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"Growing up so quick": Fans delight in adorable snaps of Otto Sandilands

<p>Radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands has delighted fans with adorable new snaps of his son Otto. </p> <p>The official Instagram account for the <em>Kyle and Jackie O Show</em> shared the snaps of the smiling young boy, with many fans quick to point out that the one-year-old is the "spitting image" of his famous dad. </p> <p>“Otto is growing up so fast,” the pictures, showing Otto dressed in a blue T-shirt and playing with a ball outdoors, were captioned on social media. </p> <p>Fans of the show were quick to share their appreciation for the post, and reveal their surprise at how fast the little boy has grown up. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyttz3JSrKq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/Cyttz3JSrKq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Here’s one gorgeous little boy. He's growing up so quick,” one fan wrote.</p> <p>“Such a cute and adorable little man. Beautiful picture of Otto,” another added.</p> <p>“He’s a big boy now,” a third wrote.</p> <p>“Spitting image of Kyle. So adorable,” another chimed in.</p> <p>Kyle has been very open about how much he has changed since becoming a father. </p> <p>In an interview in October 2022, he said, “I used to watch hours and hours of TV, and now I just sit there looking at him and he’s really been a joy.”</p> <p>“I’ve just been sitting at home the whole time which I’ve enjoyed. I’m at home now more than I was with lockdowns, so we’re loving every second of it."</p> <p>“I’m pretty happy actually. I can’t imagine being any happier.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Harry Potter star's delightful baby name has fans enthralled

<p>Bonnie Wright, renowned for her role as Ginny Weasley in the 'Harry Potter' film series, has welcomed a baby boy with husband Andrew Lococo. The 32-year-old British actress joyfully shared the wonderful news with her fans via Instagram, expressing the overwhelming love she and Andrew feel for their newborn son.</p> <p>Elio Ocean Wright Lococo, the couple's pride and joy, made his entrance into the world at home on Tuesday, September 19th. Bonnie marked the occasion by posting an endearing picture of their newborn, along with the heartwarming caption:</p> <p>"Say hello to Elio Ocean Wright Lococo," wrote the proud new mum. "Born at home on Tuesday 19th September. We’re all healthy and happy. Andrew and I are so in love with our sun 🌞!</p> <p>"So grateful for our birth team that have held our hands throughout and made the journey so joyous and expanding. Birth is the wildest experience! Our perfect and loving midwives Tiffany and Taylor @dosmidwifery our wise and wonderful doula Patti @umamother our doctor Phabby if we had needed to transfer @phabulouscare 🕊️</p> <p>"During these healing postpartum days we’ve been visited by some angels thank you @meaghan_snider_ @motherbees and @themilkywaymamas 🕊️ and thank you @ccmeyer for your incredibly informative course I took in the early weeks of pregnancy. Birth workers are amazing 🕊️ !</p> <p>"Lastly thanks to Andrew my rock throughout birth quite literally as I squeezed onto you so tight and you never wavered. Elio has the most tender loving papa. Ok hormonal emotional extra long caption over!"</p> <p>Prior to welcoming their bundle of joy, Bonnie and Andrew took some time to relax and enjoy a babymoon in Laguna Beach, California. Bonnie cherished these moments, captioning one of her posts, "Our last quiet holiday as just two".</p> <p>Throughout her pregnancy, Bonnie proudly displayed her growing baby bump in various photos, captioning one of them, "A summer of growth".</p> <p>Bonnie Wright and Andrew Lococo exchanged vows in a heartwarming ceremony in March of the previous year. Reflecting on their special day, Bonnie shared her happiness with a caption beneath a picture of their wedding rings, writing, "Yesterday was the best day of my life 💙, Thanks to my husband!!"</p> <p>Many well-wishes poured in, including a heartfelt message from Tom Felton, known for his portrayal of Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter's rival at Hogwarts. The 34-year-old actor wrote, "Congratulations B x."</p> <p>Bonnie Wright's journey in the world of entertainment began at the age of 11 when she made her on-screen debut in the first Harry Potter film, <em>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</em>, released in 2001.</p> <p>In recent years, Bonnie has garnered recognition for her passionate environmental activism – a definite nod to the "Ocean" element of her newborn's name. She now resides in San Diego, having moved there in February 2020 to be with her now-husband, Andrew Lococo.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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King Charles delights cyclists with surprise encounter

<p>A group of cyclists have caught the heartwarming moment they bumped into King Charles on camera. </p> <p>The royal was hiking alone near Balmoral estate when he passed by the group of mountain bikers, and in typical British fashion, started talking to them about the weather, and sharing his most cherished memories on the estate. </p> <p>The video, posted on mountain biker Andrew McAvoy's YouTube channel <em>McTrail Rider, </em>racked up over 310,000 views in just two days. </p> <p>"I think Charlie boy is here because there's guards down there with big assault rifles and stuff like that - it looks pretty cool," McAvoy said just before he started his trail. </p> <p>"They probably wouldn't do that if no one important was here." </p> <p>Not long after he spotted a walked in the distance and added: "I think that's a minor royal," before the realisation set in that it was in fact the King himself.</p> <p>The King stopped and started chatting with the group of cyclists, with McAvoy sharing that he and his friends were staying at he Royal Lochnagar Distillery, and were heading for Gelder Shiel - also known as Ernie's Bothy or the Royal Bothy - a public shelter used by hillwalkers. </p> <p>"We'll be staying in the bothy tonight," McAvoy said. </p> <p>"So good. I'm so glad it works. I think because it's is really nice. We renovated recently, but I'm trying to get more trees," Charles replied. </p> <p>"Yeah, it's looking looking lush compared to what it was two years ago. Do you ever stay there?" McAvoy added. </p> <p>"No we used to with my father and sister. It's occasionally used nowadays by another generation," Charles said. </p> <p>When asked if he was still on his summer holiday the monarch replied: "Yes. It is wonderful up here. The midges are horrendous. It's typical."</p> <p>The King added that he liked walking because it was "good for the soul" despite a somewhat colder Scottish summer this year. </p> <p>They then bid their farewells, with the King showing his sense of humour saying: "Take care, don't fall off!" </p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QABiQFWwXHg?si=oYHjQOwz997qnPRg" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>After their brief encounter, McAvoy and his friends couldn't help but comment on "what a nice man" Charles was.</p> <p>"Lovely man had time for us. Nice. I'm annoyed because I didn't want to care, but that was nice."</p> <p>The cyclist added: "He's a nice man. He's walking when everyone else is driving.</p> <p>"I'm just perplexed. It'd be one thing to like see the King with everyone - he was just wandering down the trail on his own."</p> <p>The Balmoral estate is generally open to the public from April to July each year, with access to the castle grounds being allowed on certain dates from September to December from this year. </p> <p><em style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, Rubik, 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;">Images: McTrail Rider YouTube</em></p>

