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"I was like a flaming ball": Man struck TWICE by lightning shares his story

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content warning: This article contains graphic content.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Ten years after a freak accident killed and revived him, New Zealand man Troy Hall is sharing his recovery story.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/new-zealand-man-killed-then-brought-back-to-life-by-120000-volt-powerline-electrocution-shares-story-of-survival-c-4989811" target="_blank">Speaking to<span> </span><em>7Life</em></a>, 32-year-old Mr Hall admitted he is “still battling demons” after he was struck by 120,000 volts of electricity twice in the same day.</p> <p>He hopes his story - which he has not spoken openly about before - inspires other burn victims to keep fighting.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846520/2e946d2bbca6449cab6c9484a3127404518fe165.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/804183b76228482694a00b127f46d34a" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Troy Hall suffered severe burns across more than half his body. Image: 7NEWS</em></p> <p dir="ltr">In 2011, Mr Hall was working in picking fruit in an avocado orchard.</p> <p dir="ltr">The then-22-year-old had been working outside in the rain all day, climbing up and down cherry pickers to reach the highest fruit.</p> <p dir="ltr">His father John warned him to be careful of the overhead power lines, but Troy laughed off the warning as one of the lines “crackled” above them.</p> <p dir="ltr">He now says that act was “fearless and arrogant”.</p> <p dir="ltr">As his shift was about to end, Mr Hall searched for phone reception to call his then-partner and let her know he was finishing up and heading home. He managed to reach her after climbing up a cherry picker, then he made his way back down.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was about four and a half metres away from the power line, but you know power jumps,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">What happened next was a blur for Mr Hall, but his dad has since helped him piece together the story.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just remember blacking out,” he recalled.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair believe that, due to the wet weather, an arc of electricity jumped from the nearby powerline and delivered 120,000 volts through the right side of Mr Hall’s head.</p> <p dir="ltr">The shock instantly killed him and he dropped to the ground.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the young man was struck again, this time through his chest, which the pair believe brought him “back to life”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was only a few moments later, but it blew my chest up and restarted my heart,” Mr Hall said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It lit me up from the inside… I was like a flaming ball.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He recalled that everything went instantly dark.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I couldn’t see or feel anything, I didn’t really understand what was going on,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">As Mr Hall tried to stand up, his dad came to aid and yelled at him to “stay down”.</p> <p dir="ltr">His co-workers and dad worked to try and “damp out” his body, which was engulfed in flames.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I could just hear everyone panicking and crying,” Mr Hall said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dad was yelling at me to ‘just stay in the water’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">By the time the ambulance arrived, his body had swelled up to five times its size and more than 60 percent was covered in third-degree burns.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:375.3846153846154px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846518/a817b3a257c8b33aeb00890ab6ed49564a60d6a7.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/61e8e9a1fa224341babafa0f3c950cd7" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Troy spent months recovering, and says he is still “battling demons”. Image: 7NEWS</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“The doctors told me I probably would never walk or talk again,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was trying to talk but couldn’t.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite facing the possibility of losing his right leg and arm, Mr Hall thought to himself, “‘I will f***ing show you’”.</p> <p dir="ltr">A few weeks later, he took his first steps and regained his voice shortly after.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, after undergoing multiple skin grafts taken from his legs, he lost an ear and sight in his left eye.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have a prosthetic ear now, it looks so realistic - I just pop it on!” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s actually a great party trick … the kids love it,” he laughed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Hall has maintained that the last ten years have been far from easy, but that his recovery was due to his seven-year-old daughter Nevaeh.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I couldn’t have gotten through this without her,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am so grateful she is in my life and I tell her that every time I see her.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With help from his dad and friends Richard and Viv, Mr Hall got back on his feet and has since started his own avocado business called Crispy Avo.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I certainly underestimated the power of electricity,” he admitted.</p> <p dir="ltr">With his continuing recovery, Mr Hall said he is still coming to terms with his appearance, but that it pales in comparison to current world events.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a first world problem,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7NEWS</em></p>

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Queen Elizabeth II’s outfits exhibited in royal residences

