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Hamish Blake receives Order of Australia

<p>Hamish Blake has received his Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during a "humbling" ceremony at NSW's Government House.</p> <p>The comedian and presenter shared photos of the special day on Instagram, beaming alongside his wife Zoe Foster Blake. </p> <p>"OMG this guy got his OAM!" Zoë shared alongside a photo of Hamish with his new Medal of the Order of Australia.</p> <p>She described "a humbling ceremony, full of amazing people showing up and bettering the world".</p> <p>On Instagram, Hamish shared a sweet photo from the day, captioning the photo, "Very honoured to today receive my OAM next to my life MVP and always BOG."</p> <p>Blake was one of 737 Australians on this year's King's Birthday honours list, celebrating a wide array of people across dozens of industries who have made a difference in society.</p> <p>Hamish received his award for his service to the arts as an entertainer and to the community.</p> <p>After learning about his award, Hamish said, "I am of course extremely honoured, and now feel very guilty I didn't even get the King a birthday present."</p> <p>Governor-General David Hurley congratulated those who were recognised, saying, "Some names are well-known, but the vast majority are not – they are people who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a difference in our community.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

TV

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Bruce Lehrmann ordered to pay millions to Network Ten

<p>Bruce Lehrmann has been ordered to pay a whopping $2 million to Network Ten to cover the network's legal fees from his failed defamation lawsuit. </p> <p>Lehrmann's suit against the network, and in turn <em>The Project</em> and Lisa Wilkinson, came to a end when Justice Michael Lee found he had, on the balance of probabilities, raped Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in March 2019.</p> <p>The former Liberal staffer's case was dismissed after Justice Lee concluded he was not defamed by Lisa Wilkinson's tell-all interview with Brittany Higgins on <em>The Project</em> in 2021.</p> <p>Following the conclusion of the case, Lehrmann was ordered to pay Network Ten's astonishing legal fees, returning to court on Thursday to discuss the manner in which they will be paid.</p> <p>Ten’s barrister Zoe Graus on Thursday told the court that the broadcaster had sought a $2m lump-sum payment from Mr Lehrmann which Justice Lee ordered that Lehrmann pay, though he noted Mr Lehrmann was a man of “modest means”.</p> <p>As a result, Mr Lehrmann could be forced into bankruptcy if he fails to meet the hefty costs order.</p> <p>The court was told that Network 10 had offered to pay Ms Wilkinson $607,850 for the journalist’s legal costs, given the fact that she had independent representation during the trial. </p> <p>However, an independent referee will determine the final amount to be paid to Wilkinson. </p> <p><em>Image credits: MICK TSIKAS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Legal

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"I was terrified": Law & Order star reveals traumatic past

<p><em>Warning: This story contains graphic content.</em></p> <p>Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, a character that investigate rapists on <em>Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit, </em>has revealed that she too is a victim of sexual assault. </p> <p>The actress opened up about her traumatic past in a powerful essay written for <a href="https://people.com/mariska-hargitay-experience-rape-renewal-reckoning-8424247" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>People Magazine</em></a>, where she revealed that she was raped by “a friend" when she was in her thirties. </p> <p>"A man raped me in my thirties," she bravely revealed in the essay. </p> <p>"It wasn’t sexual at all. It was dominance and control. Overpowering control."</p> <p>The actress revealed that he was a friend who "made a unilateral decision" and recalled the fear she felt when the incident occurred. </p> <p>"He grabbed me by the arms and held me down. I was terrified," she said. </p> <p>"I didn’t want it to escalate to violence. I now know it was already sexual violence, but I was afraid he would become physically violent.</p> <p>"I went into freeze mode, a common trauma response when there is no option to escape. I checked out of my body," she recalled. </p> <p>Hargitay, who is the daughter of the late actress Jane Mansfield, said that she never thought of herself as a "survivor", and often "minimised" what happened to her when she talked about it with others. </p> <p>"My husband Peter remembers me saying, “I mean, it wasn’t rape," she wrote. </p> <p>"Then things started shifting in me, and I began talking about it more in earnest with those closest to me. They were the first ones to call it what it was."</p> <p>The actress said that she wants other survivors to feel "no shame" about sexual assault and wants "this violence to end." </p> <p>She added that justice "may look different for each survivor," but for her she wants "an acknowledgment and an apology" after what happened. </p> <p>"This is a painful part of my story. The experience was horrible. But it doesn’t come close to defining me, in the same way that no other single part of my story defines me," she concluded, adding that she feels for all sexual violence survivors. </p> <p>"I’m turning 60, and I’m so deeply grateful for where I am. I’m renewed and I’m flooded with compassion for all of us who have suffered. And I’m still proudly in process."</p> <p>Hargitay started her own foundation, the Joyful Heart Foundation, in 2004 to help survivors of sexual assault. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Duke and Duchess ordered to shorten their baby's name

