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New Zealand mourns Māori king

<p>Tributes have flowed for the king of New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori people Tūheitia Paki, who has died at the age of 69. </p> <p>Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII died peacefully on Friday surrounded by his family, a spokesperson confirmed. </p> <p>The Maori king had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery, and passed away just days after celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation.</p> <p>“The death of Kiingi Tuheitia is a moment of great sadness for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Maaoridom and the entire nation,” the spokesman added in a statement.</p> <p>“A chief who has passed to the great beyond. Rest in love.”</p> <p>New Zealand's prime minister Christopher Luxon led the tributes to the King, writing “Today, we mourn the loss of Kiingi Tuheitia.”</p> <p>“His unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kiingitanga have left an indelible mark on our nation."</p> <p>“I will remember his dedication to Aotearoa New Zealand [land of the long white cloud], his commitment to mokopuna [young people], his passion for te ao Māori, and his vision for a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect.”</p> <p>King Charles also paid tribute, writing,  “My wife [Queen Camilla] and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the death of Kiingi Tuheitia. I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades. He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion."</p> <p>“My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to Kiingi Tuheitia’s whānau and friends and all those who will mourn his loss. Our special thoughts are prayers will be with you at this most difficult and heartbreaking of times.”</p> <p>Kiwi beauty pageant contestant Rosemary Poi also honoured the late King, writing, “Our hearts are heavy with the loss of Kingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. Your humility, kindness, and cheeky spirit touched us all deeply. In these moments of sorrow, my heart is with your whānau and the kiingitanga."</p> <p>Kiingi Tūheitia will likely lie in state at Tūrangawaewae Marae, near Hamilton, for five days, then be taken to Taupiri Mountain for burial.</p> <p>The Kiingitanga — Maori King movement — was founded in 1858 with the aim of uniting New Zealand’s Indigenous Maori under a single sovereign, and Kiingi Tuheitia was the seventh Kiingitanga monarch.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Radio New Zealand / 9News</em></p>

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"Devastated": Chris Pratt mourns sudden death of longtime friend and stunt double

<p>Superstar of big and small screen Chris Pratt is grieving the death of his longtime friend and former stunt double, Tony McFarr, who was found dead at his home near Orlando, Florida, on Monday. McFarr was 47, and the cause of his death remains undetermined.</p> <p>Pratt and McFarr began their professional relationship on the set of <em>Jurassic World</em> in 2015. Their collaboration continued on <em>Passengers</em>, <em>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2</em>, and <em>Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom</em>. Over the years, they developed a strong bond that clearly extended beyond their work on screen.</p> <p>In an emotional Instagram tribute on Friday, Pratt expressed his heartbreak over the loss of McFarr. "We did several movies together," Pratt wrote. "We golfed, drank whiskey, smoked cigars, and spent endless hours on set. I'll never forget his toughness."</p> <p>Pratt then recalled a particularly intense moment during the filming of <em>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2</em> when McFarr suffered a severe head injury but quickly returned to work. "He was an absolute stud. He was always a gentleman and professional. He'll be missed."</p> <p>Pratt concluded his tribute by offering prayers to McFarr's friends and family, especially his daughter. He shared a series of photos showcasing their time together on set, displaying their striking resemblance, particularly when dressed in matching costumes.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/05/ChrisPratt_Insta02.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="970" /></p> <p>In addition to doubling for Pratt in several films, McFarr's impressive career included work on other major Marvel productions like <em>Captain America: Civil War</em> and <em>Ant-Man and the Wasp</em>. He also served as Jon Hamm's stunt double in the 2018 action comedy <em>Tag</em>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/05/16/chris-pratt-stunt-double-tony-mcfarr-dead-dies-guardians-of-the-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to TMZ</a>, McFarr's mother, Donna, reported that "he passed away Monday at his home just outside Orlando -- and while we're told the family doesn't know the exact circumstances of his death just yet ... Donna does say his passing is unexpected and shocking."</p> <p>"She says Tony was active and healthy ... and we're told the medical examiner's office is running toxicology tests now. The Orange County Medical Examiner confirms to us they have the case ... and that an official cause is still pending."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Not all mourning happens after bereavement – for some, grief can start years before the death of a loved one

