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David Hasselhoff's daughter opens up after her mother's passing

<p>The entertainment world continues to mourn the tragic loss of actress Pamela Bach, who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/baywatch-actress-passes-away-aged-61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away earlier this month</a> at the age of 61. Her body was discovered at her Los Angeles home by her youngest daughter, Hayley Hasselhoff. Now, her eldest daughter, Taylor Hasselhoff-Fiore, has opened up about the profound grief she is experiencing.</p> <p>"I'd do anything in the world to hug you again, my forever angel," Hasselhoff-Fiore, 34, shared in a heartfelt Instagram tribute. "You are my best friend, my whole heart, my everything."</p> <p>Accompanying her emotional words was a video reel featuring cherished moments with her mother, including family trips, dinners and birthday celebrations. Hasselhoff-Fiore vowed to keep her mother's memory alive, promising that her daughter, London, would grow up knowing "how incredible you are". </p> <p>"I promise to make you proud & celebrate you every day," she continued. "Mama I love you so much, the pain is unbearable, but I will be strong for you & hold onto your memory until we meet again my beautiful."</p> <p>Bach, who was previously married to David Hasselhoff for 16 years, passed away in early March. Following the heartbreaking news, David Hasselhoff's team released a statement on behalf of the family.</p> <p>"Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff," the statement read. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time."</p> <p>Bach, an actress best known for her roles in <em>Knight Rider</em> and <em>Baywatch</em>, shared a deep love for her granddaughter London. In a Christmas video she posted on Instagram, she captured special moments with London, reflecting on the joy the little girl brought into her life. In an earlier post, she expressed her adoration for her granddaughter: "I Never Knew a LOVE like THIS ♥️‼️ It's Powerful, Pure, Unconditional LOVE I Have Deep in my Soul and Being as I do for my Precious and Perfect GrandDaughter 🧧 London Hasselhoff Fiore 🎀."</p> <p>Her final interaction on social media was a simple but poignant comment on Hayley Hasselhoff's Instagram post, where she left a heart-eyed emoji, just hours before her passing.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Charlie Teo settles civil suit with family of deceased mother

<p>Renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has reached a settlement in a civil case brought by the family of a late Western Australian mother, Ebony Thurston, who underwent brain cancer surgery in 2018.</p> <p>The case, heard in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, was initiated by widower Aran Thurston and his three children, who sought damages for mental harm allegedly caused by Dr Teo’s advice and the outcome of the operation.</p> <p>The plaintiffs argued that the risks associated with the surgery were "understated" and that Ms Thurston, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma on the brain stem in September 2018, never fully recovered before passing away in April 2019. Justice David Davies stated in court that the family claimed Dr Teo “owed each of the plaintiffs a duty to exercise reasonable care and skill” in his treatment, ensuring no psychiatric harm would be inflicted upon them.</p> <p>Court documents alleged that Dr Teo discouraged Ms Thurston from pursuing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, providing "unrealistic" expectations regarding the benefits of surgery. The family asserted that the operation offered "no realistic potential benefit" to her health and ultimately led to a rapid deterioration in her condition, severely impacting her quality of life in her final months.</p> <p>A fundraising page set up for Ms Thurston in 2018 stated that she underwent surgery in Sydney on October 24 of that year, with 95% of her tumour reportedly removed. However, her health continued to decline following the procedure.</p> <p>The lawsuit, initiated in May 2024, was settled early in the legal process. Mr Thurston and his adult daughter agreed to the settlement, and the two younger children followed suit soon after. While the details of the settlements remain confidential, court documents show that family members had sought over $200,000 each in damages. Justice Davies approved the terms for the third and fourth plaintiffs, commending all parties for reaching an early resolution, which he said would allow the younger plaintiffs to "move on with their lives".</p> <p>Dr Teo did not file a defence in the proceedings due to the swift settlements. Justice Davies clarified that this should not be seen as an admission of fault.</p> <p>The high-profile surgeon has been a contentious figure in the medical community. In 2023, he was found guilty of unsatisfactory medical conduct by the Health Care Complaints Commission, which imposed conditions on his registration. He is now required to obtain written support from another specialist before performing certain procedures in Australia to "protect the health and safety of the public".</p> <p>Since the restrictions on his practice in Australia, Dr Teo has continued to operate internationally, performing surgeries in China, Spain, Germany, India and Brazil, with some Australian patients traveling overseas for his treatment.</p> <p>The settlement of this case marks another chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of Dr Teo’s medical practices and the impact of his surgical interventions.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

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Beauty pageant queen dies after horrific car crash