<p>In a world where baby names have become battlegrounds for parental creativity, one Spanish duke is learning the hard way that there's such a thing as too much of a good thing.</p> <p>Meet Fernando Juan Fitz-James Stuart y de Solís, the 17th Duke of Huéscar and heir apparent to the dukedom of Alba. He and his wife, Sofía Palazuelo, recently welcomed their second child into the world, and they didn't hold back when it came to naming her. In fact, they let their imaginations run so wild that they've run into a bit of a royal roadblock.</p> <p>Their darling daughter was bestowed with a grand total of TWENTY-FIVE NAMES.</p> <p>Yes, you read that right. It's like they were trying to set a new record for the world's longest moniker.</p> <p>The poor girl's full name is Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento del Perpetuo Socorro de la Santísima Trinidad y de Todos Los Santos.</p> <p>In English, that translates to "Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela of the Blessed Sacrament of Perpetual Help of the Holy Trinity and All Saints." Young Sofia would almost certainly need perpetual help writing that out on school and official documents were it not for the obstacle now preventing the 'normous name from sticking.</p> <p>Now, before you start thinking this was just a case of overly enthusiastic parents throwing every possible name they could think of at their child, hold on a moment. There's a method to this naming madness. Each of those 11 names was carefully chosen to honour important family members, including her mother, grandmother, father and great-uncle. The couple also included a nod to religious devotions, just in case little Sofía needed some divine intervention to carry her name around.</p> <p>However, the Spanish Civil Registry, apparently not a fan of name-related acrobatics, has thrown a royal wrench into the works. According to their rules, a child's name must contain "no more than one compound name and no more than two simple ones".</p> <p>In other words, they're putting a cap on the number of monikers a person can have, and Sofía's name blew right past that limit like a speeding chariot.</p> <p>So, the Duke and Duchess find themselves in a bit of a naming pickle. They need to trim their daughter's name down to size, and that's not a task for the faint of heart. After all, it's not every day that you have to decide which family member's name makes the cut and which one gets the royal snip.</p> <p>In the meantime, young Sofía will no doubt need a papyrus scroll just to keep track of all those names – and if she ever loses her way, she can simply follow the trail of syllables to find her identity again.</p> <p>This entire baby-naming escapade is reminiscent of the late Duchess of Alba, who for a time held the Guinness World Record for "most titled aristocrat", holding more than 50 titles in her lifetime. She passed away in 2014 at the ripe old age of 88, and w<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">hile the young Duke of Huéscar may not be aiming for the world record, he's certainly giving it a good-natured run for its money.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Iconic Aussie singer returns Order of Australia Medal after Voice result