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, a trio of her most recognisable outfits will be exhibited in the royal residences. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Royal Collection will showcase the Queen’s outfits from her accession, coronation and jubilees at Windsor castle, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the pieces will be the pink silk crepe and chiffon dress and coat worn by Her Majesty in June 1977 to mark her 25 year reign.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The iconic ensemble was designed by </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">royal couturier Sir Hardy Amies and a matching hat by milliner Simone Mirman. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845734/queen-exhibit-silver.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/307f48ed25b24399bfff029341527f20" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also among the collection will be the Queen’s Coronation Dress and Robe of Estate she wore for her coronation in 1953. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This gown took eight months of research, design, workmanship and intricate embroidery to complete in time for her Majesty’s coronation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the displays, said the collection will showcase timestamps in the monarch’s reign, with royal fans being delighted with the insider look. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845732/queen-exhibit-coronation.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f32dc6586af54278b4bc786e87e863c6" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Their historic significance resonates all the more greatly given their depiction of the longest reigning monarch in British history.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Visitors to the exhibitions will also see a rare collection of Her Majesty’s personal jewellery collection that adorned these historical outfits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the priceless pieces on show will be the Queen's Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara - an heirloom wedding gift given to her by her grandmother, Queen Mary, when Princess Elizabeth married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commonly known as Granny's Tiara, it is one of the Queen's favourite and most treasured pieces and she often wears the glittering headpiece, made of diamonds in a festoon and scroll design, to state banquets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These exhibits will celebrate the 95-year-old monarch’s 70 year rule, which will be celebrated on February 6th 2022. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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First look at Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball

<p><em>Image: Getty </em></p> <p>Fans have got their first look at Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball in upcoming biopic<span> </span><em>Being the Ricardos<span> </span></em>with the teaser trailer dropping overnight.</p> <p>The Aaron Sorkin film follows Hollywood couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who is played by Javier Bardem, during a production week on the set of their hit sitcom<span> </span><em>I Love Lucy.</em></p> <p>Throughout a Monday table read all the way through an audience shot on Friday, both Ball and Arnaz face challenges that could end both of their careers and their marriage.</p> <p>In the trailer, quick glimpses of the couple’s whirlwind life are shown accompanied by Kidman’s voiceover, with the first clear look at Kidman coming via the re-creation of Ball’s iconic grape stomping scene.</p> <p>Production on the movie was kept tightly under wraps with a closed set throughout, as Kidman showed on social media during filming.</p> <p>In Kidman’s recent Variety Actors on Actors conversation with Chris Rock, she stated that the biopic will not be a remake of<span> </span><em>I Love Lucy</em>, but will instead tackle serious themes.</p> <p>“The strange thing about Lucille Ball is that everyone thinks we’re remaking the ‘I Love Lucy’ show, it’s so not that,” Kidman said.</p> <p>“It’s about Lucy and Desi and their relationship and their marriage. It’s very deep actually.”</p> <p><em>Being the Ricardos</em><span> </span>also navigates the racial barriers that the couple had to face, with Desi being discriminated against for being Cuban, and Lucille fighting for him to remain on the show.</p> <p>Sorkin has written the screenplay and helms the film for Amazon Studios and Escape Artists. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists are producers. Escape Artists' Jenna Block and David Bloomfield serve as executive producers, along with Stuart Besser, Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lauren Lohman.</p> <p>The film will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on December 21. Check out trailer below: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/We-MGoNaFcQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p> </p>

Movies

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Not again! Novak Djokovic hits judge with tennis ball

