estimated wealth of $31.44 billion, as only fellow mining magnate Gina Rinehart is richer, with $44.33 billion to her name. After amassing their billions in the mining industry, the Forrests founded the philanthropic Minderoo Foundation in 2001. Its work in recent years has included several environmental projects and supplying millions of Covid-19 tests to Australia in the early days of the pandemic. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

Victoria Beckham's birthday snaps squash feud rumour

Victoria Beckham continues to squash feud rumours between her and daughter-in-law Nicola, as she shared intimate snaps from her 49th birthday dinner. The star celebrated her birthday with a fancy dinner accompanied by her husband, David Beckham, her four children, and her daughter-in-law, Nicola. “I love you,” she captioned one of her photos tagging Brooklyn and Nicola. In the picture, Nicola can be seen sitting in the middle of Brooklyn and Harper with her arms around them, fitting right into the Beckham family. The former Spice Girl also posted a picture showing a lit up birthday cake and Brooklyn and Nicola sitting across from her smiling from ear to ear. Rumours about the feud had started during Brooklyn and Nicola’s wedding last year, where it was reported that the two women had argued over Nicola’s dress. In an interview for the Cosmopolitan, Nicola had briefly mentioned the rumours surrounding her wedding. "I've said this so many times: There's no feud. I don't know. No one ever wants to write the nice things," she said. "It's really weird, actually, whether it's my life or someone else's life or whatever, when you know the truth and then you read something totally wrong,” she added. In recent months, it seems that the pair had gotten closer and Victoria’s photos appear to have squashed the rumours once and for all. Images: Instagram Take a look for yourself:

Family & Pets

“We can let you rest now”: Devastating development in missing Nicola Bulley case

Police in the United Kingdom have confirmed that a body found in a cluster of weeds by the River Wyre has been identified as missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley. Nicola was last seen in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, just after 9am on January 27. Her body was discovered just over a kilometre from where she disappeared. Nicola was walking her dog along the river after dropping her children off at school when she failed to return. Her mobile phone was found on a bench, still connected to a conference call for work, and her dog - a springer spaniel named Willow - was nearby. “We were called today at 11.36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road," local police reported. "An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body." Formal identification was required before it could be confirmed that it was Nicola's body, with police announcing the process was complete and the confirmation made at a press conference on Monday. “Sadly, we are now able to confirm that yesterday we recovered Nicola Bulley from the River Wyre,” Lancashire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said. "Nicola’s family have been informed and are, of course, devastated. Our thoughts are with them at this time, as well as with all her loved ones and the wider community. "We recognise the huge impact that Nicola’s disappearance has had on her family and friends, but also on the people of St Michael’s. "We would like to thank all of those who have helped during what has been a hugely complex and highly emotional investigation. "Today’s development is not the outcome any of us would have wanted, but we hope that it can at least start to provide some answers for Nicola’s loved ones, who remain foremost in our thoughts.” Assistant Chief Constable Lawson added that the case was now being handled by HM Coroner, and that the cause of her death is being treated as unexplained. In the wake of the tragic news breaking, Nicola’s family also issued a statement and emotional tribute for their late loved one. “Finally, Nikki, you are no longer a missing person, you have been found. We can let you rest now,” they said. “We will never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us. “We will never forget Nikki - how could we? - she was the centre of our world, she was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that. “Our girls will get the support they need from the people who love them the most.” Images: Getty

Caring

Inside the wedding of Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz have tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Florida, a little over two years after the world learned of their relationship. Nicola Peltz, daughter of billionaire investor Nelson Peltz and model Claudia Heffner, and Brooklyn Beckham, son of football legend David and pop star-turned-designer Victoria, exchanged their vows on the Peltz family's sprawling Palm Beach estate in a fairytale ceremony. Celebrity guests were also in attendance, with Serena and Venus Williams, Eva Longoria, and two of Victoria’s former bandmates - Spices Sporty and Scary (otherwise known as Mel C and Mel B) - looked on. The bride wore a show-stopping Valentino couture gown with an impressive train and lace veil to match, while her groom wore a custom Dior suit. The newlyweds were conscious of world events as they celebrated their nuptials, as they partnered with the humanitarian agency <a href="https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?df_id=31867&mfc_pref=T&31867.donation=form1&s_src=382251000000&s_subsrc=FY22UkraineCrisisFundBF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Care</a>, and invited guests to make donations in their name to help provide aid for women and girls, families and the elderly in Ukraine. The whole day was captured by celebrity photographer German Larkin for <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/news/article/brooklyn-beckham-nicola-peltz-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British Vogue</a>, with the couple posing with glee in their wedding attire. Brooklyn was also snapped with his father and his brothers and groomsmen Romeo and Cruz, and the Beckham men looked dapper in their Dior best. All image credits: Instagram @germanlarkin