International Travel

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Queen Bee Catherine delights in unusual getup

<p>Catherine, Princess of Wales, has gotten into the spirit of World Bee Day with a bee-autiful new look. </p> <p>In a picture shared to the prince and princess’s official Instagram account, taken the previous year by photographer Matt Porteous, Kate could be seen standing in front of a beehive in a full beige beekeeper suit - complete with a protective veiled hat and boots - and holding a rack covered in the pollinators.</p> <p>“We are buzzing about #WorldBeeDay,” came the honeyed words of the post’s caption. “Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and today is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy.”</p> <p>While the image was taken at Kate’s country home in Norfolk, beekeeping is reportedly one of Kate’s long-treasured hobbies, and she even has bees at home at Anmer Hall. And in June 2021, she turned that beloved hob-bee into a sweet - albeit quite sticky - affair, taking a jar of her own honey to give to children at London’s Natural History Museum.</p> <p>The royal honey isn’t limited to just Kate’s hives, either, with both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House producing their own for their hardworking kitchens - enough that they could be considered self-sufficient.</p> <p>Despite their success on the honey front, however, all attention in 2023 was on Kate and her suit - though some made note of her previous gift-giving in their comments, among the loving buzz towards the princess. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsdcUTmNhGk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/CsdcUTmNhGk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Even in this outfit she looks stunning! Whatever she wears she always looks so classy and beautiful,” one fan wrote. </p> <p>“Oooh, I remember The Princess bringing honey from her bees to an engagement and let the children taste it,” another shared. “Lovely photo!”</p> <p>Meanwhile, another had to ask, “is there anything that this lady can’t do? I don’t think so.”</p> <p>“Awww, a ‘honey’ checking the Bees,” wrote one devoted pun-ster. </p> <p>Some - while pleased with this latest insight into royal life - were grateful to Kate for raising awareness over the important date, with one writing “thanks for shining a light on so many important matters.”</p> <p>“Such an informative update! i have no idea there's something called #WorldBeeDay haha,” one declared. </p> <p>“There is and you can have a small bee lover plant to benefit bees in your area,” came a well-intended suggestion in response, “they love lavender.” </p> <p>And as another put it, “wow she’s a beekeeper too, lucky bees”, before noting that she “will be the queen bee anyway”.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Couple’s accidental double delight

<p>A couple in the United States have bamboozled each other with their heartfelt attempts at a surprise - expanding their family not once, but twice. </p> <p>Vet assistant Chelsea Renee - known chocolate labradoodle lover - wanted to do something nice for her partner, and decided the best way was to bring home “the puppy he has wanted since he was a kid”. </p> <p>In a viral clip uploaded to her TikTok account, Chelsea is standing in their living room, waiting for him with the puppy in her arms. As he enters the room, she says “surprise” and presents him with their new furry friend. </p> <p>Like all good dog appreciators, he readily accepted this addition to their family, but went on to flip the script in a way Chelsea could never have anticipated, telling her that it was “really bad timing”.</p> <p>Chelsea, of course, was confused, and was instructed to head out to his truck and take a look. With her phone in hand, still recording, she made her way outside to conduct her investigation, where she was met with a delightful surprise all of her own. </p> <p>Nestled in the passenger seat was the reason for her boyfriend’s bizarre response: a second puppy. As Chelsea’s video caption read, “I told him I wanted a chocolate lab when we get married”, and it certainly seems like he was listening. </p> <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620.262px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7225035642814860590&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40chelsearenee46%2Fvideo%2F7225035642814860590&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fefcb27b1bec444eeaa7b44f29b7df29c%3Fx-expires%3D1682672400%26x-signature%3DHF3Tj7if33E9cvwMp7Gxbnh11H4%253D&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p>With over 20 million views - and counting - on the video, there were plenty of amused internet users who wanted to share their thoughts with the couple, with a large portion of them glad to be in on the ‘joke’ with them.</p> <p>“Omg that's one HELL of an uno reverse card,” wrote one. </p> <p>“When he said bad timing I was like ‘did he already get one?’ Then boom 2 babies!!!!” said another. </p> <p>“Great minds think alike,” one declared, before adding, “congratulations on your new ADDITIONS.”</p> <p>The idea that ‘great minds’ prompt similar lines of thought was a popular one, with another echoing the statement, even expanding on it by noting that “the universe works in mysterious ways”.</p> <p>For those that wanted to know more, Chelsea posted two more videos about their experience with the puppies, assuring followers that “of course we kept both”.</p> <p>In a Q&amp;A session, someone wanted to know how the couple had managed to pull it off, and if it had been a special anniversary that led to their synced gift giving. </p> <p>“It was literally just a crazy fluke that it was [the] same day. We didn’t mean to,” Chelsea explained, adding that there definitely hadn’t been anything else going on. </p> <p>It had, in fact, just been a very happy coincidence.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Soccer’s “greatest domestic treasure” found after 70 years

<p>It took 69 years, but the Soccer Ashes have finally been found. </p> <p>Australian football has been on the hunt for the treasured trophy since 1954, when it - by all accounts - disappeared from the face of the Earth. </p> <p>The “greatest domestic treasure”, a title bestowed upon it by Australian football historian Trevor Thompson, is easy enough to miss at first glance. The hand-carved wooden box is small, but like with most things in life, it’s what’s on the inside that counts - in this case, the ashes of two cigars smoked by the Australia and New Zealand captains in 1923 following their first ‘A’ international match in Australia. </p> <p>The trophy - which is now considered to be a main contributing element in the wider history of Australia’s national team, the Socceroos - serves as the first one ever contested between the rival sides, and was thought up by the then-team manager for New Zealand, Harry Mayer. </p> <p>His belief that the two sides needed something to play for - similar to cricket’s Ashes - led to its creation. Mayer himself - a trophy maker - constructed the piece, combining the likes of New Zealand honeysuckle and Australian maple, including the iconic imagery of kangaroos and silver ferns on its lid.</p> <p>Within the box lies a blue velvet lining, and a silver-plated razor case. The case is a main feature of the trophy, as it once belonged to the-secretary of the Queensland Football Association, Private William Fisher. He had been carrying it with him during the 1915 Gallipoli landing.</p> <p>In the 30 years to follow, the two nations competed for the trophy, and saw it passed back and forth between Australia and New Zealand before its 1954 disappearance. And while some feared it had simply been tossed aside or at worst destroyed, many were not willing to give up on it. </p> <p>Historians Trevor Thompson and Ian Syson, for example, set out in 2019 on a mission to track it down, armed with the support of Football Australian and government funding.</p> <p>And to the delight of soccer fans across both nations, they did it. </p> <p>The family of the late and former Australian Soccer Football Association’s chairman Sydney Storey found it tucked away with a whole host of other treasures - including but not limited to football memorabilia, pictures, newspaper clippings, and other assorted documents - in his garage. It took them a year to identify and verify all of Storey’s vast collection, but it was all worth the wait, with the family reaching out to Football Australia as soon as possible. </p> <p>In the wake of the joyous discovery, there have been calls for the trophy - or at least a replica of it - to once again be implemented, as well as for the trans-Tasman competition to become an annual event. </p> <p>As Ian Syson explained, “this trophy is symbolic of something really important, and its discovery is also really important as well.</p> <p>"Its absence was a symptom of Australian soccer's tendency to forget itself, and for the surrounding culture not to care at all.</p> <p>"This trophy is replete with sacred significance to a country that is so obsessed with its Anzac mythology. For that to go missing, it says a lot about the way this game manages to shoot itself in the foot all the time.</p> <p>"And so maybe this is a sign that the game can correct itself, can fix itself, can remember itself - if there's enough people caring about it, if there's enough people taking an interest in the history.</p> <p>"It means so much for the game."</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

