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Sam Neill moved to tears by simple question

Sam Neill has unexpectedly broken down in tears over one question posed to him by a university student. The Jurassic Park actor was the surprise guest during the premiere of ABC's new series, The Assembly, based off the UK show which sees high-profile figures being interviewed by a class of university students who are all autistic. The students can ask whatever they want, and one student, Abby brought the actor to tears with her question. “What’s the best lesson you learned from your parents?” she asked. “Ooft, wow. That’s a really interesting question … A really, really interesting question,” Neill replied, before pausing as he began tearing up. “I don’t know why that question has moved me so much, but it has.” The actor then went on to explain that his parents were “of the generation that went through a lot” – including the Great Depression and World War One, in which his maternal grandfather was killed – leaving both his parents “very stoic”. “And I’d done a year of university and I’d done bugger all. I was acting in plays and trying to find a girlfriend, you know … so it came to exam time and I realised I’d done almost no work,” Neill recalled. “It got me very anxious. Anyway, I got home and Mum said, ‘How are you, darling?’ and I said, ‘I think I’m having a breakdown, I’ve got exams in a couple of weeks …’ and she just looked at me and said, ‘Well, you’re just going to have to pull yourself together’.” He continued: “And I think that’s the best lesson I learned from her. Sometimes you just have to pull yourself together. It’s a tough lesson, but a good one – and thank you for that question." Elsewhere during the interview, he also spoke candidly about his recent blood cancer battle, and while he is in remission after a year of chemotherapy, he still requires monthly treatments which he'll have to do for the rest of his life. One student asked him, "what motivated you to keep going, and did you have anyone supporting you through it?” He admitted that while it had been a "pretty brutal" process, he is grateful for all the treatments keeping him alive "and living is much better than the other thing.” Images: ABC

Family & Pets

Gold medallist breaks down in tears over her late father's note

An Olympic gold medallist has broken down in tears as she recalled an emotional and poignant exchange she had with her father before he died of cancer. Lola Anderson claimed the gold medal for Team Great Britain in rowing, beating The Netherlands by just 0.15 seconds in the women’s quadruple sculls. In her victory interview with the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnd06pg0k0wo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>, Lola recalled a note her father Don had given her months before his death in 2019. Before his death, Lola's father asked her to retrieve a safety deposit box that contained an old diary entry that Lola wrote when she was just 14 years old. In it, she wrote about becoming an Olympic rowing champion after seeing Helen Glover win gold at London 2012. The note read: “My name is Lola Anderson and I think it would be my biggest dream in life to go to the Olympics and represent Team GB in rowing and, if possible, win a gold medal.” Lola soon threw the note in the bin as she started to doubt her dream, but unbeknownst to her, her father fished it out of the garbage and kept it, giving it back to her before he died. When asked about the note after the win, she told the BBC, “I’d forgotten about it obviously. A couple years ago my dad reminded me." “I know he’d be so, so proud. I’m just thinking a lot about him right now, it’s really lovely.” Speaking about the note to the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/he-chose-to-believe-meet-lola-anderson-gb-rower-living-her-late-fathers-olympic-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guardian</a> before the Olympics, Anderson said her father, who introduced her to the sport, believed in her when she didn’t. “I kinda thought that was a really cocky, arrogant thing to have written. Back then, on a good day I wasn’t capsizing. I ripped the page out and threw it in the bin,” she said. “It reflects to me how much he cared, invested and believed in me and my siblings, even when we couldn’t see it. There was nothing to show I had any talent when I first started rowing but he kept the note and chose to believe.” Image credits: BBC

Family & Pets

The touching reason a King's Guard burst into tears

A member of the King's Guard has burst into tears after receiving the surprise of a lifetime while on duty. The King's Guard, who are usually unflappable and stoic figures stationed around Buckingham Palace, was moved to tears on what seemed like a normal day. While sitting atop her horse, the woman stood as tourists passed by and took photos with the iconic guard. The suddenly, the previously composed guard smiles and can be seen looking teary, as she spots her parents in the crowd. “That’s her dad!” another person in the crowd calls out. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7389049472568806663&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40australiancommunitymedia%2Fvideo%2F7389049472568806663%3Flang%3Den%26q%3Dkings%2520guard%2520parents%26t%3D1720402184833&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2Fo0gmiBD0EBBEO2ogfCAgIy8FMyLdCdb2aQeVUL%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-alisg-i-0068%2FoMCEIAuSEFAV4FAAIjsDoeFjmfNA1lNLkD3fEr.image%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26nonce%3D3486%26refresh_token%3D9a02561608471c9dd769ed26581f721f%26x-expires%3D1720573200%26x-signature%3DG49fXegWzTHobCNmRxkZBWQS5r8%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> The mother-father duo then approached their daughter and stroked the horse while chatting. The teary-eyed guard can then be seen with a smile as her parents turn to face her, and her mother also strokes her daughter’s leg. The guard nods when asked a question by her mother, before breaking down in tears, bending her head forward and using her white gloves to wipe her eyes. The heartwarming moment, which was captured on video and posted to social media, quickly racked up hundreds of comments by impressed tourists. One person wrote, "I'm amazed at the speed with which she pulls herself back together, blink & you miss her initial reaction. That's reason enough to be proud on its own!" Another added, "What a special moment. I hope they all got to spend a little time together after her watch. She is a great Guard and her parents should be proud of her and what she does." Another simply said, "How proud a parent to see your daughter standing post as a Kings Guard." Image credits: YouTube

