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Billionaire tech tycoon and daughter missing after tornado strikes

<p>Six people, including a billionaire tech tycoon and his daughter, have been declared missing off the coast of Sicily after a tornado struck the area, causing their luxury super yacht to capsize and sink. </p> <p>Four British are reportedly among six people missing at sea, including billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.</p> <p>At the time of the tragedy, 22 people were onboard and 15 were rescued by coastguard patrol boats and firefighters, including Mr Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares.</p> <p>The coast guard said that divers had been sent to inspect the wreck of the Bayesian, which was lying at a depth of 49 metres.</p> <p>Authorities confirmed that one body, believed to be that of the yacht's chef, has been found during their search of the vessel's hull. </p> <p>Charlotte Golunski, who was on board the vessel, told local news outlet La Repubblica newspaper of how she saved her daughter Sofia as the boat sank.</p> <p>She said, “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning."</p> <p>“It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.”</p> <p>Charlotte, her husband James and their daughter Sophia are among those onboard being treated at hospital. </p> <p>The captain of a nearby boat, Karsten Borner, said that when the storm hit he turned the engine on to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian.</p> <p>"We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone," he said, adding that the Bayesian "went flat on the water, and then down."</p> <p>Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, which had lifted the temperature of the Mediterranean sea to record levels, raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: AFP/Alberto Lo Bianco/LaPresse/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Bird strike: what happens when a plane collides with a bird?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p>Late last night, Virgin Australia flight VA 148 set out from Queenstown in New Zealand bound for Melbourne. Not long after takeoff, the right engine of the Boeing 737-800 jet started <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/virgin-australia-flight-makes-emergency-landing-after-engine-catches-fire/iquv5w1is">emitting loud bangs</a>, followed by flames.</p> <p>The pilot flew on with the remaining engine, bringing the plane’s 73 passengers and crew to a safe emergency landing at nearby Invercargill airport.</p> <p>Virgin Australia says the dramatic turn of events was caused by a “possible bird strike”. Queenstown Airport <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/bird-strike-blamed-for-fiery-virgin-australia-emergency-out-of-queenstown/news-story/9ef5c57829d0535baed223d2caf0b55f">played down</a> the likelihood of bird strike, saying “no birds were detected on the airfield at that time”.</p> <p>While we don’t know exactly what happened, bird strike is a common and real risk for aircraft. It can damage planes, and even lead to deaths.</p> <h2>How common are bird strikes?</h2> <p>A bird strike is a <a href="https://skyaviationholdings.com/bird-strikes-on-planes/">collision between</a> an aircraft and a bird. (Though the definition is sometimes expanded to include <a href="https://aawhg.org/">collisions on the ground</a> with land animals including deer, rabbits, dogs and alligators.)</p> <p>The <a href="https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/1459/">first bird strike</a> was recorded by Orville Wright in 1905, over a cornfield in Ohio.</p> <p>Now they happen every day, with some seasonal variability due to the <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap7_section_5.html">migratory patterns</a> of birds.</p> <p>Perhaps the most famous migratory bird strike occurred in 2009, when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549">US Airways Flight 1549</a> encountered a flock of migrating Canadian geese shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Both of the plane’s engines failed, and captain Sully Sullenberger was forced to pilot it to an unpowered landing in the Hudson River.</p> <p>Between 2008 and 2017, the Australian Transport Safety Board recorded <a href="https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2018/ar-2018-035">16,626 bird strikes</a>. In America, the Federal Aviation Administration reported <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/04/25/bird-strike-plane-american-airlines/">17,200 bird strikes</a> in 2022 alone.</p> <h2>Where do bird strikes happen, and what are the effects?</h2> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx">International Civil Aviation Organization</a>, 90% of bird strikes happen near airports. In general, this is while aircraft are taking off or landing, or flying at lower altitudes where most bird activity occurs.</p> <p>The effect of bird strike depends on many factors including the type of aircraft. Outcomes may include shutting down an engine, as may have happened with the Virgin Australia flight. This plane was a Boeing 737-800, which has the capability to fly on a single engine to an alternate airport.</p> <p>In smaller aircraft, particularly single-engine aircraft, bird strikes can be fatal. Since 1988, <a href="https://aawhg.org/#:%7E:text=The%20majority%20happen%20at%20low,billion%20in%20aircraft%20damage%20annually.">262 bird strike fatalities</a> have been reported globally, and 250 aircraft destroyed.</p> <h2>How do manufacturers and pilots defend against bird strike?</h2> <p>Most <a href="https://aawhg.org/">bird strikes</a> occur early in the morning or a sunset when birds are most active. Pilots are trained to be vigilant during these times.</p> <p>Radar can be used to <a href="https://detect-inc.com/aircraft-birdstrike-avoidance-radar/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2ullN-s0MdDfzV2Hu9fLfdr8pKQCuyZWsoJfRN2W5s-tSm6Vo0wHgwaAgBMEALw_wcB">track flocks of birds</a>. However, this technology is ground-based and not available worldwide so it can’t be used everywhere.</p> <p>The two largest manufacturers of passenger jets, Boeing and Airbus, use <a href="https://aerospaceengineeringblog.com/jet-engine-design/">turbofan engines</a>. These use a series of fan blades to compress air before adding fuel and flame to get the thrust needed to take off.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lgspIiTFWIk?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Engine manufacturers test how well they are likely to stand up to a bird strike.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Bird strike in one of these engines can cause severe damage to the fan blades, causing the engine to fail. Engine manufacturers test the safety of these engines by firing <a href="https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/engine-testing/faa-proposes-new-engine-test-for-bird-ingestion.html">a high-speed frozen chicken</a> at them while the engine is operating at full thrust.</p> <p>The Australian Government’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority <a href="https://www.casa.gov.au/wildlife-hazard-management">circular on wildlife hazard management</a> outlines what airports should do to keep birds and animals away from the vicinity of the airport. One technique is to use small gas explosions to mimic the sound of a shotgun to deter birds from loitering near the runway. In areas with high bird populations, airports may also use certain grasses and plants that do not attract the birds.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/232702/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871"><em>Doug Drury</em></a><em>, Professor/Head of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/bird-strike-what-happens-when-a-plane-collides-with-a-bird-232702">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

