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Father breaks silence after wife and two children die in tragic drowning

<p>Hoai Nguyen, 32, and her two children, Mitchell, 7, and Hazel, 5, were enjoying a day out at Shearer Park in south-west Sydney, and were walking down to a small pier on the waterfront before they were spotted <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/unimaginable-sorrow-mother-and-two-children-drown-during-family-outing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggling in the Georges River</a> about 10.15am on Saturday. </p> <p>Hoai was pulled to shore shortly afterwards, but despite desperate attempts by rescuers and bystanders she could not be revived. </p> <p>The bodies of the two children were recovered a few hours later, metres from a jetty. </p> <p>The children's father, Dinh Nguyen, had been at work during the incident and only found out about the tragedy when police showed up at his house. </p> <p>He has since broken his silence, and told <em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em> that his wife was navigating a mental illness prior to her death. </p> <p>“She has bipolar disorder, and she has some ups and some downs,” he told the publication. </p> <p>“She takes medicine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”</p> <p>He also recalled one of the last conversations the couple had, the night prior to the tragedy. </p> <p>“She told me the last night she didn’t sleep so she wanted to stay at home,” he said.</p> <p>According to <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>, detectives are now probing whether the incident was premeditated as they continue their investigations into the tragedy. </p> <p>The southwest Sydney community has since rallied around the family's loved ones, with bouquets of flowers and tributes seen at the riverbank as part of a growing memorial. </p> <p>A close friend of the family, Sarah Vu, has also organised a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hoai-mitchell-and-hazel-nguyen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page for the family which has since raised over $60,600 of their $40,000 goal. </p> <p>“I sincerely thank the entire community for their contributions,” she wrote in a social media tribute on Monday.</p> <p>“The family have decided to bring Hoai and the kids back to Vietnam.</p> <p>“The fund has currently exceeded my expectations, but I will keep the link open for anyone who still wants to donate.”</p> <p>"All we can do now is pray for you and the little ones to depart peacefully,” she added with a video of two young kids holding hands and skipping down a street together. </p> <p><em><strong>Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Lifeline: <strong>13 11 14</strong>, <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifeline.org.au </a></em></p> <p><em>SANE Support line and Forums: <strong>1800 187 263,</strong> <a href="https://saneforums.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saneforums.org</a></em></p> <p><em>Headspace: <strong>1800 650 890,</strong> <a href="https://headspace.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">headspace.org.au</a></em></p> <p><em>Beyond Blue: <strong>1300 224 635</strong>, <a href="beyondblue.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beyondblue.org.au </a></em></p> <p><em>Images: Facebook/ GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

"A wonderful human being": Tributes flow for George Negus

<p>Tributes have poured in for George Negus, a founding presenter of Nine's <em>60 Minutes</em> and ABC's <em>Foreign Correspondent, </em>following his death at age 82. </p> <p>News of the broadcaster's death was announced by his family in an emotional statement saying that he had <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/george-negus-dies-at-age-82" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died peacefully</a> surrounded by loved ones after a "gracious decline" from Alzheimer's disease. </p> <p>His family also said while Negus would be celebrated for his "unique contribution to journalism, football, and the environment" he would also want to be remembered for the "incredible family man he was". </p> <p>"To us, 'Negsy' was the greatest father, grandfather, and partner there ever was," they said in the statement. </p> <p>"We created a beautiful life together and we will miss him dearly.</p> <p>"We would ask for privacy and time to farewell George in our own way with family, and his and our closest friends."</p> <p>Now, tributes have poured in from fellow colleagues, with TV personality Ray Martin saying that Negus was "more than a colleague, he was a mate".</p> <p>"He was probably the strongest TV character I can remember on Australian television," Martin said.</p> <p>"He was outrageous, he was charismatic, he was loud, he was heavily opinionated, he was funny but he was just a great bloke."</p> <p>Fellow journalist Liz Hayes has honoured him for being a "trailblazer" in Australian journalism, and praised his "larger than life" personality. </p> <p>"George always had an insatiable appetite for information, but he was a regular guy too," Hayes said.</p> <p>"This is a guy who loved the cooking segment on the <em>Today</em> show, this is a guy who enjoyed sport and he was a family man."</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute to Negus, remembering him as "a giant of Australian journalism".</p> <p>"His courage, curiosity and integrity gave millions of Australians a sense of the big issues on <em>60 Minutes</em>, and a window to the world through<em> Foreign Correspondent</em>," he said.</p> <p>"George sought and served the truth with steely determination and a twinkle in his eye, and along the way, he made even the smallest TV screen feel that much bigger.</p> <p>"He was a wonderful human being and his loss will be deeply felt by so many Australians.</p> <p>"We offer his family the heartfelt condolences of our nation. May he rest in peace."</p> <p>Negus is survived by his partner Kirsty, his two sons Ned and Serge as well as the rest of his family. </p> <p><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

Caring

George Negus dies at age 82

<p>George Negus has died at the age of 82 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's.</p> <p>The news of the veteran broadcaster's death was announced by his family in an emotional statement, as they shared that Negus "passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones" and thanked Australian healthcare workers for supporting him "in the best possible way" during his final moments. </p> <p>"Despite the challenges diseases like Alzheimer's inflict on families, we still shared beautiful times, laughter and happiness together in recent times."</p> <p>"We also learnt a lot."</p> <p>Negus began his journalistic career writing for <em>The Australian</em> and <em>The Australian Financial Review</em>.</p> <p>Throughout his stellar media career, he also worked as attorney-general Lionel Murphy's press secretary during the Whitlam government-era, and presented Nine's <em>60 Minutes</em> from 1979 until 1986.</p> <p>He also hosted the first episode of <em>Foreign Correspondent</em> on ABC in 1992, and went on to became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015, recognised for his significant service to the media, conservation and the environment.</p> <p>He is survived by his wife Kirsty and sons Ned and Serge. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