Family & Pets

$2 billion lotto win tears family apart

A man who won one of the biggest lottery jackpots in American history has been accused of cutting his family out of their promised share after winning $2 billion (AUD) in the Mega Millions jackpot. The unidentified man has been in a legal battle with his daughter’s mum since November, after he accused her of violating a nondisclosure agreement by telling the rest of the family about his fortune before their daughter's 18th birthday in 2032, according to the Independent. He bought the winning ticket in Lebanon, Maine on January 13 2023. The mum – identified by a pseudonym, Sara Smith – claimed that he was the one who told his family about his lotto winnings, not her. The man's father supported Smith's claim and said that his son told him about the win and all the things he planned to do with his new-found fortune, which he collected through an LLC in a lump sum of over $750 million. “February or March of 2023, my son came to my house … and informed me and my wife that he won a large amount of money in the Maine State Lottery,” his father wrote in new court documents. “I understand that my son has stated that he told me nothing about his money ‘other than the simple fact that I had won’,” the dad wrote. “That is not true.” He also claimed that he didn't ask his son for any money, but the lotto-winner allegedly made a bunch of promises, including building his dad a garage to fix up old cars, buying his childhood home, setting up a million-dollar trust fund and funding future medical expenses for his dad and stepmum. The lotto-winner also allegedly demanded his father to not talk to Smith. "I told him … ‘You are not the son I knew’,” his dad wrote in the filing. “He got angry, calling me a ‘dictator’ and an ‘a**ehole’. I have not heard from my son since, and he has not done any of [the] things he promised.” The half-billionaire refuted his dad and Smith's claims. “I made the mistake of telling my father that I had won the lottery without having him sign a confidentiality agreement,” he wrote. “Our relationship deteriorated quickly thereafter,” he continued. “I did not tell him what I was doing with my money, how I was going to benefit my daughter, or any facts other than the simple fact that I had won.” He also accused his ex-partner of trying to reveal his identity to the world and that she wrongly accused him of trying to kidnap their daughter after he refused to pay for her and her new boyfriend's vacation. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

"Reduced me to tears": King Charles' candid admission

King Charles has made a candid admission as he returned to his public engagement in over two months as he faces ongoing treatment. The royal joined a meeting of the Privy Council at Buckingham Palace followed by an audience with the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Palace sources have said that the two events were a sign of “State business, as usual” since his <a style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/palace-reveals-king-charles-serious-health-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shock cancer diagnosis</a> over two weeks ago, according to The Sun. The monarch, donning a navy pinstripe suit, appeared in good spirits as he shook hands with the UK prime minister and sat down for his first private audience with him since December. “Good evening Your Majesty, very nice to see you," Sunak told the King. “Bit of a gap,” Charles responded. Sunak replied: “A bit, but wonderful to see you looking so well.” The King also showed his playful side as he joked about the check-up process: “well, it’s all done by mirrors," he said and they both laughed. “Well, we are all behind you, the country is behind you," Sunak replied. “I’ve had so many wonderful messages and cards. Reduced me to tears most of the time,” Charles told him. “I can imagine, as I said, everyone is behind you, and it’s been nice to see the spotlight that it’s shone on the work the charities do in this area,” Sunak responded. “I hear there been a lot more interest on those main wonderful cancer charities many of which I’ve been patron for years," Charles added. “They’ve done incredible work up and down the country, nice to be recognised," Sunak replied. The King's last public engagement was a trip to the Royal Courts of Justice on December 14th. His last in-person engagement was an investiture at Windsor Castle on December 19. On Wednesday he held a Privy Council meeting and swore in new member Michael Tomlinson, Minister of State for Illegal Migration. This week, he’s been in London and Windsor Castle, but he is expected to continue getting cancer treatment at Windsor and Highgrove in the coming weeks. Image: Getty

