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Man arrested for climbing Eiffel Tower before closing ceremony

<p>A British man has been arrested after climbing the Eiffel Tower just hours before the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics was due to commence. </p> <p>Shocked onlookers were horrified when they spotted the shirtless man scaling the 330m structure with no harness, as he stood on top of the blue Olympic ring before continuing his dangerous ascent.</p> <p>Incredible footage of the dangerous stunt, which was posted to X, shows him reaching halfway up the giant landmark with just a bag of chalk to help him, as he was not supported by any ropes or harnesses. </p> <p>Other videos shows the free climber being taken away in handcuffs by French police as tourists looked on from the viewing platform.</p> <p>The Paris Prosecutor’s office confirmed to <em>The Sun</em> the man was British and has been charged with endangering others and intrusion into a historic or cultural site.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">someone was trying to climb up Eiffel Tower after the Olympics, he was detained by police shortly after 💀<a href="https://t.co/m1oRWsKYeX">pic.twitter.com/m1oRWsKYeX</a></p> <p>— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/scubaryan_/status/1822685874691444924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>A Paris police spokesman said: “At 2.45pm, an individual was seen climbing the Eiffel Tower. The police immediately intervened and arrested the individual.”</p> <p>According to spectators, the man could be heard saying “bloody warm, innit” as he was led away by police. </p> <p>Security officials quickly cordoned off the Eiffel Tower as they evacuated the site at around 3pm, as those inside were briefly locked up on the second floor, before they were allowed to leave around 30 minutes later once the man had been escorted from the area.</p> <p>Specialist climbing police were sent up the tower after it was cleared to check for any suspicious or unusual activity.</p> <p>Tourists queuing up for the landmark were left unaware of the ongoing situation and were left frustrated after they were told to leave.</p> <p>One social media user posted on X: “Just waited in line for so long to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower but someone is trying to climb it so they just shut the whole thing down. Super.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: X (Twitter)</em></p>

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Tom Cruise steals the show at epic Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony

<p>As the Olympic flame was extinguished to signal the Paris 2024 Games officially closed, a surprising famous face stole the show at the epic closing ceremony. </p> <p>In true Olympics style, as the French capital wrapped up their Games, they passed the torch to the 2028 host city Los Angeles, who were having their own celebratory concert. </p> <p>To help in the handover, acting legend Tom Cruise, who is famous for doing many of his own stunts, came in with a skydiving stunt reminiscent of his <em>Mission Impossible</em> films that saw him swing from atop Stade de France before touching down on the stadium’s field.</p> <p>The 62-year-old actor greeted athletes as he walked toward the stage to the final guitar shreds of the American national anthem, as the crowd erupted in cheers. </p> <p>He received the Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and gymnast Simone Biles, then strapped it safely to the back of a motorcycle and rode off into the sunset, which switched into a pre-recorded video that tracked his journey to Hollywood.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you, Paris! Now off to LA. <a href="https://t.co/MxlAb0hZbT">pic.twitter.com/MxlAb0hZbT</a></p> <p>— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCruise/status/1822749650463732136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>In the video, Cruise sped down the streets of Paris on the motorcycle, passing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, and cruised onto a waiting airplane.</p> <p>"I'm on my way," he said, as he put on skydiving gear, as he then leapt from the plane and headed to the iconic Hollywood sign, where he turned the "O"s into Olympic rings before passing the flag off to Olympic cyclist Kate Courtney.</p> <p>The Olympics wrapped up with USA winning over overall medal tally with an impressive 126 medals, followed closely by China in second place and Japan in third place. </p> <p>Australia wasn't far behind in fourth place, as Nine commentary applauded the Aussie athletes for their most successful games ever.</p> <p>"The theme of the Closing Ceremony tonight: record," Eddie Maguire said in commentary for Nine.</p> <p>"It was a record performance by our Australian athletes. Paris provided record crowds, record ratings around the world on all platforms of media."</p> <p>"Paris, merci beaucoup, au revoir. See you in four years when the City of Angels welcomes the world to the city of dreams for LA 2028."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine Network </em></p>

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Marvel star ties the knot in super secret ceremony

<p>Marvel movie star Chris Evans has tied the knot with his girlfriend Alba Baptista in an intimate ceremony at their home in the state of Massachusetts. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/09/10/chris-evans-marries-alba-baptista/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Page Six</em></a>, the Hollywood A-lister and Baptista, a Portuguese actress, got married on Saturday, with only a handful of their closest friends and family attending the nuptials. </p> <p>An insider told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/hook-ups-break-ups/chris-evans-marries-alba-baptista-in-intimate-athome-wedding/news-story/872c843aa221bc8173f0a82feb7c6477" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>news.com.au</em></a> that the nuptials were “locked down tight,” as guests signed NDAs and phones were forfeited for the "beautiful" ceremony. </p> <p>The guest list also included some of the actor’s Marvel co-stars, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner.</p> <p>The <em>Captain America</em> actor and Baptista first sparked rumours of a romance in November 2022, when a source told <em><a href="https://people.com/movies/chris-evans-dating-alba-baptista-source-exclusive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a></em> that the duo had been dating for “over a year.”</p> <p>“They are in love, and Chris has never been happier,” the insider said, already calling their relationship “serious” at the time. </p> <p>“His family and friends all adore her.”<iframe id="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.nent/entertainment/celebritylife/hookupsbreakups_5" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" role="region" name="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.nent/entertainment/celebritylife/hookupsbreakups_5" width="4" height="4" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Advertisement" data-load-complete="true" data-google-container-id="6" data-integralas-id-69c76c0a-f5d2-9885-70ea-25cce3e0243a=""></iframe><iframe width="1" height="1" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <p>Just hours after the news broke, the couple was spotted holding hands during a stroll in Central Park.</p> <p>While little is known about the low-key couple’s relationship, Evans has proudly been flaunting his affection for Baptista online.</p> <p>The <em>Knives Out</em> star was spotted leaving a flirty comment on Baptista’s Instagram post around the same time that news broke of their relationship.</p> <p>Then, in February, the couple went Instagram-official as Evans began posting a series of PDA-filled pics to his Instagram Story in honour of Valentine’s Day.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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"Without hope": Close friend shares sad Schumacher update