<p>Not long after his US Open disqualification, Novak Djokovic bruised another line judge’s face after a stray forehand at Roland Garros.</p> <p>The tennis star admitted he had an “awkward moment of deja vu” after unintentionally hitting a ball which smashed into the head of a line judge at Roland Garros this morning.</p> <p><span>World No. 1 Djokovic for his 35th win of 2020 and a place in the Paris quarter-finals for the 14th time with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Russia’s Karen Khachanov. </span></p> <p><span>However, while stretching the star threw the ball out of the frame off of his racquet and into the baseline judge sitting near him. </span></p> <p><span>The Serb went immediately to the official to check if he was okay. </span></p> <p><span>The incident follows not long after he was defaulted at the US Open in New York for swiping angrily at a ball which hit a female line judge, who was standing just behind him, in the throat.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Djokovic just sniped another line judge <a href="https://t.co/QaEMWXNrBg">pic.twitter.com/QaEMWXNrBg</a></p> — Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) <a href="https://twitter.com/bubbagumpino/status/1313125127928852480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><span>That disqualification is the only defeat Djokovic has suffered all year.</span></p> <p><span>“My gosh, it was very awkward deja vu. I’m actually trying to find the linesperson and see if he’s OK because I saw he had a little bit of a bruise, like redness, in that place in the head where the ball hit him,” said Djokovic. </span></p> <p><span>He has now reached the French Open quarter-finals for an 11th straight year.</span></p> <p><span>“I hope he’s fine. I mean, he definitely dealt with it in a very strong and brave way. But it was a hit because I was very close.</span></p> <p><span>“Obviously because of what happened in New York, people I guess are going to make the story out of this. It has happened to me and to many other players in the last 15 years that I’ve been on the tour.</span></p> <p><span>“I’ve seen it a lot when the ball ricochets from the racquet and the frame, hits someone in the stands, or someone that is close to you or a line umpire. Yeah, it was a very awkward situation.”</span></p>

News

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“Ball of flames”: Firefighter’s distress call after watching waterbomber plane crash

<p>An audio clip has emerged of a ground staff member calling for help following the crash of an aerial water tanker in southern NSW.</p> <p>In the distress call aired on the <em>Today</em> show, the staff could be heard calling the Rural Fire Service (RFS) command after witnessing the plane plummet in Eurobodalla on Thursday afternoon.</p> <p>“Fire comms… message red, speak to your captain. Message this is red,” the person could be heard saying.</p> <p>“Yeah fire comms... It's just a ball of flames... over.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Three fire fighters have tragically been killed, their water-bombing aircraft crashing in New South Wales. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/F2dprzAU0H">pic.twitter.com/F2dprzAU0H</a></p> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1220416053613879296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>All three US aerial firefighting specialists on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tanker died in the incident. The plane was fighting the Clyde Mountain fire when it crashed to the ground and exploded in a “large fireball”, NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.</p> <p>“Three remarkable men, coming down here to Australia once again this season, helping us to save and protect people but tragically this year, they won’t be going home to the United States,” said Commissioner Fitzsimmons.</p> <p>The Commissioner said while the aircraft’s explosion was “absolutely a loss to the aviation capabilities”, the RFS could “adapt and accommodate the loss of [this asset] as we have a number of others operating in NSW”.</p> <p>Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are set to visit the crash site to collect evidence.</p> <p>“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant stakeholders so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” the bureau said in a statement.</p>

Caring

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“Super brave girl”: Rafael Nadal's heartwarming gesture towards ball girl

<p>Rafael Nadal’s sweet gesture towards a ball girl has moved tennis fans around the world.</p> <p>The world number one player was on track to score a straight-sets win against Argentina’s Federico Delbonis on Thursday.</p> <p>But on the third set of their second-round match on Rod Laver Arena, Nadal slammed a forehand that hit a young ball girl on the head by accident.</p> <p>The girl gave a thumbs up to indicate she was fine, but Nadal and Delbonis went over to check on her. Nadal lifted the girl’s hat before kissing her on the cheek, drawing cheers from the audience.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">😱(🎥<a href="https://twitter.com/Eurosport_RU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eurosport_RU</a> ) <a href="https://t.co/IR5B2Z42fu">pic.twitter.com/IR5B2Z42fu</a></p> — doublefault28 (@doublefault28) <a href="https://twitter.com/doublefault28/status/1220321521077489665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Nadal went on to win the match 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.</p> <p>“For her, probably it was not a good moment,” Nadal said after the match. “I was so scared for her, honestly.</p> <p>“She’s a super brave girl.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">*𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉* ballkid moment, narrated by <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a> 📚<br /><br />❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/tElLurAnQ1">pic.twitter.com/tElLurAnQ1</a></p> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1220324139296329730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote>