<p>American beauty pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen has died at the age of 18 after a horrific head-on car crash. </p> <p>According to multiple US outlets, Fredericksen, who was named Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA, tragically died on February 17 following a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer while driving on a Florida highway.</p> <p>The sudden death of the Miss Teen USA title holder was confirmed in a heartbreaking post on The Miss Florida USA Instagram account, saying "our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul" and noting she "was a true light in this world".</p> <p>The Miss Florida USA organisation wrote in their Instagram post underneath a black and white shot of the pageant queen: "It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the passing of one of our beloved delegates, Kadance Fredericksen, Miss Okaloosa County."</p> <p>"Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul – one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters."</p> <p>They added in part of the post, "May we honour her memory by carrying forward the light she so effortlessly shared with the world and our Florida pageant community. Forever our Queen 🙏🕊️."</p> <p>Her pageant coach Michelle Watts told <em>WKRG</em> following her death, "Even though she passed away at 18 years old, literally, her life story and her life start song still sings."</p> <p>"She is going to have such a legacy behind her."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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More details shared in search for missing young mother

<p>As the desperate search for Tayla Spies, a young mum who has been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/desperate-search-for-missing-young-mother" target="_blank" rel="noopener">missing in western Queensland</a> for almost two weeks continues, police have released CCTV footage in hopes of helping locate her.</p> <p>The 29-year-old mum was last seen leaving  a hotel in Dalby about 8am on Sunday February 2.</p> <p>“We have grave concerns about the health and safety of Tayla,” Detective Chief Inspector Garry Watts told the <em>ABC</em>.</p> <p>“She had a birthday just recently, she didn’t make any contact with family, which is really out of character.”</p> <p>Tayla turned 29 just six days after she went missing. </p> <p>CCTV footage showed her carrying a large bag into her her white Toyota HiLux, before she travelled towards Surat, a small town in the state's south west. </p> <p>Her vehicle, with the plate number 559 GJ7 and a distinctive black bumper bar and blacked-out wheels, was seen at the intersection of Burrowes Street and Cordelia Street in Surat at 11.10am.</p> <p>Tayla was last seen wearing a fluorescent pink long sleeve shirt and light-coloured shorts, according to police.</p> <p>However, in a social media update, her sister Rebecca said she might now be wearing different clothes. </p> <p>“She did end up changing into a white shirt with purple writing on it and a Mimco shoulder bag in the afternoon on Sunday,” she wrote.</p> <p>Her family have also appealed to the public for any information on the missing mum. </p> <p>“Please, if anyone has seen Tayla or her car, report it asap! We just want to know she’s okay and safe!”</p> <p>Police are urging anyone who was travelling between Dalby, Surat and surrounding areas, between the hours of 10.30am and 12.30pm on Sunday February 2, to check their dashcam footage. </p> <p><em>Image: Queensland Police Service/ Yahoo</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Mother's shock admission after storming bully's classroom

<p>The mother who made headlines after <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/mother-breaks-silence-after-confronting-daughter-s-bully" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storming</a> into her daughter's classroom to confront her bully has revealed the extent of the mental torment she was receiving at school. </p> <p>Speaking to Kyle and Jackie O about the ordeal, the distraught mother said she was at her wits end when her daughter stopped eating and was having suicidal thoughts. </p> <p>“Our daughter was bullied immensely, probably for over 12 months,” she explained, detailing how alarm bells rang when she looked through her daughter’s bag.</p> <p>“She stopped eating, I would find mouldy sandwiches in her bag."</p> <p>“She had come home and she fell into my arms on the floor and said ‘mum, I cannot do this anymore, what is the point of living?’”</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFuJ_C2vn2W/?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/reel/DFuJ_C2vn2W/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The mother also claimed that prior to her classroom tirade, she had gone through “the right channels” but hadn’t received any help</p> <p>"We did everything. We spoke to the principal, and the teacher didn't even give me the time of day."</p> <p>Henderson was shocked by the mother’s admission.</p> <p>“Oh my god, as a mum, I can only imagine what you thought,” she said.</p> <p>“It is disgusting that they didn’t do anything for you.”</p> <p>“She would go from a beautiful 13-year-old girl to nothing,” the devastated mum said.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Sandilands backed the mother, “You did what you’re supposed to do, you protected your child”.</p> <p>Sandilands then took aim at the eSafety Commissioner who he claimed KIIS FM had invited on air to discuss bullying, saying, “The e-commissioner will not come on and talk to us about it, that’s her only job.”</p> <p>Speaking to <em>7News</em> after the incident, the woman admitted her actions were wrong, but insisted she was standing up for her daughter.</p> <p>“I don’t want my daughter to be another statistic. I don’t want to have to bury my child,” the mother said.</p> <p>“She was crying, she was devastated that this child told her to go and hang herself."</p> <p>“That is a breaking point for any parent … I went into survival mode, and protective mode. I did let loose, unfortunately was a side, I don’t show very often. But that was a tipping point for that day.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Beloved mother killed in lightning strike