Relationships

Researchers use Forrest Gump in brain study

<div><div class="copy">Watching the 1994 Tom Hanks movie Forrest Gump may have affected you in strange and unusual ways.British research suggests that throughout the two-hour Hollywood blockbuster the response of your hippocampus, the part of your brain associated with memories, was more likely influenced by subjective event boundaries than by specific transitions between scenes, such as changes in location.This suggests the hippocampus is sensitive to meaningful units of experience rather than perceptual cues. If that is correct, it likely means that the brain region plays an important role in segmenting our continuous everyday experience into discrete events for storage in long-term memory.The research, carried out by Aya Ben-Yakov and Richard Henson at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge, UK, is among the first to investigate hippocampal function during a natural experience.The scientists recruited two groups of volunteers. The first was asked to watch Forrest Gump, while the second was shown an abridged version of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1961 television drama Bang! You’re Dead, edited from 30 minutes down to eight.In each participant, the hippocampus responded as the researchers hypothesised it would.“We observed a strong hippocampal response at boundaries defined by independent observers, which was modulated by boundary strength (the number of observers that identified each boundary),” <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0524-18.2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they write in a paper</a> published in the journal JNeurosci.“In the longer film, there were sufficient boundaries to show that this modulation remained after co-varying out a large number of perceptual factors.“The hippocampus was the only brain region whose response showed a significant monotonic increase with boundary strength in both films, suggesting that modulation by boundary strength is selective to the hippocampus.”The hippocampus is one of the most widely-studied regions in the human brain, with research suggesting it has <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-happens-in-the-hippocampus-32589" target="_blank" rel="noopener">many roles</a>, including assisting with navigation and direction, as well as memory formation.The aim of Ben-Yakov and Henson was not to test how the hippocampus responds in specific situations, but to expose it to a continuous stream of complex information and thus gain an insight into how it behaves in a naturalistic setting.Image credits: Getty Images<div class="newsletter-box"><div id="wpcf7-f6-p22848-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"></div></div> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="height: 1px!important;width: 1px!important;border: 0!important" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=22848&title=Researchers+use+Forrest+Gump+in+brain+study" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </div><div id="contributors">This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/researchers-deploy-forrest-gump-in-brain-study/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Nick Carne. </div></div>

Movies

Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest launches criminal case against Facebook

Billionaire mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-60238985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> a criminal case against Facebook over allegations the company failed to prevent scams from using his image, in what he says will be the first criminal case the social media site has faced globally.He claims that Facebook breached Australian anti-money laundering laws in relation to the spread of cryptocurrency scams.Meta, the company that owns Facebook, has not commented on Dr Forrest’s case but said it was “committed to keeping those people [scammers] off our platform”.The scams that use Dr Forrest’s image - and those of other celebrities - promote bogus investments that promise rich returns.<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/d334da2d4f26441a3bb885ecbd284461-e1643840552644.jpeg" alt="" width="468" height="624" />An example of the scams circulating on Facebook using Andrew Forrest's image. Image: <a href="https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/02/03/andrew-forrest-sues-facebook-over-scam-ads-in-world-first-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crikey</a>Although the platform bans these kinds of ads, many still appear.Dr Forrest, the former CEO of Fortescue Metals who has a PhD in Marine Science, has alleged that Facebook had been “criminally reckless” in not doing more to stop the ads which first began appearing in early 2019.He said he had also written an open letter in November 2019 addressed to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to take action.“I’m concerned about innocent Australians being scammed through clickbait advertising on social media,” Forrest said in a statement on Thursday.“I’m acting here for Australians, but this is happening all over the world.”Under Australian law, the consent of the attorney-general is needed in order to privately prosecute foreign corporations for alleged offences under the Commonwealth Criminal Code.“The Attorney-General has given her consent to the private prosecution against Facebook in relation to alleged offences under subsection 400.7(2) of the Criminal Code,” Stephen Lewis, the principal of Mark O’Brien Legal which will be representing Mr Forrest, told <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/andrew-forrest-sues-facebook-over-scam-ads-20220203-p59tlw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AFR</a>.Dr Forrest has also filed a civil lawsuit in California, where Facebook’s headquarters are located.According to <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/andrew-twiggy-forrest-takes-on-facebook-in-court-lobbing-worldfirst-criminal-charges-at-the-tech-giant/news-story/bf74fe229f470253ffa8d94abbbb5688" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian</a>, he is alleging in that suit that Facebook “knowingly profits from this cycle of illegal ads.Citing court documents, the newspaper reported that one victim had lost $940,000 ($1 million NZD) because of a fake endorsement featuring Dr Forrest.In a statement to media, the social media company said scam ads violated its policies and that it takes a “multifaceted approach” to stopping them.“We work not just to detect and reject the ads themselves but also block advertisers from our services and, in some cases, take court action to enforce our policies,” a Meta representative said.Dr Forrest’s case in Australia will be heard in the Magistrates Court of Western Australia from March 28.If he is successful, the social media platform could face a maximum penalty of $126,000 ($135,000 NZD) on each of three charges.Image: Getty Images