<p>Legendary Australian singer-songwriter Shane Howard has made headlines by returning his Order of Australia medal, a gesture that speaks volumes about his deep sense of sadness and disappointment following the Voice to Parliament referendum.</p> <p>Howard, the renowned frontman of the iconic band Goanna, first captured the hearts of music enthusiasts 41 years ago with the anthemic hit "Solid Rock," a song that passionately decried the colonisation and Indigenous dispossession of Australia.</p> <p>In a heartfelt letter addressed to the Australian Governor-General, Howard openly expresses his profound sorrow in the wake of the rejected referendum vote.</p> <p>He wrote: "At this point in history, I can't be proud of my nation and feel honour-bound to return my Order of Australia medal."</p> <p>This poignant decision resonates with the deep-seated desire Howard had when he penned "Solid Rock, Sacred Ground" four decades ago. “When I wrote the song, 'Solid Rock, Sacred Ground', 40 years ago, I wanted us to address the fundamental lie at the heart of our national story," he continued in the letter. "I dreamt of a country respectful of our ancient history and honest about our modern history. I wanted to be proud of my country.”</p> <p>Howard, whose great-grandfather was famously arrested at the Eureka Stockade, was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2016, honouring his significant contributions to the Australian music landscape. However, he now believes that the democratic principles his family fought for generations ago are facing an imminent threat.</p> <p>In a recent interview with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-18/goanna-shane-howard-returns-oam-referendum-result/102989978" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC Victorian Mornings</a>, Howard discussed the motivations behind his decision to return his medal. He emphasised that he felt compelled to make his voice heard in a world rife with disinformation and divisive politics. In his own words, "What else can I do, I'm an artist."</p> <p>Howard went on to share the distressing experiences he faced, noting that he encountered an alarming amount of abuse and racism on social media. "I copped an enormous amount of abuse that was very intimidating and at times, some stuff that was very, very racist through social media.</p> <p>"I would say it’s the first time we saw the Brexit or Trump style politics at play in the Australian political landscape."</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/CyapVUCS0xd/?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/CyapVUCS0xd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Shane Howard (@goannafella)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Howard's heartfelt letter to the Governor-General underscores his respect for the democratic process that led to the referendum's outcome. However, he is deeply concerned that Australians may have missed "an important historical moment of destiny."</p> <p>His letter states that while he respects the democratic result, he fears Australians have missed "an important historical moment of destiny".</p> <p>"I love my birth country deeply but until we lose our colonial shackles, engage in Treaty-making with our First Peoples, commit to truth-telling about our history and embrace a post-colonial republic, I cannot be proud of my nation,” he said.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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Ted Lasso star ordered to pay massive child support sum

<p>Jason Sudeikis has been ordered to pay ex Olivia Wilde an enormous sum of child support, as a bitter two-year custody battle draws to a close. </p> <p>According to new court filings obtained by <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/09/25/jason-sudeikis-and-olivia-wilde-settle-custody-battle-actor-to-pay-27500-per-month/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em>, the<em> Ted Lasso</em> star has allegedly agreed to pay his ex $27,500 ($A42,800) per month in child support for their two kids, Otis, 9, and Daisy, 6. </p> <p>The hefty settlement has been based on Sudeikis' reported 2023 income of $10.5 million ($A16.3 million) and Wilde’s estimated income of $500,000 ($A778,000).</p> <p>“The parties agree that child support for the minor children in the amount of $27,500 per month is sufficient to maintain the needs of the minor children considering Jason’s station in life … is consistent with each child’s best interest, and application of the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate in this case,” the court papers reportedly state.</p> <p>The legal proceedings began two years ago, and took a dramatic turn in 2022 when Wilde, who was promoting her new movie <em>Don't Worry Darling</em> at the time, was served legal papers while on stage delivering a speech at CinemaCon. </p> <p>At the time, a source told <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/04/29/olivia-wilde-mortified-after-being-served-with-legal-papers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em> that Wilde was mortified over the brazen act. </p> <p>“It seemed unthinkable to her, and it took a moment to set in, but as mortifying as it was, she did not want to give a reaction,” the insider explained.</p> <p>Since then, things have improved for the couple, as they were both seen putting on a united front at Otis' soccer game in LA. </p> <p>Wilde and Sudeikis started dating in November 2011 and got engaged in January 2013. They welcomed their two kids before separating in November 2020.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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Melissa Caddick’s parents ordered to vacate

