Search

Astonishing drug and prostitute claims surface as Lehrmann case reopened

<p>The ongoing defamation case involving Bruce Lehrmann, a central figure in the Brittany Higgins saga, has been thrust back into the spotlight with shocking new allegations.</p> <p>The reopening of the case stems from claims made by former Seven Network producer Taylor Auerbach, which seek to shed light on a series of dealings surrounding Lehrmann's interactions with various media outlets.</p> <p>The allegations put forth by Auerbach paint an astonishing picture of Lehrmann's recruitment by Seven Network for an exclusive tell-all interview. It's alleged that Lehrmann, in a bid to secure his cooperation, was lavishly reimbursed for expenses that included not only extravagant meals and travel but also expenditures on illicit drugs and prostitutes.</p> <p>The details emerged through affidavits filed by Auerbach with the Federal Court, just days before a judgment was expected in Lehrmann's defamation case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson. The case originated from a February 2021 report on <em>The Project</em>, where Brittany Higgins accused Lehrmann of rape within a Parliament House office in 2019.</p> <p>According to Auerbach's affidavits, Lehrmann breached a so-called Harman undertaking by leaking private and confidential texts from Higgins to Seven Network, violating an agreement that restricted the use of evidence from an abandoned criminal case against him. These texts allegedly facilitated Lehrmann's negotiations with Seven Network and formed a crucial part of his interview on the <em>Spotlight</em> program.</p> <p>The allegations take a darker turn with claims of financial reimbursement for illicit activities. Auerbach asserts that Seven Network reimbursed Lehrmann for expenses related to drug purchases and visits to brothels, implicating the network in what can only be described as deeply troubling conduct.</p> <p>"I recall that monies paid by (Lehrmann) for illicit drugs and prostitutes that evening at the Meriton and the following evening at a brothel in Surry Hills were reimbursed to (Lehrmann) by Seven," Auerbach states in his affidavit, according to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/lehrmann-defamation-case-reopened-evidence-163000287.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a>.</p> <p>The reopening of Lehrmann's defamation case underscores the gravity of these allegations and their potential implications. Justice Michael Lee's decision to admit fresh evidence indicates the seriousness with which the court regards these claims and the need for a thorough examination of the facts.</p> <p>In response to these allegations, both Lehrmann and Seven Network have vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Lehrmann maintains his innocence, asserting that he did not leak texts to Seven Network and denying any involvement in the misconduct alleged by Auerbach. Seven Network, for its part, denies authorising or condoning the alleged payments to Lehrmann and says that any unauthorised expenses were promptly rectified.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

"Miracles do exist": Astonishing return of missing teen after four years

<p>An American teenager has been found after she went missing four years ago, when she walked into a police station and asked to be taken off the missing children list. </p> <p>Alicia Navarro, who is now 18, walked into a police station in a small town in Montana, close to the Canadian border, and identified herself as the teenager who was reported missing in September 2019. </p> <p>“Alicia Navarro has been located,” Glendale public safety communications manager Jose Santiago said during a press conference.</p> <p>“She is by all accounts, safe, she is by all accounts healthy and she is by all accounts happy.”</p> <p>The teenager reportedly left her home willingly four years ago when she was 14-years-old, leaving her parents a note when she disappeared from her house overnight on September 15th 2019. </p> <p>Alicia, who has been described as a high-functioning autistic person, left a handwritten note for her parents that read, “I ran away. I will be back. I swear. I’m sorry,” before she slipped out of the house while they slept. </p> <p>Her parents then didn't hear from her for four years, until they were contacted by the Glendale Police Department to let them know their child had been found. </p> <p>Alicia had an emotional reunion with her mum, who never stopped looking for her, as she was very apologetic over the pain her mother went through not knowing where she was for the past four years or even if she was still alive. </p> <p>Her mom, Jessica Nuñez, called the discovery of her daughter four years after her disappearance a miracle in a video she posted to Facebook.</p> <p>“For everyone who has missing loved ones, I want you to use this case as an example,” she said. “Miracles do exist. Never lose hope and always fight.”</p> <p>Nuñez said she doesn’t have details on her daughter’s disappearance but said “the important thing is that she is alive.”</p> <p>Glendale police are now investigating how the teenager got to Montana, and how she has survived over the last four years by herself. </p> <p>Alicia told police that no one has harmed her and appeared to be healthy, while the girl currently remains in Montana and is able to come and go as she pleases and has asked for privacy so she can move on with her life. </p> <p>“We can only imagine what she’s going through, mentally, emotionally, as well as her family, and as much as we’d like to say this is the end, this is probably only the beginning of where this investigation will go,” Glendale PD Lt. Scott Waite said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Fox 10</em></p> <div class="media image portrait" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 338.492645px; float: right; margin-left: 14.099264px; margin-bottom: 24px; max-width: 100%;"> </div>