<p>A beloved mother has tragically died after a tree exploded following a lightning strike in New South Wales on Saturday. </p> <p>Rosanna Hashem was enjoying the afternoon in her backyard with a friend when a lightning bolt struck a tree close to her home in Cawdor, south-west of Sydney.</p> <p>Her friend was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, while Rosanna died at the scene after being pierced with wood shrapnel from the tree's explosion.</p> <p>Jemma Powell, who worked for Hashem for the past seven months, described the incident as "really tragic".</p> <p>"I was blessed to have known her for a short time," she said.</p> <p>"She was a beautiful mother of four boys, a loving wife, sole owner of her own business. She had been working hard over the past five years serving the community."</p> <p>"She was very passionate about animal welfare and just a fabulous person taken way too soon."</p> <p>Jemma has set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-rosanna-hashem?attribution_id=sl:89b17ce0-c2ad-4077-a9f9-bfcf49afa0f2&lang=en_AU&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> in the wake of Rosanna's sudden death, saying she will always be remembered as "a beautiful mother of four boys (and a) loving wife".</p> <p>"Rose was not only the heart and foundation of The Groomery but also a beloved mother of four boys, a devoted wife, a cherished sister, and a dear friend to so many," the GoFundMe reads.</p> <p>"Over the past five years, she and her team poured their hearts into building a warm and trusted community, and her absence leaves an immeasurable void. Rose’s care, laughter, and kindness brought people together, creating a family - one that will forever carry her memory forward."</p> <p>NSW Ambulance spokesman David Kynaston last night said the second woman, also aged in her 40s, was taken to Liverpool Hospital where she remains in a serious but stable condition.</p> <p>"Both (women) had been seated about six metres from a large tree and this had been struck by a lightning bolt, which literally caused the tree to explode, sending debris all over the place," Kynaston said.</p> <p>"This was a freak... traumatic and tragic incident for the family involved but also very confronting for emergency services."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Desperate search for missing young mother

<p>A young mother has disappeared in rural Queensland, prompting her worried friends and family to issue a public plea for information. </p> <p>Tayla Spies, 28, was travelling between Surat and Roma, in the state’s southwest, when she went missing on Sunday.</p> <p>She was last seen about 11:30am about 30km north of Surat in a white Toyota Hilux dual cab ute.</p> <p>Tayla was wearing a white shirt emblazoned with purple writing and also had a white Mimco shoulder bag when she was last seen.</p> <p>She is known to frequent areas such as Roma, Surat, Dalby, Toowoomba, Condamine, Meandarra, and Cecil Plains.</p> <p>Worried family and friends have pleaded for help from the public to locate her.</p> <p>“If anyone of my friends have seen my sister or heard from her in the past week, please get in touch with the Roma Police or myself,’ her sister Rebecca wrote on social media.</p> <p>“Or even if you see a Toyota Hilux that matches this description around the area."</p> <p>“Every little bit of information will help us.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Queen Mary releases new portrait for 53rd birthday

<p>Queen Mary of Denmark has celebrated her 53rd birthday with the release of a new portrait.</p> <p>The Danish Royal Household shared the photo on Instagram with the caption:  "Her Majesty the Queen has a birthday and is turning 53 today 🇩🇰 Because of the birthday, a new portrait of the Queen is published."</p> <p>The Australian-born royal looked stunning in the photo, wearing a simple white long-sleeve top and pink floral lace skirt. She wore her hair down and accessorised with two fold Cartier bracelets, a pair of drop earrings and her diamond and ruby wedding ring. </p> <p>The Cartier bracelets are believed to be gifts from her husband King Frederik in previous years.</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/DFro8zYMAtm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFro8zYMAtm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰 (@detdanskekongehus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The picture was taken in the couple's home, Frederik VIII's Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen. </p> <p>Royal fans took to the comments to share their birthday wishes, with one person writing: "53?! Must be a mistake. She looks like someone in her 30s max. Eh congratulations on that Mary." </p> <p>Another commented: "As beautiful as ever! Have a wonderful day Queen Mary! From Melbourne, Australia!" </p> <p>A third wrote: "The most beautiful Queen!"</p> <p>"What a beautiful portrait!!! 🥰 big congratulations on your birthday to our beautiful and amazing Majesty, Queen Mary," a fourth added. </p> <p>"Happy birthday to her majesty the queen. I am proud that we have such a strong and beautiful queen," another person commented.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram/  Steen Evald via Danish Royal Household</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Mother breaks silence after confronting daughter's bully