News

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Sour note spoils Hilary Swank’s double delight

<p>Hilary Swank has delighted fans around the world by announcing the birth of her “miracle” twins. </p> <p>The 48-year-old actress took to her social media with an image of herself at sunset, a baby - a boy and a girl - cradled in each arm, overlooking the water. Or, as Hilary called it in her caption, “pure heaven”. </p> <p>“It wasn’t easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it,” she wrote, before wishing her 1.5 million  followers a happy Easter. </p> <p>Hilary shares her happy new additions with entrepreneur Philip Schneider, who she married in 2018. The two have made no secret of their desire to expand their family, with Hilary opening up multiple times in interviews over the years, most recently to <em>Good Morning America</em> in late 2022 while publicly revealing her pregnancy. </p> <p>"This is something that I've been wanting for a long time,” she said, “and my next thing is I'm gonna be a mum. And not just of one, but of two. I can't believe it. It's so nice to be able to talk about it and share it."</p> <p>And as she told <em>Extra</em>, also in 2022, the timing hadn’t previously been correct, with the actress focussed on her career and unable to find the right relationship. According to Hilary, “all the elements needed to come together and be right” for motherhood. </p> <p>“It’s just something I thought about even as a young girl,” she added. “It’s something that was on my mind, so it’s nice to be here and just be pregnant."</p> <p>In 2020, Hilary spoke to <em>The Daily Mail </em>about how she felt she was “very maternal”, and shared her belief that not having children did not have the power to render someone - like herself at that point - unable to be maternal. </p> <p>"I’ve heard a lot of women say that they’ve been told, 'oh, you’re kind of a failure,'” she said. “Or, you know, 'didn’t you come here to procreate?’. There are so many different ways to procreate!</p> <p>“Any type of mothering, any type of nurturing, is being a mother.”</p> <p>Now that Hilary has taken her own nurturing to the next level, after months of sharing the various milestones and moments in her pregnancy journey with her supporters, she has been met with an outpouring of love and celebration from friends, fans, and family. </p> <p>“Aaaaahhhh!!!!! Congratulations,” wrote an excited Viola Davis. </p> <p>“So happy to see you turkeys soaking up the sea, the sun and the salt air! Love you. Welcome to planet earth little ones. Hope you have a lovely stay here,” gushed actor Misha Collins. </p> <p>“Congratulations!!!!!!!!! God bless!” declared actress Lindsay Lohan, who had recently shared that she was also expecting her first child. </p> <p>However, not all were on board with Hilary’s joy, with some mean-spirited souls taking issue with the actress’s move into motherhood at 48. </p> <p>“When she is my age, those kids will be fourteen. Ack. Why? I don't understand people,” one complained. </p> <p>“And I don’t understand people that leave comments like this one!” a fed up supporter shot back, while another opted for a humble facepalming emoji. </p> <p>“These kids are going to be well cared for and well loved,” another pointed out. “What’s not to understand and celebrate??”</p> <p>“It's not your place to understand! She's waited her entire life to have these babies, it's nobody's business at what age she wanted to have them or was actually to have them either!!” said one more passionate fan, before they added the most important piece of advice the troll would be receiving, “just be happy for her or just shut up.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Princess of Wales delights in new family photo

<p>Kensington Palace have shared a new snap of Kate, Princess of Wales, and her three children in honour of Mother’s Day in the UK. </p> <p>The snap, shared to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account, sees Kate sitting in a tree, surrounded by her kids - Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4. </p> <p>“Happy Mother’s Day from our family to yours,” the post was captioned. </p> <p>The royals’ Norfolk estate is believed to have been the location for the shoot, and Mat Porteous - who has previously acted as photographer for the couple and their young family - was behind the lens. </p> <p>Like the family’s 2021 Christmas card and previous portraits of the children, the latest snap sees them outside, enjoying the sunshine together. Kate has spoken before of the importance of the outdoors, encouraging children everywhere to head outside and experience what the world has to offer them - a lesson, it seems, she is keen on passing on to her own kids.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp99RBWtx_V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/Cp99RBWtx_V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fans of the royal family wasted no time in sharing their love in the comments of the post, and wishing Kate the happiest of Mother’s Days. </p> <p>“Happy Mother’s Day to you Catherine,” wrote one. “It is so clear to see through the pictures how wonderful and doting mum you are … have an amazing day.”</p> <p>“Happy Mother's Day to our lovely Princess, a wonderful mummy to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and baby Prince Louis,” echoed another. </p> <p>“Now that’s what you call a family tree,” came one joke. </p> <p>Meanwhile, another shared the opinion that it was “nice to see the kids being kids, dressed in everyday clothes.”</p> <p>One, who’d obviously gotten quite the fright with differing dates for Mother’s Day, declared that “every man in America just panicked for a moment.”</p> <p>And one took the time to pay tribute to those who may not be having such a joyous experience on Mother’s Day, writing, “and thinking of those without their mothers, those yearning to be mothers, those with strained relations, those who have lost children.”</p> <p>In a similar post to the former sentiment, the Royal Palace’s official Twitter account shared some snaps on behalf of Charles and Camilla, along with the caption, “To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special #MothersDay.”</p> <p>The second series of snaps sees a young Charles on his late mother’s lap, and Camilla with her own late mother, Rosalind. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">💐 To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MothersDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MothersDay</a>. <a href="https://t.co/v3ugcnH8pJ">pic.twitter.com/v3ugcnH8pJ</a></p> <p>— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1637265329003872256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>It was Charles’ first Mother’s Day celebration without Elizabeth, who passed away in 2022. </p> <p>It is the King's first Mother's Day without the Queen, who died on September 8, 2022, aged 96.</p> <p>Many in the comments there had kind words for Charles, and opened up about their own experiences with missing their mothers, coming together on what was a bittersweet holiday for them all. </p> <p>“We see them as king and queen but at the end of the day they were [also a] much loved son and daughter of devoted [and] loving Mums,” said one supporter. </p> <p>“Charles, you lost your mother on September 8th during my 1st visit to England,” another shared. “I lost mine on July 22nd.  So I understand how you felt & feel on this 1st Mother's Day since their passing. I sense our mothers raised us well & they will live on forever in our hearts & soul.”</p> <p>“Our Mothers are ALWAYS with us. I truly believe that,” one more fan stated. “My thoughts are with all who are missing (like me) these Incredible, Inspirational, Beautiful and Courageous women we were (and are always) privileged to call ‘Mummy’.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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6 delicious cheesecake recipes to delight the whole family