Mind

Astonishing report identifies Covid’s alleged “patient zero”

<p>A bombshell report has claimed the infamous Covid-19 "patient zero” was a Wuhan scientist carrying out experiments on souped-up coronaviruses.</p> <p>The scientist in question, Ben Hu, was conducting risky tests at the Wuhan Institute of Virology with two colleagues, Ping You and Yan Zhu, the report states.</p> <p>It is understood that all three suffered Covid-like symptoms and required hospital care weeks before China broke the news of the virus outbreak to the rest of the world.</p> <p><em>The Sun</em> reported that the name of “patient zero" has never been disclosed until now.</p> <p>Many US government officials have now identified the three scientists in a shocking report by journalists Michael Shellenberger and Matt Taibbi.</p> <p>Writing in the Substack newsletter <em>Public</em>, the pair alleged the scientists were experimenting with coronaviruses when they fell ill in 2019.</p> <p>Several experts and intelligence officials have long suspected scientists at the lab accidentally spread the virus during so-called “gain of function” experiments on bat coronaviruses.</p> <p>The naming of “patient zero” could prove to be the smoking gun, only adding to mounting circumstantial evidence of a lab leak.</p> <p>It is unclear who in the US government had the intelligence about the sick lab workers, how long they had it, and why it was not shared with the public.</p> <p><em>The Australian</em> journalist and <em>Sky News</em> host Sharri Markson spoke to <em>The Sun</em> about the lab leak theory in 2021 and dubbed it an “explosive development”.</p> <p>Jamie Metzl, a former member of the World Health Organisation advisory committee on human genome editing, described it as a possible “game changer”.</p> <p>“It’s a game changer if it can be proven that Hu got sick with Covid before anyone else,” he said.</p> <p>“That would be the ‘smoking gun’. Hu was the lead hands-on researcher in (virologist Shi Zhengli’s) lab.”</p> <p>DRASTIC, an international team of scientists and sleuths attempting to piece together Covid-19’s origins, researched the three scientists in 2021.</p> <p>The Wuhan Institute of Virology’s website lists Hu’s biography showing he was working as an assistant researcher.</p> <p>He was said to be the “star pupil” of virologist Shi Zhengli — the virologist at the lab who became known as “batwoman” for her research on bat coronaviruses.</p> <p>Markson, the author of <em>What Really Happened in Wuhan</em>, said that Hu was running a state-funded project in 2019 to test if new coronaviruses could infect humans.</p> <p>The study involved souping up the viruses and experimenting with them on humanised mice.</p> <p>However, the results were never published and the study’s existence was erased from the internet as Covid-19 was spreading around the globe, which raised suspicion of a possible lab leak.</p> <p>A source told <em>The Sun</em> that footage from 2017 that was aired by Chinese state-run TV showed Hu working in the lab without protective gear.</p> <p>The same video shows scientists from the Wuhan lab searching for bat viruses with inadequate protective gear.</p> <p>Alina Chan, a molecular biologist at MIT and Harvard, told <em>Public</em>, “Ben Hu is essentially the next Shi Zhengli.</p> <p>“He was her star pupil. He had been making chimeric SARS-like viruses and testing these in humanised mice.</p> <p>“If I had to guess who would be doing this risky virus research and most at risk of getting accidentally infected, it would be him.”</p> <p>She noted, “If this info had been made public in May of 2020, I doubt that many in the scientific community and the media would have spent the last three years raving about a raccoon dog or pangolin in a wet market.”</p> <p>US scientist Dr Steven Quay, “He was always my first choice for one of the infected Wuhan Institute of Virology workers but it seemed too simple.”</p> <p>A bill signed by US President Joe Biden in 2023 called for the release of the names of the sick scientists, their symptoms, and whether they had been involved with or exposed to coronavirus research.</p> <p>The US is currently preparing to release previously classified material, which could include the names of the three Wuhan scientists.</p> <p>Earlier in 2023, FBI director Christopher Wray said, “the FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan”.</p> <p>China has long been accused of attempting to cover up or distort its involvement with Covid-19, but they continue to deny claims.</p> <p>In March 2023, China’s former government scientist confessed the Wuhan lab leak theory shouldn’t be ruled out, sparking uproar in Beijing.</p> <p>Professor George Gao, the former chief of China’s Centre for Disease Control, played a key role in the efforts to trace the origins of Covid-19, insisting scientists should “suspect anything”.</p> <p>Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 podcast <em>Fever: The Hunt for Covid’s Origin</em>, Professor Gao said, “You can always suspect anything. That’s science.</p> <p>“Don’t rule out anything.”</p> <p>Professor Gao retired from the CDC in 2022 after playing a key role in the pandemic response and efforts to find the mysterious origin of the virus.</p> <p>He would have had access to highly classified government information on the outbreak of Covid-19.</p> <p>According to Professor Gao, a formal investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology was carried out by a government department.</p> <p>The government scientist claimed the “lab was double-checked by the experts in the field”.</p> <p>Investigators believe scientists were working with the Chinese military to develop a mutant virus and pursue bioweapons just as the pandemic began.</p> <p>The findings followed a team of US investigators who combed through top-secret intercepted communications and research.</p> <p>In 2016, researchers discovered a new fatal type of coronavirus in a mineshaft in Mojiang, Yunnan province.</p> <p>However, they kept it under wraps, with the sample then transported to the Wuhan lab and dubbed as classified work.</p> <p>The virus is the only known immediate relative of Covid-19 known to exist prior to the pandemic.</p> <p>Speaking to<em> The Times</em>, one US investigator said, “The trail of papers starts to go dark.</p> <p>“That’s exactly when the classified program kicked off.</p> <p>“My view is that the reason it was covered up was due to military secrecy related to the army’s pursuit of dual-use capabilities in virological biological weapons and vaccines.”</p> <p>The findings came after a scientist who worked closely with the Wuhan lab claimed the virus was genetically engineered and leaked from the facility.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Body