<p dir="ltr">Barb and Ted Grimley, the parents of alleged conwoman Melissa Caddick, have been ordered to vacate their daughter’s Sydney eastern suburbs property within six weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">The apartment, which is reportedly the last of Melissa’s assets to be sold, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/melissa-caddick-s-parents-at-war-with-fraud-victims">has been the subject of a long-running legal dispute</a> between her parents - who were co-owners of the Edgecliff property after buying a share in it - and her victims. </p> <p dir="ltr">Melissa disappeared in late 2020 after the ASIC raided her Dover Heights home as part of a corporate watchdog investigation into a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme, with claims that Melissa had stolen upwards of $23 million. </p> <p dir="ltr">And when it came to the apartment purchased with those funds, the Grimleys claimed that they deserved a larger share of the estate’s proceeds, while those who had suffered from Melissa’s scam argued that the earnings from the apartment’s sale should be split evenly among them. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Grimleys were refusing to leave unless they were paid a sum of $950,000 - which would see them take home most of what they’d allegedly put into the apartment’s $2.25 million mortgage. </p> <p dir="ltr">And on June 5, Federal Court Justice Brigette Markovic proclaimed that Barbara and Ted had to leave the property within a six week timeframe if they wanted to see that $950,000.</p> <p dir="ltr">More than 50 investors were being represented in the ASIC’s Federal Court case, hoping to regain the money they’d lost through the sale of Melissa’s assets. </p> <p dir="ltr">To date, Melissa’s substantial collection of designer clothing, luxury cars, jewellery, and multimillion dollar properties with stunning views of Sydney Harbour have come under scrutiny, with many facing the auction block in Sydney in a bid to repay the investors. </p> <p dir="ltr">Additionally, another order was passed down that would see them get an “interim distribution” of $3 million.</p> <p dir="ltr">Neither the Grimley’s lawyers or the investors’ opposed the “only way forward” settlement, with the latter set to take over the ownership of the controversial apartment once Melissa’s parents have vacated the premises, and will get to work preparing to sell it.</p> <p dir="ltr">And, as some have theorised, the agreement could mark the end of the ASIC investigation. However, Justice Markovice was clear that the identities of the investors would remain confidential until legal proceedings concluded, with the court hearing that they would be classified as interested parties in the following proceedings, as well as Barb and Ted Grimley. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: 9News / Nine </em></p>

Legal

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Man who killed 350 kookaburras ordered to pay fine

<p>A Tasmanian man who shot and killed 350 kookaburras because they were affecting his native wildlife has been fined $5,000 by a judge for not holding the appropriate firearms licence.</p> <p>Neil Gordon Whitford, 60, from Deviot, admitted in the Supreme Court in Launceston he shot the kookaburras over a nine-month period in 2021 using a semi-automatic rifle.</p> <p>The court heard Mr Whitford had held a Category A firearms licence since 1996, but he required a Category C licence for the rifle used to cull the birds.</p> <p>Justice Robert Pearce said during sentencing on Monday that Mr Whitford’s 15-acre rural property had been “invaded” by a large number of kookaburras in 2021 after bushfires close by.</p> <p>Justice Pearce said he could not take into account the number of kookaburras culled for sentencing.</p> <p>“Kookaburras are not native to Tasmania,” Justice Pearce said.</p> <p>"I'm advised that a cull is not unlawful … I'm dealing only with the firearms offences."</p> <p>Kookaburras were introduced to Tasmania in the early 1900s to control snakes.</p> <p>Although the birds are protected in most other parts of Australia, they are not in Tasmania, and according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmnia, there is no permit required to manage them.</p> <p>In 2020, the Greens and other bird conservationists called for a Tasmanian kookaburra cull after reports the birds’ aggressive behaviour was disrupting other native species, however, that idea was rejected by the Gutwein Liberal state government.</p> <p>Justice Pearce also said the rifle Mr Whitford used was “suitable” for pest control, but he knowingly possessed it and used it without obtaining the appropriate firearms licence.</p> <p>The court was told Mr Whitford had owned the gun for decades, but rather than disposing of it when gun laws changed in 1996, he disassembled it and stored it in a gun safe until he started using it again for pest control in 2021.</p> <p>Police located the unregistered rifle and silencer at Mr Whitford’s property on November 3, 2021.</p> <p>Justice Pearce said Mr Whitford had no relevant prior convictions, and his neighbours “attest to his skill” around pest control.</p> <p>He said there was no risk to any person or other animals in this case.</p> <p>Justice Pearce said the weapon could, however, be used inappropriately in the wrong hands.</p> <p>Mr Whitford has been given 28 days to pay his $5,000 fine.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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Husband ordered to pay for 25 years of unpaid housework