<p>Whether your sweet tooth steers you towards something bejewelled in berries or coated in chocolate, cheesecakes make for an excellent dessert all year round. </p> <p>In no particular order, here are 10 recipes to try at home, whether you want to impress the whole family at your next event or want to dig in solo for a cheesecake demolition (no experience required). </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://justamumnz.com/2016/10/23/caramello-chocolate-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caramello cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>Caramel and chocolate go hand in hand, so it only makes sense to pair Caramello with cake. And with a prep time of only 20 minutes (though 4 hours are recommended for setting), this sweet treat can be yours in record time after the cake craving strikes. </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="Custard%20apple%20cheesecake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Custard apple cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>In another take on a classic combo, Woolworths’ recipe promises a 45 minute prep time, with only four steps. Best yet, it doesn’t require baking, so there’s no fear of burning it before you even get the chance to enjoy it. </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.recipetineats.com/no-bake-mango-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No bake mango cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p><em>RecipeTin Eats</em>' Nagi Maehashi credits bargain mangoes for this recipe, and no matter its humble origins, the multitude of ways this one can be played with makes it the perfect base to experiment. Plus, Nagi lists her notes, tips, and tricks to help any baker through the process. </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/ultimate-choc-mint-cheesecake-recipe/zwfw4gs8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ultimate choc-mint cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>For KitKat lovers, and avid fans of mint chocolate, this recipe is a must. It provides a grand opportunity to get creative with decorating too, though it could be a bit of a challenge to improve upon the surewire winner KitKat ring. </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.readersdigest.ca/food/recipes/lemon-curd-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lemon curd cheesecake</strong></a></li> </ul> <p>With lemon curd involved, is there ever any need to say more? This recipe, although from a Canadian, gives bakers the option to swap their measurements to metric for an easier experience. And even more, you can edit the portion size, so no more guessing while adjusting the recipe to suit.</p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.modernasianbaking.com/recipes/the-best-japanese-cheesecake-recipe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foolproof Japanese cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>And last but certainly not least is the bouncy and brilliant Japanese cheesecake. These cakes, also known as a cotton cheesecake or a soufflé cheesecake, cannot be missed. And with notes from recipe author Kat Lieu to assist, now is as good a time as any to give it a go. </p> <p>The <em>OverSixty </em>team shared their favourite cheesecake flavours too, and though they may not all be family friendly, they’re certainly nothing short of absolutely scrumptious. </p> <p>Coming in first? Baileys. Indulgent and creamy, any cheesecake recipe that features the liqueur is sure to be a winner.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/baileys-cheesecake-recipe/633f1u7z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baileys cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/caramilk-baileys-salted-caramel-cheesecake-recipe/9bnmlwmn?r=baking/66odb6fv&amp;h=baking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caramilk, Baileys, and salted caramel cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://bakeplaysmile.com/baileys-chocolate-cheesecake-no-bake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No bake Baileys chocolate cheesecake</a></li> </ul> <p>And second up, though no less desirable, are fruit cheesecakes (lemon, blueberry, and raspberry topping our lists). Typically a more humble option, but certainly no less delicious, with hundreds of flavours available to make them shine inside and out. </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.recipetineats.com/blueberry-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blueberry cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/lemon-and-blueberry-cheesecake-1489" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lemon and blueberry cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/no-bake-lemon-cheesecake-recipe-2/z5ltaea8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No bake lemon cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/25642/white-chocolate-raspberry-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White chocolate raspberry cheesecake</a></li> </ul> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Food & Wine

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“Absolutely delighted”: Sam Mac announces new career move

<p>Sam Mac took to Instagram on Monday to announce that he will be joining the team of <em>Sydney Weekender</em> as their new host. </p> <p>Sam has been providing Australians with weather updates since joining Channel 7’s <em>Sunrise</em> in 2016. In his <em>Sydney Weekender</em> announcement post, Sam assured his audience that he would be staying on as weatherman.</p> <p>He will be replacing fellow Channel 7 presenter Matt Shirvington, who is leaving <em>Sydney Weekender </em>to turn his attention to his budding 7News and 7Sport commitments. </p> <p>“Absolutely delighted to be the new host of @sydneyweekender,” Sam captioned his post to Instagram, where he shared an article by the Daily Mail. “As you know, my true life passion is meteorology, so I will be continuing my role as Australia’s 14th most popular TV Weatherman … <em>Sydney Weekender </em>is an absolute institution &amp; what a super talented &amp; friendly team they are!”</p> <p>Sam and his partner, Rebecca James, welcomed their first child in September. In his post, he promised fans that his additional workload would not impact on the time he dedicated to Rebecca and little Margot, writing, “I honestly can't think of a better way to show Bec &amp; Margot some of these spectacular spots, whilst still receiving a per diem.”</p> <p>Sam’s <em>Sunrise </em>co-worker, Edwina Bartholomew, shared her excitement for Sam and his new opportunity, commenting, “Awesome news. We will be tuning in!!”</p> <p>Emma Watkins, best known for her work with The Wiggles, shared a series of hearts for the post.  </p> <p>“Looking forward to you reporting from old Sydney town!” Australian radio presenter Brendan Jones said of Sam’s new journey sharing New South Wales with audiences across Australia. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-yjHYvFpe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/Cn-yjHYvFpe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sam Mac (@sammacinsta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Sam made sure to express his own excitement at and respect for this opportunity in his caption, adding, “<em>Sydney Weekender </em>is an absolute institution and what a super-talented and friendly team they are! For 30 years they’ve showcased the finest food &amp; fun to enjoy in NSW and beyond.”</p> <p>“SCHEDULE THE VIEWING PARTY,” Sam’s new <em>Sydney Weekender</em> co-host Candice Dixon took to the comments to add, “Congratulations are in order.”</p> <p>Sam’s first episode as host aired on Monday night, but as Sam quipped in his caption, any viewers who couldn’t catch the broadcast don’t need to miss out. </p> <p>“Send me a DM request &amp; I can come to your house &amp; reenact the episode in its entirety, playing the role of all hosts/guests/animals,” he wrote, “this is a longer form, unedited experience (set aside 5-7 hours &amp; ideally have a bed/meal available for me).”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Delightful new Bruce Willis pics after sad diagnosis