3 key differences between an ocean and river cruise

<p>People often have a personal preference when it comes to ocean cruises or river cruises, so if you’re not sure what to go for, it’s best to know how they really differ before booking your next trip.</p> <p>Here are the three key differences between an ocean and river cruise.</p> <p><strong>1. Cost</strong></p> <p>River cruises are initially more expensive, and travellers can expect the price to be from $200-500 per person per night. Ocean ships can cost less than $100 per night if you get a good deal.</p> <p>However, once onboard your ocean cruise there will be a likelihood that you splurge on extra costs such as drinks, tours and souvenirs.</p> <p><strong>2. Inclusions</strong></p> <p>Only the most upmarket ocean cruises are all-inclusive but on an ocean cruise if you want mealtime alcohol, Wi-Fi and other extras, you will be expected to pay up. All these extras are included in river-cruise fares and sometimes airport transfers are included too.</p> <p>River cruises require you to pay a heftier sum upon booking but if you are going on an ocean cruise, be sure to keep track of your spending.</p> <p><strong>3. Ship amenities</strong></p> <p>On river cruises, expect your onboard entertainment to be a massage room, fitness room or hot tub as most of the focus is on the destination. However, ocean cruises are lined with Broadway-styled shows, casinos, kids’ clubs, water parks, spas and various pools.</p> <p>If you prefer a quiet, intimate setting then river cruises would suit your desires but if you want a wide-range of entertainment, ocean cruises are for you.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Cruising

George Negus' son shares heartbreaking update on his dad's condition

<p>The son of TV legend George Negus has shared a devastating update on his father's health, two years after his Alzheimer's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tragic-diagnosis-for-news-and-media-legend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diagnosis</a> was made public. </p> <p>In a heartbreaking post shared to LinkedIn, Ned Negus revealed that his father is now non-verbal due to his illness, and is living in an aged care facility in Sydney. </p> <p>“I was hesitant to post this on LinkedIn, as it’s pretty personal,” Ned, who is Chief Commercial Officer for the A-League, began in a lengthy post shared on Father’s Day. “But then realised you’re all humans and there’s always a place for sharing human realities with your professional network.”</p> <p>He continued, “For those of you who don’t know, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around five years ago. He’s now non verbal most of the time (mind-blowing for me but also any of you that know him).”</p> <p>Along with his touching words, Ned shared a photo of him and his father embracing in a hug as they took a walk along the beach, recalling the heartfelt moment with his dad. </p> <p>“He was clearly not sure why this particular walk was symbolic and sometimes not sure with whom he was walking,” Ned shared, before adding that his dad “smiled broadly and then hugged me for quite some time”.</p> <p>“It was sad, but it was uplifting to know that even when you can no longer say what you feel, you can still DO what you feel. Love you Negsy.”</p> <p>Ned ended his emotional post by all paying tribute to his mother for her endless love and care for his dad.</p> <p>“P.s. My mum took this photo and is by his side most days helping him through, helping him remember (even the slightest thing) and feel. Massive shout out to her too,” he concluded.</p> <p>In 2022, the Negus family revealed George's diagnosis, sharing that he had been living in care home since 2021.</p> <p>“As a family, we are sharing the new path we walk as George faces the realities of his diagnosis of dementia from Alzheimer’s disease,” they wrote in a statement at the time. </p> <p>“We continue to share wonderful family times and are grateful for the care and support we have had from extended family and friends over the past few years who understand our challenges.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / LinkedIn</em></p>

Caring

Prince George looks all grown up in new birthday portrait

<p>Prince George is 11! </p> <p>The Princess of Wales has celebrated her son's birthday by sharing a new portrait of the young royal on social media. </p> <p>“Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!” she captioned the black and white photo of George looking all grown up in a button up shirt and black blazer. </p> <p>Royal fans also flooded the comment section with happy birthday wishes for the young monarch. </p> <p>"This picture is so beautiful, he is growing up so fast! I wish the happiest birthday to Prince George, have the best day," one wrote</p> <p>"Prince George looks so much like his Dad," another added.</p> <p>"HE'S GROWING UP SO FAST! I can't believe! Happy birthday George!" a third commented.</p> <p>"Happy birthday! I hope you have so much fun," a fourth wrote. </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/C9t-OYdNdUb/?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/C9t-OYdNdUb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This comes as Prince George's godmother, Julia Samuels revealed the young royal's birthday tradition that was inspired by the late Princess Diana. </p> <p>Speaking on the <em>How to Fail with Elizabeth Day</em> podcast, she shared that each year she buys noisy toys for George that take the Prince of Wales "days to put together" in a running joke inspired by Diana. </p> <p>"I come in slightly tipped by the size of the present that William then has to spend days putting together," she said. </p> <p>"And then put all the machinery together and it makes awful tooting noises and lights flashing and all of that. That makes me laugh and it makes George laugh."</p> <p>She also praised the young prince saying: “He is amazing. He’s funny and feisty and cheeky and God she [Diana] would have loved him so much.</p> <p>“That is heartbreaking for all of them.”</p> <p>Julia Samuels is one of seven godparents for Prince George, and she was a close friend of Princess Diana, who she met at a dinner party in 1987. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