Astonishing new wax figure of Queen Camilla Consort unveiled

<p>A new tribute to King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla has been unveiled in London ahead of the highly-anticipated coronation.</p> <p>As the Queen Consort prepares for a crowning of her own, Madame Tussauds London has created a wax figure of the 75-year-old wearing a tiara, gown and sash.</p> <p>The statue was first shown on April 27, ahead of being displayed beside one of King Charles’ waxworks.</p> <p>Queen Camilla’s wax figure shows her in a midnight blue dress, made by one of her favourite designers, Anna Valentine, and decked with a royal blue sash and star of the Order of the Garter.</p> <p>The royal is also seen in a replica of the late Queen’s Belgian sapphire tiara and matching George VI sapphire necklace.</p> <p>The necklace was a wedding gift from her father, King George VI when she married Prince Philip in 1947.</p> <p>The Queen Consort was seen in the Belgian tiara at the first state banquet of King Charles’ reign, where they hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at Buckingham Palace in November 2022.</p> <p>Both the royal’s Art Deco engagement ring and Welsh gold wedding band are seen on the figure.</p> <p>"Whilst for many people this will be their first experience of a coronation, the Coronation of King Charles III will be the eighth that Madame Tussauds London has celebrated," General Manager Tim Waters said.</p> <p>"We're incredibly proud of our centuries long link with The Palace and what better way to mark the official start of this new chapter in the history of the British Monarchy than with the creation of our brand new soon-to-be Queen Camilla to stand alongside her husband, The King."</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Art