<p>Bruce Willis, who rose to fame through his roles in the Die Hard franchise and likes of The Sixth Sense, has appeared in a series of photographs shared to Instagram by his daughter, Tallulah. </p> <p>The pictures were a welcome sight for fans and supporters of the 67-year-old actor, who made his aphasia diagnosis public in March 2022. In the series of images, Willis can be seen making faces at the camera and embracing his 28-year-old daughter. Tallulah opted to caption the snippets of her life, “High drama club - life skills - fingers crossed I eat a veggie this week LMAO.”</p> <p>The Emmy-award winning actor has two daughters with actress Demi Moore - Tallulah, and her 34-year-old sister, Rumer. He shares daughters Mabel and Evelyn with wife Emma Heming Willis, 44.</p> <p>In a statement from his family in 2022, it was revealed that Bruce had been diagnosed with aphasia, writing “to Bruce's amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities."</p> <p>It was announced that he would be retiring from acting, and that the family was appreciative of the “continued love, compassion and support” from fans during the challenging time. </p> <p>That love, compassion, and support has remained steady, with fans flooding Tallulah’s comments sections with well wishes for herself and her father. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnVU1NFvRrl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/CnVU1NFvRrl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by tallulah (@buuski)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Thank you for sharing our dear Bruce the actor and Bruce your father … We love this. Thank you so much,” wrote one supporter.</p> <p>“I'm so glad he's having a great time with family. That man was a huge part of my childhood, so it's nice seeing him happy after announcing his diagnosis and retirement,” said another fan. </p> <p>Many took to the comments sections to praise Tallulah for sharing the moments with her father, while other took the time to offer their support for Tallulah herself. </p> <p>Tallulah has been open about her experiences with alcohol and drugs, and after also sharing a picture which featured a copy of Alcoholics Anonymous, fans extended their respect and support for her.</p> <p>“Stay in that book. One day at a time life gets better. Love you,”  offered one well wisher. </p> <p>“Taking the steps is key to getting there.. congratulations ,” wrote another, while others offered snippets of their own journeys. </p> <p>The update into their lives has delighted fans, who look forward to seeing more of Bruce spending time with family, as they eagerly await the birth of his first grandchild in 2023. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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More than a story of treasures: revisiting Tutankhamun’s tomb 100 years after its discovery

<p>On November 4 1922, a young Egyptian “water boy” on an archaeological dig is said to have accidentally stumbled on a stone that turned out to be the top of a flight of steps cut into the limestone bedrock. </p> <p>The stairs led to one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries in history and the only almost intact funerary assemblage of a pharaoh – the Tutankhamun’s tomb.</p> <p>A century after this discovery, it’s worth revisiting the story of Tutankhamun’s tomb and how it eventually became a symbol for Egyptian nationalism.</p> <h2>The ‘child king’</h2> <p><a href="https://egyptianmuseum.org/explore/new-kingdom-ruler-tutankhamun">Tutankhamun</a> is often referred to as a “child king” and the “most famous and least important” of the pharaohs; he was almost unknown to history before the tomb’s discovery. </p> <p>The son of one of the most controversial pharaohs in history – the champion of monotheism, <a href="https://www.arce.org/resource/akhenaten-mysteries-religious-revolution">Akhenaten</a> – Tutankhamun ascended the throne around age six or so. After a rather uneventful reign of restoring temples and bringing Egypt out from a period of political and religious turmoil, he died sometime between the age of 17 and 19. </p> <p>The discovery of his tomb full of magnificent and unique objects is more than a story of treasures. This is also a tale of the “roaring 20s” in the Middle Eastern version: a story of a quintessential embrace of class, privilege and colonialism juxtaposed against struggle for political freedom and building of new national identity. </p> <p>Archaeology 100 years ago was <a href="https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/tutankhamun-excavating-the-archive">very different</a>. </p> <p>None of the three male protagonists behind the discovery – Howard Carter (the lead British excavator), Lord Carnarvon (the man behind the money), and Ahmed Gerigar (the Egyptian foreman) – were formally trained as archaeologists.</p> <p>Despite this, Carter is now almost always referred to as an archaeologist, but Gerigar <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remembering-unsung-egyptians-who-helped-find-king-tut-tomb-180980074/">almost never is</a> – further entrenching colonial narratives.</p> <p>But Carter’s three-decade-long excavation experience, draughtsman’s talent and his meticulousness, allied with the photographic aptitude of <a href="http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringtut/burton5/burtoncolour.html">Harry Burton of Metropolitan Museum</a> and the skills of the Egyptian excavators assured Tutenkhamun’s tomb – the only discovery of its type and arguably one of the most important archaeological finds ever – was recorded in a systematic and “modern” way.</p> <h2>The painter who became an archaeologist</h2> <p>Howard Carter was a young painter who fell in love with Egyptian antiquities while following his father, also a painter, into the houses of London’s elite to add drawings of pets to his father’s portraits. </p> <p>In 1891, age 17, Carter was recommended as an illustrator to archaeologist Percy Newberry, and joined him at a dig in Egypt at <a href="https://benihassan.com/">Beni Hassan tombs</a>. From this first trip to his death in 1939, Carter spent his life mostly in Egypt with short trips back to London to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/aug/13/howard-carter-stole-tutankhamuns-treasure-new-evidence-suggests">deal in antiquities</a>, including those allegedly stolen from Tutankhamun’s tomb. </p> <p>After Beni Hassan, Carter became an illustrator for one of the fathers of Egyptology, William Flinders Petrie in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarna">Tell el-Amarna</a>, the capital of Tut’s father Akhenaten. </p> <p>Carter then worked in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deir_el-Bahari">Deir el-Bahari</a>, the funerary temple of queen pharaoh Hatshepsut, located right on the other side of the limestone ravine known as the Valley of the Kings. </p> <p>It is here, on the western bank of the Nile I also trace some of my humble early experiences in Egyptology. </p> <p>Walking at dawn from our base at the Metropolitan Museum house in Deir, which Carter frequented, to the temple, I followed in his footsteps and mused on how lucky he was when the “water boy” stumbled upon a staircase to the tomb.</p> <p>That year, 1922, was supposed to be the last season after seven fruitless years of digging in the Valley in search of Tutankhamun’s elusive resting place. </p> <p>After clearing the staircase, Carter found the doorway sealed with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartouche">cartouches</a> – the hieroglyphs which enclose a royal name. He ordered the staircase to be refilled, and sent a telegram to Carnarvon, who arrived from England two-and-a-half weeks later.</p> <p>On November 26 Carter made a “tiny breach in the top left-hand corner” of the doorway. </p> <p>Carnarvon asked, “Can you see anything?” and Carter <a href="https://museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/tutankhamun-wonderful-things/">replied</a> with his famous line: “Yes, wonderful things!”</p> <p>Across 3,000 years, about 300 pharaohs ruled ancient Egypt. All royal tombs had been broken into by thieves.</p> <p>The spectacular find of Tut’s tomb was also not a fully intact discovery. The tomb had been looted twice in antiquity, and Carter estimated that a considerable amount of jewellery was stolen. But it is the only surviving almost complete funerary assemblage.</p> <p>Consisting of over 5,000 objects, only <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/tutankhamun/id463700741?i=1000460805430">30%</a> have been studied so far.</p> <h2>A story of its time</h2> <p>Following <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unilateral_Declaration_of_Egyptian_Independence">Egyptian independence</a> on February 28 1922 and the establishment of an independent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Egypt">Kingdom of Egypt</a>, the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb became an optimistic symbol for Egyptian nationalists. </p> <p>After the initial documentation, the official opening of the tomb in early 1924 coincided with the inauguration of Egypt’s first elected parliament.</p> <p>Despite the new independence, colonial attitudes continued. Lord Carnarvon sold the rights to the story of the discovery of Tut’s tomb to the London Times for a significant sum.</p> <p>Given the delay of a couple of weeks with sending photos on the ship from Cairo to London, Egyptian newspapers and readers were only able to follow the unfolding discovery from reading delayed British press. This caused a lot of resentment among the newly independent Egyptians, especially the middle classes.</p> <p>Nevertheless, the discovery was very significant for nation building and new national post-colonial identity. </p> <p>Taha Hussein, a notable Egyptian philosopher of the time, coined a notion of “<a href="https://raseef22.net/article/1074731-are-we-arabs-pharaohs-phoenicians-or-assssyrians-a-question-raised-since-1933-by">pharaonism</a>”. This unified national identity was supposed to transcend religious and ethnic differences between Arab, Muslim, Coptic and Jewish Egyptians. </p> <p>It remains a tool of propaganda to this day – notably with a parade of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56508475">22 mummies moving to a new national museum</a> and a lavish re-opening of the <a href="https://grandegyptianmuseum.org/">Grand Egyptian Museum</a> soon, where much of the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb can be found today.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-than-a-story-of-treasures-revisiting-tutankhamuns-tomb-100-years-after-its-discovery-193293" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Art