<p>A mother in Adelaide who stormed into her daughter's classroom to confront her bully has explained her intense actions, saying she was at her "wits end".</p> <p>The mother, who is 20 weeks pregnant, has apologised after she walked into her daughter's classroom at St Paul's College in Gillies Plains, north-east Adelaide, on Monday, where she launched into an expletive-ridden tirade at her daughter's bully. </p> <p>The mother told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/news/sa/mother-of-adelaide-bullying-victim-speaks-out-after-angry-st-pauls-college-spray-caught-on-social-media--c-17621578" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seven News</a></em> that she and her husband had pleaded with the school to intervene in her daughter's alleged bullying, but said that fell on deaf ears.</p> <p>"I don't want my daughter to be another statistic. I don't want to have to bury my child," she said. "She was crying, she was devastated that this child told her to go and hang herself."</p> <p>The mother said she only took aim at the child after exhausting all other proper options to stop the bullying. </p> <p>"I did everything in my power as a parent, and so did my husband, to make sure our daughter was safe," she said.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFrqj2xgQpb/?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/reel/DFrqj2xgQpb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 7NEWS Adelaide (@7newsadelaide)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"I have stated time and time again to the school that we are begging. We begged for help. We begged."</p> <p>The mother admits that she was in the wrong on Monday and has since apologised, saying, "What everybody has seen of me is not who I am as a mother or as a person."</p> <p>Footage of the incident made headlines after the incident, which shows the woman being restrained by two men, one of which is believed to be her husband, as she verbally lashed the school child. </p> <p>"You ever f******* mess with my daughter again, I'll slit you f******* throat," she screamed at the 12-year-old. "You want to f******* go b***h? You want to f****** go? You ever f******* talk to my daughter again."</p> <p>"I'm your f****** nightmare b***h… I'll slit your f****** throat. I'll be waiting for you."</p> <p>The woman delivered one more barb as she was ushered out of the classroom, screaming, "And that smart little f*** over there, yeah, you know you're just jealous because you're a **** ****."</p> <p>St John's College principal Patrick Harmer tried to assure parents that the matter was being handled, explaining that a police investigation is underway. </p> <p>"The college remains committed to its duty of care for all students and staff," he wrote. "We provide an environment where the safety and wellbeing of all is our highest priority. We will continue to ensure the best possible support for our students and staff during this time."</p> <p>South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas weighed in to the controversy, condemning the mother's conduct as "indefensible" and "mind-boggling".</p> <p>"I don't know what the circumstances were that led the parent to say those things, but whatever they were, they do not condone or justify those remarks in any circumstance whatsoever," he said on Wednesday. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Seven News</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Mum dies on daughter's birthday after common party trick turned deadly

<p>A mother has tragically died after inhaling helium from a balloon while setting up for hr daughter's first birthday party. </p> <p>Faith Waterman Batistich, from Te Puke in New Zealand, died in a matter of seconds after inhaling helium while setting up for the party with her family in 2022.</p> <p>Professor Timothy Schmidt, Head of the School of Chemistry at UNSW, told <em><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/warning-after-mum-dies-at-daughters-birthday-from-common-party-trick-gone-instantly-051159229.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a></em> that any gas mixture that does not contain oxygen can be fatal if inhaled, and issued a strong warning about partaking in the party trick. </p> <p>"Helium is dangerous to inhale because it replaces the oxygen rich air in our lungs and rapidly leads to loss of oxygen from the body. This condition is known as hypoxia and can be fatal," he said. "Breathing pure nitrogen would be just as dangerous."</p> <p>Faith's family and friends were all laughing and taking turns inhaling the helium from the balloons, when one person suggested they breathe it in directly from the canister, Faith’s twin sister Eden Waterman told the New Zealand Herald.</p> <p>As the 20-year-old went to inhale, someone else turned up the flow on the canister.</p> <p>"It went too fast and kind of shot her in the back of the neck. Her last words were literally, 'Oh s***' and she dropped," Eden recalled.</p> <p>"I was just, like, in shock. I kind of just froze and it was like, 'what the f***, what am I seeing? Like, is this for real?' I thought she was putting it on at the start."</p> <p>She added that Faith "went blue" and was "gone instantly".</p> <p>Despite the efforts of the family and paramedics, Faith was unable to be revived.</p> <p>Professor Schmidt said helium is not considered a dangerous chemical, but it is likely most people are unaware of the risks when inhaling it.</p> <p>"It is used in diving tanks and in medicine. Helium is what we call a noble gas (or inert gas). It does not form chemical compounds or react chemically with the body," he said.</p> <p>"I had never heard of anyone dying from helium inhalation until now, so I would say that the dangers are definitely not well-known. I have done it… and never considered that I might replace all the O2 in my body with helium."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Queen guitarist Brian May recovering from health scare