For a century, it’s been illegal to swim in the Seine. Will Paris’s clean-up make the river safe for Olympic swimmers?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-a-wright-5162">Ian A. Wright</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p>Five eagerly anticipated events in the Paris Olympics will be the mens and womens 10 kilometre marathon swimming races, as well as the 1,500 metre swimming section of three triathlon events. Why? Because all will be held in the Seine River in the centre of Paris. The swimmers – including <a href="https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/trio-complete-an-historic-australian-olympic-marathon-swim-team-for-paris-2024">four Australians</a> – will pass famous landmarks such as the Musee d'Orsay as they swim through the historic heart of the city. This will have enormous scenic appeal for spectators.</p> <p>But will it be safe for swimmers? Rivers running through large cities are <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-021-00026-w">often polluted</a>, whether from stormwater, chemical pollution or wastewater spills. As the marathon swimmers pass the <a href="https://musee-egouts.paris.fr/en/">Paris Sewer Museum</a>, they may well wonder if they’re in clean water.</p> <p>For more than 100 years, swimming in the Seine has actually been illegal, due to concerns over what the water could do to human health. Authorities <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/may/24/olympic-games-clean-up-aims-to-leave-parisians-swimming-in-the-seine">have been working</a> to clean up the water, spending A$2.2 billion (€1.3 billion) on improving water quality. The goal: cut bacterial contamination by 75% before the first swimmer touches the water. These measures are having an impact – but recent heavy rains have seen bacteria levels spike.</p> <p>While officials have put on brave faces, there’s now a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/paris-2024-sets-up-reserve-site-marathon-swimming-if-seine-unsuitable-2024-07-05/">contingency plan</a> in case the Seine isn’t safe.</p> <h2>Why swim in the Seine at all?</h2> <p>Urban rivers have a questionable reputation. But this isn’t the first time the Seine River has been used for Olympic swimming.</p> <p>In the 1900 Paris Olympics, <a href="https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/paris-1900/results/swimming">seven swimming events</a> were all held in the river. These games were the first modern Olympics where <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/faq/history-and-origin-of-the-games/when-did-women-first-compete-in-the-olympic-games">women could compete</a> in some sports, but swimming was not one of those permitted.</p> <p>The Australian swimmer who competed, Frederick Lane, had to swim under the United Kingdom’s flag as Australia did not have a flag until Federation the following year. He won two gold medals. One was for the 200 metre freestyle race, and the other for a bizarre race never held again: the 200m <a href="https://www.olympedia.org/results/4433">swimming obstacle race</a>, where swimmers had to climb over poles and boats. These Olympics also saw the first and last underwater swimming race, which was also in the Seine.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=378&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=378&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=378&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=475&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=475&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/606823/original/file-20240715-17-kajph6.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=475&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="historic photo swimming seine river paris" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Swimmers took to the Seine’s waters at the 1900 Paris Olympics, when the river ran cleaner.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swimming_1900.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Back then, the waters of the Seine were cleaner. That’s because there was a great demand for human waste on farms – and cities were the main source. Back then, “night soil” (human waste) had a <a href="https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/11/1757/2007/hess-11-1757-2007.pdf">real market value</a>. No one would think of dumping it in rivers.</p> <p>But as time went on, sewerage systems developed and other fertilisers such as guano and mineral fertilisers arrived. By the early 20th century, most of the city’s wastewater went into the Seine. In 1923, the swimming ban came into effect. A year later, Paris hosted the Olympics for its second time – and swimmers competed in 50 metre pools.</p> <p>In recent years, many cities around the world have worked to clean up their urban waterways. River swimming is <a href="https://www.timeout.com/news/the-european-cities-cleaning-up-rivers-for-wild-swimmers-101821">now common</a> in cities such as Copenhagen, Berlin and Vienna, where river health has improved dramatically.</p> <h2>How can you clean a river like the Seine?</h2> <p>Cleaning the Seine is a challenge. Paris is home to 11 million people, with plenty of industry. Urban rivers are almost inevitably polluted by waste from the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-021-00026-w%5D">surrounding city</a>.</p> <p>Leaking and overflowing sewage systems are a major source of pollution. In places like the UK, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-62631320">sewage spills</a> into waterways have become a major political issue.</p> <p>When wastewater spills into rivers, it carries pollutants and dangerous loads of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6725a1.htm">disease-causing microorganisms</a>, such as <em>Escherichia coli</em> (commonly known as E. coli). Untreated water can have viruses, bacteria and disease-causing protozoa.</p> <p>In the lead-up to the Paris games, authorities have been working to improve water quality enough to bring some Olympic swimming back to the Seine. Stormwater – often contaminated by dog poo or sewage overflows – is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/08/can-paris-clean-seine-for-next-year-2024-olympics">being cleaned</a> before it is released into the river.</p> <p>Despite the money and effort, there are still real questions over whether it will be enough to guarantee swimmer safety. Bacterial levels hit risky levels <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/11/sport/paris-olympics-seine-triathlon-bacteria-spiking-intl/index.html">most days in June</a> due to unseasonally heavy rains, but the water has <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240712-seine-clean-enough-to-swim-for-most-of-past-12-days-paris-says-ahead-of-olympics">improved in July</a>.</p> <p>This week, French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/paris-2024-summer-olympics/french-sports-minister-takes-dip-in-seine-river-2024-paris-olympics/3458469/">swam a few metres</a> in the Seine in an effort to douse concerns.</p> <p>By contrast, the other Olympic swimming events will take place in a recently constructed 50 metre pool, which will have very good water quality. The pool water is filtered and treated with a disinfectant such as chlorine or bromine. It will be regularly tested to ensure optimal water quality.</p> <p>At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, triathletes had to swim in polluted Tokyo Bay. But similar concerns over sickness proved unfounded. The real challenge was the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/05/olympic-athletes-and-volunteers-in-tokyo-tortured-by-heat">oppressive heat</a>.</p> <h2>What’s at risk?</h2> <p>The most likely outcome if races are held when bacterial levels are unsafe would be getting a gastrointestinal bug.</p> <p>Officials have some control over this. Contamination is worst after heavy rain. Races could be delayed if need be.</p> <p>Many swimmers – especially those who compete in open-water competitions – are familiar with swimming in water with some level of pollution. Some see it as worth the risk. Italian double world champion swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240226-paris-holds-its-breath-for-olympic-swimming-events-in-murky-seine">said in January</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Even if the water is dirty, I would rather swim in an electric atmosphere in the centre of Paris than in an anonymous stretch of water.</p> </blockquote> <p>Paris 2024 organisers previously warned there was no plan B for the 10 km marathon races in the Seine if water quality testing is unsuitable. But this has now changed. If the river isn’t clean enough, open water swimming <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/paris-2024-sets-up-reserve-site-marathon-swimming-if-seine-unsuitable-2024-07-05/">will be moved</a> to the rowing venue.</p> <p>The Olympic triathlon is planned around a swimming leg in the Seine. But triathletes <a href="https://www.espn.com.au/olympics/story/_/id/39912675/triathlon-leg-cancelled-seine-quality-paris-2024-chief">have been told</a> the swim leg could be skipped if the water is unsafe, which would turn the race into a running and cycling duathlon.</p> <p>As the world’s attention turns to Paris, there will be many anxious officials behind the scenes hoping their hard work on making the Seine swimmable pays off.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/231705/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-a-wright-5162">Ian A. Wright</a>, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: CARON/ZEPPELIN/SIPA/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-a-century-its-been-illegal-to-swim-in-the-seine-will-pariss-clean-up-make-the-river-safe-for-olympic-swimmers-231705">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