<p>It has been a decade since the tragic skiing accident that left Formula 1 racing legend Michael Schumacher with life-threatening injuries, and the most recent update on his condition paints a decidedly sombre picture.</p> <p>Renowned motorsport journalist Roger Benoit, a close friend of Schumacher, recently conveyed a disheartening assessment, describing Schumacher's situation as "a case without hope" in an interview with the Swiss newspaper <em>Blick</em>.</p> <p>Schumacher's catastrophic incident occurred in December 2013 when he struck his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps, resulting in severe brain damage. Despite wearing a helmet and skiing with his son Mick, Schumacher's life took a tragic turn. He spent 250 days in a medically-induced coma before finally returning home.</p> <p>Since then, updates on Schumacher's condition have been exceptionally scarce, primarily due to the steadfast commitment of those close to him to protect his privacy.</p> <p>In his recent interview, when pressed for a specific update on Schumacher's condition, Benoit offered these bleak words: "This sentence says everything about how (Michael) has been doing for over 3500 days. A case without hope."</p> <p>In 2021, Schumacher's wife, Corinna, broke her silence and spoke about the accident for the first time in eight years during a <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/he-s-a-very-proud-dad-unearthed-snap-of-michael-schumacher-stuns-fans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Netflix documentary</a>. She shared: "Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength, I find. We're together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will."</p> <p>Now 54 years old, Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public for a decade. His absence has left a void in the world of Formula 1, where he was a legendary figure, having clinched the Drivers' World Championships seven times, a record tied with Lewis Hamilton for the most titles in history. Schumacher's impressive 91 career Grand Prix wins rank second only to Hamilton's 103 victories.</p> <p><em>Image: Netflix</em></p>

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"We love each other": Mayor marries reptile in stunning ceremony

<p dir="ltr">Love comes when you least expect it and for one mayor in the small town of San Pedro Huamelula, Mexico, his match caiman he never looked back.</p> <p dir="ltr">Victor Hugo Sosa, the mayor of the town has said “I do” to his “princess girl”, a caiman named Alicia Adriana, and his wedding speech is one for the books.</p> <p dir="ltr">'I accept responsibility because we love each other. That is what is important. You can't have a marriage without love... I yield to marriage with the princess girl,' he vowed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Onlookers clapped and danced in celebration as the mayor kissed and embraced his new bride who was dressed in a white gown and veil.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ceremony is part of a 230-year tradition which symbolises the joining of humans with the divine, as she is thought to be a deity representing mother earth.</p> <p dir="ltr">It also commemorates the day when two Indigenous groups came to peace- with the marriage between a Chontal king, now represented by the mayor, and a princess girl of the Huave Indigenous group, now represented by the female alligator.</p> <p dir="ltr">The age-old ritual involves the reptile being taken house to house before the wedding so that residents can take their turn dancing with it.</p> <p dir="ltr">She is later on changed into her wedding dress, which Olivia Perez was in charge of during this ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">"For us, the crocodile is important because she is the princess who comes to bring us water, a good harvest, rains, so that God the Almighty Father sends us food, fish, corn, the harvest," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the wedding, the mayor dances with his bride to traditional music.</p> <p dir="ltr">Local fishermen would also take part in the ritual and toss their nets on the ground in hopes that their marriage would bring “'good fishing, so that there is prosperity, equilibrium and ways to live in peace.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty, Oaxaca Informa10 Twitter</em></p>

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Bavarian Prince’s bride faints during royal wedding ceremony

<p dir="ltr">Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, 40, has tied the knot with his Dutch-Canadian fiancée Sophie Evekink, 33, in a lavish wedding ceremony at the Theatine Church in Munich on Saturday.</p> <p dir="ltr">But according to a German royal writer, it didn't go as seamlessly as expected.</p> <p dir="ltr">"A spokesperson confirmed that Princess Sophie fainted during the wedding this morning. After a drink she was fine again and the ceremony continued,” reported the royal writer.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The bride fell backwards, the groom caught her. The maid of honours rushed over, paramedics brought her water. She felt well again straight away. Prince Leopold of Bavaria gave her a piece of glucose,” she added.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A spokesperson confirmed, that Princess Sophie fainted during the wedding this morning. After a drink she was fine again and the ceremony continued.</p> <p>— ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristinsQueens/status/1659871441318301697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Despite the minor mishap, the rest of the ceremony went smoothly and the bride herself looked stunning in a long-sleeve gown with floral lace detailing, and an extravagant veil which integrated Bavarian, Canadian, and Dutch elements.</p> <p dir="ltr">She completed the look with the Bavarian sapphire tiara, a headpiece that has been in the groom's family for decades and has been worn by other women linked to the royal house.</p> <p dir="ltr">The groom donned a black tailcoat suit which he completed with a grey vest and pants.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the religious ceremony at the Theatine Church, the newlyweds then headed to the Nymphenburg Palace where their wedding reception was hosted by Duke Franz of Bavaria.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sophie, now known as Princess Sophie, later on changed into a light blue gown.</p> <p dir="ltr">The wedding, which had several European royals in attendance, occurred almost a year after the couple announced their engagement last August.</p> <p dir="ltr">In lieu of gifts the couple had asked their guests to donate to humanitarian causes instead.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Ludwig, who is the great-great grandson of the last King of Bavaria will one day become the Duke of Bavaria and Head of the House of Wittelsbach.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; 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;"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Leo Sayer finally ties the knot in intimate ceremony