<p>A man has been ordered to pay his ex-wife a hefty six-figure sum for 25 years of unpaid domestic labour. </p> <p>Ivana Moral's ex-husband was ordered to pay her 204,624€ - or just over $327,000 AUD - in a record divorce settlement, based on the average minimum wage throughout their marriage.</p> <p>The separated couple, who live in Spain and share two daughters, took the issue to court as the ruling stated that Ivana had spent almost all of her time looking after their family and working as a housewife during their marriage. </p> <p>Ivana's husband must also pay her a pension of $797 (AUD) per month as well as $639 and $957 to his two daughters, who are now aged 20 and 14, for compensation for their childhoods. </p> <p>The mother-of-two, who married her ex in 1995 before asking for a divorce in 2020, has said she is happy with the payout after years of hard work.</p> <p>"Clearly this was a case of abuse to be completely excluded financially (by my ex-husband) with nothing left after my marriage ended, so me and my daughters were left with nothing after all these years of putting all my time, energy and love in the family," she told <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/woman-payout-unpaid-housework-record-divorce-settlement-2193153" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inews</a>.</p> <p>"I was supporting my husband in his work and in the family as a mother and a father. I was never allowed access to his financial affairs; everything was in his name."</p> <p>Since getting married and starting a family, Ivana had dedicated herself "to essentially working in the home, which meant looking after the home and the family and all that involves," the court ruling said. </p> <p>The couple's marriage was governed by a separation of property regime, which Ms Moral's husband had asked her to sign at the start of their marriage, which is similar to a pre-nuptial agreement. </p> <p>It specified that whatever each party earned was theirs alone, with them only sharing possessions, which would have left Ms Moral with no access to any of the wealth acquired through years of partnership. </p> <p>Ivana said her husband "made me take on the specific role" of doing domestic chores, to the extent that "I was in a place where I couldn't really do much else."</p> <p>She also said the sentence had made her "very happy" because it was "very well deserved".</p> <p><em>Image credits: Malaga Tribune</em></p>

Legal

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What a way to go: Beloved Law & Order Star dies at age 78