Melissa George shares first glimpse of newborn son

<p>Melissa George has revealed the name of her third child. </p> <p>The <em>Home and Away</em> actress, who is known to be ultra-private about her personal life, only sharing glimpses of it to her fans, shared the special moment on her Instagram stories. </p> <p>The 47-year-old posted a snap of herself lying down and breastfeeding her young bub with a caption revealing his name. </p> <p>"Precious little Lyor Gatsby Gene… my everything," she wrote.</p> <p>Lyor is variation of the Hebrew name Lior which means "my light". </p> <p>George announced the birth of her third son earlier this year with an adorable post captioned: "Welcome to the world my little man. Love knows no end. A mother of 3 sons. Cannot believe it. My heart is so full." </p> <p>She has two older sons Raphaël, nine, and Solal, seven, who she shares with her ex-partner Jean-David Blanc, a French entrepreneur.</p> <p>The mother-of-three has not yet revealed who Lyor's father is and whether she is in a new relationship. </p> <p>She currently resides in France with her kids, due to a strict custody agreement where her children can't leave the country without their father's consent. </p> <p>The actress began her career in 1993 playing Angel Parrish in the iconic soap opera <em>Home and Away. </em></p> <p>She then moved to the United States a few years later and her career took off after she starred in the supernatural horror film <em>The Amityville Horror</em> in 2005.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

"Big one for shenanigans": Aussie larrikin paddles a giant pumpkin down a river

<p>In potentially the most Aussie story ever and a suspected world first, one bloke has pinched his mate's award-winning pumpkin to turn into a paddle boat and sail down the Tumut River. </p> <p>The enormous pumpkin was grown by farmer Mark Peacock, who grew the vegetable to a whopping 407kg and would regularly post updates on the gourd's growing progress on Facebook. </p> <p>The pumpkin even earned a fitting name, Tormund after a character in Game of Thrones, and was used to feed his livestock.</p> <p>After the pumpkin had served its purpose, Peacock's friend and local canoe club commodore Adam Farquharson saw a once in a lifetime opportunity. </p> <p>Sporting a sailor hat and pipe, he navigated the hollowed-out pumpkin, dubbed ‘Cinderella’, down the Tumut River in New South Wales’ Riverina region, much to the amusement of bystanders.</p> <p>“Barry Humphries said that he’s a big fan of the unnecessary, and I am too. I’m a big one for shenanigans,” he told <em><a title="www.abc.net.au" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-16/man-turns-mammoth-400kg-pumpkin-into-a-canoe/103708438">ABC Riverena</a></em><a title="www.abc.net.au" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-16/man-turns-mammoth-400kg-pumpkin-into-a-canoe/103708438">.</a></p> <p>While initially surprised by Farquharson’s antics, Mr Peacock acknowledged that it was characteristic of his friend’s sense of humour to do something out of the ordinary to make people smile. </p> <p>“He’s really hilarious. But he’s random, occasionally,” he said.</p> <p>“I intentionally grew this as a family project and then started doing Facebook updates every week.”</p> <p>For Mr Farquharson, the voyage was simply about enjoying himself and giving locals an opportunity for a laugh. </p> <p>Farquharson joked about potential future exploits but remained grounded about his brief moment of fame as “Popeye the Pumpkin Man.” </p> <p>“I think the worldwide fame will wear off pretty soon. I won’t end up like Taylor Swift. I’ll just get back to life as normal,” he said.</p> <p>Reflecting on the unusual journey, Mr Farquharson humorously considered preserving the pumpkin as a national curiosity by placing it on a pedestal among Australian sporting royalty. </p> <p>“It was a sad moment. I did jokingly say to my wife that I should petition the prime minister to have it preserved and put next to Phar Lap’s heart at the National Museum,” he told the <em>ABC</em>.</p> <p>“She thought I was an idiot.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Domestic Travel