<p> Pop star Leo Sayer has married his longtime partner Donatella Piccinetti after nearly four decades of dating.</p> <p>The <em>You Make Me Feel Like Dancing</em> singer <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">wed </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Piccinetti in a private ceremony in their home </span>in the NSW Southern Highlands.</p> <p>Sayer, 74, took to Instagram to share the news, posting a black-and-white photo of Piccinetti’s hand over his, showcasing their new rings.</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/CrJe6DzAjUw/?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/CrJe6DzAjUw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Leo Sayer (@leosayerofficial</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The caption explained the lovebirds celebrated with a reception lunch in Berrima, close to their home, and that they "couldn't be happier with how the day went.”</p> <p>A friend of the couple, publishing executive Jackie Frank also shared a photo of the pair on their special day, both dressed in white.</p> <p>Speaking to the <em>Johnnie and Tiggy Walker Consciously Coupling</em> podcast in 2021, the two of them revealed that they first met in 1984.</p> <p>Italian-born Picinetti had recently moved to London and was working as a hostess at an Italian restaurant when the pop star came in to dine.</p> <p>"I could see this guy looking at me and not eating… so I went up to them and said, 'Is everything OK?' And he said, 'Yeah. Who are you anyway?'" she recalled. "And then people, they were sitting around the bar, they said, 'Oh, do you know who that is?' I said no. 'Oh, that's Leo Sayer.' I knew his songs, I realized after, but I didn't know who he was.”</p> <p>Sayer said he was instantly struck by his wife-to-be and returned to the restaurant daily so he could ask her out. Little did he know, she was on vacation at the time, so he left her an office full of flowers.</p> <p>"It was love at first sight for me," he said. "She's just this lovely glowing light in my life.”</p> <p>The couple admitted that they have separated throughout their long relationship, "We've not had an exactly normal relationship," Piccinetti said. The pair shared that there was always something between them that kept them coming back to each other.</p> <p>"This connection was always there,” Piccinetti told the podcast. "It was undeniable… It's quite amazing, actually. It has been an adventure.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty/Instagram</em></p>

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Rod Stewart’s secret ceremony

<p>Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster have shared in a secret ceremony down under.</p> <p>As busy as he was entertaining the masses, the British rocker, 78, found the time to renew his vows with his model wife, 52, for a second time.</p> <p>According to <em>Women’s Day</em>, the vow renewal took place during their time in Sydney.</p> <p>The lovebirds arrived in Australia in early March 2023 to kick off Stewart’s tour where he wowed the nation with a string of performances.</p> <p>Stewart and Lancaster managed to sneak off to a special ceremony accompanied by their sons Alistair, 17, Aiden, 12 and their 18-year-old niece Raphaella.</p> <p>Rod “spaced out his tour” so that their sons could attend the vow renewal, <em>Woman’s Day</em> claimed.</p> <p>According to an insider the pair had plans to renew their vows for a while but held off until this year.</p> <p>They celebrated the special day afterwards at dinner with Aussie TV presenter Richard Wilkins.</p> <p>The insider, a friend close to the family, said, “There’s a very good reason why Rod’s insisted he space out his tour dates – it’s the perfect place and the perfect time to renew their wedding vows.</p> <p>“Now they can’t wait and are using this chance to do something special while here.</p> <p>“Penny and Rod love being in love.</p> <p>“They think there’s something fun about celebrating their vows in different locations around the world, so why not do it all again in Sydney!”</p> <p>Stewart and Lancaster first met after she offered to take photos of him during one of his tours in 1999.</p> <p>The 52-year-old had recently made the switch from modelling to photography just a few years before meeting him.</p> <p>The couple tied the knot eight years later at a beautiful ceremony in Portofino, Italy.</p> <p>They continued the love-fest during their lavish honeymoon in a yacht at the same location.</p> <p>The pair first renewed their vows on their 10th wedding anniversary in 2017.</p> <p>They share two kids together, while Stewart shares his eldest child Sarah with his ex Susannah Boffey.</p> <p>The singer also has a daughter Ruby with his ex-girlfriend Kelly Emberg and Renee and Liam were born while he was married to his ex-wife Rachel Hunter.</p> <p>His daughter Kimberely and his son Sean were born during his marriage to ex-wife Alana Stewart.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

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What is myrtle rust and why has this disease closed Lord Howe Island to visitors?