Legal

Researchers use Forrest Gump in brain study

Watching the 1994 Tom Hanks movie Forrest Gump may have affected you in strange and unusual ways. British research suggests that throughout the two-hour Hollywood blockbuster the response of your hippocampus, the part of your brain associated with memories, was more likely influenced by subjective event boundaries than by specific transitions between scenes, such as changes in location. This suggests the hippocampus is sensitive to meaningful units of experience rather than perceptual cues. If that is correct, it likely means that the brain region plays an important role in segmenting our continuous everyday experience into discrete events for storage in long-term memory. The research, carried out by Aya Ben-Yakov and Richard Henson at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge, UK, is among the first to investigate hippocampal function during a natural experience. The scientists recruited two groups of volunteers. The first was asked to watch Forrest Gump, while the second was shown an abridged version of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1961 television drama Bang! You’re Dead, edited from 30 minutes down to eight. In each participant, the hippocampus responded as the researchers hypothesised it would. “We observed a strong hippocampal response at boundaries defined by independent observers, which was modulated by boundary strength (the number of observers that identified each boundary),” <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0524-18.2018" target="_blank">they write in a paper</a> published in the journal JNeurosci. “In the longer film, there were sufficient boundaries to show that this modulation remained after co-varying out a large number of perceptual factors. “The hippocampus was the only brain region whose response showed a significant monotonic increase with boundary strength in both films, suggesting that modulation by boundary strength is selective to the hippocampus.” The hippocampus is one of the most widely-studied regions in the human brain, with research suggesting it has <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-happens-in-the-hippocampus-32589" target="_blank">many roles</a>, including assisting with navigation and direction, as well as memory formation. The aim of Ben-Yakov and Henson was not to test how the hippocampus responds in specific situations, but to expose it to a continuous stream of complex information and thus gain an insight into how it behaves in a naturalistic setting. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p22848-o1" class="wpcf7">  </div> </div>  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=22848&title=Researchers+use+Forrest+Gump+in+brain+study" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/researchers-deploy-forrest-gump-in-brain-study/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/nick-carne">Nick Carne</a>. Nick Carne is the editor of Cosmos Online and editorial manager for The Royal Institution of Australia. Image: Getty Images </div>

Movies

Concern over dropped charges against Dr Charlie Teo’s daughter

The daughter of neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has had charges against her for dangerous driving withdrawn by the Crown. Nicola Teo was accused of dangerous driving after she crashed into former Comancheros boss Jock Ross in Sydney’s northwest in 2019. The 26-year-old was driving on the wrong side of the road when her Toyota Landcruiser collided head-on with Ross’ motorcycle. The bikie boss was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition. Teo faced a maximum of seven years imprisonment and had pleaded not guilty to four charges, including negligent driving and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. The trial, which was scheduled for Monday, May 21, was delayed for a psychiatric report to be prepared. On Tuesday, NSW District Court Judge Warwick Hunt dismissed the case and told Teo she was now “free to go and get on with your life” after the Crown withdrew the charges. Speaking after court on Tuesday, Mr Ross’s distraught daughter Holly Gittany said the family was concerned at the way in which the charges were suddenly dropped. She told reporters her father was still suffering from the lingering effects of the crash. Ms Gittany said Mr Ross, now in his late 70s, had been forced to quit his job with the Rural Fire Brigade due to his injuries. “What happened today was not right,” she said. “My Dad’s never been the same again. My Dad was severely injured. He was hit head-on.” Image: news.com.au