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lisa-graham-wisener-1247893">Lisa Graham-Wisener</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queens-university-belfast-687">Queen's University Belfast</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/audrey-roulston-1512057">Audrey Roulston</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queens-university-belfast-687">Queen's University Belfast</a></em></p> <p>For many people, grief starts not at the point of death, but from the moment a loved one is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.</p> <p>Whether it’s the diagnosis of an advanced cancer or a non-malignant condition such as dementia, heart failure or Parkinson’s disease, the psychological and emotional process of grief can begin many months or even years before the person dies. This experience of mourning a future loss is known as <a href="https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_1006-1">anticipatory grief</a>.</p> <p>While not experienced by everyone, anticipatory grief is a <a href="https://spcare.bmj.com/content/bmjspcare/early/2022/02/10/bmjspcare-2021-003338.full.pdf?casa_token=IWNMDFN5SoIAAAAA:2EybwyPcKu73VdrACTNk7jITor-mMIXK8rv76arXgdjV9cA2Y0MV0LyZLLwcYe1rZUAQymOzFYo">common</a> part of the grieving process and can include a range of conflicting, often difficult thoughts and emotions. For example, as well as feelings of loss, some people can experience guilt from wanting their loved one to be free of pain, or imagining what life will be like after they die.</p> <h2>Difficult to define, distressing to experience</h2> <p>Anticipatory grief has proved <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02692163221074540#bibr13-02692163221074540">challenging to define</a>. A <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02692163221074540#bibr13-02692163221074540">systematic review</a> of research studies on anticipatory grief identified over 30 different descriptions of pre-death grief. This lack of consensus has limited research progress, because there’s no shared understanding of how to identify anticipatory grief.</p> <p>Therese Rando, a <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315800806-9/grief-mourning-accommodating-loss-therese-rando">prominent theorist</a>, has proposed that anticipatory grief can help prepare for death, contributing to a more positive grieving experience post-bereavement. Rando also suggests that pre-death mourning can aid with adjustment to the loss of a loved one and reduce the risk of <a href="https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/effects-of-grief/complicated-grief/">“complicated grief”</a>, a term that describes persistent and debilitating emotional distress.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AapGn60DZSA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>But pre-death mourning doesn’t necessarily mean grief will be easier to work through once a loved one has died. Other <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953621005724?casa_token=I9mbdSv3d3gAAAAA:MqxN5X_iWbcqa6BYj7IXmImUviheOQWAVA4UBy6795UDuS1uOHG9b245qMkyOiLcvjv_SU6yVA">research evidence</a> shows that it’s possible to experience severe anticipatory grief yet remain unprepared for death.</p> <h2>Carers should seek support</h2> <p>Carers of people with life-limiting illnesses may notice distressing changes in the health of their loved ones. Witnessing close-up someone’s deterioration and decline in independence, memory or ability to perform routine daily tasks, such as personal care, is a painful experience.</p> <p>It is essential, then, for carers to acknowledge difficult emotions and seek support from those around them – especially because caring for a loved one at the end of their life <a href="https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/carers-friends-family-coping-support/your-mental-health/">can be an isolating time</a>.</p> <p>Where possible, it can also be beneficial for carers to offer their loved one <a href="https://compassionatecommunitiesni.com/our-programs/dying-to-talk/">opportunities to reflect</a> on significant life events, attend to unfinished business, and to discuss preferences for funeral arrangements. For some, this may involve supporting loved ones to reconnect with friends and family, helping them to put legal or financial affairs in order, talking about how the illness is affecting them, or making an <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/universal-principles-for-advance-care-planning/">advance care plan</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wrJaTXW1Xvk?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Talking is key</h2> <p>Living with altered family dynamics, multiple losses, transition and uncertainty can be <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07481187.2021.1998935">distressing for all family members</a>. It may be difficult to manage the emotional strain of knowing death is unavoidable, to make sense of the situation, and to <a href="https://hospicefoundation.ie/i-need-help/i-am-seriously-ill/how-to-talk-to-those-you-care-about/">talk about dying</a>.</p> <p>However, talking is key in <a href="https://www.cruse.org.uk/about/blog/important-conversations-death/">preparing for an impending death</a>. Organisations who offer specialist palliative care have information and trained professionals to help with difficult conversations, including <a href="https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/diagnosed/talking-children/children">talking to children</a> about death and dying.</p> <p>Navigating anticipatory grief can involve self-compassion for both the patient and carer. This includes acknowledging difficult emotions and treating oneself with kindness. Open communication with the person nearing the end of their life can foster emotional connection and help address their concerns, alongside support from the wider circle of family and friends.</p> <p>Extending empathy and understanding to those nearing death – and those grieving their impending loss – will help contribute to a compassionate community that supports those experiencing death, dying and bereavement.<!-- 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/221629/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><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lisa-graham-wisener-1247893">Lisa Graham-Wisener</a>, Lecturer of Health Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queens-university-belfast-687">Queen's University Belfast</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/audrey-roulston-1512057">Audrey Roulston</a>, Professor of Social Work in Palliative Care, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queens-university-belfast-687">Queen's University Belfast</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </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/not-all-mourning-happens-after-bereavement-for-some-grief-can-start-years-before-the-death-of-a-loved-one-221629">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Royal family mourns shock death just months after wedding

<p>Princess Rajwa of Jordan has found herself in mourning just eight months after her <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/kate-and-will-s-stunning-appearance-at-royal-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fairy-tale royal wedding</a> to Crown Prince Hussein.</p> <p>The sombre news of her father's passing was solemnly shared on Prince Hussein's social media accounts, accompanied by a heartfelt message and a poignant photograph capturing a tender moment between the Crown Prince and his father-in-law, Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif.</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/C3fsAFooyLt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3fsAFooyLt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Al Hussein bin Abdullah II (@alhusseinjo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>With heavy hearts, the announcement conveyed the depth of loss felt by the royal family. Prince Hussein's message, translated into English, reads: </p> <p>"With more sadness and sorrow, we mourn the death of my wife's father, my beloved uncle Abba Faisal.</p> <p>"We knew him as a generous person with good character and religion. We can only be satisfied with God's judgement and destiny. May Allah have mercy on him and dwell him in his spacious paradise and inspire us patience and solace.</p> <p>"With profound sadness and sorrow, we bid farewell to my beloved father-in-law.</p> <p>"We will always remember his kindness, generosity, and integrity. May God bestow mercy upon him and grant us patience and strength."</p> <p>Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif, 71, served as the chairman and chief executive officer of the esteemed Al Saif Group, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and philanthropy. Survived by his wife, Azza Al Sudairi, and four children – Faisal, Nayef, Dana, and Rajwa – Al Saif's passing leaves a void not only in his family but also in the business and social spheres he influenced.</p> <p>Al-Saif's absence was notably felt during his daughter's wedding to Crown Prince Hussein on June 1, 2023. Though he couldn't walk Princess Rajwa down the aisle, his presence and support were evident as he stood alongside his wife and daughter to greet guests at the reception. The absence of Princess Rajwa's father during such a significant life event is undoubtedly a poignant aspect of her wedding day memories.</p> <p>The cause of Al Saif's death remains undisclosed, adding an air of mystery to the solemn proceedings. A statement from the royal family, shared on the official website, conveyed condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family members:</p> <p>"The Royal Hashemite Court mourns the passing of the father of Her Royal Highness Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif, may his soul rest in peace.</p> <p>"By His Majesty King Abdullah's orders, the Royal Hashemite Court has announced three days of mourning, as of Sunday, 18 February 2024.</p> <p>"The Royal Hashemite Court expresses its deepest sympathies and condolences to Their Majesties King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, and to Al Saif family in these difficult times."</p> <p>The wedding of Princess Rajwa and Crown Prince Hussein was a momentous occasion, graced by the presence of dignitaries and royalty – including <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/kate-and-will-s-stunning-appearance-at-royal-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kate and William, the Prince and Princess of Wales</a>. Hosted at the Zahran Palace in Amman, the ceremony symbolised the union of two families and the beginning of a new chapter for the young couple. </p> <p>Since her marriage, Princess Rajwa has seamlessly integrated into royal life, representing her father-in-law, King Abdullah II, in official capacities. Her grace and poise have endeared her to the Jordanian people, even as she navigates the complexities of her newfound role.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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World mourns the passing of one of the true greats of cinema