<p>Some 70% of the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/17/most-of-lord-howe-island-closed-to-visitors-after-outbreak-of-plant-fungus">closed to non-essential visitors</a> in response to a recurrence of the plant disease myrtle rust.</p> <p>Myrtle rust, native to South America, was <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/invasive-species/diseases-fungi-and-parasites/myrtle-rust">first detected</a> in Australia on the Central Coast of NSW in April 2010. It is caused by a fungus that belongs to a group of plant pathogens known as the rusts.</p> <p>Rusts are among the most feared of all plant pathogens. They spread rapidly over thousands of kilometres on wind currents and can cause huge losses in plant production.</p> <p>For example, wheat rust research over the past 100 years at the University of Sydney has shown clear evidence of wind-borne rust spores travelling from central Africa to Australia. Wheat production losses due to rust have at times totalled <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/biosecurity/biosecurity-economics/potential-impact-wheat-stem-rust">hundreds of millions of dollars</a>.</p> <p>Myrtle rust rapidly invaded the entire east coast of Australia in the years after it was first detected. It has caused the near extinction of at least three rainforest species, including the native guava (<a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=19162">Rhodomyrtus psidioides</a>) and the scrub turpentine (<a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=15763">Rhodamnia rubescens</a>).</p> <p>The disease was detected at Lord Howe Island <a href="https://islandarks.com.au/files/2017/12/I-think-we-dodged-a-bullet-Implementing-a-Rapid-Response-Plan-for-a-Myrtle-Rust-incursion-on-Lord-Howe-Island-in-October-2016.pdf">in 2016, and eradicated</a>. Now it has managed to spread there once again. There are concerns if the disease is left unchecked, it could seriously alter the unique ecology of the island. Lord Howe is home to some 240 native plant species, of which more than 100 are not found anywhere else.</p> <h2>How can the disease be controlled?</h2> <p>Rust diseases in agriculture are controlled by the cultivation of genetically <a href="https://csiropedia.csiro.au/rust-resistance-in-plants/">resistant plants</a>, or by use of fungicides. These fungicides can kill existing recent infections and provide protection for up to four weeks. In other situations, such as horticulture and native plant communities, fungicides are used together with removal and destruction of infected plants.</p> <p>The 2010 detection of myrtle rust in Australia followed its detection in Hawaii in 2005 and China in 2009. It was later found in New Caledonia (2013) and New Zealand (2017). <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:13b49a4">Research</a> has shown the same strain – known as the “pandemic strain” – has appeared in all of these countries. Several other strains occur in South America.</p> <p>It is likely the fungus spread to Lord Howe Island from eastern Australia on wind currents. The especially wet conditions along the east coast of much of Australia in 2022 led to an increase in the disease there. This, in turn, increased rust spore load and hence the chance of long-distance spore dispersal.</p> <p>In addition to being spread on the wind, the rusty coloured spores produced by these fungal pathogens stick readily to clothing. These spores remain viable for at least two weeks under ambient conditions. Several wheat rusts of exotic origin are believed to have been accidentally brought in to Australia on travellers’ clothing from North America and Europe.</p> <p>The chance of inadvertent spread of myrtle rust on contaminated clothing is why access to Lord Howe island has been restricted since last week.</p> <p>The second incursion into the island clearly shows how incredibly difficult rust diseases are to manage once they reach a new region. It points to possible recurrences of the disease there in years to come even should current efforts to eradicate it succeed.</p> <p>On top of the ability of rust diseases to spread rapidly over large distances, a further complication in controlling myrtle rust is it infects a wide range of native plants. Some of these species hold great cultural significance and/or are endangered.</p> <p>Endemic species of the myrtle plant family <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Myrtaceae">Myrtaceae</a> that are dominant in many of the plant communities on Lord Howe Island are highly vulnerable to myrtle rust infection. Of critical concern are two species that occur only on the island: the mountain rose (Meterosideros nervulosa) and the rainforest tree scalybark (Syzigium fullagarri). The rust infects young leaves and also flowers, where it causes sterility.</p> <h2>Australia brings expertise to the battle</h2> <p>Australia has some of the best plant pathologists in the world and has long been a leader in controlling rust diseases in agriculture. This expertise, combined with world-leading scientists in the ecology of Australian native plants, has enabled solid progress in understanding myrtle rust in the Australian environment. Australian scientists have joined hands with New Zealand scientists to boost efforts to control the pathogen in both countries.</p> <p>Research is also under way at the University of Sydney and Australian National University to develop new DNA-based diagnostics to allow rapid identification of the different strains of the pathogen. These tests are especially important given only one strain of myrtle rust occurs in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions.</p> <p>The success of managing the impact of myrtle rust on the region’s iconic flora against a backdrop of climate change will rely heavily on undertaking the research needed to gain a much better understanding of this damaging plant pathogen. Recognising this, staff at the University of Sydney have convened a conference for June 21-23 this year. It will bring together myrtle rust experts to exchange their latest research findings and identify priority areas for research.</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-myrtle-rust-and-why-has-this-disease-closed-lord-howe-island-to-visitors-202045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Russell Crowe’s close call with slithery “buddy”