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Treasuring the Queen's final official photo

<p>Just days before her death, Queen Elizabeth was seen in what was her final official engagement. </p> <p>The monarch met with Britain's new prime minister, Liz Truss, at a ceremony inside the green-carpeted room at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. </p> <p>Due to the Queen's ongoing health issues, the appointment of the new PM broke with tradition by taking place in Scotland, rather than in Buckingham Palace. </p> <p>The monarch was supported by her walking cane as she invited Truss, Her Majesty's 15th prime minister in her 70-year-reign, to form a new government.</p> <p>During the Queen's final official act before her death, she looked lively and happy as she smiled for photos and shook the hand of the new prime minister. </p> <p>Despite her positive demeanour, people were quick to spot the large bruise on the Queen's hand, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/worrying-photo-sparks-fresh-concerns-for-queen-elizabeth-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reigniting concerns</a> about the monarch's health. </p> <p>ITV's royal editor Chris Ship said the bruising was a sign of changing times in the Queen's advancing years.</p> <p>"I'm no medic but it could be some form of cannula that the Queen's had, we are guessing," Ship told Today.</p> <p>"Buckingham Palace never tells us about her ongoing medical conditions. She's 96 years old. A frail lady, let's be clear. And queen of advancing age."</p> <p>Just days later, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-dead-at-96" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully</a> at the age of 96. </p> <p dir="ltr">The monarch was under medical supervision due to her deteriorating health but unfortunately died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8th at 8:30pm local time (3:30am AEDT).</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” The Royal Family tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The public was notified of her death through the traditional form of a formal message placed on an easel on the railings outside the Palace.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Don’t look a GIF horse in the mouth: Short, shareable animations have been delighting humans for centuries