<p>Renowned British-Irish actor, Sir Michael Gambon, celebrated worldwide for his iconic portrayal of Albus Dumbledore in the beloved Harry Potter film series, has passed away at the age of 82.</p> <p>In an official statement relayed by his publicist, it was confirmed that he succumbed to pneumonia, leaving his family and fans heartbroken. The statement issued by his family reads, "We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in the hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus by his side."</p> <p>Michael Gambon's acting journey spanned more than half a century, with one of his most significant milestones being his assumption of the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, succeeding the late Richard Harris in 2004. In characteristic humility, Gambon downplayed his performance, often remarking that he merely portrayed himself "with a stuck-on beard and a long robe".</p> <p>The Harry Potter franchise expressed its grief, stating, "He brought immeasurable joy to Harry Potter fans from all over the world with his humour, kindness, and grace. We will forever hold his memory in our hearts."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Michael Gambon. He brought immeasurable joy to Harry Potter fans from all over the world with his humour, kindness and grace. We will forever hold his memory in our hearts. <a href="https://t.co/1CoTF3zeTo">pic.twitter.com/1CoTF3zeTo</a></p> <p>— Harry Potter (@harrypotter) <a href="https://twitter.com/harrypotter/status/1707371391866028071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>James Phelps, known for his portrayal of Fred Weasley in the series, shared a touching anecdote on Instagram, recounting how Gambon generously helped him rehearse a script during the filming of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". Phelps hailed Gambon as both a legend on and off the camera, describing him as funny and always willing to share his knowledge.</p> <p>Gambon embarked on his acting career in the early 1960s, initially treading the boards of the stage before transitioning to television and film. His filmography boasted remarkable performances, such as his portrayal of a psychotic mob leader in Peter Greenaway's <em>The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover</em> in 1989 and his portrayal of the elderly King George V in Tom Hooper's <em>The King's Speech</em> in 2010.</p> <p>Despite an early start in engineering apprenticeship, Gambon's passion for acting remained unwavering. He recounted to <em>The Herald</em> newspaper in 2004 that he always knew he would become an actor. His breakthrough came in 1962 when he auditioned for the legendary Laurence Olivier, who subsequently appointed him as one of the founding members of the National Theatre at the Old Vic, alongside emerging talents like Derek Jacobi and Maggie Smith.</p> <p>Gambon's reputation soared on the stage, with his portrayal of Galileo in John Dexter's <em>Life of Galileo</em> in 1980 being a standout moment. In the 1980s, his lead role in the TV series <em>The Singing Detective</em> garnered widespread acclaim, earning him one of his four BAFTA Awards. Additionally, he clinched three Olivier Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for ensemble cast performances in <em>Gosford Park</em> (2001) and <em>The King's Speech</em>.</p> <p>Acknowledged for his contributions to drama, Gambon was honoured as a Commander of the British Empire in 1992 and subsequently knighted in 1998. Despite these prestigious titles, he often displayed a mischievous side, weaving tales such as showing fellow actors a forged signed photograph of Robert De Niro, among other playful antics.</p> <p>In 2015, Gambon retired from the stage due to long-term memory issues, yet he continued to grace the screen with his talent until 2019. In a 2002 interview, he expressed that his work made him feel "the luckiest man in the world".</p> <p><em>Images: Getty / Instagram</em></p>

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Sandra Bullock mourns the passing of her longtime partner after private illness

<p>Hollywood star Sandra Bullock's beloved partner, Bryan Randall, has passed away at the age of 57, with the heart-wrenching news confirmed by his grieving family in a statement shared on Monday.</p> <p>“It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS,” the statement read.</p> <p>“Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honour his request. We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours. At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan.”</p> <p>The statement was signed with a poignant, "His Loving Family".</p> <p>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a merciless neurological affliction that ravages  motor neurons that command delicate voluntary muscle movement. Regrettably, there is currently no remedy for the condition.</p> <p>Bullock, aged 59, crossed paths with model-turned-photographer <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Randall </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">when he was summoned to capture her son Louis’ birthday celebration in the early days of 2015. Their connection was immediate and profound.</span></p> <p>The mother-of-two, and an actress who has fiercely guarded her privacy over the years, chose to unveil fragments of her relationship's intimacy during a candid appearance on Red Table Talk in 2021.</p> <p>“I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children — three children, [Randall’s] older daughter. It’s the best thing ever,” Bullock said at the time.</p> <p>“I don’t wanna say do it like I do it, but I don’t need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother … I don’t need to be told to be ever present in the hardest of times. I don’t need to be told to weather a storm with a good man.”</p> <p>She added that Randall was also a superb “example” to her two children: “He’s the example that I would want my children to have... <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">I have a partner who’s very Christian and there are two different ways of looking at things. I don’t always agree with him, and he doesn’t always agree with me. But he is an example even when I don’t agree with him... </span>I’m stubborn but sometimes I need to sit back and listen and go, ‘You’re saying it differently but we mean exactly the same thing.’</p> <p>“It’s hard to co-parent because I just want to do it myself.”</p> <p>"He was so happy, but he was scared. I'm a bulldozer. My life was already on the track, and here's this beautiful human being who doesn't want anything to do with my life but the right human being to be there."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Olympian dies at just 37 years of age