Legal

Family grieve for young mum, partner and baby killed in deliberate house fire

The grieving family of a young mum who was killed in a devastating house fire alongside her partner and child, have spoken about their loss at an emotional memorial service. Abbey Forrest, 19, partner Inda Sohal, 28, and their three-week-old baby Ivy died in their Point Cook, Melbourne home last Wednesday. The news of their death shocked the nation, after it was revealed the horrifying blaze was allegedly deliberately lit. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839090/fam.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d12802484987487bb7a36947c9bdcf21" /> Ms Forrest’s parents Alan and Elizabeth attended a memorial dedicated to the young family on Sunday along with dozens of members of the community, who brought balloons, toys and flowers to the site to remember the family. A tree has been planted at a nearby park as a way to permanently honour the family, who had only just moved to the neighbourhood. Mrs Forrest broke down while talking to 9News, revealing she had only just spoken to the “glowing” and “beautiful” mum just hours before the tragedy. “I spoke to her the night before and she said: ‘Love you mum, talk to you tomorrow’,” Mrs Forrest said. “Hug your children, because you’re not supposed to bury your children. “So give them a hug and let them know that you love them, because you never know when you’ll see them again.” Mr Forrest told the Herald Sun the “magic” memorial and support from the community helped his family as they grieve. “I’m absolutely amazed by the amount of people and their generosity and support of what happened to my daughter, my granddaughter and future son-in-law,” he said. “The amount of people who had that support for us, it’s just amazing.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839089/fam-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c21a999b71394480ac8ca3a024c2e971" /> Victoria Police have charged 46-year-old Jenny Hayes with three counts of murder and arson causing death following the fire. Abbey’s sister Emily has also set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs and has so far made $31, 116. Mr Singh’s parents, who live in India, are planning to hold a traditional ceremony for their son in his homeland. “I want to do what we can for all three of these beautiful souls who had their lives tragically cut short,” Emily Forrest wrote on the fundraising page. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839088/fam-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ec82128aea4646ceb218fce1da0da652" /> Ms. Hayes is a sex worker who was not known to the young family. She was visiting a man staying in the downstairs portion of their family townhouse. She allegedly lit a mattress on fire after the pair argued over sexual services. “As you are all aware, this has now been confirmed it was a deliberately lit fire and a 46yo woman has been taken into custody,” she posted. “A big thank you to the emergency services who tried to save them, neighbours who attended that night and did their best, and all of those who have sent their sympathies and condolences whether you be family, friends or strangers. “The community we are in is amazing and my family and I are beyond grateful for the help and support you have given and offered.” Ms Hayes will next face court in March 2021.

Family & Pets

Andrew Twiggy and Nicola Forest pledge incredible $70 million to bushfire crisis

Billionaire Australian businessman Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and his wife Nicole will be parting ways with $70 million as a bushfire recovery package. The Western Australian mining magnate will be spending $50 million on a “national blueprint” for fire and disaster to develop new approaches to fight the serious threat of bushfires. “We know that this is a matter of national resilience,” Mr Forrest told reporters in Perth. “This goes to a holistic assessment of where the nation is at and what we need to do to improve resilience.” Forrest will further provide an additional $10 million through the couple’s Minderoo Foundation to build a “volunteer army” which will be deployed through different regions that have been devastated by bushfires. They will also contribute a further $10 million for communities that are working in collaboration with the Australian Red Cross, the Salvation Army and other agencies on the forefront. The foundation has also established a Fire Fund and the Forrests say they will match every dollar donated with two dollars. “We are here representing a family and from our family to your families, your fire-affected families, the wildlife, the children who are devastated, the parents who have lost farms and properties and homes and dreams, we are here with our family to help support your family,” he said. Mr Forrest said they are “so proud to be Australians” and to see everyone rallying together “during this cataclysmic time”. The businessman hopes to raise $500 million through a global campaign to establish a long-term bushfire research project. “We are stepping up, as we did for the Black Saturday bushfires, to go out to the communities in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, find out what you need, what your families need, what your communities need and to help you, not rebuild to perhaps what you had, but to plan for what could be – what may be even better,” he said. “I would just like to say, on behalf of all of the Minderoo Foundation and all West Australians, that we weep along with Australia, along with you and, as a family and as a foundation, we would like to step up and help you. Thank you.” The federal government has committed at least $2 billion towards the bushfire recovery and further established a new national agency to co-ordinate efforts on the ground. This will be run by former Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew Colvin. The NSW and Victorian governments have set up similar agencies at a state level. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said “tremendous generosity” has been expressed by many people all over the nation, from billionaires “down to boys and girls raising money in their local schools”. “Can I start by acknowledging the tremendous generosity of so many Australians, whether it is James Packer or Anthony Pratt, or Andrew Forrest, or whoever it happens to be,” he told reporters in Canberra. “The generosity of that response, I think, has been simply extraordinary. “It’s important that we work hard to best channel and co-ordinate that support that is coming through into the areas of greatest need.” Mr Colvin said they had spoken to Mr Forrest. “Very generous what he’s put together,” he said today. “He’s done this before. Last thing I’m gonna do is step in the way of that. I will make sure it’s best utilised.” Mr Forrest is seventh on Forbes’ ‘Australia’s 50 Richest People’ list with a net worth of $US8.8 billion ($A12.8 billion).