Why guided touring is the best way to travel Europe

<p>As we head into winter and the thermostat reading lowers and the electric blankets come out of storage, your mind is probably wandering to the sun-soaked streets of Europe. Fortunately, <a href="http://www.travelmarvel.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Travelmarvel</a> has an enviable range of European river-cruise itineraries and three decades of experience touring the globes most marvellous destinations.</p> <p>More than likely, you have already considered guided touring, but are not entirely convinced it is the right option for you. Trepidation among travellers trying guided touring for the first time is very common, but once guests have experienced the ease and enjoyment of group touring and cruising, it is hard to imagine travelling any other way. Read on to discover why guided touring could be the right for your next European holiday.</p> <p><strong>Travel worry free</strong></p> <p>Planning a trip can be overwhelming, particularly if you want to visit multiple destinations. Where to begin on planning you itinerary? How do you know which towns and attractions are must-sees, and which you can afford to miss? Combine this with trying to book accommodation, dining and entertainment and you have the perfect recipe for a rather stressful few months before you have even left on your travels. Travelmarvel’s travel experts and guides take the hard work out of planning your holiday, leaving you nothing to do but sit back, relax, and enjoy each destination to the fullest. </p> <p><strong>You will have an expert Tour Director to guide you </strong></p> <p>With an experienced Tour Director with you every step of the way, you will no longer have to waste precious time getting your bearings at each new destination. Ready with a map and a smile – your Tour Director will be there to navigate language barriers, transport and any unexpected difficulties that crop up while travelling, so you don’t have to. </p> <p><strong>Local guides will ensure you never miss a thing</strong></p> <p>Guidebooks and tourist information centres are all well and good – but nothing beats experiencing a new place with a local. Travelmarvel links guests with local guides who will offer more than just the obvious tourist experiences. From recommending the best café to sample a local delicacy, to directing you to a rarely visited local artisan, you can be confident of an authentic slice of every town and city you visit. </p> <p>As Travelmarvel first-time traveller Aaron explained “I did not think I would enjoy following a paddle around a city! However, the local guides were very engaging and were able to include personal storytelling and insider-knowledge in their tours. I feel like I got so much more out of visiting each location because of the local guided touring.”</p> <p><strong>Enjoy a perfect balance of touring and free time </strong></p> <p>The last thing you want to feel on holiday is rushed, which is why Travelmarvel tours are careful to ensure there is plenty of free time built into the day’s itinerary, so you have ample opportunity to explore each destination at your leisure – or perhaps just watch the world go by with a coffee for the afternoon; the choice is yours. </p> <p>First-time river cruiser Trudi particularly loved the freedom of choice guided tours can offer: “I thoroughly enjoyed getting to a new town and doing the walking tour, then enjoying the free time we had to explore each village or city by ourselves. The freedom and design of the trip so you could opt-in to meals and tours, or do your own thing, was delightful to discover.”</p> <p><strong>Make friends for life </strong></p> <p>Many of Travelmarvel’s guests end up staying in touch long after their tour has ended. On a guided tour you will travel in a small group of like-minded individuals, so you are assured to meet people with the same interests as you, and with so many places to visit together – there will never be shortage of things to talk about!</p> <p><strong>Curated experiences just for you</strong></p> <p>One of the main benefits of guided touring is gaining access to places and experiences you wouldn’t be able to if you were travelling on your own. Travelmarvel offers Insider Experiences which will make your time abroad unforgettable. For example, on the Balkan Adventure in Belgrade your Tour Director can arrange for you visit a local family on their farm and sample their home-brewed port, a special experience unique to your guided tour.</p> <p><strong>Great value for money </strong></p> <p>Budgeting for travel is tricky, unexpected expenses pop-up, accommodation needs to be rearranged and when you don’t know the local language or customs – it is easy to get caught out. With a Travelmarvel guided tour, accommodation, transport, and a large portion of your meals are included, meaning your only expenses while travelling will be for souvenirs, sampling delicious local cuisine and treating yourself to an extra-special event or two. Also, you will always have a Tour Director on hand to help navigate the local markets and eateries.</p> <p><strong>It's good to know where you are going to go</strong></p> <p>Book your guided tour today and start getting excited! Travelmarvel provides an enticing glimpse of what you can expect on each tour – from German palaces and wineries you will visit, to the premium accommodation you can expect to return to at the end of each day, locking in a guided tour means you have plenty to look forward to long before you touch down.</p> <p><strong>About Travelmarvel</strong></p> <p>Travelmarvel makes holidaying easy, giving guests the freedom to simply marvel at the world. As a part of Australia’s largest home-grown travel company, The APT Travel Group Travelmarvel delivers a premium holiday experience while offering exceptional value, so guests can enjoy every journey to the fullest. </p> <p><em><strong>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.travelmarvel.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.travelmarvel.com.au</a> </strong></em></p> <p><em>Images: Supplied</em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Travelmarvel.</em></p>

International Travel

George Calombaris bans "racist" diner

<p>Celebrity chef George Calombaris has publicly slammed a diner's "racist" review of his Victorian restaurant, The Hellenic House Project, and banned them from visiting his business. </p> <p>The diner left a negative Google review of the restaurant yesterday, claiming that it was the "Worst 'non' dining experience ever!"</p> <p>The diner claimed they had to wait six weeks for a booking to arrive at the first sitting, and had issues with the manager who they ordered food from. </p> <p>They alleged that after 45 minutes of waiting for their food to arrive, they had to find a waiter themselves and was told the manager had "forgot" to put in the order. </p> <p>"Typically, we weren't offered any compensation except that our food would be out in 5 mins. Which it wasn't. I should've realised it was going to be a disaster when I had to ask for the menu after 10 [minutes]," wrote the customer.</p> <p>"Like others, we've dined in many, many restaurants and were keen to try this 'authentic Greek' experience. It was far from it.</p> <p>"Practically none of the staff were Greek (including' the Manager who was of Indian descent) and the menu didn't reflect what has been posted online. Calombaris - this place is a joke and you've certainly got a few people fooled," they concluded.</p> <p>They gave a one out of five star rating for everything. </p> <p>The celebrity chef hit back at the scathing review by posting a screenshot of it on Instagram with the caption: "Won't lie. I am 99 percent a very positive human. But this is horrible.</p> <p>"Yes. We made a mistake with your order. We are humans. And yes my manager is Indian. You know who you are guys. You're not welcome ever to @thehellenichouseproject," he added. </p> <p>"You don't have to speak Greek or be a Greek to work at THHP. You just have to be a good human. I am so proud of my team. I hate racism. F****n hate it."</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/CvRLCjGSYZy/?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/CvRLCjGSYZy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by George Calombaris (@gcalombaris)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Various celebrity chefs have come to his defence including, <em>My Kitchen Rules</em> judge Manu Feildel. </p> <p>"Well done George, people like this should just stay home. And that is a very polite way to say what I really feel like saying," he commented with an angry emoji.</p> <p>Calombaris' former <em>MasterChef </em>co-host and celebrity chef also came to his defence, with a quote from diplomat Mohamad Safa. </p> <p>"Our world is not divided by race, colour, gender or religion. Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divided themselves by race, colour, gender, or religion," he commented</p> <p>Former <em>MasterChef </em>contestant Nicholas Fredrick Riewoldt also commented his support and said, "5/5 across the board when I visited @thehellenichouseproject love you GC ❤️".</p> <p>Another former <em>MasterChef</em> contestant Dan Churchill also defended Calombaris. </p> <p>"Standing up for your team mate, huge. You often ask if this kind of note means the individual needs a hug. Absolutely love @thehellenichouseproject," he commented. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