<p>It’s a sad day in the world of winter sports and the Alpine Ski World Cup. Italian skier and silver medalist, Elena Fanchini has died at 37 from a tumour.</p> <p>"At the end of a serious illness, Elena Fanchini passed away in her home in Solato (near Brescia)," the Italian Winter Sports Federation said in a short statement.</p> <p>Fanchini died on the same day that fellow Italian skier Marta Bassio won the super-G world championships in Meribel, France; and just two days after Federica Brignone, a former teammate, won gold in combined.</p> <p>Another fellow skier, Sofia Goggia, the favourite for Saturday’s downhill, dedicated her win in Cortina d’Ampezzo last month to Fanchini.</p> <p>American champion skier, Mikaela Shiffrin took to Twitter to share her grief over Fanchini’s death. "This was a day filled with emotions. There is so much I'd like to share... but what weighs the heaviest is the loss of @ElenaFanchini,” she said in her tweet.</p> <p>Fanchini won a silver medal in the 2005 world championships and two World Cup races in her career - both in downhill.</p> <p>Fanchini last skied competitively in December 2017. She was cleared to return to training almost a year late but her condition had worsened.</p> <p>She had to miss the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics because of her condition.</p> <p>Fanchini's younger sisters Nadia and Sabrina were also World Cup racers.</p> <p><em>image credit: getty</em></p>

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"Shattered hearts": Culinary world mourns tragic death of Jock Zonfrillo

<p>Jock Zonfrillo, celebrity chef and host of <em>Masterchef Australia</em>, has passed away at 46. </p> <p>The entertainment and culinary industries are in mourning - and the fate of the hit cooking competition in question - as friends, family, and fans try to come to terms with their tragic loss. </p> <p>The news was broken - and confirmed - with a statement from Zonfrillo’s family, who wrote of their devastation and “shattered hearts” as they faced life without him. </p> <p>"With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday," they wrote.</p> <p>"So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told, but at this time we're too overwhelmed to put them into words.</p> <p>"For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky.</p> <p>"We implore you to please let us grieve privately as we find a way to navigate through this and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend."</p> <p>Zonfrillo’s body was reportedly discovered by police after they were called to a Carlton address at around 2am for a welfare check.</p> <p>It has been said that Zonfrillo had flown home early from a trip to Europe with his wife, Lauren, and their two young children - two-year-old Isla and five-year-old Alfie - ahead of the season 15<em> Masterchef Australia </em>launch. </p> <p>Production on the series had wrapped a month prior, and while it was set to premiere on May 1, it was delayed out of respect for their late host. </p> <p>Zonfrillo’s co-star and fellow celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was one of the first to take to social media to share his grief with supporters, posting a picture of the smiling <em>Masterchef</em> judging panel alongside the caption, “I’m in total shock to wake up to the sudden death of chef Jock Zonfrillo. </p> <p>“We had the best time working together for this year’s master chef, I can’t tell how good it was to work with him! Jock was very generous to me with his time and spirit in the show and for that I was really grateful … Jock will be so very missed”.</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/CrsMZQislgH/?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/CrsMZQislgH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Gordon Ramsay also turned to social media to pay tribute to his friend, writing of how he was “saddened by the devastating news of Jock Zonfrillo's passing … sending all my love to Lauren and the family in this difficult time”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Saddened by the devastating news of Jock Zonfrillo's passing. I truly enjoyed the time we spent together on MasterChef in Australia. Sending all my love to Lauren and the family in this difficult time Gx</p> <p>— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) <a href="https://twitter.com/GordonRamsay/status/1652913279684190208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia also posted a heartfelt tribute on<em> Masterchef Australia</em>’s social media, writing that they were “deeply shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the <em>MasterChef </em>family.</p> <p>"Jock was known to Australians as a chef, best-selling author, philanthropist and <em>MasterChef</em> judge but he will be best remembered as a loving father, husband, brother and son.</p> <p>“Determined and talented and with plenty of grit, Jock was born in Glasgow to an Italian father and a Scottish mother, which meant his formative years were heavily influenced by two strong cultures and it was his obsession with food and desire for a new pushbike that at just 12 years old fuelled Jock to knock on kitchen doors looking for a job.</p> <p>“Jock’s love and passion for food saw him become one of the youngest culinary students to do an apprenticeship at The Turnberry Hotel at just 15 years of age.</p> <p>“From that point onwards there was no holding him back and by 17 he was working alongside Marco Pierre White at his eponymous Restaurant Marco Pierre White.</p> <p>“Throughout his career he worked with world famous chefs and in restaurants all over the world.</p> <p>“His talent saw him shine in the world’s most formidable kitchens and he opened Bistro Blackwood and Restaurant Orana in Adelaide after moving to Australia.</p> <p>“Jock’s charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family cannot be measured. He will be greatly missed.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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"RIP Pop": Michael Clarke reveals further heartbreak