<p dir="ltr">Russell Crowe has shared a snap of the venomous snake he had a close encounter with over the weekend, with a warning for others who could come in contact with them.</p> <p dir="ltr">Crowe came across the snake while walking barefoot outside his home in Nana Glen, to the west of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6691f7c2-7fff-d812-7f3b-8770e1449cfd">“On the driveway. Me and my buddy Band Bandy. Thankfully, his markings broadcast his presence,” the <em>Gladiator</em> star wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a photo of the reptile.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">On the driveway. Me and my buddy Bandy Bandy.<br />Thankfully, his markings broadcast his presence. Broke one of my own rules, walking outside, at night, without shoes. A little reminder of the folly of that choice. <a href="https://t.co/wP0YNNLXkJ">pic.twitter.com/wP0YNNLXkJ</a></p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1599342690751361025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Broke my own rules, walking outside at night, without shoes. A little reminder of the folly of that choice.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-501b7a5d-7fff-05e4-bac2-ae108b03f4ce"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The 58-year-old also shared a clip of the Bandy Bandy, a snake that is endemic to Australia, with the caption: “Who’s my buddy now?”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Who’s my buddy now ? <a href="https://t.co/tgkmxPVUD9">pic.twitter.com/tgkmxPVUD9</a></p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1599341335861133312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">His close call comes shortly after he shot down rumours he had married Britney Theriot, his girlfriend of two years, after the <em>Broken City</em> actress was spotted leaving an Italian hotel wearing a ring on her wedding ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">Crowe reportedly dismissed the gossip in a text message to 2Day FM radio host Erin Molan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“'[He texted me] Yeah, good guess. We are not married'.. Yeah, they are not married…” Molan said on the <em>Hughesy, Ed, Erin</em> show last month.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-dbdd28f5-7fff-1a97-126f-56491f8930fa"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“This is heaven”: New details from JLo as she describes wedding to Ben Affleck

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Lopez has finally revealed the romantic details of her wedding to Ben Affleck after the newlyweds married in a beautiful three day ceremony which she described as “heaven”. </p> <p dir="ltr">"This is heaven. Right Here. We're in it now," JLo wrote in her third letter, OnTheJLo, since the pair said their vows in an intimate ceremony in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Those words were written by Affleck for the film <em>Live by Night</em>, which he also directed, and one he said again on the evening of their wedding reception.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He also said it the night of our wedding reception in his speech, and I thought...how perfect.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Affleck first proposed to Lopez, now known as Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck, 20 years ago. </p> <p dir="ltr">The singer had previously shared stunning images of the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/finally-jlo-shares-pics-of-her-three-stunning-wedding-dresses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three wedding dresses</a> which are each estimated to cost around the $1 million mark.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now her third newsletter since saying “I do”, JLo has revealed that “this was perfect timing” for the pair to get married. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Nothing ever felt more right to me, and I knew we were finally ‘settling down’ in a way you can only do when you understand loss and joy and you are battle tested enough to never take the important things for granted or let the silly insignificant nuisances of the day get in the way of embracing every precious moment,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We find ourselves in that long-desired time of life: having gratitude for all that life has shown us, even its trials and tribulations. That night really was heaven.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She said guests were worried because of the unsettling weather with thunder and lightning occurring every night of the week, and on top of that people caught a stomach bug. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The truth is, I never had one doubt. All week I felt the calm and easy certainty that we were in God’s hands,” JLo wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">But on August 20, the sun shone on the love birds with JLo happy that after all these years she was celebrating her marriage to a man she truly loved. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The twenty years between those dreams of youth and the adult world of love and family we embraced that day, brought more to this marriage than either of us ever could have imagine,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We weren’t only marrying one another; we were marrying these children into a new family. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They were the only people we asked to stand up for us in our wedding party. To our great honor and joy, each one did.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Twenty years ago, when they were meant to get married, they spoke about Marc Cohn’s ‘True Companion' as the perfect wedding love song.</p> <p dir="ltr">The song began to play after the last child walked down the aisle with JLo describing it as “a song we first listened to together what seemed both like yesterday and forever ago — and life came, strangely, beautifully, mysteriously, divinely full-circle.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Later Ben told me that the chords of the song and seeing Marc Cohn both shocked him and allowed him to feel the way both roads we had walked found their way, inevitably, inexorably, and perfectly together. </p> <p dir="ltr">“And when he saw me appear at the top of the stairs that moment it both made absolute sense while seeming still impossibly hard to believe, like the best dream, where all you want is never to awaken. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I would have had many of the same thoughts probably had I not been focusing so hard on not tripping over my dress, but when I got close enough to see his face, it made the same wonderful sense to me. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Some old wounds were healed that day and the weight of the past finally lifted off our shoulders. Full-circle — and not at all the way we planned it. Better.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After the reception, the newlyweds finally shared a “yummy brunch by the lake” before she signed off wishing everyone to find the same love she has. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Years ago, we had no idea the road ahead would mean navigating so many labyrinths and hold so many surprises, blessings, and delights,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It all culminated in this moment, one of the most perfect of our lives. We couldn’t have been happier. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I wish all of you the same kind of happiness...the hard-earned kind that’s all the sweeter for the journey that came before it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We love you guys ...forever... OnTheJLo.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Prince Charles, Duran Duran and a giant bull: All the highlights of the Comm Games Opening Ceremony