News

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Princess Mary's royal finery at lavish New Year ball

<p>Princess Mary and her husband Crown Prince Frederik have rung in the new year with a lavish ball in Copenhagen.</p> <p>Other Danish royals were in attendance, but the guests of honour were Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie.</p> <p>This event is marked on the Danish royal’s calendar, as they wear their finest gowns and jewels for the occasion.</p> <p>Princess Mary’s stunning look for the night was quickly revealed as she stepped out of the car, and it’s one that fans have seen many times before.</p> <p>She wore a claret-coloured velvet gown by Birgit Hallstein, one of her favourite designers. Princess Mary first wore the dress in 2007 and has worn the same gown to previous New Year’s Eve dinners. However, she has changed her look slightly.</p> <p>It was seen on Princess Mary in 2012 and 2014, with the 2014 version having a choker added in the same fabric.</p> <p>The dress was also worn for a set of official portraits in 2015.</p> <p>The stunning jewels have also remained the same, as Crown Princess Mary wears the Danish ruby parure. These jewels have been in the royal family since 1869, but date back to the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte in France.</p> <p>The jewels are solely used by Princess Mary and include a tiara, earrings, bracelet, hair clips, brooches and a necklace.</p> <p>The length of the earrings and necklace can be adjusted with ease.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see Princess Mary wearing the dress over the years.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Midas touch! Julie Bishop shimmers on the red carpet at A-list party

<p>Julie Bishop is not one to shy away from an extravagant night out.</p> <p>On Thursday night, the retired politician looked decadent for the annual star-studded Gold Dinner at Fox Studios in Sydney.</p> <p>The 62-year-old dazzled the red carpet alongside her partner, 58-year-old David Panton, at the charity gala in a bedazzled metallic gown.</p> <p>The stunning frock featured beaded fringing with delicate cap sleeves, which she paired with a gorgeous pearl bracelet and drop earrings.</p> <p>Joined by Bishop for the glamorous event was former<span> </span><em>Today</em> show host Karl Stefanovic along with his wife Jasmine, who turned heads in a stunning navy gown with a one-shoulder neckline.</p> <p>Also in attendance was Karl's<span> </span><em>Today</em><span> </span>show replacement, journalist Deborah Knight, who looked divine in a scarlet gown and a slicked back hairdo.</p> <p>The Gold Dinner event is in its 22nd year and is not like any other charity function.</p> <p>Deemed as the “most exclusive charity gala in Australia,” the event raises money for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation.</p> <p>Unlike many other fundraisers that populate on social media, this annual event is a strictly invite-only occurrence that happens once a year.</p> <p>The invitations come directly from the Gold Committee members, which include Julie Bishop and Karl Stefanovic.</p> <p>Guests are required to pay $1500 per head to attend the star-studded event, where there are reportedly “absolutely no freebies,” as reported by <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/invite-only-rich-australians-raise-money-for-sick-children-at-exclusive-gold-dinner-charity-gala/news-story/8e12048d734c5c8c713a9616e2624399" target="_blank">news.com.au.</a></p> <p>The annual event has raised over $26 million for paediatric healthcare.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see some of the gorgeous looks throughout the night.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Princess Mary turns heads in dazzling gown at New Year’s Eve ball

<p>She always turns heads with her elegant fashion choices, and Princess Mary has proved yet again why many consider her to be a style icon.</p> <p>The 46-year-old arrived at a New Year’s ball wearing a beautiful floor length gown.</p> <p>The traditional banquet is an annual event held by the Danish Queen, Margrethe II at Christian VII’s Palace in Amalienborg.</p> <p>The Tasmanian-born royal was spotted standing alongside her husband, Crown Prince Frederik as they smiled towards on lookers.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGoZH_gGc3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGoZH_gGc3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS (@detdanskekongehus)</a> on Jan 1, 2019 at 11:25am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Mary was the star of the show as she opted for a full sleeve, black and gold patterned gown with a drop neckline.</p> <p>She accessorised with a dazzling tiara and a pair of chandelier earrings.</p> <p>The royal was also seen wearing the Order of the Elephant necklace, which is considered to be the highest-ranked honour in Denmark.</p> <p>Queen Margrethe was also photographed as she arrived at the ball wearing a pink lace gown, complete with a train.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGpbyugAVG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGpbyugAVG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS (@detdanskekongehus)</a> on Jan 1, 2019 at 11:35am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGng1EAzj3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGng1EAzj3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS (@detdanskekongehus)</a> on Jan 1, 2019 at 11:18am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>To mark the family occasion, Prince Frederik’s brother, Prince Joachim of Denmark was also present alongside his wife Princess Marie. </p>