Caring

Christina Applegate's Emmy’s appearance moves audience to tears

Christina Applegate has moved audiences to tears after making a courageous appearance at the Emmy Awards. Applegate announced at the beginning of 2023 that she would be taking a step back from acting after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), with the disease making a drastic impact on her life. Now, the 52-year-old took to the stage, supported by a cane, at the Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night, with the crowd rising to their feet in a round of applause. Applegate immediately began to tear up as she leaned on host Anthony Anderson for support, telling the audience, “I’m gonna cry more than I’ve been crying.” <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jOJNgHgKnFs?si=Y8K-e2H8gFq1Pr0u" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Keeping her sense of humour, she said to the sea of celebrity faces, “Thank you so much! Oh my God! You’re totally shaming me (and my) disability by standing up.” Applegate presented the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, with the award going to Ayo Edebiri for her role in The Bear. The heartfelt moment of the standing ovation was shared on X, with fans saying, “She deserves that ovation and more.” The iconic actress has been candid about her battle with MS since she was first diagnosed in 2021, keeping her fans updated as her illness progressed. In 2023, Applegate told Vanity Fair that her work on the hit Netflix TV show Dead To Me would be her last as an actor, saying “I can’t even imagine going to set right now.” “I’m probably not going to work on-camera again,” Applegate said at the time, adding that while she loved her cast and crew, working had been a “struggle.” Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

"32 years of safe landings": Pilot's surprise speech reduces passengers to tears

A pilot has brought his passengers to tears with an emotional speech on his final flight after 32 years in the skies. Jeff Fell, an American Airlines pilot, took off from Chicago on his retirement flight as he stood in front of his passengers and delivered a heartfelt message. At first, his message seemed routine, informing travellers of the weather and and flight time, before acknowledging it was strange for him to deliver the address from outside the cockpit. “I normally don’t stand up in front of everybody like this, I usually just stay in the cockpit and talk on the PA. If I get a little emotional please forgive me for that,” he said in the speech, which was captured on video by a passenger. With passengers still unaware of what was to come, he pointed out a group of “very important people” to him sitting at the back of the plane. “They’re the majority of my family who have come along with me on my retirement flight,” Mr Fell said. The plane was filled with applause as the pilot's voice wavered with emotion. “They’re on-board with me on my retirement flight after 32 years with American,” he said. He continued, fighting back tears, “Thank you all for coming along with me tonight and celebrating this very memorable time in my life. I love all of you." With another round of applause from his passengers, Mr Fell added:, “I didn’t want to get emotional but goodness gracious.” “Finally, for my wonderful wife Julie who has been at my side for the majority of my 32 years at American. She has been the rock, the solid rock in the foundation in our lives and our marriage. Her faith in the Lord, wisdom, strength and love has guided our marriage and family throughout these years. I love you and look forward to the next chapter in our lives. And welcome aboard everybody.” The video was uploaded to TikTok and has since gone viral, raking up millions of views, and you can watch the full video <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@realjharrison/video/7299484162648509738" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Thousands of social media users left comments of support, with many confessing the clip had brought them to tears. “As soon as he said retirement flight my tears came,” one person wrote, while another added, "32 years of safe landings also. God bless him and all pilots.” “To think of the amount of families, people, and cultures he has single-handedly connected throughout the world. Thank you!” penned a third person. “32 years of bringing people closer together. I’m crying!” agreed another. Image credits: TikTok

International Travel

The Remembrance Day moment that brought King Charles to tears

King Charles was holding back tears as he unveiled the statues in honour of his late parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The monarch and his wife, Camilla, unveiled the statues on Friday, during the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall. The statue unveiling was part of a greater ceremony for Remembrance Day, which honours those who have sacrificed their lives to serve and protect the Commonwealth. King Charles was tasked with unveiling the statue of his mother, while Camila pulled the curtain away from Philip's statue. Photos taken of the royal during the event showed what appeared to be tears welling up in his eyes as he looked on proudly, likely reminiscing about the memories he shared with his parents. According to the Times, the artworks were commissioned in 2021 as part of the Hall’s 150th anniversary, and the statues were designed by Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust scholar, Poppy Field. Members of the royal family including Prince William and Princess Kate, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, came to commemorate the occasion. Image: Maja Smiejkowska-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Family & Pets

"Tears in my eyes": King's Guard breaks protocol for photo with young royal fan

A member of the King's Guard has been prised online for going out of his way to take a photo with a young man with Down's syndrome, breaking strict protocol. A video of the touching moment, shared by Mike the young man's carer on YouTube, caused a stir thanks to the respectful way the guard acted. Known worldwide for being silent and still even when trying to be distracted by tourists, it is the job of the King's Guard to stand statuesque on duty outside office royal residences. However, footage shows how a kind-hearted member of the Guard moved closer to Mike and the boy who were trying to get a photo to remember their trip to Horse Guards Parade by. Taking to Twitter to post about their day out, Mike who is a professional carer for the youngster, explained, "I've worked for his family and him for a decade now. We were out on a cycle ride on my tandem bicycle and stopped by the Horse Guards Parade." <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nxvGCQY8m4c" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> He admitted that "both I and the young lad" got a bit of a fright "when he stepped closer to us" because it was so unexpected, adding, "This left me with tears in my eyes for a few evenings." After Twitter users initially thought that Mike was the boy's father, he clarified, "I’m also not his dad, although I’d be proud to be." "I'm very grateful to the soldier," he continued. "I'm lucky I had good parents and went to a Jesuit school that cared about me and taught me well, same for the young lad I'm with. Tears in my eyes." The sweet and respectful moment delighted viewers who rushed to share their thoughts and comments on the scene. One person wrote, "Lovely gesture of kindness. All the guards do an exceptional job with so many tourists." Another social media user added, "Total respect to this Guard especially as this young lad was nervous and total respect to the lads guardian for saying thank you wish more tourists were like him." Someone else wrote, "This Guard never fails to melt my heart. That act of kindness brought a lump to my throat. What a sweetheart he is. Your kindness will come back to you young man." Image credits: YouTube