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Tragedy strikes Spain's Women's World Cup star

<p>Spanish Women’s World Cup star Olga Carmona was hit with some devastating news shortly after their win against England</p> <p>The 23-year-old defender was informed that her father had passed away shortly after the final whistle and victory celebration according to the Spanish football federation (RFEF).</p> <p>“The RFEF deeply regrets having to report the death of Olga Carmona’s father,” the Spanish football federation said in a statement. </p> <p>“The footballer learned the sad news after the World Cup final.</p> <p>“We send our most sincere embraces to Olga and her family in a moment of deep pain. We love you, Olga, you are in the history of Spanish football.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">⚫️ PÉSAME | La <a href="https://twitter.com/rfef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RFEF</a> lamenta profundamente comunicar el fallecimiento del padre de Olga Carmona. La futbolista ha conocido la triste noticia una vez concluida la final de la Copa del Mundo. </p> <p>Mandamos nuestro abrazo más sincero a Olga y a su familia en un momento de profundo… <a href="https://t.co/BSe2XmUrVF">pic.twitter.com/BSe2XmUrVF</a></p> <p>— RFEF (@rfef) <a href="https://twitter.com/rfef/status/1693350809424031985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Carmona scored the only goal of the intense game, landing the Spanish team, La Roja the World Cup win for the first time. </p> <p>A few reports claimed that Carmona's father passed away on Friday, but friends and family decided to not tell her until after the finale on Sunday, so that she could focus on the game. </p> <p>Carmona, who was still unaware of the news at the time, beamed as she spoke about the team's triumph in an interview after the match. </p> <p>“I think we’re still not aware of what we’ve achieved,” she said. </p> <p>“When we land we’re going to freak out.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">🙌🏻 ¡¡Qué viva España!! ¡¡Somos <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CampeonasdelMundo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CampeonasdelMundo</a>!!</p> <p>🗣️ <a href="https://twitter.com/7olgacarmona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7olgacarmona</a> nos cuenta cómo ha marcado el gol que le ha dado el título a España.</p> <p>➡️ "Creo que todavía no somos conscientes de lo que hemos conseguido. Cuando aterricemos vamos a flipar".<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JugarLucharYGanar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JugarLucharYGanar</a> <a href="https://t.co/NjRrg4bOTx">pic.twitter.com/NjRrg4bOTx</a></p> <p>— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEFutbolFem/status/1693307827568456054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>During her goal celebration, the Spanish captain also displayed a message on her shirt that read "Merchi" which she dedicated to her best friend whose mother died recently. </p> <p>“I want to say this victory is for one of my best friend’s mother, who died recently, I celebrated the goal with that shirt,” she told Spanish broadcasters <em>La 1,</em> right after the game. </p> <p>Although the Spanish team had little time to enjoy their victory, Carmona was named player of the match for her breakthrough score in the finale. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Actors leave their own movie premiere