<p>Former Aussie cricket captain Michael Clarke is mourning the loss of his “best mate”.</p> <p>Clarke revealed the extent of his heartache on social media after his grandfather Ray Fox passed away.</p> <p>In a touching post uploaded to Instagram, Clarke can be seen with one hand on the coffin as he walked away from the podium after delivering a eulogy at his grandfather’s funeral.</p> <p>“Never gets any easier,” Clarke wrote.</p> <p>“In losing my Grandfather, I lost a best mate. I feel blessed to be surrounded by so much love on an extremely tough day.</p> <p>“RIP Pop.”</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/CqSAtDtJ9OZ/?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/CqSAtDtJ9OZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael Clarke AO (@michaelclarkeofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Friends and family were quick to pass on their condolences and support during this tumultuous time for Clarke.</p> <p>“Sorry to hear that news, mate,” Channel 7’s Larry Emdur commented. “Wishing you and the family all the best.”</p> <p>Businesswoman Erina Peters wrote, “I’m so sorry Michael! He truly loved you so much.</p> <p>“I have so many funny memories with him over the years and he was never short of a cheeky comeback.”</p> <p>Clarke previously said his grandfather was his inspiration behind playing cricket and the hardest part of retiring from the sport was telling Ray.</p> <p>“Definitely telling my grandfather was perhaps the hardest part and he was very emotional,” he said in 2015.</p> <p>“Pop’s made it clear to me over the past 10 years that watching me play cricket is a big part of what keeps him going.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

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Keanu Reeves mourns the sudden death of John Wick co-star

<p>Keanu Reeves is mourning the loss of good friend and John Wick co-star Lance Reddick, who passed away suddenly aged 60.</p> <p>“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,” Reeves, 58, and director Chad Stahelski said in a joint statement to<em> Variety</em>.</p> <p>“He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife Stephanie, his children, family and friends.”</p> <p>Reeves and Stahelski have shared they will dedicate <em>John Wick: Chapter 4</em>, which will be released in cinemas on March 23, to Reddick’s “loving memory”.</p> <p>“We will miss him dearly,” they said, <em>Page Six</em> reported.</p> <p>Reddick’s wife, Stephanie, whom he married in 2011, shared a message on his Instagram for his 139,000 followers.</p> <p>“Lance was taken from us far too soon,” she said. “Thank you for all your overwhelming love, support and beautiful stories shared on these platforms over the last day. I see your messages and can’t begin to express how grateful I am to have them.”</p> <p>“And to the thousands of Destiny players who played in special tribute to Lance, thank you,” she added. “Lance loved you as much as he loved the game.”</p> <p>Reddick, perhaps best known for his role in the crime series <em>The Wire</em>, also played Commander Zavala in the <em>Destiny</em> franchise.</p> <p>Representatives for the actor confirmed his death in a statement to People, saying that he “passed away suddenly this morning from natural causes”.</p> <p>“Lance was best known for his roles in <em>The Wire</em>, <em>Bosch</em>, Netflix’s <em>Resident Evil</em> and the <em>John Wick</em> films,” his reps added. “He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.</p> <p>“Lance will be greatly missed. Please respect his family’s privacy at this time.”</p> <p>Reddick’s body was discovered by police at his home in Studio City, California, according to TMZ.</p> <p>Wendell Pierce, who co-starred with Reddick on the hit HBO show <em>The Wire</em>, mourned the loss of a “man of great strength and grace” on Twitter.</p> <p>“As talented a musician as he was an actor,” he tweeted. “The epitome of class. An [sic] sudden unexpected sharp painful grief for our artistic family. An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Godspeed my friend. You made your mark here. RIP.”</p> <p>Ben Stiller, who worked alongside Reddick’s late mother, Anne Meara, in the play <em>Afterplay</em>, also took to Twitter to honour the actor.</p> <p>“Lance Reddick was an [sic] beautiful and compelling actor,” he tweeted. “And a beautiful person … He was exquisite in that and all he did. Nothing is lost.”</p> <p>In December 2021, the late actor praised his working relationship with Reeves, describing him as “someone who’s very generous as an actor and then all about the work”.</p> <p>“On one hand I feel like I don’t know him very well, but on the other, I just adore that guy,” he had told Vulture. “He’s such a wonderful human being.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

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“Two of my best mates gone”: Rod Stewart opens up on double tragedy

<p>Rod Stewart is in mourning after the loss of his two brothers just months apart.</p> <p>On Friday, the singer posted a short but sweet tribute on Instagram to his brother Bob, who passed away last November, just two months after the passing of his eldest brother Don.</p> <p>Sharing a photo of the program from Bob's funeral service at Islington Burial Chapel in London, he wrote, "I said Farewell to my Brother Bob today, with his coffin draped in a Rangers flag (life long Glasgow Rangers fan)."</p> <p>"We loved our game days up in Scotland together, " he wrote, reminiscing on their sweet memories together.</p> <p>Bob passed at the age of 87, just a day short from his 88th birthday.</p> <p>"Now he joins Brother Don, rest in peace boys. Two of my best mates gone within just a few months."</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/CnEx0ufN7b0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnEx0ufN7b0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sir Rod Stewart (@sirrodstewart)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Several family members also expressed their love in the comments, with his wife and TV star Penny Lancaster sharing an inside joke, writing, "I loved that he called me Pencil instead of Pen."</p> <p>His daughter, Ruby Stewart, commented with a simple dove emoji, commonly used to symbolise peace, freedom, or love.</p> <p>In December, the British singer announced on Instagram that he was mourning the loss of his two brothers. </p> <p>“It’s with great sadness that I announce the loss of my brother Bob last night, who joins my brother Don on the great football pitch in the sky,” he captioned, with an image of a candle flame and the words “Rest in Peace”.</p> <p>The British singer is the youngest of five children, surviving his brothers along with two of his sisters, Mary and Peggy.</p> <p><em>Image Credits: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Why mourning a pet can be harder than grieving for a person