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Urgent alert: Aussie family finds needle in orange from Woolworths

<p>A family from Casula in Sydney’s southwest have found a needle lodged inside an orange they purchased from a Woolworths store yesterday.</p> <p>A distraught 4-year-old, Maddie Sheridan, found the needle after getting a piece of fruit from her mum, reported 7News.</p> <p>The supermarket confirmed the discovery of the needle and notified police.</p> <p>“We’re shocked. We feel violated,” Maddie’s mum said.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821773/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/db9b1479c6fa455598c290c72f4ad632" /></p> <p>Investigators will now work to determine when the orange may have been contaminated, as the orange may have been in storage for several weeks.</p> <p>It has been almost two months since the initial needle sabotage began in Queensland, which saw strawberry brands Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook all contaminated.</p> <p>By mid-September, all six states were investigating reports of tampering in strawberries, apples and bananas.</p> <p>After the disturbing trend extended beyond the original single grower in Queensland, authorities feared that copycat attacks were occurring.</p> <p>Exporters have since been instructed to prove their fruit is clear of tampering by putting it through a metal detector or x-ray machine.</p> <p>In October, a 12-year-old boy was left panicked after he almost swallowed a “piece of thick wire” hidden inside a cucumber.</p> <p>While speaking to 3AW, the boy’s mum Maria said: “As soon as he came out of his room he said: ‘Mum I found a needle in it’.”</p> <p>“I said, 'Come on stop joking’ and he goes, 'Mum, I’m not joking’ and showed it to me.</p> <p>“I was just beside myself. It looked as though it had been snapped with some pliers, it was curled on one end of it.”</p> <p>Maria said her son was “pricked” by the wire but that it “didn’t penetrate him”.</p> <p>“He was so upset… he said, ‘Mum if I had swallowed it could I have died?’” she said.</p> <p>“He was just so worried, he was panicking."</p> <p>WA Premier Mark McGowan said the offenders were liable to 20 years’ imprisonment.</p> <p>“If you undertake this sort of activity you can and will be caught,” he told reporters in September.</p> <p>“Those people deserve to go to jail.”</p>

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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s daughter says her parents’ divorce was “horrible”

<p>The famous TV couple split in 1960 and now – almost 60 years later – their daughter, Lucie Arnaz, has opened up about her parents’ tumultuous marriage and “horrible” divorce.</p> <p>In a new interview with <em><a href="https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/lucille-ball-desi-arnaz-divorce-163949">Closer Weekly</a></em> magazine in the US, Lucie admitted, “They were fighting all the time when we were growing up. There was a lot of anger and screaming.”</p> <p>Now 67 years old, Lucie also recalled, “Their divorce was horrible. And then there was the alcoholism.”</p> <p>She added about her late parents’ contentious marriage, “I had preferred those things had never been there. We didn’t have any abuse, but we did go through some pretty hard stuff and that’s why my parents didn’t stay together.”</p> <p>Ball and Arnaz met on the set of <em>Too Many Girls</em> 20 years earlier in 1940.</p> <p>The red-headed glamour, who was 28 years old, and the charismatic Cuban-born nightclub bandleader, who was 23, married just six months later.</p> <p>While Ball was busy working in Hollywood, Arnaz toured America with his rumba band – but their marriage began to suffer from the strain of constant separation.</p> <p>When CBS launched a TV version of its radio show called <em>My Favourite Husband</em>, Ball insisted that her real-life husband be cast to play her on-screen spouse. And the rest is history.</p> <p><em>I Love Lucy</em> had a six-year run and became the most successful comedy series on television – with 40 million viewers watching each week – and earning the couple’s production company, Desilu, millions of dollars.</p> <p>Their daughter Lucie, who has also written a book called <em>I Love Lucy</em>, wrote in the introduction, “All their hopes, plans and dreams for a happy future were wrapped up in that TV sitcom.” </p> <p>Sadly, off-screen, the couple’s marriage was plagued with alcoholism and infidelity.</p> <p>During divorce proceedings, Ball admitted in court, “It got so bad that I thought it would be better for us not to be together.”</p> <p> </p>