Caring

“My fear is obvious”: Shannen Doherty’s tearful health update

Actress Shannen Doherty, best known for her roles in the hit TV series Charmed and Beverly Hills, 90210, has shared an update on her cancer battle with her concerned followers. The star was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and has been open about her ongoing fight, from her 2017 remission to her 2020 stage 4 diagnosis, and has now made the heartbreaking announcement that the cancer has spread to her brain. In two videos posted to her social media account, Shannen has detailed this latest chapter in her journey, and confessed the fear that comes along with the whole ordeal. In the first post, Shannen detailed the experience of having her radiation mask fitted, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtHpmIdpNRg/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after CT scans revealed mets on her brain on January 5</a>. Her followers wasted no time in offering their support, with many revealing their own - or their loved ones’ - experiences fighting cancer, and wishing her all of the positive thoughts they had to offer. “I just had my bilateral mastectomy on May 31st along with a lymph node dissection,” one wrote, “and I just want to let you know that you are my hero right now and I am totally here for you as well”. “My brother was given 6-8 months in ‘94 - he went through radiotherapy, chemo, and is still with us today,” another shared. “The power of positive thinking, of ‘I CAN beat this’, was his mantra. He is living proof it can be beaten!!! Thinking of you and sending strength”. A day later, Shannen returned with another update, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtKfA9QLdDm/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this time with a video taken on January 12</a>, when the radiation process began. “January 12, the first round of radiation took place,” she revealed. “My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life.” Shannen took a moment then to thank her “amazing doctors”, before making the heartbreaking confession that “that fear…. The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like.” Friends and fans could once again be found in force in her comments, with another round of love and support being sent her way, and words of encouragement shared throughout. “This is a lot. This is a lot to take on, still again. And I am wishing for all the wise peace you have learned to find you in the terror moments. To know we are holding you. Love. All love,” fellow actress Selma Blair wrote. As actress Sarah Michelle Gellar put it, “you are a warrior”. “I send you love, strength and lighting thoughts. If I only could fight for you too, or just, take your hands and spread my strength through your soul,” a fan said. “I’m not gonna tell you that you are a warrior, you already knows that and you may think ‘I have to. What other choice do I have?’ “But trust me, you are remarkable. I worked on oncology service for years and never seen someone with stage four, fighting like you do. You have all my admiration and support. As always.” Images: Instagram

Caring

Billy Joel in tears over career announcement

American singer and ‘Piano Man’ Billy Joel is set to conclude his “extraordinary” Madison Square Garden residency with his 150th lifetime show. Joel, MSG CEO James Dolan, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams were at a press conference at the venue when the announcement was made, with Dolan taking to the stage to share that the first of the star’s final ten concert will take place in October 2023, with the final one scheduled for July 2024. "What Billy Joel has accomplished is extraordinary," Dolan said. "Although the residency is coming to an end, we look forward to an exciting closing run to celebrate all that you have accomplished and forever welcoming you back home to the garden anytime, anytime you like." An MSG Entertainment representative went on to discuss Joel’s time at the venue - with the singer having headlined over 60 times more than any other artist, and having sold more than 1.6 million tickets - before a video tribute was played in his honour, prompting another round of tears from him. In the wake of the announcement, Joel went on to offer his own words, telling the crowd, “Madison Square Garden is more than just our office, it's our home. "I'm kinda flabbergasted it lasted as long as it did. "It's hard to end – even 150 lifetime shows, but as I said, we're not abandoning New York, we're just spending a bit more time someplace else.” Reportedly, Joel’s team had advised him that the show could have gone on, but he had reached the decision that it was time to bring it to a close. “It keeps selling, people keep coming, people keep buying tickets,” he said, “[but] I'm now 74, seems like a nice number to just [say] 'okay'.” And as Mayor Adams went on to share, Joel’s music wasn’t going anywhere, even if the residency was moving on. "There's only one thing that's more New York than Billy Joel – and that's a Billy Joel concert at MSG," he said. "For more than 50 years, Billy's music has defined our city and brought us together. “On behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, congratulations, Billy, on a historic run of sold-out shows at MSG, and thank you for a lifetime of bringing joy to us all." When the news broke on social media, fans were sad to know the performances would be over, but wasted no time in congratulating him for a job well done, and thanking him for sharing his music with the world. “All good things must come to a end,” one wrote, “congratulations on this amazing run and thank you for some special memories”. “OMG I hope to see one of your shows by then,” another shared. “You give great concerts. That final performance there will be such a heartfelt sadness for all your fans who just love hearing and seeing you perform. Billy Joel, you are amazing and loved.” And as one other told the beloved Piano Man, “incredible! Congratulations and thank you for sharing your beautiful creativity with us. You've entertained, soothed and made us think. All the best!!” Images: Getty