<p>Many pet owners know that our connections with animals can be on an emotional par with those we share with other humans – and <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ben-Rockett/publication/274344384_Animals_and_Attachment_Theory/links/5f8552bb458515b7cf7c5851/Animals-and-Attachment-Theory.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scientific research backs this up</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0265407507087958" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The key ingredients of human attachment</a> are experiencing the other person as a dependable source of comfort, seeking them out when distressed, feeling enjoyment in their presence and missing them when apart. Researchers have identified these as features of our relationships with pets too.</p> <p>But there are complexities. Some groups of people are more likely to develop intimate bonds with their pets. This includes <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=yyM5DQAAQBAJ&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PA123&amp;dq=pet+attachment+and+older+people&amp;ots=g4NhHQwmag&amp;sig=82Jmnjag7NC40mxaITf18Vsjk8g#v=onepage&amp;q=pet%20attachment%20and%20older%20people&amp;f=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener">isolated older people</a>, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ben-Rockett/publication/313459134_Fostering_secure_attachment_experiences_of_animal_companions_in_the_foster_home/links/5f85529e458515b7cf7c5848/Fostering-secure-attachment-experiences-of-animal-companions-in-the-foster-home.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">people who have lost trust in humans</a>, and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14616734.2011.584410?journalCode=rahd20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">people who rely on assistance animals</a>.</p> <p>Researchers have also found our connections with our fluffy, scaled and feathered friends come with a price, in that we <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07481187.2021.1901799" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grieve the loss of our pets</a>. But some aspects of pet grief are unique.</p> <h2>Euthanasia</h2> <p>For many people, pet death may be the only experience they have of grief connected to euthanasia. Guilt or doubt over a decision to euthanise a cherished companion animal can complicate grief. For example, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288696026_Pet_loss_and_human_emotion_A_guide_to_recovery_Second_edition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research has found</a> that disagreements within families about whether it is (or was) right to put a pet to sleep can be particularly challenging.</p> <p>But euthanasia also gives people a chance to prepare for a beloved animal’s passing. There is a chance to say goodbye and plan final moments to express love and respect such as a favourite meal, a night in together or a last goodbye.</p> <p>There are stark differences in people’s responses to pet euthanasia. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07481187.2012.738764" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israeli research</a> found that in the aftermath of euthanised pet death, 83% of people feel certain they made the right decision. They believed they had granted their animal companion a more honourable death that minimised suffering.</p> <p>However, a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1539639/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canadian study</a> found 16% of participants in their study whose pets were euthanised “felt like murderers”. And <a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Establishing-a-model-pet-loss-support-hotline.-Mader-Hart/ed169dfdb2d43c2c94bc3f4c617e92bb37c08402" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American research</a> has shown how nuanced the decision can be as 41% of participants in a study felt guilty and 4% experienced suicidal feelings after they consented to their animal being euthanised. Cultural beliefs, the nature and intensity of their relationship, attachment styles and personality influence people’s experience of pet euthanasia.</p> <h2>Disenfranchised grief</h2> <p>This type of loss <a href="https://neurosciencenews.com/grief-pet-loss-21950/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is still less acceptable socially</a>. This is called disenfranchised grief, which refers to losses that society doesn’t fully appreciate or ignores. This makes it harder to mourn, at least in public.</p> <p>Psychologists Robert Neiymeyer and John Jordan said <a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Disenfranchised-Grief%3A-New-Directions%2C-Challenges%2C-Doka/93982a0299f424a451986bc2938751d909b5a98b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disenfranchised grief</a> is a result of an empathy failure. People deny their own pet grief because a part of them feels it is shameful. This isn’t just about keeping a stiff upper lip in the office or at the pub. People may feel pet grief is unacceptable to certain members of their family, or to the family more generally.</p> <p>And at a wider level, there may be a mismatch between the depth of pet grief and social expectations around animal death. For example, some people may react with contempt if someone misses work or takes leave to mourn a pet.</p> <p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2019.1621545?journalCode=rfan20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> suggests that when people are in anguish over the loss of a pet, disenfranchised grief makes it more difficult for them to find solace, post-traumatic growth and healing. Disenfranchised grief seems to restrain emotional expression in a way that makes it harder to process.</p> <p>Our relationships to our pets can be as meaningful as those we share with each other. Losing our pets is no less painful, and our grief reflects that. There are dimensions of pet grief we need to recognise as unique. If we can accept pet death as a type of bereavement, we can lessen people’s suffering. We’re only human, after all.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-mourning-a-pet-can-be-harder-than-grieving-for-a-person-195514" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Relationships

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"I don't understand": Heartbroken bride mourns husband's passing mere hours after wedding

<p dir="ltr">A bride has been left heartbroken as she mourns the death of her new husband just hours after they tied the knot. </p> <p dir="ltr">Oklahoma singer-songwriter Jake Flint and his fiancée Brenda Wilson said their vows in a beautiful ceremony on November 26.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair then went home and Flint just never woke up again after dying in his sleep. However the cause of death has still not been confirmed. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We should be going through wedding photos but instead I have to pick out clothes to bury my husband in. People aren't meant to feel this much pain,” a devastated Brenda wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My heart is gone and I just really need him to come back. I can't take much more. I need him here.”</p> <p><iframe style="overflow: hidden; border: initial none initial;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbrenda.wilson.14224094%2Fvideos%2F4989810367788613%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">Flint’s longtime publicist Clif Doyal confirmed the horrific news and said that he was “loved by everybody”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was not only a client, he was a dear friend and just a super nice guy,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As you can see from the outpouring on social media, he was loved by everybody. I think a lot of it was just that he was a people person, and he had an amazing sense of humor. </p> <p dir="ltr">“He made everybody laugh, and he made everybody feel welcome.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Flint's manager, Brenda Cline, also confirmed his death in a sad social media post. </p> <p dir="ltr">“With a broken heart and in deep grief I must announce that Jake Flint has tragically passed away,” she wrote.</p> <p>“I've tried several times today to make a post, but you can't comment on what you can't process.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Thailand in mourning as victims of daycare massacre farewelled