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The mastermind behind the ball tampering cricket scandal revealed

<p>Ex vice-captain David Warner has been revealed as the mastermind of the ball tampering scandal by Cricket Australia.</p> <p>The sports governing body has given the charges for each player involved in the incident, which includes David Warner and Steve Smith both being stripped of their leadership abilities and receiving a one-year ban from the sport.</p> <p>Warner will never be able to be placed in a leadership role again, while Smith is banned from any leadership involvement for 12 months.</p> <p>Cameron Bancroft will be banned for nine months, after he was caught on camera attempting to hide a piece of sandpaper by putting it down his pants.</p> <p>On Wednesday, Cricket Australia confirmed that all three players had been charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the code of conduct, which means that their behaviour was “contrary to the spirit of the game” and brought the game into disrepute.</p> <p>The players also received individual charges, with David Warner being charged with the “development of a plan” to tamper with the surface of the ball.</p> <p>As well as creating the plan, Warner’s offences also included instructing a junior to carry out the plan, advising him and showing him how to do it.</p> <p>He also failed to report his knowledge, misled match officials and failed to voluntarily report his knowledge after the incident occurred.</p> <p>Smith was charged with knowledge of the plan, failure to take steps to prevent it, directing the evidence be concealed, seeking to mislead officials and making misleading public comments regarding the incident.</p> <p>Bancroft was charged with a breach based on knowledge of the plot, carrying it out, concealing evidence, seeking to mislead officials and making misleading public statements.</p> <p>CEO of Cricket Australia James Sutherland said he is “satisfied” with the punishments given in order to protect the integrity of cricket.</p> <p>Shane Warne said the “jump to hysteria” means the “punishment just might not fit the crime”.</p> <p>“There are those countries that don’t like Australia, don’t like individuals in the team, and there has been a build-up of hate which has exploded and created this tornado of hysteria,” he wrote.</p> <p>Do you think the punishment is fair? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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Karl Stefanovic explodes over cricket cheating scandal: "It was pathetic"