<p>Sir Brian May's wife, Anita Dobson, has given an update on his health, following his minor stroke last September. </p> <p>The Queen guitarist, revealed that he had lost control over his arm after the minor stroke, with his wife saying that the health scare had reminded her that "life is precious". </p> <p>“Brian is stable now”, she told <em>The Sun </em>newspaper.</p> <p>“The start of the year has been up and down. We both had the flu but we took the kids to Lapland, 15 of them," the actress, who has been married to the musician for almost 25 years, added. </p> <p>She also said that he had "never been happier" since they had moved from London to the countryside. </p> <p>“To see what it has done to Brian... he loves it. He loves the birds and the animals”, she said.</p> <p>“He feeds all the birds and the badgers, foxes and pheasants. It’s like running a pub for animals.”</p> <p>In another social media post, Sir Brian had previously said the health scare had been “a little scary” but praised the “fantastic care” he received from Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. </p> <p>At the time he was "grounded" after being advised not to drive, fly or do any activity which would send his heart rate too high.</p> <p>Sir Brian and his family have since been “spending time at home” and “taking each day as it comes”.</p> <p>“It makes you realise that at any minute it could be you. You don’t have to necessarily be old, it could be anyone”, Dobson said. </p> <p>“You think you are fit; you see these people who run marathons and then at a young age they are gone.</p> <p>“You have to live every day as if it was your last. It’s not easy to do that.</p> <p>“You forget and think ‘I’ve got another week’ and it’s all booked up.</p> <p>"You have to be aware that life is precious, and with life changing so fast we are all on a bit of a thin thread, if you like.”</p> <p><em>Image: Maureen McLean/ Shutterstock Editorial </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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"Absolutely horrendous": Mother recalls the moment her daughter was attacked by a dog

<p>A distraught mother has recalled the terrifying moment her four-year-old daughter was mauled at a popular beach. </p> <p>Natalie was on holiday in Western Australia at a beach in Quindalup in the state’s south with her four children when the brutal attack occurred.</p> <p>Recalling the moment to the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/girl-survives-savage-rottweiler-dog-attack-dunsborough/104813116" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>, Natalie said her daughter Lucia was playing with her siblings in knee-deep water when the dog raced towards her, before lunging and taking hold of the little girl’s neck and shoulder.</p> <p>Once latched on, the animal dunked and dragged Lucia underwater and refused to let go. </p> <p>“I ran into the water to try to pull Lucia off,” Natalie told the public broadcaster.</p> <p>“However, the power and the strength of a dog of this breed and size, you’re powerless to do anything.”</p> <p>Natalie said by the time they unlocked the animal’s jaw and released Lucia, she was “bleeding heavily” and “listless”, adding, “Her neck, shoulder and back had big puncture wounds. She wasn’t even crying.”</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE3W9knBB8F/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE3W9knBB8F/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by ABC Perth (@abcperth)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“The ordeal was absolutely horrendous in every way,” she said, adding in an interview with <em><a title="7news.com.au" href="https://7news.com.au/news/mother-shares-dog-beach-warning-after-daughter-mauled-by-rottweiler-at-wa-beach-c-17392886" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="mother-shares-dog-beach-warning-after-daughter-mauled-by-rottweiler-at-wa-beach-c-17392886" data-tgev-label="news" data-tgev-metric="ev">7News</a></em> that the attack was “unprovoked” and “out-of-the-blue”.</p> <p>“He was very big, very strong. There was no way that we could control what was unfolding … your instinct as a mother is to remove your child from that situation, but you couldn’t,” she said.</p> <p>“He wasn’t stopping, he just kept biting her.”</p> <p>A bystander was quick to rush to the child's side and offer help, and while Natalie's eldest child called 000 and informed her mother that an ambulance as at least 30 minutes away, the mother decided to drive her daughter to the hospital herself. </p> <p>Soon after arriving, Lucia was flown to Perth Children’s Hospital and is now on the road to recovery after undergoing several surgeries. </p> <p>“It’s horrible to see your child to go through that. She’s this tiny, innocent little thing, and otherwise so happy,” Natalie said.</p> <p>“It was extremely traumatic, and I don’t want anyone else to go through that.”</p> <p>“She cannot be around our family pet now. She doesn’t want to go to the beach or be around dogs anymore,” Natalie told<a title="www.abc.net.au" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/girl-survives-savage-rottweiler-dog-attack-dunsborough/104813116"> the <em>ABC</em>.</a></p> <p>“That beach is where most of our family holiday memories are. It should be a safe place. It’s going to be a bit of a road to turn it back into that, from a place of fear.”</p> <p>According to local council, the City of Busselton, the attack happened on a beach where dogs are permitted off-lead. The rottweiler has now been “euthanised, and an investigation is currently underway.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Queen Mary's special Aussie Christmas tribute