<p dir="ltr">The A-list cast of <em>Oppenheimer</em> have abruptly left the London premiere of the highly-anticipated movie. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stars of the film such as Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Florence Pugh disappeared from the premiere, shortly after appearing on the red carpet. </p> <p dir="ltr">The film, about Robert Oppenheimer who was key in the creation of the nuclear bomb, is set to be one of the biggest films of the year, with thousands of fans turning up to London’s Leicester Square to celebrate its premiere. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, before the movie could even begin inside the theatre, the stars walked out, leaving director Christopher Nolan to wonder where they were. </p> <p dir="ltr">Nolan later told <em><a href="https://variety.com/">Variety</a></em> that the actors walked out of the event in solidarity with a just-called Hollywood actors strike. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You’ve seen them here earlier on the red carpet,” he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Unfortunately, they’re off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of the unions, and we support them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">SAG-AFTRA is the Screen Actors Guild which represents 160,000 performers including A-list stars. </p> <p dir="ltr">SAG members will now go on strike, joining writers in the first industry-wide shutdown in 63 years after last-ditch talks over dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence failed, with nearly all film and television production set to grind to a halt.</p> <p dir="ltr">“SAG-AFTRA’s national board unanimously voted to issue a strike order against the studios and streamers,” said the union’s chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.</p> <p dir="ltr">At the <em>Oppenheimer</em> premiere, Matt Damon warned on the red carpet that he and his fellow stars were about to bail. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Once the strike is officially called, we’re going to walk obviously in solidarity”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s why we moved this [event] up because we know the second it’s called, we’re going home,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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"Deeply distressed": Tragedy strikes Robert De Niro's family

<p>Robert De Niro's grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, has tragically passed away, as confirmed by his daughter, Drena De Niro.</p> <p>Drena De Niro, who is 51 years old and Robert De Niro's daughter from his previous marriage to Diahnne Abbott, shared the devastating news of her young son's passing on Instagram.</p> <p>In a heartfelt tribute, accompanied by a photo of her late son, she expressed her deep love for him, stating: "My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been joy in my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life."</p> <p>Overwhelmed by grief and yearning to be with her son, she continued, <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don't know how to live without you but I'll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you 😞 I'm so sorry my baby, I'm so sorry @carlosmare 😢💔. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy."</span></p> <p> </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/CuOES_xN6pO/?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/CuOES_xN6pO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Drena (@drenadeniro)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Upon learning the tragic news, Robert De Niro expressed deep distress over his teenage grandson's passing.</p> <p>In a statement provided to the <em>New York Post's Page Six</em> section on Monday, Robert De Niro expressed his sorrow, saying, "I'm deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo."</p> <p>The statement was delivered through a spokesperson. He further added, "We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."</p> <p>At present, the cause of Leandro's death remains unknown, although reports suggest that drugs and drug paraphernalia were found near his body.</p> <p>Leandro was the son of Drena De Niro and graffiti artist Carlos "Mare139" Rodriguez. Carlos commented on Drena's social media post, expressing his heartfelt emotions:</p> <p>"Words aren't enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends. He is God's child now. On this full moon, his spirit illuminates what could not be seen in the dark. You can't spell LOVE without LEO."</p> <p>Several celebrities, including Lenny Kravitz, Andy Cohen, and Naomi Campbell, expressed their support and condolences in the comments section of Drena's post.</p> <p>Drena De Niro is the eldest of Robert De Niro's seven children. He adopted her in 1976 after marrying her mother, Diahnne Abbott. Robert also has a son named Raphael, 46, with Ms. Abbott, as well as twins named Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith.</p> <p>Additionally, he has a son named Elliot, 25, and a daughter named Helen, 11, with Grace Hightower. In May, Robert announced that he and his partner, Tiffany Chen, welcomed their seventh child, a daughter named Gia.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Tragedy strikes Ed Sheeran tour

<p>Ed Sheeran’s touring partner and co-writer has suffered a major loss with the news of his teenage son’s sudden death.</p> <p>Ben Kweller, who opened for Sheeran on his 2019 tour, revealed his 16-year-old son, Dorian, was killed overnight.</p> <p>"There's no way that I can be typing this but I am….," Kweller began in a heartbreaking <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNSgQ5uXzd/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tribute shared on Instagram</a>. "Our son, Dorian Zev Kweller, was killed last night. He was only 16 and he was a true legend. Kindest, gentle soul, a friend to all. If you knew him, you know.”</p> <p>Kweller did not share any more information about the circumstances surrounding his son’s death, instead, he wrote about the short but brilliant life the 16-year-old aspiring musician lived.</p> <p>"We'll never get over him as long as we're here on earth. Please keep his spirit alive with your memories and the music he made: @reallyzev," the proud dad shared.</p> <p>"Dorian Zev wrote and recorded songs every day. A true poet from the day he started speaking. Only a few of his recordings were released but he was on a path and excited about his journey. He had so many plans!!! His first gig was in two weeks, at SXSW.”</p> <p>In the post, the grieving father also shared his last text message exchange with his son.</p> <p>"We're in complete shock and don't know what the future holds. Lizzy, Judah, and I have no idea how to deal with this disaster. Thank you for your prayers and support and we apologize if we are slow to respond to messages. 💔”</p> <p>Sheeran, who is currently touring Australia, counts Kweller as one of his good friends. In 2018, when the musician married his childhood sweetheart Cherry Seaborn in a secret ceremony, Kweller was one of the few invited and also performed at their wedding ceremony. Kweller also co-wrote Sheeran’s hit song <em>Collide</em>.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