<p>The 2022 Commonwealth Games are officially underway, after the impressive opening ceremony kicked off on Thursday evening. </p> <p>The extravagant ceremony captivated the attention of local and international fans, with TV viewers around the word tuning in to the Birmingham event. </p> <p>Prince Charles arrived at the Alexander Stadium in style, driving the same Aston Martin the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge famously left Buckingham Palace in on their wedding day.</p> <p>The Prince of Wales drove his luxury, vintage car out onto the arena before a display where several motor vehicles combined to form a perfect Union Jack on the arena surface.</p> <p>The ceremony celebrated aspects of the rich history and culture of Birmingham, with a 10 metre tall mechanical "Raging Bull" being waltzed into the stadium. </p> <p>The Bull Ring is a major shopping district in the city, which also features a sculpture of a bull, while the mascot for these Commonwealth Games is Perry the Bull.</p> <p>Female chain makers dragged the bull into the stadium, representing the chains used during the slave trade. </p> <p>The bull then broke free of those chains — symbolising the abolition of the slave trade and the 1910 wage strike that paved the way for women to break free from poverty.</p> <p>Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai addressed the audience early in the ceremony, sharing a heartfelt message about how Birmingham became her home and welcomed her family.</p> <p>Musical act Duran Duran, who began their career in Birmingham, closed the ceremony as they belted out fan favourite tracks such as <em>Save A Prayer</em>, <em>Planet Earth</em> and <em>Ordinary World</em>.</p> <p>The Commonwealth Games will run until August 8th, with 72 countries competing in 19 sports over the 11-day event. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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“Target on his back”: Ben Roberts-Smith’s spectacular closing remarks

<p dir="ltr">After 100 days of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/key-witness-arrested-in-ben-roberts-smith-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testimony</a>, cross-examination, and dissection of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/multiple-bombshells-dropped-in-ben-roberts-smith-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evidence</a>, Ben Robert-Smith’s defamation trial is at the beginning of the end.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lawyers representing the veteran began their closing submissions by accusing <em>The Age</em>, <em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em>, <em>The Canberra Times</em>, and three journalists of embarking on a “sustained campaign” to falsely portray him as a war criminal, bully and domestic abuser.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mr Roberts-Smith was an exceptional soldier; highly organised, disciplined, a leader, resourceful and extraordinarily brave,” his barrister, Arthus Moses SC, told the Federal Court on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He did not seek, nor did he want any recognition for performing his duties as a member of the Australian Defence Force. What he did not expect is, having been awarded the Victoria Cross, he would have a target on his back.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Moses told Justice Anthony Besanko, who has been overseeing the proceedings, that the trial had been called “a great many things”, including the “trial of the century”, a “proxy war-crimes trial” and an “attack” on press freedom.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is none of these,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This has been a case about how Mr Roberts-Smith, the most decorated Australian soldier, and a man with a high reputation for courage, skill and decency in soldiering, had that reputation destroyed by the respondents.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The articles, published in mid-2018, claimed that Mr Roberts-Smith killed or was complicit in the killing of six unarmed prisoners during his deployment in Afghanistan with the SAS.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was alleged he also bullied other soldiers and physically abused a woman he was having an affair with.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Victoria Cross recipient has emphatically denied all allegations, while the newspapers have relied on a truth defence during the trial, calling dozens of current and former SAS soldiers to testify.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Moses began his address by denouncing the conduct of the Nine newspapers, claiming they refused to back down from errors in their stories and taking aim at the evidence provided by three of their witnesses: Person 7, Person 14, and Andrew Hastie, a former soldier-turned politician.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The publications of the respondents were based on rumour, hearsay and contradictory accounts from former colleagues who were, some, jealous, and/or obsessed with Mr Roberts-Smith,” Mr Moses said, adding that Mr Hastie was “obsessed” with Mr Roberts-Smith but failed to provide evidence to support the murder claims.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Hastie, who served with Mr Roberts-Smith briefly in 2012, was called to testify about a mission in Syahchow and claims that the veteran soldier had ordered a junior soldier, referred to as Person 66, to execute an Afghan captive during the mission.</p> <p dir="ltr">The MP told the court he was at Syahchow that day and saw a dead body with an AK-47 rifle, and that Person 66 looked uncharacteristically uneasy.</p> <p dir="ltr">He claimed that Mr Roberts-Smith walked past and said, “Just a couple more dead c***s”.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Person 66 refused to testify about the mission on the grounds of self-incrimination.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Moses claimed there was no evidence to support Nine’s claim of murder, and that the “sensationalist” stories came from bitter and jealous SAS insiders who wanted to take Mr Roberts-Smith down.</p> <p dir="ltr">"What is apparent is that both journalists (Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters) have mounted a sustained campaign to unfairly create a belief that Mr Roberts-Smith had committed war crimes in Afghanistan, including during the course of these proceedings," he said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-49c8da02-7fff-5dad-8a44-7edea12667de"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Each side has been allocated four days for a closing address.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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Our favourite highlights of the close of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations

<div>Day three of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations closed with an extravagant show in front of Buckingham Palace.</div> <div> </div> <div>The Party at the Palace concert kicked off at 8 pm local time, featured a huge line-up with the likes of Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Diana Ross, Alicia Keys and Hans Zimmer.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Here is a rundown on some of the key moments:</strong></div> <div>The concert opened with a skit of the Queen sitting down to tea with fellow British icon Paddington Bear.</div> <div> </div> <div>A well prepared Paddington Bear offered the Queen an emergency marmalade sandwich, something he keeps stashed in his hat — but it turned out that was unnecessary, as The Queen also came prepared.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Lee Mack's Partygate joke:</strong></div> <div>Popular British comedian, Lee Mack cracked Partygate joke, following the infamous investigations into a series of parties allegedly held by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, at his official residence during the countries strict Covid-19 lockdown.</div> <div> </div> <div>Mack referenced the Partygate affair while on stage, saying:</div> <div> </div> <div>"Welcome to the Platinum Party at the Palace!</div> <div> </div> <div>"We are here right outside the gates of Buckingham Palace for the party of a lifetime.</div> <div> </div> <div>"And I tell you what, finally we can say the words "party" and "gate" and it's a positive.</div> <div> </div> <div>"That wasn't in the autocue …"</div> <div> </div> <div>Mr Johnson has been urged to resign and was in fact, booed on arrival at the Platinum Jubilee thanksgiving service.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>The Performances:</strong></div> <div>Queen stunned the audience, with Adam Lambert on vocals.</div> <div> </div> <div>They played We Will Rock You and Don't Stop Me Now, with military drummers adding something extra to the performance.</div> <div> </div> <div>Guitarist Brian May really drove the whole "queen" reference home by popping up above the stage in front of the Queen Victoria statue.</div> <div> </div> <div>Later in the concert, Sam Ryder played Space Man — the song that earned him second place in the Eurovision Song Contest. Of course, tweaking the words slightly, singing "space ma'am" as a nod to the Queen.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Drones lit up the sky:</strong></div> <div>A carefully coordinated drone show took to the sky to produce some rather regal images above Buckingham Palace.</div> <div> </div> <div>Prince Charles paid tribute to 'Mummy' and 'Papa':</div> <div> </div> <div>Future king Prince Charles <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/prince-charles-emotional-tribute-to-your-majesty-mummy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took to the stage to pay tribute</a> to his mother as images of the monarch were projected on the walls of Buckingham Palace.</div> <div> </div> <div>Joined on stage by his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the prince spoke about the monarch's "strength and stay" and said his "Papa", Prince Philip, was much missed.</div> <div> </div> <div>Prince William's speech followed, addressing the crowd with a focus on climate change. He remains optimistic about the future.</div> <div> </div> <div><em>Images: Getty</em></div>

Beauty & Style

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Woman makes a “terrible mistake” in the middle of her wedding

<p dir="ltr">A woman shocked a wedding crowd when she said she had made a “terrible mistake” just as the officiant finished his speech - and before the final vows. </p> <p dir="ltr">Becky Jefferies was ecstatic for her special day after postponing the wedding multiple times due to Covid. </p> <p dir="ltr">But she and now husband Sherif Fayed finally made it to the end of the aisle and were minutes away from being married - however, something just had to go wrong. </p> <p dir="ltr">Being ever so polite, Becky waited for the officiant to complete his speech before grabbing the microphone and announcing that she made a “terrible mistake”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Anyone in their right mind would have asked why she waited for the wedding to announce it – but it’s not what you would expect.</p> <p dir="ltr">In fact, Becky had made it down the aisle only to realise at the end that she was missing half her dress! </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/CdLl9DLj6Ji/?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/CdLl9DLj6Ji/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Becky Jefferies (@jetsetbecks)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">"As soon as I realised what happened there was no question in my mind that I was going to grab the mic. I just wanted to wait until the officiant finished his speech," she wrote on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I also knew that my husband would have told me I was crazy for not stopping the ceremony if I hadn't done it."</p> <p dir="ltr">Becky shared the hilarious footage to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jetsetbecks/video/7094252391272320258?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> which shows her looking behind at her wedding planner and mouthing something while also pointing to her waist.</p> <p dir="ltr">The officiant stopped talking when she grabbed the microphone saying: “Pause for a moment…I just realised when I got to the end of the aisle that I'm missing half my dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Maybe I could put it on now?” she asked the laughing audience. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm not kidding, two nights ago I had a dream that I did this, that I walked down the aisle without it."</p> <p dir="ltr">The video then cuts to show the wedding planner rushing down the aisle with the missing half of the dress and assisting Becky to put it on.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video has been viewed more than 28 million times and received a whopping four million likes. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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John Travolta's son adopts puppy from the Oscars ceremony

<p>Mac n Cheese, the adorable rescue pup who stole hearts worldwide during an Oscars tribute segment for actress Betty White, has been rescued by none other than John Travolta’s son, Ben.</p> <p>The adorable little man was cradled by actress Jamie Lee Curtis in the 'In Memoriam' segment on Monday's ceremony when she spoke lovingly about the late Golden Girl star's love for animals.</p> <p>In her speech, Curtis said White's fans can honour her legacy by adopting a rescue dog like Mac N Cheese.</p> <p>Curtis didn't have to tell the Travolta family twice, as their home was already open to the little pooch, who they rescued from Paw Works: a nonprofit rescue organisation in Thousand Oaks, California.</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/CbqosEVpIGj/?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/CbqosEVpIGj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Ben adopted this dog from last night's Oscar tribute to Betty White. Thank you @curtisleejamie &amp; @pawworks," the actor captioned a happy snap of 11-year-old Ben cuddling their new family member.</p> <p>Travolta and Curtis are long time friends.They starred alongside each other in the 1984 romantic comedy Perfect, and on Monday they reconnected backstage.</p> <p>"A MAGICAL ending to the story from last night," Curtis posted on Instagram as she shared Travolta's photo. "At the Oscars I reconnected with my friend, John Travolta. @johntravolta We starred together in the movie PERFECT back in 1984. I had already left the Dolby theater last night after honoring Betty White and was on my way home when someone texted me a photo of John holding little mac &amp; cheese in the green room before his presentation of the best actor Oscar."</p> <p>"I thought it was so beautiful to see him with her and then today I found out that he and his son, Ben have adopted beautiful little mac &amp; cheese and are taking her home today," Curtis concluded. "It is an emotional end and a perfect tribute to Betty White."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Dr Harry Cooper marries partner in sweet ceremony