<p><span>Channel Nine’s<em> Today</em> show co-host Karl Stefanovic has slammed Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland for refusing to use the word “cheating” in the wake of the ball tampering scandal.</span></p> <p><span>This morning, Stefanovic expressed his fury on air as he labelled Sutherland’s response to the incident as “pathetic”.</span></p> <p><span>“Let’s not beat around the bush. James Sutherland’s response this morning was pathetic,” Stefanovic said</span></p> <p><span>“He was questioned directly about cheating as you heard and refused to answer. Questioned over and over and over and refused to answer. Why dodge it? It’s cheating plain and simple. Plain, premeditated cheating.</span></p> <p><span>“You know it and I know it and the ICC know it and James Sutherland knows it.</span></p> <p><span>“No actual punishment was handed down this morning at a time when the game needs strong and decisive leadership. (There are) Seemingly no ramifications for the coach.</span></p> <p><span>“Whether you know about it or not in leadership there’s responsibility. Mistakes have been made. Admit them. Own them. Deal with them. Accept the consequences and move on.</span></p> <p><span>“There needs to be a clear message sent to every player, every fan, every young boy and girl in this country who loves sport that this behaviour will not be tolerated. That message just wasn’t there this morning.</span></p> <p><span>“James Sutherland’s response was at best weak. At worst, negligent. He must act or go.”</span></p> <p><span>On Wednesday morning, Sutherland appeared before the media to reveal that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft would be sent home after ball tampering in the third Test against South Africa.</span></p> <p><span>When asked if the players were responsible for cheating, Sutherland bypassed the question.</span></p> <p><span>“It’s not in the laws of the game, it’s not in the spirit of the game,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>When asked a second time if they had cheated, Sutherland replied, “I am angry and disappointed. It’s not a good day for Australian cricket.”</span></p> <p><span>“Clearly we are not at all comfortable with what has taken place. We have conducted an investigation, we have conducted reports and sanctions will be issued tomorrow and they will be significant, and they will reflect the gravity of the situation.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Cricket Aus boss James Sutherland won't say the 'c' word - cheating.<br />Is it cheating? "It's against the spirit of the game"<br />But is it cheating? "It's not a good day for Aus cricket".</p> — Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) <a href="https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/978687817348939776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Australian journalist Michael Best was one of the reporters who had asked Sutherland about if their actions were deemed as cheating and said he was surprised Sutherland had refrained from answering.</p> <p><span>“I guess it’s a difficult word for a CEO to say. If he says it’s cheating, well, clearly the implications are enormous,” Best said.</span></p> <p><span>“There’s a large chunk of the Australian public who think it was cheating but to avoid the question directly was an interesting move from the CEO.”</span></p> <p><span>Although Sutherland did not answer questions about cheating, he apologised for the actions of the guilty Aussie players.</span></p> <p><span>“I understand and share the anger and disappointment of Australian fans,” Sutherland said.</span></p> <p><span>“On behalf of Cricket Australia, I want to apologise to all Australians that these events have taken place, especially to all the kids.</span></p> <p><span>“I want to also apologise to Cricket South Africa and South African fans that this issue has overshadowed what should have been a great series.”</span></p> <p><span>The penalties of Smith, Warner and Bancroft will be revealed from Cricket Australia within the next 24 hours via a statement. </span></p> <p><span>Do you agree with Karl Stefanovic? Let us know in the comments below. </span></p>

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Cheating scandal "too much to bear" for Steve Smith’s dad

<p>The Australian cricket team scandal in South Africa has disheartened many people, from the teammates on the field to Aussie fans supporting from home, but one person who has been strongly impacted is Steve Smith’s dad.</p> <p>The cricket-loving father, Peter Smith, told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/ball-tampering-scandal-too-much-to-bear-for-steve-smiths-cricketloving-dad/news-story/b1b00976f49d4d447489b3c392f68390" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Daily Telegraph</span></strong></em></a>, “I’m deliberately not reading about it or watching it on TV, as I don’t want to know.”</p> <p>“Steve knows we’re supporting him; he’s our son, we’re there for him no matter what.”</p> <p>On Saturday, Steve told a media conference the Australian team “leadership group” had talked about breaking the rules during the third Test in Cape Town, after Bancroft was caught on camera tampering with the ball.</p> <p>Bancroft used sticky tape to gather dirt from the ground, which was rubbed into one side of the ball in an attempt to make it swing after being bowled.</p> <p>Peter revealed that he and his wife Gillian were travelling to South Africa to be by their son’s side during the heat of the controversy.</p> <p>“It’s a very difficult time for the family, for all of us, not just Steve,” he said from his southern Sydney home.</p> <p>“We’re speaking to him on the phone every day. He’s been calling us.”</p> <p>Peter coached Steve until he was 16 years old, when the young athlete’s talent showed that he could go far in his sport.</p> <p>Steve was entrusted into the hands of professional coaches, but his proud father always stayed involved behind-the-scene.</p> <p>Before the 2016 South African tour, Steve revealed that his father had bowled some balls for him as part of his preparations. He also helped his son launch his autobiography last year.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BanVFWDHoqt/" target="_blank">A post shared by Steve Smith (@steve_smith49)</a> on Oct 23, 2017 at 7:47pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland flew to South Africa to launch an official investigation after the incident.</p> <p>This morning, James Sutherland confirmed that only three players knew of the ball tampering plan.</p> <p>“The key finding is that prior knowledge was limited to three players, Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft,” he said.</p> <p>“No other players or support staff had prior knowledge. This includes Darren Lehmann, who despite inaccurate media reports, has not resigned from his position.</p> <p>“He will continue to coach the Australian men’s team under his current contract (until the end of the 2019 Ashes).”</p>