Robert Irwin left in tears after birthday video from his dad appears

Robert Irwin has been left in tears after he received a birthday video message from his late father, Steve Irwin. He was just two years old when his father passed away after he was stung by a stingray in 2006 at the age of just 44. Robert recently celebrated his 19th birthday but now a video has resurfaced of the Crocodile Hunter discussing Robert's birth and his hopes that Robert would follow in his footsteps. The birthday boy was surprised with the video in which it showed footage of his birth in 2003. “At that very moment I saw the light,” Steve said, in a voiceover about Robert’s birth. “This is why I was put here,” he said of his children. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nYGMAY9eRHo?start=287" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> “Because I could be dead tomorrow. “So I need these blokes to come up as quick as they can, so this little bloke’s (Robert) going to have to catch the crocs with Bindi. “When they’re ready to run up our mission, I will gladly step aside.” Steve then says that it would be the “proudest moment of my life” if his children were to continue his legacy. The video then cuts to show Robert fulfilling his father's dream as he performed shows in the Crocoseum and saving crocodiles in the wild. “Then and only then will I know that I have achieved my ultimate goal and my job will be done. And I guarantee you it will be the proudest moment of my life,” a voiceover of Steve plays at the same time. When the clip ended, Robert shed a few tears and said it was a “privilege” to continue his dad’s legacy in making the world a better place. “It means the absolute world... I just think it's such a privilege, personally and as a family, to continue the legacy of dad,” he said. “He gave his life, quite literally, for wildlife conservation and to make the world a better place.” Image: YouTube

Family & Pets

"They weren't real tears": Damning testimony at Melissa Caddick inquest

One of the first police officers to interview Melissa Caddick’s husband has said he was acting extremely strangely and, when seen crying, wasn’t shedding “real tears”. Sergeant Trent Riley told the inquest into Caddick’s death of Anthony Koletti’s behaviour after he reported her missing 28 hours after he says she left their <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/property/real-estate/melissa-caddick-s-husband-ordered-to-vacate-15-million-mansion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dover Heights home</a>. Louise Coleman, the junior counsel assisting, asked whether Sergeant Riley believed Koletti’s behaviour “was extremely strange and unusual”, to which he said, “Yes”. “I thought it was strange a husband would ring the police station, report his wife missing two days later and wasn't prepared to come to the police station,” Sergeant Riley said. “Or didn't really want police to go around and see him (because) he had too much work on that day.” Since the inquest began on Monday, it has been heard that Koletti impersonated Caddick the day after she went missing and falsely told friends he was with her at home. Koletti cancelled an appointment with their cleaner via text using his wife’s phone and lied to Caddick’s brother Adam Grimley and friend Scott Little in text messages, telling them he was home with her when he hadn’t actually seen her that day. Coleman asked Sergeant Riley about the text message sent to the cleaner, which he described as strange. “I did think it was strange,” he said. “(He) contacted her closest friends but hadn’t let them know she was missing?” Coleman asked. “He did. Very strange,” Sergeant Riley said. The part-time hairdresser and DJ reported that his wife was missing on November 30, just over a day after he said she left the house to go for a walk or a run. The inquest heard on Wednesday that Sergeant Riley’s suspicions prompted him to visit Koletti at the couple’s home in the eastern suburbs, with his body-cam footage played before the court. “You can’t be too careful these days,” Koletti can be heard saying while unlocking one of the doors. In the cellar, Koletti points out that Caddick “hasn’t even taken any grog”. On the upstairs deck, where the Harbour Bridge could be seen in the background, Sergeant Riley mentioned that it was a good spot for New Year’s Eve. “I was looking forward to New Year's Eve, but I don't know now. It doesn't mean anything when you don't have the love of your life,” Koletti responds. “Did you go anywhere last night?” Sergeant Riley asks again. “Not that I know of,” Mr Koletti says. Sergeant Riley repeatedly says he doesn’t believe Koletti is telling him the complete truth. “Like I said before I think there's something you're not telling me,” Sergeant Riley says. “I told you if something comes up I will tell you ... I've been on this for a long time now,” Koletti responds. Solicitor Judy Swan, who is representing Koletti, pointed out to the sergeant that her client began to cry at the end of the search and interview. “They weren't real tears in my opinion ... I'm very confident they weren't real tears,” Sergeant Riley said. He noted that Koletti gave him two different versions of the last time he saw Caddick, first telling police that he wasn’t worried about his wife and hadn’t left home at all and later saying he had spent the day searching above the ocean near The Gap. “(He says) he didn't think she was missing but he was checking the cliffs around Rodney Reserve all day,” Coleman said. “Extremely strange,” Sergeant Riley responded. The officer, who was unaware that the couple’s home had been raided by the Australian Federal Police and Australian Securities and Investments Commission on November 11, added that he was bewildered by Koletti’s ability to describe the clothes his wife was wearing when she left the house, despite not seeing her leave. The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan continues. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Dogs cry ‘happy tears’ when reunited with their favourite humans