<p dir="ltr">Dr Harry Cooper, best known for his time on <em>Better Homes and Gardens</em>, has married his long-term partner, Susan “Suze” Sheeran, in a ceremony ten years in the making.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple shared exclusive photos of their special day with <em>Woman’s Day</em>, telling the publication it was a day they waited their whole lives for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a magical day and I wouldn’t change a thing!” Sheeran told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve waited all my life for this bloke … he’s a real genuine person - what you see is what you get.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Cooper and Sheeran tied the knot at their 125-acre property in Port Macquarie earlier this month, with just 42 of their closest friends and family joining them for the intimate ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sheeran glowed in her white lace gown, with Cooper complementing her look with his cream two-piece suit and panama hat and a four-legged friend joining them for the ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was Suze’s idea to have Wendy in the wedding, our 12-year-old black Australian stock horse mare, as our ring-bearer,” Cooper explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We got Wendy at Christmas time for her to ride.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sheeran added: “She was dressed up in roses … it was just wonderful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Better Homes and Gardens</em> vet admitted he teared up when he saw his bride coming down the aisle.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was just stunning … I’m all choked up just thinking about it,” he told <em>Woman’s Day</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 78-year-old also recalled the moment he first laid eyes on Sheeran, saying it was love at first sight when they met at a friend’s backyard barbecue.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I saw a blonde lady sitting down at the end of the table … and I thought she was so good looking,” Cooper said cheekily.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our friends disappeared swimming and we weren’t prepared for that, so we got talking and had a lot in common.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She’s very caring, she’s so hardworking and I’m so lucky to call myself her husband.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We just connected - we clicked straight away,” Sheeran added.</p> <p dir="ltr">To see more photos from the couple’s wedding and their exclusive interview, you can read the full <em>Woman’s Day</em> story <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/dr-harry-cooper-surprise-wedding-exclusive-71463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-dd637b07-7fff-d132-4d66-5a4f104d5055"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Matt Jorgensen Wedding Photography (Woman’s Day)</em></p>

Relationships

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Madeleine McCann case to be closed

<p dir="ltr">The 15-year investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance is set to be closed because police fear the suspect won’t be charged.</p> <p dir="ltr">German convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Bruekner was arrested as the prime suspect in the case back in 2020. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, police believe there is insufficient evidence to charge Bruekner, who was living in a campervan near the resort at the time of her family’s stay.</p> <p dir="ltr">Madeleine McCann was only three years old when she vanished from her family’s hotel room at the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz, in Portugal’s Algarve region in 2007, while her parents had dinner at a nearby restaurant.</p> <p dir="ltr">Scotland Yard, the headquarters of London Metropolitan Police, are set to close Operation Grange later in the year after launching it in 2010, three years after Madeleine disappeared.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The end of the road for Operation Grange is now in sight,” a UK source told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18004401/madeleine-mccann-inquiry-end/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The team's work is expected to be completed by autumn. There are currently no plans to take the inquiry any further."</p> <p dir="ltr">The case was due to be closed at the end of March, but investigators applied for an extension until September in the event new evidence comes to light.</p> <p dir="ltr">Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, both 54, have been notified of the case winding down. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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Raise a glass: Warne farewelled in intimate ceremony

<p dir="ltr">Cricketing legend Shane Warne has been farewelled by his closest friends and family in a private ceremony at the grounds of his favourite footy club.</p> <p dir="ltr">Around 80 gathered at St Kilda Football Club on Sunday, with guests encouraged to don St Kilda scarves in honour of Warne's lifelong association with the club.</p> <p dir="ltr">The service ended with a final lap for Warnie around the Moorabbin Oval, the homeground of The Saints AFL team, to the <em>Dirty Dancing</em> hit <em>(I've Had) The Time of My Life</em>. Warne's hearse, also decorated with footy scarves, was followed by a small group, including his three children Brooke, Jackson and Summer, and his parents Keith and Brigitte.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the hearse left the arena, Tina Turner's <em>Simply the Best</em> played and attendees applauded.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/03/shane-warne-funeral.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Attendees raised their glasses to Warnie, who died aged 52 of a heart attack in early March. Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Eddie Maguire, the event's MC and Warnie's close friend, asked that everyone raise their glasses to the cricketer after his coffin toured the ground.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other guests included cricketing stars Mark Taylor, Glenn Maxwell, Michael Vaughn and Glenn McGrath, as well as businessman James Packer and AFL identities Sam Newman and Aaron Hamill.</p> <p dir="ltr">Coldplay's sombre tune <em>Fix You</em> was played during the service, as well as an original piece the band's frontman Chris Martin wrote for Warne, titled <em>Eulogy</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The private service comes just under two weeks before thousands are expected to arrive at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Warne's state funeral on March 30.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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