Royal family celebrates Prince George’s 10th birthday

<p dir="ltr">The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared a new photo of Prince George to celebrate a milestone birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“10 today! Wishing Prince George a very happy birthday! 🎉” they captioned the photo posted on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">The young King-to-be’s confidence shone through as he posed with a cheeky smile that was just as wide as the one he had on his second birthday in 2015.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Prince looked dashing in a white checked shirt and green trousers as he posed for the photo taken by royal photographer Millie Pilkington last week.</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo was taken just after they started their summer break.</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/Cu_YRB0NAFS/?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/Cu_YRB0NAFS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Many royal fans have commented on how quickly the Prince grew up while others praised his looks as he is growing into his features.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy Birthday to Prince George! He looks just like his dad now ❤️” wrote one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy TENTH birthday to this handsome young man ❤️ can’t believe you guys had your first baby a decade ago 🥹” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy Birthday Prince George! Looking so grown up!” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How fast is he growing! Happy double digit’s birthday to the future (future) king!” wrote a fourth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Where does the time go? Wishing Prince George an amazing birthday. Thank you for sharing this photo with us” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty/ Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Body language expert weighs in on Prince George

<p>Prince George has stunned fans by stepping out ahead of his family during the annual Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.</p> <p>9-year-old George was accompanied by his parents - the Prince and Princess of Wales - and his siblings, seven-year-old Princess Charlotte and four-year-old Prince Louis. And while in 2022 the young royal stood between her parents as they made their way into the service, all eyes were on George in 2023 when he took the lead and strode a step ahead of them. </p> <p>And now, body language expert Judi James - who took note of George at both the 2021 and 2022 services as well - has spoken to<em> The Daily Mail </em>about what she believes the 9-year-old’s new “grown-up dynamic” means - both for himself, and the future of the British royal family. </p> <p>“At this Easter service there was a status step-up from George, who walked ahead to lead his family into the service,” she explained, “showing a newly grown-up dynamic from the five Wales’ when it comes to royal outings.</p> <p>“George used to be the one holding his father’s hand and looking rather timid, but here it was Charlotte walking in alongside William, while Kate held Louis’s hand beside them.”</p> <p>Judi went on to note that even this line-up “had its own upgrade”, outlining how Charlotte had appeared to check in on her younger brother, before sharing “a beam of pride at his impeccable behaviour.”</p> <p>“On the way out of the service it was Charlotte mirroring her mother, walking beside Kate and offering her own shy wave to the crowds in a gesture that showed who she takes her own lead from,” she continued. </p> <p>“Louis was a very different boy from the playful, fidgety young royal <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/adorable-prince-louis-upstages-entire-royal-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">we saw at the Jubilee</a>. Walking beside Kate he looked serious and confident, offering a level stare at the crowds of fans and well-wishers, who seemed to have saved a special cheer for this mother and son duo.</p> <p>“Kate looked down at Louis with a grin of pride before smiling back up at the crowd, as though sharing her admiration for his grown-up behaviour. Louis even appeared to look down to straighten his tie as he entered the chapel.”</p> <p>Judi circled back to George while discussing the family leaving the service, noting that George was the first to exit, and that he demonstrated initiative when he set out “shaking hands without any prompting.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, many fans just couldn’t believe how quickly the young royal had grown before their very eyes, taking to social media in the wake of the service to voice their surprise. </p> <p>“How grown up does Prince George look today?” wrote one. </p> <p>“Can't believe how much Prince George has grown up,” said another. “He will be as tall as Prince William soon.”</p> <p>“It has been wonderful to see him grow in confidence as well as height,” someone agreed.</p> <p>Another noted that George bore a strong resemblance to Charles Spencer, and that the “Spencer genes are currently running strong.”</p> <p>While others couldn’t forget the rest, declaring “Princess Charlotte & Prince Louis too! They are so adorable!”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

Palace confirms Prince George's role at Coronation

<p>As King Charles' highly-anticipated Coronation ceremony draws closer, the Palace has confirmed a very special role for Prince George. </p> <p>Just one month before the historic event is set to take place at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace has shared that the King's eldest grandson will have a key role at the coronation, acting as one of the four page boys attending to the King throughout the ceremony.</p> <p>In total eight pages will be involved, four assigned to the King and four to the Queen Consort.</p> <p>Joining Prince George, who will be nine at the time of the coronation, assisting the King as pages will be Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Nicholas Barclay and Ralph Tollemache.</p> <p>Camilla will have her grandsons, Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 13, helping her and along with her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot.</p> <p>The news of Prince George's involvement comes as the Palace has released the official coronation portrait, which was taken last month inside the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace by Hugo Burnand.</p> <p>In addition to the official portraits, the Palace shared an image of the elaborately illustrated invitation that will be sent out later this month to 2,000 guests who have secured a much-coveted place at the Coronation. </p> <p>As stated on the invitation, it has been revealed that "Consort" will be dropped from Camilla's official title, as she will be referred to as "Queen Camilla" after the Coronation. </p> <p>The invitation reads, "The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla."</p> <p>When asked about the title, a senior royal aide confirmed, "It made sense to refer to her Majesty as The Queen Consort in the early months of His Majesty’s reign, to distinguish from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."</p> <p>"Queen Camilla is the appropriate title to set against King Charles on the invitation. The Coronation is an appropriate time to start using 'Queen Camilla' in an official capacity."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Buckingham Palace / Getty Images </em></p>