Home and Away star shares astonishing 10kg transformation

<p><em>Home and Away</em>’s Matt Evans has stunned fans and followers after sharing the results of his eight-week body transformation on social media.</p> <p>The 26-year-old actor - best known for his work as Theo Poulos on the hit soap - posted two side-by-side snaps, apparently taken just two months apart, of his body at two different stages in his fitness journey.</p> <p>The location was the same in both, with Evans standing in Bonds underwear in front of a door in both, with only the lighting - harsher in the ‘after’ pic - and Evans’ muscle mass and body weight changing.</p> <p>“8 WEEK CHALLENGE RESULTS,” he captioned the image, before thanking his trainer, Harris Barclay.</p> <p>“I did a massive bulk last year which then lasted through christmas and it was the first time I had ever weighed 90kgs in my life. I am now back at 80kgs where I like to sit.”</p> <p>Evans went on to explain that his trainer had helped him come up with both a diet and training plan, and then revealed the key element that they had dropped from his regime, with Evans telling followers that it “DID NOT involve cardio.</p> <p>“I just went for an occasional walk if I wanted to be more active. Harris made the diet easy to follow and all you have to do is eat the food and show up to the gym. The training program was catered to my needs with weight training. Harris also checks in fortnightly to keep you on track and is just a downright good bloke.”</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/CprfXTBvYFQ/?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/CprfXTBvYFQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Matt Evans (@thisismattevans)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Evans’ friends, fans, and fellow Channel 7 personalities were primed to celebrate his progress in his comments section, with many declaring that his “hard work paid off”.</p> <p>“Well done mate,” wrote Seven’s Sam Mac, who had recently undergone his own intense body transformation, “now, can I just borrow a couple of those abs. Don’t be greedy.”</p> <p>“Bloody hell mate well done!” said <em>Home and Away’</em>s Kirsty Marillier.</p> <p>“Looked good before and looks good after!” one fan declared.</p> <p>“Well done!! Phenomenal results,” stylist Donny Galella praised.</p> <p>“You should be proud,” another said on TikTok, where Evans had posted his ‘8 week shred results’ in video format, “all the hard work pays off.”</p> <p> </p> <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important; width: 620.262px; max-width: 100%;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7210308452218932481&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thisismattevans%2Fvideo%2F7210308452218932481&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FociBnEnnI8AcQoBEQBDQEKEfBeCvbRQQkxVEgD%3Fx-expires%3D1680595200%26x-signature%3DUDQ2Y1sY0ji5sKmGAxwXeCnw%252Bes%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Body

Inside Gwyneth Paltrow's astonishing "forever home"

<p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff"> Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has invited fans to see inside her new “forever home” in Montecito, California after five years of extensive renovations.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">The Oscar-winning actress took <a style="background: transparent;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline" href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-gwyneth-paltrows-tranquil-montecito-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline">Architectural Digest</em></a> on a 12-minute tour through her home, with boasts including a “show-stopping” living room, and a spa with its own $30,000 shower system, hot tub and plunge pool, which Paltrow says is essential for “good circulation”.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;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/CZff1GuPoSy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"><div style="padding: 16px"><div style="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="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="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="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;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"> </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"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"><div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"> </div></div></div><div style="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"><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/CZff1GuPoSy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Gwyneth Paltrow (@gwynethpaltrow)</a></p></div></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Paltrow, who started wellness brand Goop, <a style="background: transparent;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10469515/Inside-Gwyneth-Paltrows-luxurious-home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> purchased the home with her TV producer husband Brad Falchuk for almost $5 million in 2016 and undertook extensive renovations on the property.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Multiple times during the tour, Paltrow references how the home was inspired by her time living in the UK, when she was married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin, as well as her experiences in Europe.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“I think having spent so much time as an expat in Europe and really falling in love with Georgian proportions and those kinds of details, I really wanted the entryway to feel like its own special room,” she told the publication while showing off the room in question.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“And so with the architects we conceived of having a fireplace, which is something you see a lot in Europe in an entryway, and just gives this really nice feeling of warmth and welcome as you come in.”</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">The entryway is styled with white panelled walls, a white fireplace, black double doors with gold handles and panelled glass that lead outside, slender plants in white pots, and black-and-white checkerboard tiles.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“The tiles remind us, as I said, of my time living in London, and just a detail that’s classic and traditional.”</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Next, Paltrow gives fans a look at her favourite room in the house, her powder room, which features a “hand-done antiqued mirror” and hand-painted wallpaper.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“It makes me feel very grown-up when I pee in here,” she joked.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">After that, Paltrow headed to the dining room, where she revealed that she enlisted her friend of 20 years, interior designer Brigette Romanek, to help furnish the home.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Hinting at some light friction between them, she recalled how they “fought” over the futuristic light fitting in the ceiling.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“I can’t decide if it looks like a grasshopper or lily pads or something,” she said. “It’s a little futuristic for me.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“Bridget and I, I wanna say we fought but… there was definitely some friction and then we landed on it being pretty cool and fabulous.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“There’s something also a bit <em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline">Star Trek</em> about it, but I’ve grown to really love it.”</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">In the kitchen, which features reclaimed Portuguese tiles, Paltrow explained how it was important to have an open-plan design so she could cook and talk to her children, Apple Martin, 17, and Moses Martin, 15.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">She admitted that her inspiration for the fluting effect on the plaster above the kitchen fireplace also came from Pinterest, which contrasts in style to other areas of the home, such as the marble bar, a swing sofa seat, and lights inspired by the band Guns N’ Roses in the living room.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">Despite the varied styles throughout, with even the flooring changing between rooms, Paltrow has embraced it, saying “it’s such a nice way to offer a distinct personality to a room”.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">As for one of the final rooms, the living room, Paltrow described it as a “showstopper” and “bonkers in the best way”.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">“I can’t believe this is our home. It’s so fun.”</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">As well as offering a look into her home, Paltrow is due to feature on the cover of <em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline">Architectural Digest</em>’s March issue.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff">For the full experience, see Paltrow’s video tour below.</p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline;color: #323338;font-family: Roboto, Arial;background-color: #ffffff"><em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline">Image: <span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline">@gywnethpaltow (Instagram)</span></em></p>