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Why David Warner's comments are coming back to haunt him

<p>The Australian Test team are facing the music after former captain Steve Smith admitted he and the side’s “leadership group” instructed young opener Cameron Bancroft to use a piece of tape to tamper with the ball during the third Test.</p> <p>The Australian cricket team hasn’t seen an embarrassment this bad since the infamous underarm incident in 1981 with Trevor Chappell.</p> <p>Now, former comments made by deputy David Warner about cheating in the gentleman’s game have resurfaced.</p> <p>When South Africa toured Australia in 2016, Warner inferred that ball tampering was just as bad as match fixing.</p> <p>After South African skipper Faf du Plessis used a mint to shine the ball, Warner spoke about his actions at a press conference as the scandal broke.</p> <p>“I won’t comment on the way (South Africa) have been behaving but I just know from an Australian cricket perspective: we hold our heads high and I’ll be very disappointed if one of our teammates (did that),” he said.</p> <p>“The rules are in place for a reason, if you’re not gonna use them, then why bother having them?”</p> <p>Warner then explained that offending players would face severe consequences for their misbehaviour.</p> <p>“That’s the fortunate thing these days,” Warner said in 2016. “(Officials have) got the rules and they’re going to stand by their decision, and I think that’s going to be a good thing.</p> <p>“We’ve all been on the back end of them from time to time. Now that they’re cracking down on it, especially with the points system, we as players know the guidelines now, so if you’re going to overstep that mark and you get fined, be prepared to miss Test matches as well.”</p> <p>Now, Warner must endure the consequences of his own actions with veteran cricket writer Robert Craddock revealing Warner is set to join Steve Smith on the sidelines for the Johannesburg Test.</p> <p>Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland is expected to touch down in South Africa today to discuss the future of the Aussie team. </p>

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Mum posts heartbreaking tribute to son after he choked to death on a ball

<p>Tasmanian boy Alby Davis was excited to celebrate his fourth birthday with his friends on Monday.</p> <p>But tragically the three-year-old boy’s life was cut short after he swallowed a small bouncy ball –  part of the party bag package that had arrived for his birthday celebrations – and choked to death.</p> <p>His pregnant mother Anna tried desperately to save her son but within seconds he had passed away in her arms.</p> <p><img width="472" height="354" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d121c8903c56ce422740bf6d6f891940" alt="Alby was due to celebrate his fourth birthday party." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.small.folk/">Taking to her Instagram, The Small Folk</a>,</strong></span> the grief-stricken mother posted a tribute to her son.</p> <p>“Yesterday afternoon, our beautiful, beautiful Alby, our darling baby boy, grew wings and flew from this earth. Minutes pass like hours and the gaping hole in our lives and hearts is completely incomprehensible. We adore you beyond belief, our sweet little fox. Forever three, forever free.”</p> <p>Anna, who is expecting her fourth child, thanked all the people who left kinds words of support on her social media.</p> <p><img width="402" height="618" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/9a41a8a511504850c56f37edd929cd90" alt="Anna Davis, with her three children, Alby, Sage and Acre." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“No words could ever express the depths of our gratitude for the outpouring of love we have received since our worst nightmare became our daily reality,” she wrote alongside an image of her son tucked up in bed,” she said.</p> <p>“During this time of immense grief, your thoughts, prayers, sympathy and tears have enveloped and uplifted us, and we could never thank you enough for your overwhelming generosity and support.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/the-small-folks-village" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>A GoFundMe</strong></span> </a>page has been set up to assist the family, who live in Wynyard Tasmania, as Anna is self-employed and her husband, Simon, is a relief teacher and isn’t entitled to paid leave.</p> <p>The page has already fundraised $194,000 in donations, with people around the country donating and leaving words of support.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.small.folk/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>the.small.folk</strong></span></a></em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.small.folk/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> </strong></span></a></p>

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