News

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Passenger killed after “rogue wave” strikes cruise ship

<p dir="ltr">An elderly woman has died and four others have been injured after a massive wave struck a cruise ship sailing towards southern Argentina at the end of its Antarctic cruise.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Viking Polaris was struck by a wave that broke cabin windows during a storm on its return to the port of Ushuaia last week, according to Argentinian authorities.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the ship suffered minimal damage, the 62-year-old US woman who was hit by broken glass died.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is with great sadness that we confirm a guest passed away following the incident,” Viking said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The cruise operator described it as a “rogue wave incident” and confirmed that four other cruise goers suffered non-life threatening injuries and received treatment from the doctor and medical staff on board the ship.</p> <p dir="ltr">With a federal court opening a case into the incident, the cruise ship has been anchored at Ushuaia.</p> <p dir="ltr">Viking has also said it would investigate the incident and “offer our support to the relevant authorities”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel,” the <a href="https://www.vikingcruises.co.uk/expeditions/my-trip/current-sailings/index.html">statement</a> from Thursday, December 1, read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The company has also cancelled its scheduled voyage to Antarctica, which was due to depart from December 5-17.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Polaris, built this year, features luxury facilities and has capacity for 378 passengers and 256 crew members.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is one of two ships Viking has for its cruises, which explore remote regions of the world.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e04ff18-7fff-c693-9593-a1335e57307f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

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UK couple strike gold under their kitchen floor

<p dir="ltr">A UK couple have made a surprising discovery while renovating their home, with their find selling for £754,000 ($NZ 1.5 million) at auction.</p> <p dir="ltr">After ripping up the existing floorboards and jackhammering through the concrete in the kitchen of their East Yorkshire home, the couple uncovered a small urn containing 260 ancient coins.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>BBC </em>reported that the coins dated from 1610 to 1727 and belonged to the Fernley-Maisters, a family who traded through the Baltic region. </p> <p dir="ltr">Auction house Spink &amp; Son said Joseph Fernley and Sarah Maister were married in 1694 and lived in Ellerby.</p> <p dir="ltr">Joseph died in 1796 aged 76, and Sarah died aged 80 in 1745, with the family line “dying out soon after” according to the auction house.</p> <p dir="ltr">Auctioneer Gregory Edmund told the outlet that the sale sum was an “absolutely extraordinary” result and said the costly urn was no larger than a can of soft drink.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Picture the scene – you’re choosing to re-lay your uneven kitchen floor, you put a pick-axe through the concrete and just beneath you see a tiny sliver of gold,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the time, you think it must just be a bit of electrical cable, but you find it’s a gold round disc and beneath it there are hundreds more.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-29911120-7fff-2ab8-6964-7eedba22d546"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I will never see an auction like this again.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/coins-find.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The coins were found during renovation works in an East Yorkshire home (left) before being sold at auction. Images: Spink &amp; Son</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Though the couple made the discovery in 2019, they have only just sent the coins to auction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Spink &amp; Son said the collecction was “one of the largest hoards of 18th Century English gold coins ever found in Britain”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The coins are only represent about £100,000 in today’s currency, but they attracted such a high price due to their rarity, which only skyrocketed after the find gained global attention and became the subject of media coverage.</p> <p dir="ltr">Selling in lots, the highest individual price for one of the coins was a hefty £62,400 ($NZ 124,200), paid for a 1720 coin described by the auction house as “imperfect”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Edmund described the bidding as “electrifying”, with the auction attracting the interest of collectors around the world.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-946d24fb-7fff-52fe-56f6-1d2bba9289ea"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Spink &amp; Son</em></p>

Real Estate

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Mid-flight singalong strikes the wrong chord

<p dir="ltr">A man who sang a Christian worship song while strumming his guitar on board a plane has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jonathan Neo was on an easyJet flight when he started to sing to his fellow passengers mid-flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">Footage of the singing was shared online by the pastor of the group Jack Jensz Jr who captioned it: “Worshipping our King Jesus 30,000 feet in the air!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video, which received a whopping 31 million views in just two days, showed a few of the passengers singing along with Jonathan while others looked on angrily. </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/reel/CcIbSzRD7dm/?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/reel/CcIbSzRD7dm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jack Jensz Jr. (@jackjenszjr_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Many people in the comments section slammed the group for inconveniencing passengers and for their lack of respect.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No self awareness here at all. I'll be praying for you guys to actually learn some,” one wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would rather go to Jesus right NOW than endure that nightmare of a flight,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Do you feel good about holding people hostage? Did Jesus say to force feed His word against people's will? Disgraceful,” another person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What a self-righteous, presumptuous, and annoying thing to inflict on a plane full of strangers,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“My name is Tom Hanks!”: The A-list photo bomber strikes again