Real Estate

"Astonishing": First edition Harry Potter fetches record price

<p>A rare copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has been sold for $109,000 at auction.</p> <p>The book is one of only 500 hardback first editions printed and was sold by a retired British ex-pat from Luxembourg.</p> <p>Auctioneer Jim Spencer said as the price climbed, it was "astonishing" to watch.</p> <p>The vendor wants to remain anonymous said that he bought the book for his children around 18 months after it was first published in June 1997.</p> <p>He said he was "absolutely delighted" with the sale.</p> <p>"The Harry Potter books are truly iconic - in the very top tier of literature for children - and this first edition can only increase in value in the future," he said.</p> <p>The vendor admitted he planned to use money from the sale to pay off his daughter's student loans.</p> <p>The book was identified as a first edition as it has a duplication of the phrase '1 wand' on page 53 and an issue number of "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1".</p> <p>The final bid for the book came from a private international buyer who was bidding by phone.</p> <p>Mr Spencer said it was the highest price paid at auction for a copy of the book.</p> <p>"I'm absolutely thrilled the book achieved such an outstanding price for our vendor," he said.</p>

Books

Hide and seek killer's astonishing excuse for murder

<p><span>A US woman faces a second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing her partner by zipping him up in a suitcase as she filmed herself taunting him.</span></p> <p><span>Sarah Boone, 42, was arrested on Tuesday over the death of her boyfriend Jorge Torres Jr, 42, who was found dead in an Orlando home on Monday afternoon. </span></p> <p><span>According to court records, Boone told investigators she and Torres had been playing a game of hide-and-seek while drinking during the night. She said she zipped Torres into the suitcase before heading upstairs and passing out.</span></p> <p><span>She said she woke up later and realised her boyfriend was still in the bag, where she found him unresponsive, according to the records. She called 911, and emergency responders who arrived at the home confirmed Torres had died.</span></p> <p><span>Boone gave consent to let investigators search her cell phone, on which they found two videos recorded the previous evening.</span></p> <p><span>In one of the clips, Boone can allegedly be seen taunting her boyfriend as he yells from inside the suitcase and tells her he can’t breathe.</span></p> <p><span>“Yeah, that’s what you do when you choke me,” said Boone in the two-minute video, according to court records.</span></p> <p><span>“That’s on you. Oh, that’s what I feel like when you cheat on me.”</span></p> <p><span>Investigators said another clip shows the suitcase in a different position with Torres calling out for Boone.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Arrested: Sarah Boone, 42, for Second Degree Murder in the death of 42-year-old Jorge Torres Jr., who died after Boone zipped him into a suitcase, and didn’t return for hours. <a href="https://t.co/JCHWG7WNkp">pic.twitter.com/JCHWG7WNkp</a></p> — Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrangeCoSheriff/status/1232479493001859072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><span>Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/florida-boyfriend-killed-zipped-suitcase">wrote</a>, “Jorge begged Sarah repeatedly telling her he could not breathe and Sarah left him in the suitcase.</span></p> <p><span>“[This] therefore proves the unlawful killing of Jorge by Sarah’s actions that were imminently dangerous and demonstrated a depraved mind without regard for Jorge’s life.”</span></p>