Family & Pets

Boy George’s family heartbreak

<p>Boy George’s mother, Dinah O’Dowd, has died at the age of 84.</p> <p>The news, confirmed by George’s representatives, explained that Dinah had been surrounded by her loved ones at the time of her passing, and that the singer was “devastated” with the loss. </p> <p>“I am very sad to confirm the news of the passing of Boy George’s beloved mother, Dinah. George is devastated, as are the family,” the statement from George’s manager read. “They were all by her bedside when she passed, and George was holding her hand. </p> <p>He wants me to extend his deep gratitude to the huge outpouring of love and support he is receiving, and whilst he can’t respond he feels grateful and the messages help. </p> <p>“George and his family would politely now request some privacy to be able to grieve and come to terms with their heartbreaking loss.” </p> <p>Dinah had six children - George, four brothers, and one sister - with Jeremiah, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 72. George has opened up in the past about the poor treatment and abuse Dinah faced from Jeremiah.</p> <p>While the singer has not yet spoken publicly about the family’s terrible loss, one of his friends - DJ Fat Tony - took to social media to pay tribute, sharing an old picture of the late Dinah. </p> <p>“God bless you, you amazing woman Dinah,” he wrote, before adding that his heart goes out to the entire O’Dowd family, “what an incredibly beautiful strong woman, we will miss you.”</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/CpvDyHxMtAc/?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/CpvDyHxMtAc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Fat Tony (@dj_fattony_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In 2020, George shared that Dinah had been hospitalised “for two days”, but that she was soon able to return home. As the COVID-19 pandemic was in its early days, he specified that “it was not corona related, so that’s good.” </p> <p>“It wasn’t what we initially thought,” he said at the time, “so everything about it was just getting her home from the hospital because obviously with everything that’s going on, my mum’s 82, so it’s not the best place for her to be.” </p> <p>In November 2022, while George was participating in the UK’s edition of <em>I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here</em>, Dinah opened up about her love for her son.</p> <p>When MP Matt Hancock - Britain’s health secretary who had to resign during the pandemic - entered the reality competition, George almost left the jungle - he was still sensitive over his mum’s 2020 hospitalisation. </p> <p>“George and I are very close,” she told <em>The Mirror</em>, “and I’m so very proud of him. </p> <p>"He is always there for me, so his reaction wasn't a surprise, and I am waiting to hug him when he gets home."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

George Pell's memorial hijacked by protestors

<p>The memorial service for Cardinal George Pell has ended with calls to the police, after protestors clashed outside St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. </p> <p>Australia's highest ranking Catholic was honoured in a service on Wednesday, when Pell supporters approached child abuse activists who were peacefully tying ribbons to fences at the cathedral.</p> <p>Supporters of the previously convicted sex offender were reportedly shouting angrily at the silent protesters as evening prayer was wrapping up.</p> <p>In recent days, a support group for clergy abuse survivors, Loud Fence, had been tying colourful ribbons as a symbol of solidarity. </p> <p>But church security has repeatedly been cutting them down.</p> <p>In another bold statement against the Cardinal, comedians from The Chaser attempted to gain entry into the memorial service as they carried a fake coffin filled with "evidence". </p> <p>Comedian and <em>The Chasers War on Everything</em> star, Charles Firth, along with Chaser colleague, Lachlan Hodson, clashed with police on the steps of the Cathedral as they claimed they had "a whole lot of evidence to bury alongside him", saying it's what Pell "would've wanted".</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Chase have attempted to storm George Pell's memorial while his body lies in state at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral. 😳👇 <a href="https://t.co/U3IW10wveN">pic.twitter.com/U3IW10wveN</a></p> <p>— The Daily Telegraph (@dailytelegraph) <a href="https://twitter.com/dailytelegraph/status/1620674735603580928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>As one guard tries to stop the comedian from taking a step further, Firth tells him, "Don't touch me, I'm not an altar boy".</p> <p>"Wait a minute, is this an issue of consent? I don't understand, that's never worried you before," he said. </p> <p>As security urge Firth and Hodson to move away, the comedian tells the guards that he'll take the fake coffin to another parish as that's "normally the way it works".</p> <p>Cardinal Pell died in Rome in January after complications from hip surgery. He was 81. </p> <p>Pell was widely seen as the right-hand man of Pope Francis and the third most powerful figure in the church, before he was arrested in Australia for historic child sex abuse crimes within the church. </p> <p>The Cardinal was imprisoned in 2019 after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s and spent just 12 months in Barwon Prison near Melbourne before the Australian High Court quashed his convictions following an appeal.</p> <p>Despite being sentenced to six years in prison with a non-parole period of three years and eight months, there were no further trials and Pell walked free after more than 400 days in prison.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News / Reddit</em></p>

News

"Time moves like a river": Heartbreaking final words of Aussie writer taken too young