<p>Actor and comedian Richard Belzer, best known for his role as detective John Munch on <em>Law &amp; Order</em>, has passed away at 78. </p> <p>Richard died on Sunday at home in Bozouls, southwest France. Richard’s longtime friend, writer Bill Scheft, confirmed the news to <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>. </p> <p>“He had lots of health issues, Bill explained, “and his last words were, “‘F**k you, motherf**ker’.”</p> <p>Richard faced battles with his health - he survived testicular cancer in 1983 - and family tragedy through his life - both his father and brother died to suicide. His cause of death is currently unknown, but Richard is survived by his wife, actor Harlee McBride, and his two stepdaughters.</p> <p>Richard, who retired from acting in 2016, portrayed detective John Munch for 23 years from 1993 to 2016. The character spanned multiple shows, making an appearance in the likes of <em>Homicide: Life of the Street</em>, <em>Law &amp; Order: SVU</em>, <em>The Wire</em>, and <em>Arrested Development</em>. </p> <p>“I never asked anyone to be on their show," he said in 2008 to <em>The Comic’s Comic</em>. “So it’s doubly flattering to me to see me depicted in a script and that I’m so recognisable and loveable as the sarcastic detective and smart-ass.</p> <p>“Much to my delight, because he is a great character for me to play, it’s fun for me. So I’m not upset about being typecast at all.”</p> <p>Richard’s presence in Hollywood wasn’t limited to just dramas, with the actor and comedian making his name on the comedy circuit, too. He began his career in stand-up in 1972, making his big-screen debut in <em>The Groove Tube</em>, and before <em>Saturday Night Live</em>, he performed in New York on the <em>National Lampoon Radio Hour</em> with the likes of John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray.</p> <p>It was in 1975 that Richard secured a role as the warm-up comic for <em>SNL</em>. His roles were primarily cameos, and one stated that the SNL creator had gone back on a promise to work him into their scripts. </p> <p>One of <em>Saturday Night Live</em>’s original cast members, comedian Laraine Newman, took to Twitter to pay tribute to the late Richard, telling supporters that he was “one of the funniest people ever. A master at crowd work.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing. I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. We used to go out to dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay for lobster. One of the funniest people ever. A master at crowd work. RIP dearest. <a href="https://t.co/u23co0JPA2">pic.twitter.com/u23co0JPA2</a></p> <p>— Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) <a href="https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1627327574572662786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>SNL</em> cast member and host, Billy Crystal, shared Laraine’s sentiments, writing “Richard Belzer was simply hilarious. A genius at handling a crowd.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Richard Belzer was simply hilarious. A genius at handling a crowd. So sad he’s passed away.</p> <p>— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillyCrystal/status/1627370051333672960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt couldn’t contain his shock at the news, “I just always thought he’d be around ‘cause it seemed like he always was. A true original.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Aw goddamit, RIP Richard Belzer. I just always thought he’d be around ‘cause it seemed like he always was. A true original. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBelzBabe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBelzBabe</a></p> <p>— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) <a href="https://twitter.com/pattonoswalt/status/1627354718908616704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Meanwhile, actor Christopher Meloni - who is also best known for his work in the <em>Law &amp; Order </em>universe, shared a throwback pic of Richard with co-star Mariska Hargitay. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/9aQUaGh1mU">pic.twitter.com/9aQUaGh1mU</a></p> <p>— Chris Meloni (@Chris_Meloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Meloni/status/1627384361694765062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>And Mariska Hargitay herself took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to Richard about how she would dearly miss both him and his unique light, to an outpouring of love and support from fans. </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/Co2u7jQv18k/?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/Co2u7jQv18k/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mariska Hargitay (@therealmariskahargitay)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

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Melbourne suburbs ordered to evacuate