Travel Trouble

Left on the tracks: Brisbane girl hit by New York subway now suing after astonishing claim

<p>A Brisbane woman who had to have both legs amputated after a freak accident in the New York City subway plans on suing the city for negligence – claiming she was hit by two consecutive trains.</p> <p>Visaya Hoffie has filed a petition at Manhattan Supreme Court as she hopes to obtain video footage, photos and witness accounts from the night she fell onto the tracks of the 14 St PATH station last month.</p> <p>The 23-year-old dealt with a broken back, multiple head wounds and severe cuts and bruises. She also lost both her legs after being run over by seven carriages.</p> <p>In an affidavit obtained by the<span> </span><em>New York Post</em>, Miss Hoffie says she was hit twice after being left on the tracks for a long period of time.</p> <p>“After the first train left the station after running me over, I was left on the tracks for another considerable period of time … until a second P.A.T.H. train came along and hit me again,” reads the document.</p> <p>She also finds it hard to believe that the train operator didn’t see her, as she was wearing brightly coloured clothing and fell in a well-lit area.</p> <p>Miss Hoffie then said that she will be bed-ridden in hospital for the “foreseeable future” due to the tragic accident.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8FNQXJlaX9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8FNQXJlaX9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Wearing the top that saved my life. Terribly missing my sister @wayanpreston</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/vissyhoffe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Vissy</a> (@vissyhoffe) on Feb 2, 2020 at 2:31pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Earlier reports stated that the Australian did not get hit by a second train due to her bright pink top that caught the conductor’s eye.</p> <p>Her mother Pat Hoffie took to social media to share a photo of her daughter, taken shortly before the incident occurred, wearing the shirt that she said spared her from being hit a second time.</p> <p>“This image of her [Visaya] was taken hours before the accident,” she wrote in a Facebook post.</p> <p>“The bright pink colour of her top is what alerted the engine driver of the second train to the fact that someone was lying across the track.</p> <p>“When the first train had rolled across her unconscious body twenty minutes earlier, her black puffy jacket and black jeans had made her invisible to the driver.</p> <p>“In the words of the investigating police, ‘it’s a miracle she survived.’ Please pray that she continues to survive and to heal and to come home.”</p>

Legal

Ash Barty's astonishing bushfire pledge

<p>Many of Australia’s sporting heroes have pledged to donate to the Australian bushfire appeal over the past week, including Nick Kyrgios, Chris Lynn and Peter Siddle.</p> <p>But it was French Open champion Ash Barty that offered the most hefty donation of all.</p> <p>Barty will donate her entire prize money from next week’s Brisbane International to the Red Cross Fire Appeal. Which means she will ultimately be working for free.</p> <p>Barty will donate AU$360,000 if she ends up winning the tournament which takes place before the highly-anticipated Australian Open.</p> <p>Her competition is Maria Sharapova and world No. 3 Naomi Osaka, who took home the prize at last year’s Australian Open.</p> <p>Speaking in Brisbane on Sunday, Barty said she wanted to donate to the families who have been left with nothing after the bushfires.</p> <p>“Wildlife has been lost but it has also affected lives and homes so I have been sitting down and thinking with my team and family on ways we can help,” said Barty.</p> <p>“There have been really great initiatives from cricketers, tennis players, golfers, soccer players all over the country trying to help out.</p> <p>“We have come to the decision any of my prize money here in Brisbane will be donated to the (Australian) Red Cross to go towards the families and homes affected.”</p> <p>The selfless gesture comes right after Barty contributed $30,000 late last year to the RSPCA to help wildlife affected by the national disaster.</p> <p>“The first time I saw of it was flying home from the Fed Cup final (in November) from Perth back to the east coast,” said Barty.</p> <p>“We could see the smoke haze and some of the fires from the plane, so that really hit home with me.”</p>