<p>Natalie Fornasier has passed away at the age of 28 following a years-long battle with metastatic melanoma cancer.</p> <p><em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em> confirmed the news with an obituary on January 28, announcing that Natalie had died on January 14. </p> <p>“Beloved Wife of Alexander,” the obituary read, “much loved Sister of Alex, loving daughter of Peter & Lorena. Adored daughter-in-law of Kirsten. She will be dearly missed by her grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, Natalie’s German family & devoted ‘Little Helpers’.”</p> <p>Natalie received her first diagnosis when she was 20 years old after spotting a large mole on her toe, and was informed that she had Stage III metastatic melanoma. </p> <p>In December, Natalie shared the news with her followers that her condition had progressed to Stage IV. </p> <p>“At the end of July, I received the news that my cancer was now terminal and had months left to live,” she wrote. </p> <p>“It’s not easy to admit that I’m dying. At 28 years old… everything about it feels wrong. The conversations I’ve had to have, the plans I’ve had to make, the places my thoughts have gone and are still going - none of it is natural. It’s painful,” she went on, “for four months I’ve grappled with sharing this news. </p> <p>“But I'm here now, and that's because I want to take back control over my own agency. I am the one telling my story, as I always have. There are so many things in my life I can’t control but this I can.”</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/Cl57HVJPnE8/?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/Cl57HVJPnE8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalie Fornasier (@nataliefornasier)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Natalie wrote of her husband, Alexander, and the love the two shared, telling her audience, “my one goal in life was to love. I’ve experienced a love that is all consuming - something so deeply precious and powerful and soul changing that I know that even though I’m leaving this earth, that energy and love will never die. Alexander and I have grieved together, and he has shared so many ways of how he will keep me in his life, which brings me peace as I face the unknown. But know this, no matter where I am, I’ll still be here – in some way.”</p> <p>The couple were married in a “secret” ceremony on November 26, as Natalie revealed in a new post two days later. </p> <p>On December 21, four days before Christmas, Natalie shared her final update with supporters. She passed away less than one month after. </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/CmaQzRuha8V/?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/CmaQzRuha8V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalie Fornasier (@nataliefornasier)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Today marks four weeks in palliative care. It’s absurd it’s been that long - time is so fluid, it feels like none has gone by but the calendar says otherwise,” she said, going on to write of how she missed her home and her experience with palliative care. </p> <p>“It’s one minute at a time for me right now - and I’m so thankful that, that is still a possibility. If my time here has taught me anything - it’s that time moves like a river. You’re unable to see the beginning or the end but you can feel it - so you better make the most of it. Even if that means napping next to your loved one for hours so long as you’re together.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Cardinal George Pell dies at age 81

<p>Cardinal George Pell has died at age 81 in Rome after suffering complications from hip replacement surgery.</p> <p>Australia's highest ranking Catholic had reportedly been chatting to the anaesthetist in hospital following the procedure when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest, according to The Australian.</p> <p>Australian Archbishop Anthony Fisher confirmed the news in a statement provided to AFP, saying, “It is with deep sadness that I can confirm His Eminence, Cardinal George Pell, passed away in Rome in the early hours of this morning.”</p> <p>“This news comes as a great shock to all of us."</p> <p>“Please pray for the repose of the soul of Cardinal Pell, for comfort and consolation for his family and for all of those who loved him and are grieving him at this time.”</p> <p>Pell was widely seen as the right-hand man of Pope Francis and the third most powerful figure in the church, before he was arrested in Australia for historic child sex abuse crimes within the church. </p> <p>The Cardinal was imprisoned in 2019 after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s and spent just 12 months in Barwon Prison near Melbourne before the Australian High Court quashed his convictions following an appeal.</p> <p>Despite being sentenced to six years in prison with a non-parole period of three years and eight months, there were no further trials and Pell walked free after more than 400 days in prison.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Keanu Reeves attacked for still being alive

<p dir="ltr">Matthew Perry has backtracked on his insensitive comments questioning why beloved Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves is still alive. </p> <p dir="ltr">In his memoir <em>Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing</em>, the <em>Friends</em> star questioned why his friend River Phoenix died but Reeves didn’t.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?” he wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">Perry was discussing his friendship with River Phoenix - who is also friends with Reeves - and about the heartache he had when he overdosed on drugs in 1993 at the age of 23.</p> <p dir="ltr">He called Phoenix his “closest friend of that era” before attacking Reeves for still being alive. </p> <p dir="ltr">Social media was in uproar at his comments with many questioning why Perry would wish death upon anyone. </p> <p dir="ltr">“In a world full of Matthew Perry’s… be a Keanu Reeves,” someone wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Of all the people in Hollywood, there’s absolutely no reason to come for Keanu Reeves who even after personal tragedy has remained, by accounts, generous and kind. He just makes movies and comics, treats his cast and crew right, and minds his own business,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Imagine coming for Keanu Reeves like that. Might as well let the internet know you think all kittens should be drowned at birth. Good luck out there, man,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">Perry eventually came out and apologised and explained he was “actually a big fan” of Keanu Reeves. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm actually a big fan of Keanu,” he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Boy George to sell long-time London home

<p dir="ltr">Boy George has decided to offload his lavish English estate after owning it for nearly 40 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">The singer and former <em>The Voice Australia</em> judge bought the London property in 1984, a year after releasing his hit <em>Karma Chameleon</em> with Culture Club, and is now hoping to sell it for a hefty £17 million ($AU 28.4 million).</p> <p dir="ltr">Located in the affluent neighbourhood of Hampstead, the six-bedroom villa is a Grade II designated historical building with an “eccentric mix of Gothic and Italianate architecture”, according to the <a href="https://www.astonchase.com/rgs220160/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listing</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Inside, the entryway boasts a dramatic central staircase and soaring central hallway, with a medication room, a reception room, a galleried first-floor landing, and a master bedroom with views of Hampstead Heath and a skylight in the adjoining bathroom being among its standout features.</p> <p dir="ltr">The home also includes a rear garden and roof terrace, as well as off-street parking.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 61-year-old star isn’t the only famous resident of the estate home - originally called “The Logs” when it was built in 1868 by civil engineer and developer Edward Grotto and was later subdivided - with comedian Marty Feldman and singer Sam Smith also residing in different sections of the once-whole luxe abode.</p> <p dir="ltr">George also purchased the house next door from Smith and began a three-year renovation to combine the two homes.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the Evening Standard reported that the star ran into problems after local planning authorities took issue with the project.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0f11c0af-7fff-1b6b-a278-812a6497a513"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images, Aston Chase Realty</em></p>

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