<p><em><strong>Warning: Some readers may find the content of this article distressing. </strong></em></p> <p>Hundreds of mourners have gathered in temples in north-east Thailand to farewell more than 30 victims who were killed in a heartless massacre in a children's daycare.</p> <p>On Thursday, a man armed with a gun and a knife stormed a daycare centre, killing 12 adults and 24 children between the ages of two and five. </p> <p>Relatives and grief-stricken members of the community gathered at the Si Uthai temple in the village of Uthai Sawan on Saturday to pay their respects to the victims. </p> <p>They lit candles in front of coffins topped with floral wreaths and framed photographs of the dead, as loved ones placed toys, clothes and their children favourite foods atop their caskets. </p> <p>One of the coffins belonged to toddler Pattarawat Jamnongnid, whose photo showed him dressed in a pink sports shirt</p> <p>On his coffin was a model dinosaur and a bottle of milk.</p> <p>His mother, 40-year-old factory worker Daoreung Jamnongnid, said her only child was energetic and talkative.</p> <p>At just two years and 10 months, he was the youngest of the children killed but his mother said he already knew the alphabet.</p> <p>"He was so smart. He liked to watch documentaries with his father," she said. </p> <p>Police have identified the attacker as Panya Khamrap, 34, a former police sergeant who was facing trial on a drugs charge.</p> <p>His autopsy showed no evidence of drug use at the time of his death, according to police. </p> <p>Deputy police chief Surachet Hakpan said officers were still interviewing 180 people about the incident, and when asked about the killer's motive, he said it was "because of his constant stress … his family, his money and his legal cases. So he acted aggressively".</p> <p>Three boys and two girls survived the attack and four of them remain in hospital, police said.</p> <p>Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn visited the hospital on Friday to express his sorrow over the "evil incident".</p> <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> <p>"There are no other words to describe this feeling," he said.</p> </div> <p>"I want to give you all moral support to be strong so that the souls of those children can have a sense of relief that their families will remain strong and be able to move forward."</p> <p>Meanwhile Kittisak Polprakan, a witness to the attack, described the killing spree.</p> <p>"It was so quiet," he said.</p> <p>"There was no noise, no screaming, nothing."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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King Charles III honours mother in first engagement after mourning

<p dir="ltr">King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have travelled to a Scottish town with a rich royal history to honour one of Queen Elizabeth II’s final wishes.</p> <p dir="ltr">In their first joint engagement since the end of the official mourning period, King Charles and Camilla travelled to Dunfermline, north of the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, where the monarch made an emotional tribute to his mother.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just months before her death, the Queen personally chose to bestow city status on Dunfermline  - a wish the King honoured on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">During his speech at the Dunfermline City Chambers, King Charles said the historical moment would “gladden my dear mother’s heart, as it certainly gladdens mine”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My wife and I are immensely proud to be able to share this historic moment with you,” he said, adding that the Queen’s “deep love for Scotland was one of the foundations of her life”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There could be no more fitting way to mark my beloved mother's extraordinary life of service than by granting this honour to a place made famous by its own long and distinguished history, and by the indispensable role it has played in the life of our country."</p> <p dir="ltr">Dunfermline was one of eight towns that were granted ‘city’ status by the Queen as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">The town was chosen for its community associations and royal history, including being the burial place of Robert the Bruce and holding the title of Scotland’s capital from the 11th century until 1437.</p> <p dir="ltr">The old silk mill in Dunfermline was also the source of silks used in the Queen’s gowns for her wedding and coronation.</p> <p dir="ltr">For Monday’s historic events, which saw hundreds of people lining the streets to see King Charles and Camilla, the King wore a kilt made from Old Stewart Tartan.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the formalities concluded, the ruling couple walked to Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 950th anniversary - an act the Queen engaged in 50 years ago for the abbey’s 900th anniversary.</p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles and Camilla then ended the day in Edinburgh, hosting a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to celebrate British South Asian communities.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b706f602-7fff-a09c-2cf4-aa5f90300a13"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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United in grief: William and Harry join mournful march

<p>Prince Harry and Prince William have walked by the side of their grandmother's coffin in a procession through London, as Queen Elizabeth made her final journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. </p> <p>The brothers were united in their grief as they joined other senior members of the royal family, who were led by King Charles for the procession to see Queen Elizabeth’s coffin lie in state in parliament.</p> <p>While Prince William wore regimental uniform, Prince Harry, no longer a senior working member of the royal family, was dressed in a dark mourning suit.</p> <p>Also not in uniform was Prince Andrew, who walked alongside sister Princess Anne and brother Prince Edward.</p> <p>As the journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall began, guns fired every minute at the nearby Hyde Park, as Big Ben tolled in unison. </p> <p>Mourners were lining the streets to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty's coffin, and to be one of the first in line when the official lying in state period begins. </p> <p>As the senior royals followed the procession, Kate, the Princess of Wales, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie of Wessex travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster by car.</p> <p>The emotional scenes were reminiscent of those at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, almost 25 years ago to the day, where the young princes again followed in the procession of mourning. </p> <p>“My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television,” Prince Harry once told royal biographer Angela Levin.</p> <p>“No child should lose their mother at such a young age and then have his grief observed by thousands of people.”</p> <p>In the documentary <em>Diana, My Mother</em>, Prince William said, “I remember just feeling completely numb, disorientated, dizzy."</p> <p>“And you keep asking yourself, ‘Why me?’ All the time, ‘Why? What have I done? Why? Why has this happened to us?’”</p> <p>As Queen Elizabeth now rests in Westminster Hall, four days of lying in state will then begin until the funeral on September 19th. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Man wearing Melbourne footy jersey arrested for yelling at Prince Andrew