<p dir="ltr">Photobomber Tom Hanks has struck again and has prompted a bride-to-be to cry tears of joy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 65-year-old actor posed alongside bride Grace Gwaltney for some photos while she was having her pre-ceremony photo shoot with her two bridesmaids outside their hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the newlywed, she was leaving the hotel when Hanks approached her and asked if he could take a photo with her. Grace said she was amazed to see him, and admitted that the bridal party “all started screaming” when they realised who he was.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So we were all walking from the hotel to the limo, and out of nowhere, he pops up and just says, ‘My name is Tom Hanks! Can I take a photo with the bride?” she told the <em><a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2022/03/21/tom-hanks-movie-a-man-called-otto-ambridge-pittsburgh-wedding-bridal-party/stories/202203210021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Grace also confirmed that the <em>Forrest Gump</em> actor was “just as wonderful and charming” as you’d expect, and said that even his wife, actress Rita Wilson, got in on the photos. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We all started screaming and were pretty much in shock … He was just as wonderful and charming as you’d assume,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“His wife, Rita [Wilson], was there and got in some photos, too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to photographer Rachel Rowland, who was the one behind the camera on the day, even Hanks’ celebrity status didn’t steal the spotlight from Grace and her husband, Luke.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-85d3c86e-7fff-ea03-7909-6783173611ca"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I’d like to say a photo bomb from Tom Hanks was the best part of yesterday but honestly I’d be lying. (No offence to the GOAT),” she wrote in the Instagram post where she shared the photos.</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/CbU9os_rjPa/?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/CbU9os_rjPa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rachel Rowland (@rachelrowland)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Yesterday was filled with joy, and laughter and fun and love and family and hugs and I just can’t get enough of Grace and Luke.”</p> <p dir="ltr">This isn’t the first time the A-list celebrity has photo bombed someone’s wedding photos, after he crashed the wedding of two brides on a Santa Monica beach.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-05d286ac-7fff-059b-c230-4d2fa3d522d7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @rachelrowland (Instagram)</em></p>

Relationships

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Queen's "World War III" speech strikes a haunting note

<p dir="ltr">Though it’s almost 40 years old, Queen Elizabeth II’s pre-prepared speech in the event of World War III is feeling quite pertinent lately.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sombre message, first penned in 1983 at the height of the Cold War and publicly released in 2013, is a script for a hypothetical broadcast the monarch would read if British citizens faced a threat of nuclear war or World War III.</p> <p dir="ltr">Devised by Whitehall officials, the speech was created as part of a war-gaming exercise that worked through potential scenarios and was written as if broadcast on Friday, March 4 at midday - almost 39 years ago to the day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth,” the script begins, as shared by the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-23518587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now, this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen also recalls the moment World War II broke out and her own experience of sadness and pride upon hearing her father make the announcement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father’s [George VI’s] inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939,” it reads.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all, the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Unsurprisingly, the address <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-secret-speech-in-case-of-world-war-iii/eb18bc06-e53c-4fa8-baab-549476b59370" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contains</a> some outdated aspects, including a mention of her “beloved” son Andrew - who was in the Royal Navy at the time - and references to her now-late husband Prince Philip.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also spoke of the power of the bond families share and how it “must be our greatest defence against the unknown”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country’s will to survive cannot be broken.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The war-gaming exercise it was devised for has become increasingly relevant as well, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues amid the threat of nuclear strikes from Moscow and ongoing peace talks between the two countries.</p> <p dir="ltr">In it, Orange bloc forces representing the Soviet Union and its allies launched a chemical weapon attack on the UK.</p> <p dir="ltr">NATO, represented by Blue forces, retaliates with a “limited-yield” nuclear strike that forces Orange to initiate a peace process.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-74b0ef2d-7fff-7430-7c16-31b0387424ac"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Man turns himself in after striking elderly man in hit-and-run