Money & Banking

Fifi Box returns to work with an “astonishing” twist

<p>Radio host Fifi Box has received praises from fellow mums after returning to the airwaves while tending to motherly duties at the same time.</p> <p>The 42-year-old returned to her Fox FM Melbourne breakfast show <em>Fifi, Fev & Byron</em> on Monday morning after giving birth to second daughter Daisy Belle Box in June.</p> <p>During a segment, the mother-of-two – who was working from home – told her co-hosts Brendan Fevola and Byron Cooke that she needed to be excused for a moment.</p> <p>“Hang on guys, continue the conversation without me. I’ll be back in a second,” Box said.</p> <p>She came back with Daisy in her arms and began breastfeeding her daughter, before carrying on with the show.</p> <p>“It’s a mother’s right to do that. Daisy is very hungry obviously, starving,” Cooke said.</p> <p>Box later posted a video of the segment on Instagram with the caption: “Multi-tasking at work involves breastfeeding.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/B2dml9OgDuf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/B2dml9OgDuf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Fifi Box (@fifi_box)</a> on Sep 15, 2019 at 11:48pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The video has gained more than 68,000 views, with mothers commending Box’s “amazing” move.</p> <p>“Fifi Box, you astonishing creature! Keeping an infant alive, quiet, fed and happy AND performing on breakfast radio, all on about two minutes sleep,” wrote Zoe Foster Blake.</p> <p>“You’re amazing Fifi. Working mothers are amazing,” another added.</p> <p>Others also praised Fox for supporting Box in her work following the pregnancy.</p> <p>“I’ve seen this three times now and think it’s brilliant, you work with two super men, you are a trooper and well done to Fox for being such a flexible employer, so many companies could learn from this 2 minute video. I salute you Fifi,” one commented.</p> <p>“What a fabulous team and workplace culture,” one wrote.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2cxw6WA0JO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2cxw6WA0JO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Fifi Box (@fifi_box)</a> on Sep 15, 2019 at 4:05pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>On Wednesday, Box said she was “overwhelmed” by the supportive messages.</p> <p>“I’ve been so lucky because everyone here at Fox, including you two, have been so supportive and making this so easy for me,” she told Cooke and Fevola.</p> <p>“I wanted to thank all the people that wrote messages of support and in particular what I was interested in was how people were so amazed at how great Fox was.”</p> <p>Box said she was saddened to hear stories from other mothers who had not received the same support from their workplaces. “It got me thinking, I feel for women particularly who work at companies or who have jobs where they’re not necessarily supported,” she said.</p>

Caring

6 astonishing facts about America

<p>Thought you knew a thing or two about the USA? Think again: your mind is about to be red, white, and blown.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see 6 cool facts about America.</p>

Art

World astonished over devastating Queensland floods: "Never seen anything like it"

<p>With intense rain and flash flooding causing devastation to Townsville and other parts of North Queensland for 11 days, it’s not looking like the weather is going to ease up.</p> <p>With potentially thousands of homes underwater and bridges and roads disappearing due to high flood waters, many residents are trapped in their homes or have been forced to evacuate.</p> <p>As the change in weather is unexpected, this is causing many of our natural wildlife to seek refuge from the floods. This includes crocodiles and snakes.</p> <p>Many residents have reported seeing crocodiles swimming where they shouldn’t be and have seen others wandering up the street.</p> <p>The unexpected new neighbours have caught the attention of the world, with ABC News in the US uploading a video of a crocodile climbing a tree.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">"That's unreal!"<br /><br />A crocodile is seen climbing a tree in Townsville, Queensland to escape raging floodwaters. Crocodile warnings have been issued in the Australian city amid "unprecedented" levels of flooding. <a href="https://t.co/5Jf0tep9uH">https://t.co/5Jf0tep9uH</a> <a href="https://t.co/xu7c4K641P">pic.twitter.com/xu7c4K641P</a></p> — ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1092590961010585602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">5 February 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Many have expressed shock, with one commenter saying, “This is just part of life in Queensland, that’s what makes us so great.” He also urged people to visit Australia.</p> <p>Authorities have been sending out daily warnings urging Queenslanders to stay out of the floodwaters.</p> <p>“Playing in flood waters is extremely dangerous, not just because of the unpredictable nature of the water itself, but also because what may lie beneath the surface,” police said in a statement earlier this week.</p> <p>“Crocodiles have been reported in flood waters in parts of Townsville, and there can also be snakes and other wildlife present.”</p> <p>Those affected by the floodwaters have taken to Instagram to showcase the devastation.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the devastation the floods in Queensland have caused. </p> <p>Do you know someone who has been affected by the floods? Let us know in the comments.</p>