<p dir="ltr">A man wearing a Melbourne City FC jersey has been arrested after screaming at Prince Andrew as he walked behind Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen’s coffin travelled through Edinburgh on Monday to St Giles' Cathedral as mourners paid their respects to the late monarch. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her four children, ​​King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, were walking behind the hearse when a man began shouting at Prince Andrew. </p> <p dir="ltr">The man was seen cupping his hands around his mouth before shouting, “Andrew, you're a sick old man”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Police and mourners ganged up on the man before he was arrested and continued shouting “disgusting” and “I’ve done nothing wrong”. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prince Andrew heckled as the Queen's coffin passes <a href="https://t.co/85m9jUgszF">pic.twitter.com/85m9jUgszF</a></p> <p>— Christopher Marshall (@chrismarshll) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrismarshll/status/1569323294716829700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Police Scotland confirmed a 22-year old man was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace' on the Royal Mile around 2.50pm on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man later identified himself on Scottish TV as “Rory”. </p> <p dir="ltr">It it believed the attack on Prince Andrew was due to his relationship with disgraced sex offender Jeffery Epstein. </p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Andrew was not allowed to wear military dress for the event, and other ones due to his relationship.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, an exception will reportedly be made for him to wear military dress as a special mark of respect for the Queen at the final vigil in Westminster Hall.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“The world is crying”: Newspapers come together to mourn QEII

<p dir="ltr">Around the world, the front pages of Friday’s newspapers have become a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her shock passing, with one outlet declaring the “world is crying” in the wake of the news.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a2c9f53b-7fff-3a3d-5e03-b30523feb120"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Ranging from vintage shots from her childhood to stately portraits of the Queen wearing her crown or one of her trademark hats, publications were united in mourning the long-reigning monarch.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Some beautiful front pages - none better than the Financial Times <a href="https://t.co/rijclWLQxp">pic.twitter.com/rijclWLQxp</a></p> <p>— Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickBryantNY/status/1567994430141136899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In Germany, popular tabloid <em>Bild </em>declared that “the world is crying for the Queen”, while Dutch broadsheet <em>De Telegraaf </em>called the royal “the Queen in the heart of the world”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Daily Parisian newspaper <em>Liberation</em>, from French playwright Jean-Paul Sartre, made a play on words with the headline ‘La peine d’Angleterre’ (the pain of England), swapping ‘reine’ (queen) for ‘peine’ (pain). </p> <p dir="ltr">The French outlet even included a photo of the monarch on the final page, showing the Queen wearing a white fur cloak facing away.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://o60.me/ftlYke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully </a>at her Balmoral estate on Thursday, surrounded by family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her passing came hours after the Palace issued a statement revealing that doctors were “concerned” for health, prompting family members to rush to Scotland to be with her.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-aae1bd19-7fff-0e0e-7fb9-f897a0cce125"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter, The Daily Mail</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Tennis world mourns tragic loss of 18-year-old future star

<p dir="ltr">A tragic motorbike accident has left 18-year-old tennis prodigy Simone de Luigi dead.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was only a few short weeks ago that de Luigi represented his country – a small microstate in north-central Italy – in the Davis cup, where San Marino defeated Iceland, winning promotion from Europe group IV.</p> <p dir="ltr">San Marino’s Tennis Federation Director Mahena Abbati said the youngster would be "missed tremendously".</p> <p dir="ltr">"The San Marino Tennis Federation is shocked and saddened by the tragic event of Sunday night and we offer our deep sorrow to the family of Simone De Luigi," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The accident happened in the Italian city of Rimini, where his motorbike collided with a car.</p> <p dir="ltr">Drug and alcohol tests are expected to be released as the accident continues to be investigated.</p> <p dir="ltr">The driver and two female passengers involved in the accident were questioned, with testimonies given by other passengers following the same route, although none of them witnessed the accident first-hand.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The young promise of Sammarinese tennis, who was just 18 years old, was a cheerful and polite boy, able to enter the hearts of people," said Mr Abbati in a statement. "A player and a friend who will be missed tremendously by everyone.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: San Marino Tennis Federation </em></p>

News

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Queen Elizabeth II in mourning

<p dir="ltr">Queen Elizabeth II is in mourning after her life-long friend passed away. </p> <p dir="ltr">Lady Myra Butter, a descendent of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and poet, novelist and playwright, Alexander Pushkin, died “peacefully” at the age of 97 in London. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Lady Butter was a daughter of Sir Harold and Lady Zia Wernher, and a granddaughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia and Countess de Torby,” managing editor of Majesty Magazine Joe Little wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Myra was a close friend of the Queen and Prince Philip since childhood and from time to time appeared in royal documentaries."</p> <p dir="ltr">Lady Butter created the Pushkin award, which helped celebrate literary work in honour of her ancestor. </p> <p dir="ltr">She was married to Sir David Butter to who she had five kids with - and the Queen was the godmother of their eldest child, Sandra Elizabeth Zia.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lady Butter grew up with the Queen and her sister Princess Margaret, and spent their holidays together. </p> <p dir="ltr">She was also a guest at the Queen’s wedding to Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The war had been so grey that the royal wedding seemed to signify the world coming to life again,” Lady Butter previously told The Daily Mail. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Everyone was determined to have a new dress for the day and I wore a blue ribbed silk dress by Dior. It was one of the first three-quarter length dresses, and I wore it with a feathered hat. I had new shoes and a bag, too – any excuse.</p> <p dir="ltr">"All the people from the Commonwealth made the ceremony very colourful and the choir superb.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The Princess looked truly glittering. Her dress was beautiful and she was obviously in love. Philip looked very dashing in his naval uniform – and it really did seem like a fairy tale wedding."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty/ITV</em></p>

Relationships

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