<p dir="ltr">A manhunt to find the driver of a truck that struck an elderly man in an alleged hit-and-run in Sydney’s west has concluded, after he was arrested and his truck seized.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 89-year-old man was struck by a truck on Wednesday morning in South Granville.</p> <p dir="ltr">Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after.</p> <p dir="ltr">NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the victim before he was taken to Westmead Hospital in a serious condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man remains at the hospital in critical condition, a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news_article?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGOTkwOTAuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">statement</a><span> </span>from NSW Police said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Paramedics said he suffered internal injuries, as well as “a significant number of large fractures”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846388/hit-run1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bf7a85291cfe4315ab310653fe17b182" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>An 89-year-old man was struck by a truck in South Granville on Wednesday. Image: 7NEWS</em></p> <p dir="ltr">A witness speaking to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-police-hunt-truck-driver-after-elderly-pedestrian-injured-in-alleged-hit-and-run-c-4963868" target="_blank"><em>7NEWS</em></a><span> </span>said the truck driver got out of his vehicle after allegedly hitting the elderly man, before driving away.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s got back in the truck and I thought he was going to move it further up to come back to see what happened but he kept going,” the woman, who wished to be anonymous, said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police confirmed the witness’ account, with Detective Acting Inspector Robert Burlin adding that, “the driver of the vehicle has got out on a number of occasions to have a look”.</p> <p dir="ltr">After police established a crime scene and began investigating the incident, images were released of the man believed to be the driver.</p> <p dir="ltr">At about 7.30 pm that evening, the man attended Granville Police Station and was arrested.</p> <p dir="ltr">His unattended truck was later located in Chester Hill, and has been seized for forensic examination.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 54-year-old has been charged with fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm.</p> <p dir="ltr">After being granted conditional bail, he is due to appear in court in January 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7NEWS</em></p>

News

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Film and TV union could strike for first time in history

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The union representing behind-the-scenes workers in film and television has overwhelmingly </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-05/film-television-workers-strike-netflix-apple-amazon-disney/100514468" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">voted to strike</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for the first time in 128 years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) said nearly 99 percent of its registered members - totalling 52,706 people - voted in support of a strike over the weekend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The strike comes as the union calls for improved conditions for craftspeople, technicians, and labourers who work for Netflix, Apple and Amazon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Better pay, reasonable rest periods, safer hours, and guaranteed meal breaks are among some of the requests made of the streaming giants.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I hope the studios will see and understand the resolve of our members,” Matthew Loeb, the alliance’s president, said in a statement.</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/CUadI10vvOI/?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/CUadI10vvOI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by IATSE (@iatse)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The ball is in their court. If they want to avoid a strike, they will return to the bargaining table and make us a reasonable offer.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Negotiations began between the IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) - which represents studios and streamers - after the most recent three-year contract expired in July.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But conversations stopped on September 20, the day after shows that are popular on the streaming services like </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Crown</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ted Lasso</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Queen’s Gambit</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> took out the top prizes at the Emmy Awards.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the goal of reaching an agreement rather than having “a dispute”, Mr Loeb said the union’s vote was about the “quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The IATSE said it was “incomprehensible that the AMPTP, an ensemble that includes media mega-corporations worth trillions of dollars, claims it cannot provide behind-the-scenes crews with basic human necessities like adequate sleep, meal breaks, and living wages”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a statement, the AMPTP said it would seek an agreement that would keep the industry working, particularly following the economic fallout due to the pandemic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A deal can be made at the bargaining table, but it will require both parties working together in good faith with a willingness to compromise and to explore new solutions to resolve the open issues,” it said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If the negotiations result in a strike, it would be the first nationwide movement in the history of the theatrical stage worker group.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several big names in the industry have thrown their weight behind the movement, including actor and producer Octavia Spencer, Jeffrey Wright, and Frances Fisher.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">By a Nearly Unanimous Margin, <a href="https://twitter.com/IATSE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IATSE</a> Members in TV and Film Production Vote to Authorize a Nationwide <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Strike?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Strike</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IATSE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IATSE</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iasolidarity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iasolidarity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IATSEsolidarity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IATSEsolidarity</a> <br />⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/IA_Stories?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IA_Stories</a>⁩ <br />Congratulations!!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrikeAuthorization?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrikeAuthorization</a> <a href="https://t.co/W9sN66nGFX">https://t.co/W9sN66nGFX</a></p> — Frances Fisher (@Frances_Fisher) <a href="https://twitter.com/Frances_Fisher/status/1445090340810145803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our #IATSE brothers and sisters have spoken. They will #strike for better work conditions. I hope #AMPTP does the right thing and sits down again,” Spencer wrote on Twitter.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They’re not asking for anything unreasonable.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @iatse / Instagram</span></em></p>

Movies

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Man strikes gold 1500 years old