<p dir="ltr">Residents of several Melbourne suburbs have been ordered to evacuate while others across the state have been told it’s too late to leave as Victoria experiences “one of the most significant flood events” in recent history.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the Maribyrnong River in north-west Melbourne continues to rise, 42 suburbs across the city have been told to prepare for potential flooding. </p> <p dir="ltr">Those living in parts of Maribyrnong were urged to evacuate immediately by Vic Emergency as of 5.40am on Friday. Authorities have also warned residents in several suburbs in the riverine area to move to higher ground, with “flooding above floor level” in single-storey homes “likely to occur in many locations”.</p> <p dir="ltr">River levels are expected to peak above flood level on Friday morning, with levels in Keilor expected to peak at 8.7 metres and levels in Maribyrnong expected to hit 3.8 metres, according to an alert issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Bureau warned that flooding in the catchment of Deep River and the Maribyrnong River could result in “extensive inundation”, traffic disruptions and isolated properties.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee343382-7fff-e345-ff8e-cd45183ac72e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">It comes as a total of 91 flood-related warnings have been issued across Victoria, ranging in severity from Flood Watch alerts near inundated catchments to orders to evacuate immediately.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sullivans Road, Strathfieldsaye blocked by flood water <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vicfloods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vicfloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/victoria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#victoria</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bendigo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bendigo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/severeweather?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#severeweather</a> <a href="https://t.co/MLt0rCwtU0">pic.twitter.com/MLt0rCwtU0</a></p> <p>— Nicholas Nakos (@nicholas_nakos) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicholas_nakos/status/1580477701575438336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Between Thursday morning and Friday, the Victoria State Emergency Service responded to over 2500 calls for help, as staff assist in evacuating residents and clearing roads.</p> <p dir="ltr">Premier Daniel Andrews told the <em>ABC</em> that the suburbs of Benalla, Wedderburn, the Maribyrnong, Carisbrook, Seymour and Rochester were his “chief concerns”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The most important thing is just to say to people get the best information, please be aware of your circumstances,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If people are being called out driving through flood waters, that is dangerous for you and it is really dangerous for the emergency services (and the) volunteer or career staffer who has to come and save you.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e8cd8558-7fff-0b5e-b589-c9318d3b5857"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">As of 6.30am on Friday, residents in Rochester, Maribyrnong, Benalla, Carisbrook and the township of Seymour have been advised to leave immediately, with some Seymour residents told it was too late to leave just seven minutes later due to the rising Goulburn River flooding roads and bridges.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Some of the flooding at my sister’s farm outside of Bendigo, Victoria. There’s a bridge under the water somewhere. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/australia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#australia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Campaspe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Campaspe</a> <a href="https://t.co/qdpTHF4bmN">pic.twitter.com/qdpTHF4bmN</a></p> <p>— Josh (@SladdenJosh) <a href="https://twitter.com/SladdenJosh/status/1580692557301809152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">While the Bureau reports that the deluge is expected to clear from 6am on Friday, rainfall totals have peaked above 200mm in just 24 hours and broken historic October totals, including one dating back to 1863.</p> <p dir="ltr">ABC meteorologist Thomas Saunders <a href="https://twitter.com/TomSaundersABC/status/1580415225798758402" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that 76mm recorded in Mangalore exceeded records dating back to 1957, 71mm in Swan Hill is the highest total since 1884, and 66mm in Bendigo is the highest recorded since 1863.</p> <p dir="ltr">The biggest falls affected Victoria’s lower northeast, with Strathbogie North, Charnwood and Moroko Park reporting totals of 221.6mm, 209.4mm and 187mm respectively.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Thursday, Mr Andrews warned that the incoming weather event was “one of the most significant flood events” in recent history.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That will pose a real challenge over the coming days,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Victoria’s soaking comes as widespread heavy rain and flash flooding continued to threaten northern Tasmania, central Victoria, and southern inland NSW, with the Bureau predicting that the weather event will finally move offshore on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4d2b70a5-7fff-3a5b-db4f-abef7ce37485"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: The Today Show</em></p>

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Jeremy Clarkson ordered to shut down Diddly Squat restaurant