Along with frenzied tail-wagging and plenty of face licks, new research suggests that dogs can even shed tears when they’re happy to see you. Takefumi Kikusui, a researcher in the school of veterinary medicine at Japan’s Azabu University, first observed the phenomenon six years ago while watching his poodle nurse her puppies, when he noticed there were tears in her eyes. “That gave me the idea that oxytocin might increase tears,” he said. Oxytocin is known as the maternal or “love hormone”, Kikusui explained, with previous research finding that the hormone is released in both dogs and their owners when they interact. To test their teary theory, Kikusui and his colleagues decided to run an experiment where they reunited dogs with their familiar humans, as well as with strangers, and measured the volume of tears in the dogs’ eyes before and after. Publishing their findings in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.031" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Current Biology</a>, the scientists found that tear volume increased when the pooches returned to their favourite humans, but not with a person they didn’t know. In a second experiment, the team added oxytocin to the dogs’ eyes to see whether there was a connection to the tears. With the tear volume also going up after oxytocin was added, they concluded that it was proof that oxytocin plays a role in tear production when dogs interact with their owners. Surprisingly, when they asked people to rate dog faces with and without tears, people gave more positive responses to photos of teary-eyed pups, suggesting that tear production in dogs also helps them and their owners forge stronger connections. “We had never heard of the discovery that animals shed tears in joyful situations, such as reuniting with their owners, and we were all excited that this would be a world first!” Kikusui said. Having found that dogs produce tears in situations we’d consider ‘happy’, future work will look to see how teary they get in response to negative emotions and whether being teary plays a social role in how dogs interact with each other. “Dogs have become a partner of humans, and we can form bonds,” Kikusui said. “In this process, it is possible that the dogs that show teary eyes during interaction with the owner would be cared for by the owner more.” Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Writer's hilarious yet emotional obituary for her mother brings the internet to tears

A writer has brought the internet to tears over her hilarious yet poignant obituary for her late mother. Caity Weaver, a journalist for the New York Times, posted the heartfelt tribute to her late mother, Dr. Maureen Brennan-Weaver, who passed away on June 14th in her hometown in Pennsylvania. Caity's post has since gone viral, in which she described her late mother as "riotously funny" and "pathologically generous". In the tribute to her mother, Caity described her amazing ability to find a good deal and how she would use this skill to treat her loved ones. "Maureen was six-foot and loved strays of all species," Caity wrote. "She could outthink any opponent, was riotously funny and pathologically generous." "If you mentioned a thing you liked, she'd get you 11 when she found them at a great price." "Maureen's true joys were helping people, and anyone anywhere saving money. She briefly employed a skilled housekeeper but found her a more lucrative job." "She clipped coupons for diapers and left them in the grocery store baby aisle. Decades ago, she acquired a huge box of toothbrushes for pennies on the dollar and has kept her family in toothbrushes ever since." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Got the worst news I’ve ever gotten last week. My mom and I made each other cry laughing all the time. I hate to think about all the deals she’s going to miss out on. I hope she guides me to the best sales forever. <a href="https://t.co/dZoWdIu86C">pic.twitter.com/dZoWdIu86C</a> — Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) <a href="https://twitter.com/caityweaver/status/1539735766863069190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote> Caity spoke of her mother's fearlessness, saying, "Maureen had a cackle that crashed through rooms. She died before discovering what, if anything, she was afraid of." In the obit, which has been retweeted more than 32,000 times, the writer joked that her mum's death "shocked all who loved her" since she was "ahead of schedule for the first time in her life." She added that Maureen is remembered by her husband of 33 years, John, who she provided "selfless care" throughout his "prolonged infirmity." Caity went on to explain that Maureen, who worked as a podiatrist, was "treasured" by her patients, who often "showered her with homemade treats." "Dr. Brennan-Weaver could not stop herself from buying shoes for patients if she spotted just what they needed while shopping. She categorically did not do house calls, except for patients she 'really liked'." Caity concluded the tribute with an emotional statement about her mother, saying, "No amount of time with the astonishing Maureen would have been enough for her family and friends, though she gave us enough toothbrushes and memories to last several lifetimes. Oh, how we loved her!" Many users were moved by Caity's tribute to her mother, with readers saying it made them "laugh and cry at the same time". One person praised her obituary and offered condolences, saying, "I’m sorry for your loss, but it seems we are to be the beneficiary of a number of her fine qualities for some years to come." Another person said, "I can only dream of writing a tribute like this, that captures someone’s exuberance and boundless generosity. I’m so sorry for your loss. She sounds simply wonderful." Image credits: Twitter