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One lucky man in the town of Vindelev, Denmark, has stumbled upon a once in a lifetime discovery. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Using a metal detector, the man discovered a cache of 1,500-year-old gold objects, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">according to the Vejlemuseerne, the museum consortium in Vejle, Denmark.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The treasure trove was found in a small town 240km from the capital of Copenhagen, and offered up more than two pounds of gold. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It includes coins from the Roman Empire as well as medallions known as bracteates, which would have been sewn onto clothing and worn as ornamentation</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These newly discovered objects are expected to go on view at the Vejlemuseerne in February 2022.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the bracteates discovered in one inscribed with unique text that translates to “the High”, which may be a reference to a ruler at the time, or to the Norse god Odin. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That medallion, along with all the other objects found, dates back to the 6th century C.E.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s suspected that these pre-Viking objects may have been buried amid the ongoing threat of ecological devastation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the year 536, a volcano erupted in Denmark, creating a giant ash cloud and a subsequent famine in the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Experts believe that, amid the chaos, the inhabitants of modern-day Denmark rejected their rulers and parted ways with gold objects bearing these leaders’ images, either as a way of hiding the medallions from enemies or as a means of placating angry gods.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Archaeologists at the Vejlemuseerne are calculating the possibility that the town of Vindelev was the epicentre of a powerful empire during the Iron Age. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before the discovery of the artifacts, “there was nothing that could make us predict that an unprecedented warlord or great man lived here, long before the kingdom of Denmark arose in the following centuries,” said Mads Ravn, a research director at the Vejlemuseerne, in a statement.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Vejlemuseerne</span></em></p>

Art

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Tragedy strikes solo sailor Jessica Watson

<p>The long-term partner of Queensland solo sailing star Jessica Watson, Cameron Dale, has died, aged 29, following a catastrophic stroke.</p> <p>Watson, who became the youngest person to sail solo around the world more than 10 years ago, posted on Instagram on Wednesday evening, confirming the tragic loss of her partner.</p> <p>Describing him as her ‘long-term partner in every aspect of life and planned future.’</p> <p>She added that even with all of her achievements – which include Young Australian of the Year, Youth Representative for the United Nations World Food Program and being a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia – the role she was most proud of was being ‘Cam's “Jess,”’</p> <p>Watson went on to say: ‘Cam and I have been inseparable since 2011, our shared world centred on messing about on boats/</p> <p>‘Describing what Cam means to me is impossible – everyone who knows us understands how much we simply loved each other.’</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/CTRTvA6v0Rh/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CTRTvA6v0Rh/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jessica Watson (@jessicawatson_93)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Even while experiencing indescribable grief, I feel so grateful for the family, friends, and communities Cam has given me and the person I've become with him," she added.</p> <p>"I take enormous strength from having been so devotedly loved. The years of treasured memories offer enormous comfort."</p> <p>Cameron Dale died on Monday, nearly six weeks after a catastrophic stroke, despite the best efforts of staff at the Gold Coast University Hospital, according to Watson.</p> <p>Watson’s story about how she became the youngest person to sail solo around the world at just 16, is about to become a Netflix feature film based on her best-selling memoir, <em>True Spirit.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

News

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Tragedy strikes Sharon Stone’s family

<p>Sharon Stone has revealed her 11-month old nephew and godson, River, has died only days after he was found in his crib with 'total organ failure' that left him clinging to life in a coma.</p> <p>The <em>Basic Instinct </em>star, whose video tribute is set to Eric Clapton's <em>Tears in Heaven</em>, revealed the tragic news on Monday via her Instagram account.</p> <p>Stone took to her Instagram account, asking fans to pray for River saying he would need a ‘miracle’ to survive.</p> <p>He was the youngest child of Stone's brother, Patrick, and his wife, Tasha, who live in Ohio with their three children.</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/CTNcofsJlLC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CTNcofsJlLC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Sharon Stone (@sharonstone)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While sharing the news of his death, Stone posted a video of her nephew with the caption: 'River William Stone. Sept 8, 2020 - Aug 30, 2021'</p> <p>It is still unknown at this time exactly what happened to the child and Stone has not yet shared any other information about his passing.</p> <p><strong>River’s mother posted a plea for prayers</strong></p> <p>River's mother Tasha also wrote an impassioned plea for prayers on her Facebook page last week, revealing that her son had been airlifted to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh on Thursday, where he was fighting for his life in a coma.</p> <p>Tasha wrote: 'This is the HARDEST thing I have ever had to post but I am BEGGING everyone and anyone who prays please pray HARD for River,' the devastated mother wrote. 'Every single second of this is literally killing me. I just want my sweet sweet boy back.'</p> <p>She didn't share the cause of her son's condition but she said doctors had told her River would “never be the same” if he ever woke up from his coma.</p> <p>'The doctor said if he does pull through he will never be the same,' Tasha wrote on her Facebook post: 'Please I am begging for prayers that my baby can be healed and come back with his family who love him so very much. I am beyond heartbroken.'</p> <p>Neither Tasha or Patrick have commented as yet on their son's tragic passing, and no details about the causes of his illness have been shared.</p> <p><strong>Stone was in Venice when she heard about River<br /></strong></p> <p>Stone was in Venice, Italy, when news of River's condition was revealed and she returned to the US over the weekend.</p> <p>There are a number of severe medical conditions which can lead to multiple organ failure in children but the leading cause is sepsis, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.</p> <p>Sepsis - which can be sparked by another infection in the body - is particularly dangerous for children, because the symptoms are more easily missed than they are in adult patients.</p> <p>Birth defects and other undiagnosed illness can also lead to paediatric organ failure but it is not yet known whether any of these conditions caused River's severe illness.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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New “striking” evidence in Dorante-Day claims