Travel Trouble

Serena Williams’ mum steals the show after astonishing reaction

<p>Serena Williams’ triumph against World no. 1 Simona Halep may have sent the audiences cheering, but not her mother.</p> <p>Williams’ mum Oracene Price has gone viral on the internet for her reaction, or lack thereof, to Williams’ 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory at Rod Laver Arena on Monday night at the Australian Open.</p> <p>The 66-year-old could be seen unflinching as the stadium erupted around her when her daughter sealed the winning point.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Serena’s Mum: care factor zero <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/RmRtRE1P6W">pic.twitter.com/RmRtRE1P6W</a></p> — Tish (@oztish) <a href="https://twitter.com/oztish/status/1087293546359447554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">21 January 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">She has seen it all. Nothing new.</p> — Miss B (@BuyiswaDyantyi2) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuyiswaDyantyi2/status/1087294303100125184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">21 January 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Price’s refusal to join in on the standing ovation was captured in the post-match on-court interview with Channel 9’s Sam Smith.</p> <p>“Serena, just look at the reaction on this arena. Everyone is on their feet,” said Smith as the big screen showed a shot of Price sitting still.</p> <p>Many fans poked fun at Price’s reaction, saying she must have expected nothing less from the 23-time grand slam champion.</p> <p>Williams praised Halep in the post-match interview. </p> <p>“It was a really intense match and there were some incredible points,” said the 37-year-old.</p> <p>“I really needed to elevate my game, she’s the number one player in the world and there’s a reason why.”</p> <p>With the triumph, only 16 months after giving birth to her first daughter Olympia, Williams secured her 50th Grand Slam quarterfinal. </p> <p>She is set to face Karolína Plíšková on Wednesday night.</p>

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Ada Nicodemou reveals astonishing weight loss in bikini magazine cover

<p><em>Home and Away</em> star Ada Nicodemou has revealed the results of an eight-week diet and exercise plan that’s helped her become the fittest she’s ever been in her life.</p> <p>The 41-year-old showed off her abs and lean physique in a bikini in the latest issue of <strong> <a href="https://www.who.com.au/" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Who</span></em></a></strong>.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/BkzWitmAUbv/" target="_blank">A post shared by Ada Nicodemou (@adanicodemou)</a> on Jul 4, 2018 at 1:04am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The actress achieved her new figure by working out at least five times a week with boyfriend Adam Rigby and following a strict “Keto Diet” – which meant Nicodemou cut out carbs, fruit and alcohol and replaced them with meats, fats and vegetables.</p> <p>Nicodemou had the<em> Who </em>shoot booked at the end of her health kick, and although she dropped 5kg to hit 47kg by the time she posed for the pictures, she didn’t focus on weight loss.</p> <p>Her goal was to replace body fat with muscle for strength and toning.</p> <p>“I’m so proud of myself,” she told <em>Who</em>. </p> <p>“I’ve got the best body I’ve ever had, but I’ve worked really hard and it wasn’t easy.”</p> <p>On Instagram the star wrote: “A ton of hard work, self-discipline around diet and alcohol and belief can get you amazing results regardless of how old you are! A huge thank you to @fitmejones for going above and beyond and Adam for supporting me along the way, and sorry for being grumpy when I was tired and craving carbs.”</p> <p>Now, that she has reached the end goal of her strict diet, Nicodemou admitted that she will relax her diet and adopt a 80/20 approach to treating herself.</p> <p>“Life is to be enjoyed,” she told <em>Who</em>.</p> <p>Nicodemou is mum to her 5-year-old son Johnas, with her ex-husband Chrys Xipolitas.</p> <p>In 2014, the couple also suffered a stillbirth son, Harrison.</p> <p>Now, Nicodemou is eighteen-months into her relationship with Rigby, she said she has “made a decision to be happy”.</p> <p>“I’m choosing to enjoy my life a lot more.”</p>

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