Caring

"There were a lot of happy tears": New cancer drug smashes expectations

A new cancer drug has returned phenomenal results after curing almost every patient in the trial phase. Dostarlimab, a monoclonal antibody drug which produces white blood cells, had already been approved to treat endometrial cancer in the UK. The cost of Dostarlimab sits at $11,000 (A$15,200) per 500mg dose in the US and has been given to 100 advanced endometrial cancer patients every year. It was used in the hopes that patients could avoid invasive surgery as well as chemotherapy. A trial conducted by New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was looking into whether the drug is effective against rectal cancer tumours. The trial proved to be a success where all 18 patients went into remission and no cancer was found. “Our message is: Get tested if you have rectal cancer to see if the tumour is MMRd,” lead author of the paper Dr Luis Diaz said. “No matter what stage the cancer is, we have a trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that may help you.” The researchers explained that no patients had received prior chemoradiotherapy or undergone surgery. “The results enabled us to omit both chemoradiotherapy and surgery and to proceed with observation alone,” they said. “The implications for quality of life are substantial, especially among patients in whom standard treatment would affect childbearing potential.” Dr Andrea Cercek said there were “a lot of happy tears” when patients were told about the success of the drug. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Tennis player’s violent act leaves little boy in tears

A little boy was left startled and in tears after a Romanian tennis player’s racquet ended up in the crowd at the French Open on Thursday. Irina-Camelia Begu was 2-0 down in the third set of her second round match when she threw her racquet against a water box, according to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18697836/french-open-controversy-begu-child-throwing-racket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>. However, the racquet bounced violently off the box and into the stands, leaving the young boy distraught and startled. Though the World No. 63 wasn’t defaulted, she did receive a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct after a tournament supervisor was consulted. Ms Begu later apologised to the little boy in question, posing for a photo with him and his parents. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/GnTbQ4w31V">pic.twitter.com/GnTbQ4w31V</a> — Sharapova Family (@MySugarpova) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySugarpova/status/1529794311487107073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></blockquote> “It’s an embarrassing moment for me. I just want to apologise,” Ms Begu said. “In my whole career I haven’t done something like this and I feel really bad and sorry. Sorry for the incident. “It was a difficult moment because I didn’t want to hit that racquet. “You hit the clay with the racquet but you never expect to fly that much.” Ekaterina Alexandrova, who Ms Bega went on to defeat 6-7 6-3 6-4 in that match, said she was “disappointed” to leave the competition “like that”. “I was trying to do my best but seems like the rules were against me,” she said. “This shouldn’t be happening. “I hope after today’s match rules will be improved for everyone’s safety. We are responsible for our racquet.” Journalists and viewers of the match quickly took to social media to question how Ms Begu avoided disqualification over the incident. “Folks, why are we still allowing this?” the New York Times’ Ben Rothenberg tweeted. “Begu didn’t throw the racquet especially hard but the consequences of her action shouldn’t be shrugged off by officials.” Photographer Ella Ling wrote: “I was there (I’m in that shot). Absolutely beggars belief how she was allowed to continue playing. Horrible.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Video: obviously it wasn’t intentional but I just can’t see how this is not a default. Kid started crying, mom and dad were concerned. A mess. <a href="https://t.co/ljQlkYckwu">https://t.co/ljQlkYckwu</a> — José Morgado (@josemorgado) <a href="https://twitter.com/josemorgado/status/1529793948507688962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></blockquote> The incident comes after Russian Andrey Rublev also escaped major punishment earlier on in the French Open after he slammed a ball in anger and it rebounded, flying past a tournament court assistant. “Seeing the Begu incident and Rublev incident from the other day, tennis officials really need to step up their game,” former world double No. 1 Rennae Stubbs said. “I think both should have been defaults. “We MUST start making players accountable for stupid decisions and those were both stupid decisions and could have been a lot worse.” Image: Getty Images

News

The Queen moved to tears in emotional Jubilee moment

In an emotional display, Queen Elizabeth has been moved to tears at a Platinum Jubilee celebration. In the finale at Her Majesty's Official Platinum Jubilee Celebration A Gallop Through History, the Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise drove Prince Philip's carriage through the performance. The Queen, along with her companion for the night Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, were both seen wiping away tears at the heartwarming family display. Lady Louise shared her grandfather's love of carriage driving and following his death in 2021, he left her his carriage and two horses. Carriage driving was one of Prince Philip's favourite past-times, with the late royal often racing carriages near Norfolk and represented Britain at several world and European championships. At the age of 91 he had a carriage made to his specifications, using dark green materials, aluminium and steel. This is the beloved carriage he left to Lady Louise and that she drove during the celebration. Since her grandfather's death, Lady Louise has been seen driving the carriage in Windsor and participating in events including the British Indoor Carriage Driving Championships in April. The Commonwealth and the four nations of the United Kingdom were be celebrated, while there were military and equestrian displays from around the world including Azerbaijan, India, Oman, France, Norway, Switzerland, and Trinidad and Tobago. Over 500 horses and 1,000 performers took part in the event which will be broadcast on ITV in the UK and the Seven Network on May 20th in Australia. Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Groom moved to tears by step-daughter's emotional declaration