<p>Queen Mary has revealed her special tribute to her Australia heritage on her family Christmas tree inside the Danish royal residence. </p> <p>The large tree is lavishly decorated with colourful baubles and upon closer inspection, several of them have an extra special connection to the King and Queen.</p> <p>One ornament that has pride of place on the tree is a glass kangaroo, representing Australia where Mary was born in 1972. </p> <p>The royal couple have been using the same ornament for years, as it was first seen on King Frederik and Queen Mary's Christmas tree in a video they shared in 2017.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDuIvJ6s5hX/?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/DDuIvJ6s5hX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰 (@detdanskekongehus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Another personal ornament is that of British rockstar David Bowie as his iconic Ziggy Stardust character.</p> <p>King Frederik has long been a fan of the musician and in 1987, he and his brother Prince Joachim were photographed meeting Bowie backstage at a show in Hamburg.</p> <p>King Frederik and Queen Mary's Christmas display also included an Ib Laursen Christmas Goat decoration, made from straw.</p> <p>The inclusion of the Christmas goat is popular throughout Scandinavia and is believed to date back to the ancient Viking custom of sacrificing goats at the winter solstice to ensure a good year ahead.</p> <p><em>Image credits: The Danish Royal Family - Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Gone too soon": Mother's heartbreaking tribute after son found dead in Bali

<p>A distraught mother has paid tribute to her teenage son who was tragically found dead in a pool while on holiday in Bali. </p> <p>Aston Looker, an 18-year-old model from Sydney, was found unresponsive by an unknown resident in a swimming pool at a residential complex on the popular Indonesian island.</p> <p>While Mr Looker's cause of death has not been released, the teenager's heartbroken mother, Sydney designer Amanda Lennon, paid tribute to her son in an emotional Instagram post.</p> <p>She said she misses her son “every day, every hour, every minute and every second,” and that he is in the “arms of angels now”.</p> <p>“My supermodel son is in heaven we love you forever,” Ms Lennon wrote online. “We love your cheeky personality and amazing looks but most of all you humour."</p> <p>“Your mum will never ever forget you my favourite person in the universe. Aston you are gone too soon and mourning your death that was too soon.” </p> <p>In a statement sent to <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/sydney-teenager-aston-looker-found-dead-in-pool-in-bali/news-story/969d3b237d272ceac62da0127642adf0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Mr Looker’s death, which occurred in August.</p> <p>“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in Bali,” the statement read. “We offer our deepest condolences to the family.”</p> <p>Family friend Victoria Montano posted about the death of Mr Looker, saying the 18-year-old was “one taken too soon”.</p> <p>She wrote in a tribute posted to Instagram, “The juxtaposition of Aston's masculinity and vulnerability was capped off by his mother Amanda’s favourite thing about him. A finely tuned perfectly timed sense of humour. The ability to be witty and humble all at once. Not many could make you laugh like this young man.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

Travel Trouble

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Queen Camilla shares major health update

<p>Queen Camilla has shared details of her health diagnosis, after she was forced to pull out of several key engagements in the last few weeks. </p> <p>During the Qatari royal visit in London, she revealed that her recent chest infection was actually a form of pneumonia.</p> <p>The royal had to miss out on the outdoor events of the state visit as she is suffering from post-viral fatigue. </p> <p>It is understood that her condition was viral, not bacterial, and while she doesn't have pneumonia anymore, doctors have encouraged her to rest and take more time to recover from the fatigue. </p> <p>A royal source told<a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/32081690/queen-camilla-illness-royal-engagements/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em> The Sun</em></a>, "Some days the Queen is on really good form. It's just one of those things. She has lost the coughing but the lingering side of it is bouts of extreme tiredness.</p> <p>"There has to be a degree of flex in the Queen's diary at the moment."</p> <p>The Queen contracted the infection after her and the King’s royal tour of Australia and Samoa in October, and as a result had to pull out of a series of high-profile engagements including Remembrance Day commemorations and the Royal Variety Performance.</p> <p>She also had to cancel  her appearance at the Palace’s reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, hosted by her husband, King Charles, and the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. </p> <p>There was some concern late last month after the royal abruptly cancelled her planned appearance at the Royal Variety Performance, but she has since returned to her duties in a reduced capacity. </p> <p>“Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram/ The Royal Family</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Mother jailed after hiding her baby in a drawer for three years