Money & Banking

5 minutes with author Nicola Marsh

In 5 minutes with author, Over60 asks book writers about their literary habits and preferences. Next in this series is Nicola Marsh, an award-winning fiction writer. She has published 70 books – ranging from romance and domestic suspense to urban fantasy and supernatural thriller – and sold more than 8 million copies worldwide. Her newest book, Long Way Home, will be released on September 24. Over60 talked with Marsh about J. K. Rowling, the amnesia trope, and what truly makes for a good romance. Over60: What is your best writing tip? Nicola Marsh: My best writing tip is to make it a habit. Daily if possible. The more you write, the faster you become. I like to compare it to flexing a muscle; using our writing muscle will hone and strengthen it. Writing is all about voice and the way to find your voice is by actually sitting down and getting the words on paper regularly. What book do you think more people should read? The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, for the simple reason it showcases what a great romance is. It’s a great opposites attract story that’s both tender and sexy. Stella is a neuro-diverse heroine that hires a half Vietnamese-half Swedish escort to teach her about sex. It’s wonderful. How have your past job(s) influenced your writing? Working as a physiotherapist for 13 years before I started writing means I appreciate my dream job even more now. The creative side of my brain has taken over the scientific side and I’m loving it. I get to manipulate characters rather than manipulating backs! What was the last book that made you laugh or cry? I can bawl at movies but rarely cry when reading, so a book really has to touch me for that to happen. I read Kelly Rimmer’s Before I Let You Go a few months ago and that definitely made me cry. It’s a beautifully poignant story about sisters, the trials of their upbringing, drug addiction and a baby. Do you have any writing routine? If so, what does it look like? Writing is my full-time job, so I treat it as such. Once I get the kids off to school I do a 40-minute gym workout before settling down to write. I try to get 5 hours done before the madness of being a mum starts all over again with school pick-up and the rest. If I’m juggling tight deadlines for several publishers, I’ll try to write a few hours in the evening too. What do you think makes a good romance fiction? Creating characters that readers connect with and invest in. I’m an avid reader and nothing keeps me turning pages faster than characters that are real and that I care about. So that’s what I strive for in creating my stories. Which author, deceased or living, would you most like to have dinner with? J. K. Rowling, because her story fascinates me. The number of times she was rejected, being published, having her books become a worldwide phenomenon, the movies, her change in lifestyle… intriguing stuff that would make the perfect dinner conversation. What trope grinds your gears? Alternatively, is there a cliché that you can’t help but love? I’m not a huge fan of the amnesia trope. It’s one I’ve never tackled in my writing once in 70 books because I find it hard to connect with as a reader. As for tropes I love, there’s nothing better than a good friends to lovers romance.

Books

Photos of Prince Nicolas of Sweden’s royal christening

Sweden’s latest prince, H.R.H. Prince Nicolas Paul Gustaf, was baptised over the weekend at The Royal Chapel of Drottningholm Palace, Stockholm. Son of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill, baby Nicolas received Uncle Prince Carl Philip as his godfather. Nicolas wore a gown that was previously dawned by Philip during his own 1979 christening. We can anticipate another Swedish christening soon to come, as Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel recently announced that they are expecting a child, due to arrive in March of 2016. <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9878/prince-nicolas-2-800_500x375.jpg" alt="Prince -nicolas -2-800" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9879/prince-nicolas-1024_500x375.jpg" alt="Prince -nicolas -1024" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/funny-twin-photos/">Hilarious twin photos in matching outfits</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/06/secrets-of-happy-families/">8 things happy families have in common</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/06/raise-happy-granddaughters/">How to raise happy healthy granddaughters</a>

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Aussie billionaire's ambitious mission to recover family remains

'Australia's Forrest Gump' reaches major milestone