A 12-year-old girl has found a way to make her mother's wedding all the more special. Just moments before her mother, Tia, was set to marry her soon-to-be husband Frank, 12-year-old Aryanna stepped onto the altar for a touching declaration. While all the guests knew what Aryanna had in store, the groom was the only one who was in the dark about what the girl was planning. When handing him an envelope, Aryanna said, “I’ve waited 2,555 days for this moment. Frank, will you be my dad?” Tyson teared up after hearing the question, immediately saying yes before embracing Aryanna into a hug. The significance of the 2,555 days is because that's the length of time Aryanna felt Tyson was already her father, having spent that number of days with her mum, Tia. In a video that was shared after the nuptials, the officiant of the ceremony said, “It was always a joke that Aryanna was going to get Frank’s last name before Tia.” Tyson also shared his feelings on the moment in a confessional style video after the wedding, explaining, “When she came up to the altar, I thought I knew what was about to happen and then as she started talking obviously I knew.” “It was an amazing feeling. When she started reading her note and it all clicked, I just pretty much became speechless,” Tyson said, before reflecting on what the future holds. “The most I’m looking forward to is just her being her. Her being the social butterfly and becoming into a woman and who she is and just being herself: a strong, independent woman, is what I love most and just being a successful person.” Tia, Frank and Aryanna are now waiting on a court date to make their new family official. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VLqObqwVNPg" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credits: NBC

Relationships

Putin’s allies in tears over sanctions impacting luxury homes

A Russian TV host has complained about sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union and how they are impacting his various luxury properties in Italy. Vladimir Soloviev was angered to tears as he discussed the restrictions, and how he was now facing the loss of his two luxury villas in Lake Como: a popular location for Hollywood’s elite. The TV host, who is known for strident attacks on the West, flew into a passionate rage as he debated Italy’s property rights. “I was told that Europe is a citadel of rights, that everything is permitted, that’s what they said … I know from personal experience about the so-called ‘sacred property rights’,’’ he said. During Friday’s program of The Evening With Vladimir Soloviev, he complained, “I bought it, paid a crazy amount of taxes, I did everything. And suddenly someone makes a decision that this journalist is now on the list of sanctions.” “And right away it affects your real estate. Wait a minute. But you told us that Europe has sacred property rights!” A disgusted Soloviev said of the sanctions, “All of a sudden, now they say: ‘Are you Russian? Then we will close your bank account, if it’s in Europe. And if it’s in England, you’re allowed to keep no more than a certain amount there. Why? Because you’re Russian.” Following Soloviev’s on-air spat, hundreds of people flocked to Twitter to express their disgust at his rant, noting that people were dying while he was only concerned about his holiday home. As he concluded his rant, Soloviev looked at his watch before looking at the television camera and saying, “Is Trump coming back yet?” Image credits: Russia-1 / Getty Images

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Dogs cry ‘happy tears’ when reunited with their favourite humans

Writer's hilarious yet emotional obituary for her mother brings the internet to tears

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Tennis player’s violent act leaves little boy in tears

The Queen moved to tears in emotional Jubilee moment

Groom moved to tears by step-daughter's emotional declaration

Putin’s allies in tears over sanctions impacting luxury homes

News

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Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

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Information

Keep up to date

Search

Sam Neill moved to tears by simple question

Gold medallist breaks down in tears over her late father's note

The touching reason a King's Guard burst into tears

$2 billion lotto win tears family apart

"Reduced me to tears": King Charles' candid admission

Christina Applegate's Emmy’s appearance moves audience to tears

"32 years of safe landings": Pilot's surprise speech reduces passengers to tears

The Remembrance Day moment that brought King Charles to tears

"Tears in my eyes": King's Guard breaks protocol for photo with young royal fan

“My fear is obvious”: Shannen Doherty’s tearful health update

Billy Joel in tears over career announcement

Robert Irwin left in tears after birthday video from his dad appears

"They weren't real tears": Damning testimony at Melissa Caddick inquest

Dogs cry ‘happy tears’ when reunited with their favourite humans

Writer's hilarious yet emotional obituary for her mother brings the internet to tears

﻿﻿"There were a lot of happy tears": New cancer drug smashes expectations

Tennis player’s violent act leaves little boy in tears

The Queen moved to tears in emotional Jubilee moment

Groom moved to tears by step-daughter's emotional declaration

Putin’s allies in tears over sanctions impacting luxury homes

"There were a lot of happy tears": New cancer drug smashes expectations