<p>A mother from Chester in northern England who concealed her baby daughter in a bed drawer for the first three years of her life has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for what authorities described as an extreme case of child neglect.</p> <p>The child, born in March 2020 in a bathtub, was kept secret from the outside world. She was unregistered, had never met another person besides her mother, and spent her formative years confined to a drawer under a bed.</p> <p>“The child had spent much of its life hidden in a bedroom at the address, even sleeping in a drawer under the bed,” police said in a statement.</p> <p>The neglect left the girl severely underdeveloped and malnourished, with untreated medical conditions, including a cleft palate. Authorities only discovered her plight in February 2023, when the mother’s partner heard unusual noises upstairs and found the malnourished child.</p> <p>Social workers and police arrived shortly after, uncovering a scene described as shocking and heartbreaking. A social worker testified in court about finding the child rocking back and forth in the drawer, adding that the mother showed no remorse and treated the situation with indifference.</p> <p>Investigations revealed the mother would occasionally feed the baby “milky Weetabix” with a syringe and change her nappy. “As time went on, the mother went to work and took her other children to school and left the child in the drawer, alone for hours on end,” the Crown Prosecution Service said. “The baby’s growth and physical and mental development was severely impacted by the lack of care, attention and food and the restrictions of a life spent in a drawer.”</p> <p>By the time she was rescued, the nearly three-year-old child could not crawl, walk or talk. Her physical and mental development was likened to that of a 10-month-old. She suffered from dehydration, swollen limbs and poor muscle tone, conditions attributed to the extreme neglect.</p> <p>The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in October to four charges of child cruelty spanning the girl’s life until her rescue. During sentencing at Chester Crown Court, prosecutors detailed the grim life the child endured, noting that she had never celebrated a birthday, Christmas or seen daylight.</p> <p>“This child has never known the joy of a family celebration or simple acts of love,” said Senior Crown Prosecutor Rachel Worthington.</p> <p>The court also heard that the mother claimed she was in an abusive relationship with the child’s father and hid the pregnancy out of fear.</p> <p>Since being placed in care, the child has shown remarkable improvement but faces a long road ahead. She has started interacting with others and undergoing surgeries to address her cleft palate.</p> <p>Detective Constable Rachel Di Nicola expressed hope for the child’s future while condemning the mother’s actions. “The shocking neglect was on an indescribable scale and the suffering the child experienced will impact them for the rest of their life,” she said.</p> <p>“All those involved in the case have been left deeply shocked by what we uncovered, and we have all been amazed by the way the child has recovered since they were discovered, and we hope that this recovery continues.”</p> <p><em>Images: Chester Crown Court</em></p>

Legal

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Robbie Williams reveals mother's devastating diagnosis

<p>Robbie Williams has revealed that his mum, Janet, has been diagnosed with dementia. </p> <p>The 50-year-old singer shared the news during an interview with <em>HELLO!, </em>as he was discussing his upcoming biopic <em>Better Man</em>, set to release on December 26. </p> <p>"My mum's currently got dementia – like my nan in the film – and my dad's got Parkinsons and can't get out of bed. So I'm in a different part of my life right now," he said. </p> <p>This comes four years after Williams first shared the news that his father, Pete Conway, had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. </p> <p>"We've got a lot of family issues right now. My dad has got Parkinson's, my mother-in-law who I love dearly has got a very big illness. We can't get to them. My dad is thousands of miles away," he told <em>The Mirror </em>at the time. </p> <p>His parents have been divorced since 1977, when the singer was just three-years-old. </p> <p><em>Better Man</em> is a semi-biographical film about Williams in which the singer is portrayed as a chimpanzee, to reflect the fact he always felt "less evolved" than other people.</p> <p>It explores his loving relationship with his grandma, and was a way for him to process "the events that happened when I was younger and the events that still carry on".</p> <p><em>Image: Canadian Press/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Queen Mary launches new podcast on loneliness

<p>Queen Mary has launched a new podcast focused on helping the most vulnerable in society. </p> <p>The royal revealed the new venture on Instagram, through her official charity, the Mary Foundation. </p> <p>The three-episode podcast, called the <em>Lonely Youth</em> series, will focus on those experiencing social isolation giving "insight into the nuances of loneliness by mixing professionalism and personal stories from young people".</p> <p>The launch of the podcast follows a landmark survey across Denmark that was conducted in 2023 and found 73 per cent of 16-19-year-olds experience loneliness, regardless of whether they are alone or in the company of others. </p> <p>It also found that 17 per cent  of 16-24-year-olds feel very lonely.</p> <p>The proportion of people in Denmark who experience loneliness has increased dramatically since the first national survey in 2013, which has inspired the Queen of Denmark to take action. </p> <p>"These are heavy numbers that we must do something about," Queen Mary said.</p> <p>"Podcasting is not something that we have much experience with yet at the Mary Foundation, but I hope that you will listen and welcome it," she added.</p> <p>She also said that she was "proud" to be starting the podcast through her own foundation as she is an avid listener of podcasts herself, especially  "when I have to go from one place to another".</p> <p>"Some days I'm in the mood for entertainment, and other days I use it to gain knowledge and new input," she said.</p> <p>The release date of the podcast has yet to be revealed and it is unclear whether the royal herself will speak across the episodes. </p> <p>The podcast will be shared via the Mary Foundation website and other podcast platforms. </p> <p>Queen Mary's foundation focuses on three core areas: bullying and wellbeing, loneliness and domestic violence, and was launched in 2007.</p> <p><em>Images: The Danish Royal Household/Mary Foundation</em></p>