<p>They are a popular feature of social media and text messaging in 2022, but many people are surprised to discover short sharable animations or videos, like GIFs have been around in digital format for 35 years, but in analogue for nearly two centuries.</p> <p>Today many have become internet memes, added for emphasis, and mostly played on continuous loop.</p> <p><strong>GIFs (short for Graphics Interchange Format)</strong></p> <p>Steve Wilhite, a computer scientist working at CompuServe is <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-gif-early-internet-innovation-ubiquitous-relic-180963543/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acknowledged as the creator</a> of the Graphics Interchange Format, or GIF in 1987.</p> <p>A GIF is a small image file that can support short animations or videos. GIFs work by stringing together several frames or images into a single file, which plays like a short clip.</p> <p>Compressed they are small file sizes; GIFs are easily shared on email and social media.  </p> <p>While most can share in the delight of a well-chosen GIF, there is a long-running heated disagreement over how to pronounce the acronym, tracked <a href="https://time.com/5791028/how-to-pronounce-gif/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">by Time</a> (this COSMOS journalist had been pronouncing GIF with a hard ‘g’, while Wilhite apparently preferred the softer version, like ‘JIF’). </p> <p>But long before the GIF there were various forms of short sharable animation made in analogue. Here we flick through a few.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-photo is-provider-giphy wp-block-embed-giphy"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/giphy1.gif" alt="" width="500" height="337" /></div> </div> </div> </div><figcaption>Ghost GIF / Credit: Matthias Brown</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Thaumatropes (from the Greek for ‘wonder turner’)</strong></p> <p>Dating back as early as 1827, a thaumatrope is a two-sided disc which creates a simple animation when spun.</p> <p>The device is a disc with different but related pictures on each side and strings attached at opposite ends. When those strings are wound up tightly, and then released, the disc spins creating a simple animation. </p> <p>While the idea was described and popularised by John Ayrton Paris, the inventor of this wonder turner is not known. </p> <p><strong>Phenakistoscopes (from the Greek for ‘deceitful viewer’)</strong></p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p202287-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/technology/computing/dont-look-a-gif-horse-in-the-mouth/#wpcf7-f6-p202287-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <p style="display: none !important;"><span class="wpcf7-form-control-wrap referer-page"><input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" aria-invalid="false" /></span></p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></form> </div> </div> <p>In 1832 an analogue form of the modern GIF was made by spinning a circular card on its centre. </p> <p>In that year, two scientists Joseph Plateau from Belgium and Simon von Stampfer from Austria independently created looping animations called phenakistoscopes.</p> <p>The phenakistoscope creates the illusion of moving images by slicing the circle into segments and placing a sequential image at slightly shifting locations within each slice, using vector graphics. Each slice of the circle acts like a frame in an animation. Between each slice is a black radial slit.</p> <p>When the circle is spun on its centre, and its reflection viewed using a mirror, the effect creates the illusion of smoothly moving images like a short, repeating video. </p> <p><strong>Zoetropes (from the Greek for ‘life turn’)</strong></p> <p>Two years later, mathematician William Horner <a href="https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2908" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">created the zoetrope</a>, an idea based on the phenakistoscope but able to be viewed by more than one person at a time.</p> <p>A larger cylinder like a drum has slits cut into the sides for viewing. Strips of sequential images spin inside the cylinder so that the viewer sees one after the other.</p> <p>The technology was popularised by American business magnate, game pioneer and publisher, Milton Bradley in 1866 who sold zoetropes as a toy with replaceable picture strips.</p> <p>Several animation studios have built three-dimensional versions of the zoetrope using sequentially posed figurines instead of pictures. Visitors to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne can experience a <a href="https://www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-ideas/acmis-cuphead-zoetrope-cool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3D zoetrope</a> of video game character <em>Cuphead</em>. Meanwhile visitors to the <a href="https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ghibli Museum</a> in Tokyo, can see a zoetrope of skipping and running totoros built using figurines from the Studio Ghibli movie <em>My Neighbour Totoro.</em></p> <p><strong>Find out more about phenakistoscopes and GIFs on the 2022 SCINEMA International Science Film Festival</strong></p> <p>For more on the history and science of the phenakistoscope (and instructions on how to make one) watch the 2022 SCINEMA International Science Film festival entry, <em>Animated GIFS: Celebrating Scientific Genius</em>, by <a href="https://scinema.org.au/register" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">registering</a> to view it for free on the SCINEMA website. </p> <p>Follow the prompts on the email you receive and you’ll find <em>Animated GIFS: Celebrating Scientific Genius</em> in the Animation / Experimental playlist. You can watch all the films until August 31 2022 when the festival ends. </p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-photo is-provider-giphy wp-block-embed-giphy"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/giphy-1.gif" alt="" width="480" height="480" /></div> </div> </div> </div><figcaption>GIF based on a phenakistoscope / Credit: Sanni Lahtinen on GIPHY</figcaption></figure> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><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=202287&title=Don%26%238217%3Bt+look+a+GIF+horse+in+the+mouth%3A+short%2C+shareable+animations+have+been+delighting+humans+for+centuries" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/computing/dont-look-a-gif-horse-in-the-mouth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/petra-stock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Petra Stock</a>. Petra Stock has a degree in environmental engineering and a Masters in Journalism from University of Melbourne. She has previously worked as a climate and energy analyst.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Technology

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New Treasurer claims ScoMo left economy in "a mess"

<p>New Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers has claimed Scott Morrison left Australia's economy in "a mess", and warned Aussies of a "serious economic challenges" ahead. </p> <p>At a press conference on Wednesday, Chalmers told the media that inflation and interest rates were higher since the end of March, petrol prices were up 12 per cent since the end of April, and wholesale electricity and gas prices were also significantly higher under the Morrison government. </p> <p>“We do have labour shortages and we do still have Covid absenteeism, and the international environment has become more challenging as well,” he told reporters.</p> <p>“There is no point tiptoeing around these serious economic challenges. There is no point mincing words about the sorts of conditions that we have inherited."</p> <p>“We have inherited high and rising inflation and rising interest rates, we’ve inherited falling real wages and we’ve inherited $1 trillion in debt.”</p> <p>He went on to say that the economy forecast was weaker in March than the Morrison government claimed at election time, while saying, “Consumption, dwelling investment, new business investment, exports and nominal GDP were all weaker in the March quarter than was anticipated by our predecessors.”</p> <p>“These national accounts are a glimpse of the mess that the former government left behind for us to clean up."</p> <p>“Obviously, we want the economy to recover strongly. Obviously, we want household consumption and other key elements of the national accounts to be as strong as possible.</p> <p>“But even when, on the surface, they might look stronger than they have been during the worst of Covid, they are still short of what the government was hoping for.”</p> <p>In relation to growing energy costs, Chalmers said there was a "perfect storm" of challenges facing the energy market. </p> <p>“These are the costs and consequences of almost a decade now of a government with 22 different energy policies failing to land the necessary certainty to improve the resilience of our energy markets,” he said.</p> <p>“This is the chickens coming home to roost when it comes to almost a decade now on climate change and energy policy failure from our predecessors."</p> <p>The Albanese government has been passionate about their climate change policy, with a strong goal of reaching net zero by 2050. </p> <p>Despite the government's passion for energy reform, financial experts have warned that growing oil and gas prices could plunge Australia into a recession before Christmas if radical change isn't made sooner rather than later. </p> <p>Chalmers also said that workers on a minimum wage should not be further disadvantaged through the ongoing cost of living crisis. </p> <p>“Minimum wage workers were in many cases the heroes of the pandemic. They shouldn’t be going backwards in this cost of living crisis,” he said.</p> <p>Although Labor are dedicated to reducing the cost of living, The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said global events – including the rolling conflict in Ukraine – would continue to impact the Australian economy in the months ahead.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

News

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Beloved music treasure Marcia Hines to hit the stage