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Simon Dorante-Day, the Queensland grandfather who believes he is the son of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has shared a new, “striking” piece of evidence for his claim.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has released a new photo comparing the 55-year-old’s son against two images of The Queen, causing a stir on social media.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the image of Liam Dorante-Day in the centre, it can be compared against a photo of her majesty in her earlier years on one side and a more recent image of her on the other.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The similarities are hard to deny, that’s for sure,” Mr Dorante-Day told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">7NEWS.com.au</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The teeth, the smile, all of it. And Liam has Prince Charles’ ears, that’s plain to see.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Others online have agreed, saying the likeness in the photos was “undeniable”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He is the double of The Queen in her older years,” one said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve never seen anyone so alike! Wow,” wrote another.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Check the teeth in picture on the right with your son,” a third added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Striking similarities,” another said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many of Mr Dorante-Day’s supporters say they used to be sceptics - but have since been convinced.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When I first came across [this] story I honestly rolled my eyes and thought these claims were rubbish,” one said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But it’s the photos that continue to convince me I’m wrong. I hope the truth comes out to the public one day.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another added: “The picture speaks volumes. I wish someone could wave a magic wand and bring this to a conclusion.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new evidence comes weeks after another photo of Simon compared to a younger Queen Elizabeth shocked many.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 280px; height:210px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842714/d16914878b71a9bf81af5f2369cb61938ad7eb94-4x3-x0y24w280h210.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4a807af7ee39444d88e2ef71b6e4370d" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Facebook</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You have the Queen’s eyes. Out of all the pictures and comparisons, you should use this one when anyone doubts you,” said one.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A blind man could see you are theirs! They won’t ever admit it because it has too many implications. It’s really sad they won’t/can’t just tell the truth,” another sympathised.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Facebook</span></em></p>

Family & Pets

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Portrait reveals Princess Diana's striking resemblance to grandmother

<p>Charles Spencer has caused a stir online after sharing a portrait of his grandmother, whom many believe shares a striking resemblance to his famous sister Princess Diana.</p> <p>The Earl posted a charcoal sketch of his grandmother, Cynthia Spencer, that was drawn in 1919 - the year she married Spencer's grandfather.</p> <p>"A very well-liked and respected figure locally, her presence is still felt: the local hospice is named 'Cynthia Spencer Hospice' in her memory," Charles wrote in an Instagram post.</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/CN2VRUwHZdg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CN2VRUwHZdg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Charles Spencer (@charles.earl.spencer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The post attracted hundreds of comments from his followers.</p> <p>"I see Diana," one follower wrote.</p> <p>"Diana looked a lot like her. Beautiful portrait," another wrote.</p> <p>"A very beautiful lady… Diana really resembles her with those gorgeous Spencer eyes," yet another wrote.</p> <p>Countess Spencer passed away from a brain tumour at Althorp, the Spencer family's home, in 1972 when Diana was just 11.</p>

Art

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Olympic hopeful killed by lightning strike

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>The surfing world has been left shocked after Katherine Diaz Hernandez was killed by a lightning strike at a beach in El Salvador over the weekend.</p> <p>She was entering the water around 5 pm when the lightning hit her.</p> <p>Members of the public rushed to try to help her, with an ambulance rushing her to the hospital. Unfortunately, she could not be revived.</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/CK7kDQOjzF0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CK7kDQOjzF0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by KATHERINE DIAZ (@katherinecook7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p>Diaz was training for a global competition to be held in El Salvador that is the last qualifying event before the Olympics.</p> <p>“I just found out about the death of Salvadoran surfer Katherine Díaz,” said Yamil Bukele, president of the Salvadoran Sports Institute. “I am very sorry for this death and I join the pain that overwhelms her family. Our solidarity with ‘el Bamba’ and the surf family. Peace for your soul.”</p> <p>Jaime Delgado, the former president of the Salvadoran Surf Federation, posted on Facebook: “You enjoyed your dream and you started doing what you liked the most.</p> <p>"Those of us who knew you know that you leave a great emptiness in our hearts. A hug to heaven, ‘Katu’, Katherine Díaz”.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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