Caring

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Woman horrified after man brings his mother to first date

<p dir="ltr">A woman has been left stunned after her crush invited his mother to infiltrate their first date. </p> <p dir="ltr">The young woman took to Reddit to recall the mortifying moment, and to ask users if she was out of line by leaving the awkward date. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 23-year-old began the story by explaining how she matched with a 25-year-old man, who she referred to as Jake, on the dating app Hinge. </p> <p dir="ltr">She explained that the couple had been “chatting for a few weeks, and he seemed like a solid guy — funny, good taste in music, and even remembered I loved Italian food.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He planned the date at this nice little spot in Dallas, which I thought was sweet,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">She continued, “I show up, and everything's fine at first. He's already there, we hug, and he even complimented my outfit.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“But like five minutes after I sit down, this older woman walks in. Jake stands up, waves her over, and says, ‘This is my mom!’ 'I thought I misheard him for a second.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After he introduced his mother to his date, she pulled up a chair and began asking the 23-year-old a slew of invasive questions. </p> <p dir="ltr">“She sits down at the table, all casual, and starts introducing herself to me like this is normal. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there, trying to figure out if I'm being pranked. I kind of laugh nervously and say, ‘Oh, I didn't know you were bringing anyone,’ and he goes, ‘Oh, she just wanted to meet you. Don't worry—it's not a big deal’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“But it was a big deal because she didn't just stop by to say hi — she ordered wine and stayed. The whole time, she's asking me these personal questions about my job, my family, even if I want kids someday.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“It was like an interview, not a date. Jake barely said anything. He just smiled and kept nodding like this was all normal,” she revealed. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman then shared that after 20 minutes of the awkward encounter, she decided to leave, and texted Jake that same evening to say she didn’t want to go on another date. </p> <p dir="ltr">She said, “I couldn't take it anymore. I said I wasn't feeling great and needed to leave. I texted him later, saying I didn't think it would work out and wished him well.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Although she thought she did the right thing, she began doubting her decision and questioned if she was in the wrong. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 23-year-old concluded the post by asking, '”Now I feel kind of bad. My roommate says I did the right thing because honestly, who brings their mom to a first date? But my coworker said it was rude to just leave and that maybe his mom was just super close to him or nervous for him or whatever. Was I wrong for walking out?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Reddit users flocked to the comments section and ran to her defence as they slammed Jake for bringing his mother along on the date. </p> <p dir="ltr">One person said, “It's absurd that he would bring her. Unless she needs constant supervision due to some health issue. That is a very strange dynamic. You did what most anyone else would have done. Best of luck.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Relationships

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Queen Camilla "heartbroken" by death of rescue dog

<p>Queen Camilla, who is recovering from a chest infection, has had to make the tough decision of putting her beloved pet dog, Beth, down after she was diagnosed with an untreatable tumour. </p> <p>The news was revealed by Buckingham Palace in a message shared to social media, which read:  "A sad farewell to Beth, the Queen's much-loved companion from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire".</p> <p>The 77-year-old royal is said to be "heartbroken" by the loss over the weekend. </p> <p>Beth was rescued by Camilla in 2011, and because she was a rescue, the animal charity was never sure of Beth's age. </p> <p>The royal later adopted another Jack Russell, Bluebell, soon after getting Beth, when she became patron of  Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2017, taking over from the late Queen Elizabeth II.</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/DCg830XISLD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCg830XISLD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Recalling the moment she found Bluebell, the Queen previously told <em>BBC Radio 5 Live</em>: "Along I went to Battersea, and Beth appeared, and she had just been moved from pillar to post and dumped.</p> <p>"We thought it would be nice for her to have a friend. They found [Bluebell] two or three weeks later, wandering about in woods, no hair on her, covered in sores, virtually dead. And they nursed her back to life and her hair grew again.</p> <p>"She's very sweet, but a tiny bit neurotic, shall we say.</p> <p>"The nice thing about dogs is you can sit them down, you could have a nice long conversation, you could be cross, you could be sad and they just sit looking at you, wagging their tail."</p> <p>The two dogs were often by her side at public events and were even featured in an official portrait alongside Camilla. </p> <p>Pictures of her two pups were also embroidered onto the Queen's Coronation gown. </p> <p>Camilla once said of her dogs: "I cannot imagine my life, my home or my sofas without them".</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram/ The Royal Family</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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