<p dir="ltr">Former <em>Australian Idol</em> judge Marcia Hines is set to hit the stage to perform music which shaped her into the woman she is today.</p> <p dir="ltr">The beloved musical treasure will “bare her soul” at St Stephen’s Uniting Church in Sydney alongside a 12-member choir and live band in an intimate and exalting live concert.</p> <p dir="ltr">The concert will be held on two nights - June 9 and 10 - during Sydney’s fantastic light show, Vivid. </p> <p dir="ltr">Marcia is excited to share a part of her soul during her upbringing in America as a black child.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The word that comes to mind is joy. And I often listen to a lot of the Baptist Church music that comes out of America – it's praise, it's joy and it's so nice to listen to. I personally find it uplifting," she told <a href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/marcia-hines-vivid-sydney-festival-gospel-music-live-performance-concert-exclusive-interview/95b86f1c-cb26-4462-946a-1a55351a0c7d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">"It's a new venture for me doing the gospel music. I was brought up in church, like most black kids in America, and it was a very large part of my upbringing." </p> <p dir="ltr">The singer has her blind aunt Florence James to thank, who she accompanied every Sunday to the church from the mere age of 10. </p> <p dir="ltr">The four churches they frequented were in Boston’s inner city, which aunt Florence led the choirs for and congregations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Through aunt Florence’s guidance, Maricia was able to travel to Australia where she became a sensation. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Luckily, when the opportunity came to come to Australia, [Australian producer] Harry M. Miller kind of took me under his wing and got me to do Jesus Christ Superstar. So I was the first black Mary Magdalene in the world to do the role," she told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I had this incredible influx of good people around me. I travelled and performed around the world with an incredibly big band and things like that. I've had success in Europe, which has been fantastic. But basically, when you've got work, you stay where you are."</p> <p dir="ltr">Marcia’s rise to popularity saw her become a judge on the popular talent show <em>Australian Idol</em> for a total of seven years from 2003.</p> <p dir="ltr">She was also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 and she received the Order of Australia in 2009.</p> <p dir="ltr">Click <a href="https://www.vividsydney.com/event/music/the-gospel-according-to-marcia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to purchase tickets to see Marcia Hines live. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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Treasure hunters “on the brink” of HUGE discovery

<p dir="ltr">A team of treasure hunters believe they are close to finding the “world’s largest treasure hoard” after searching for it for more than 30 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">The team, known as the ‘Temple Twelve’, have been searching for the treasure trove in Finland since 1987.</p> <p dir="ltr">The target of their search, the ‘Lemminkainen Hoard’, is said to be worth $27 billion and consists of gold, jewels, and artefacts.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16606341/treasure-hunters-hoard-jewels-gold-finland/" target="_blank"><em>The Sun</em></a>, the discovery of the hoard would make it the most valuable collection of treasures to be found.</p> <p dir="ltr">The hoard is believed to include 50,000 gems and around 1000 artefacts that are thousands of years old, as well as a number of 18-carat gold life-size statues.</p> <p dir="ltr">The team — who have come together from all over the world — have spent their summers searching for the treasure, working six hours a day, seven days a week.</p> <p dir="ltr">The exploits of the team have been detailed in the book<span> </span><em>Temporarily Insane</em>, written by the world-leading authority on the Lemminkainen Hoard, Carl Borgen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I understand that significant progress at the temple has been made and that the crew are feeling especially excited about the months ahead,” Mr Borgen told<span> </span><em>The Mirror</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is now talk in the camp of being on the brink of a major breakthrough, which in real terms could be the discovery of the world’s largest and most valuable treasure trove.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The hoard is believed to be in an underground temple in Sipoo which has remained sealed since 987 AD.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the team’s latest progress, it is believed they will be able to locate and excavate the site next summer when they resume work in September 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: YouTube</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Amateur diver uncovers 900-year-old treasure

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An amateur diver has found a sword believed to have belonged to a crusader knight from about 900 years ago off Israel’s northern coast.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shlomi Katzin made the discovery while scuba diving off the Carmel coast, as well as finding ancient stone anchors, metal anchors, and pottery fragments.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sword, which has a one-metre-long blade and a 30-centimetre hilt, was found encrusted with marine organisms and is thought to have emerged after the sands shifted.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844945/sword1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/565203079d5d45c78dd0063de5299054" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The hilt of the sword found by Mr Katzin. Image Shlomi Katzin / IAA</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Katzin took his find ashore after fearing it would be stolen or buried once again in the sands.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After reporting the find to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit, Mr Katzin was awarded a certificate for good citizenship.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said the sword would be put on public display once it had been cleaned and analysed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The sword, which has been preserved in perfect condition, is a beautiful and rare find and evidently belonged to a crusader knight,” </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/israelexperience/history/pages/diver-finds-900-year-old-crusader-sword-on-seabed-18-october-2021.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said Nir Distelfeld</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, IAA’s Robbery Prevention Unit Inspector.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was found encrusted with marine organisms but is apparently made of iron. It is exciting to encounter such a personal object, taking you 900 years back in time to a different era, with knights, armour and swords.”</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVLK-IToofQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/CVLK-IToofQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Israel Antiquities Authority (@antiquities_en)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kobi Sharvit, the head of IAA’s Marine Archaeology Unit, said the Carmel coast had provided shelter for ships during storms over the centuries of shipping activity, making it a hotspot for treasured finds.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“These conditions have attracted merchant ships down the ages, leaving behind rich archaeological finds,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The recently recovered sword is just one such find.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eli Escosido, the IAA’s general director, praised Mr Katzin for coming forward with the discovery.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Crusaders fought in a series of religious wars during the medieval period, with the most commonly known campaigns occurring in the eastern Mediterranean region.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Shlomi Katzin / IAA</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Princess Eugenie delights fans with unseen wedding photo

<p>Princess Eugenie has delighted her one million Instagram followers with an unseen snap from her wedding reception.</p> <p>To celebrate her three-year anniversary with husband Jack Brooksbank, the Queen's granddaughter took to social media to share the image of her embracing her husband on their big day.</p> <p>Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, captioned the picture, "Happy Anniversary my love... 3 years today!!"</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/CU7v34XIP1X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/CU7v34XIP1X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In the photo, the Princess wore her peach-hued gown that she wore to her reception in October 2018, as opposed to the white low-back dress by Peter Pilotto she wore for the church ceremony.</p> <p>The show-stopping blush pink gown was designed by Zac Posen, who described Eugenie as a "young lady who possessed natural elegance".</p> <p>Eugenie and Jack's wedding outfits are <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/bazaar-brides/a26248741/princess-eugenie-jack-brooksbank-wedding-outfits-windsor-castle/" target="_blank">on display at Windsor Castle</a> for visitors to admire, as Eugenie also recorded part of the audio guide with details about her two gowns.</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/BvZgXEFhyYk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/BvZgXEFhyYk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Zac Posen (@zacposen)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In February 2021, the royal couple welcomed their first child: a boy named August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.</p> <p>They shared the news to their Instagram, saying, "Our hearts are full of love for this little human, words can't express. We are excited to be able to share these photos with you.⁣"</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/CLgrGXhlpuK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/CLgrGXhlpuK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram @princesseugenie</em></p>

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