<p dir="ltr">TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been ordered to shut down his restaurant less than three months after opening it on his Oxfordshire farm without planning permission.</p> <p dir="ltr">The former <em>Top Gear</em> host opened the Diddly Squat Farm’s restaurant to rave reviews in July, but an ongoing planning row with the local council could see its doors shut permanently.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite Clarkson claiming a “loophole” meant he didn’t need planning permission to open the restaurant, it emerged on Thursday that the West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) issued him with an enforcement notice to shut it down in August.</p> <p dir="ltr">WODC claimed in the enforcement notice that the toilets, parking area, and dining space installed on the farm were “visually intrusive and harmful” to the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 62-year-old has appealed the notice, with agents at the John Philips Planning Consultancy working on his behalf saying the venue wasn’t in breach of planning laws and that the council’s decision was “excessive”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The notice comes after the council denied Clarkson’s application to create the restaurant on his farm in late 2021.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9b2a3ebb-7fff-fdb0-be39-76f68d60320b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">In July, he shared that he had found a “delightful little loophole” that allowed his plans to come to fruition, though the site of the restaurant had changed.</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/Cf9dDC7sV1d/?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/Cf9dDC7sV1d/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Diddly Squat Farm Shop (@diddlysquat.farmshop)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">While he never revealed which loophole he was referring to, the appeal lodged with council referenced permitted development rights under Town and Country Planning Order 2015, which allows landowners to bypass normal regulations if they meet certain criteria, such as changing the use of agricultural buildings to a flexible commercial use.</p> <p dir="ltr">One particular section, known as Class R, allows for agricultural buildings to be used as farm shops without permission as long as the shop doesn’t exceed 150 square meters and was in agricultural use in 2012.</p> <p dir="ltr">A “lambing shed” in a field on Clarkson’s farm has since been converted to seat seven tables of four outside, with the appeal stating that the existing planning permission gave them the right to use the farm as a restaurant and that there had been no “material change” to the land.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the council said the restaurant was an “unlawful use of Diddly Squat Farm” and that it was “unsuitable and incompatible with its open countryside location”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a3c062e-7fff-271c-4dc9-ab874b84b2eb"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The notice ordered that the restaurant be closed and that dining tables, chairs, parasols, picnic tables, and the mobile toilet be removed.</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/CjCyJ8yM1S6/?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/CjCyJ8yM1S6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Diddly Squat Farm Shop (@diddlysquat.farmshop)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">WODC told <em>The Telegraph</em> that the farm “continues to operate outside the planning permissions granted” and that “advice has been ignored”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Council officers have worked with the owner and planning agents of the business, over many months, to investigate breaches in planning control, advising on how the business can be operated in a lawful way and trying to reach a solution,” a spokesman said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is the responsibility of the Council to ensure that planning laws and processes are followed correctly.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The spokesman added that the council would “detail the breaches of planning control” as well as why the enforcement notice should be upheld and Clarkson’s appeal be dismissed.</p> <p dir="ltr">They noted that the local Cotswalds community had felt a “significant impact” from Clarkson’s activities.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although Clarkson bought the farm in 2008, it was operated by a local until the presenter retired in 2019 and decided to see if he could run it himself.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9004149d-7fff-92df-dbea-0e3e09606049"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: The Telegraph</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Aldi ordered to fork out millions in backpay

<p dir="ltr">Aldi has been found to be underpaying its warehouse staff after ordering employees to start their shift 15 minutes before they actually clock in. </p> <p dir="ltr">The German supermarket may be liable to pay millions of dollars in compensation to past and present employees after the Federal Court found Aldi breached employment laws. </p> <p dir="ltr">Judge Douglas Humphreys said that it was “clear implied direction” that employees were required to start 15 minutes prior to their shift to complete safety checks on their machines. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There was no personal benefit to the employee in the activities carried out. Each was to the benefit of the employer,” Judge Humphreys said in his findings.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In these circumstances, the court is satisfied that the activities carried out constitute work.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The SDA Union for Retail, Fast Food &amp; Warehouse Workers has further claimed that Aldi owes $10 million in unpaid wages for working an extra 10 minutes per shift. </p> <p dir="ltr">This is likely to affect 4,000 previous and present warehouse workers.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aldi has accepted the court’s findings and is currently reviewing ways to implement the payment toward affected employees but questioned the number given by the SDA. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are reviewing the implication of the court’s decision on other employees across our business and will seek to apply the principles of the court’s decision fairly to any other affected employees,” an Aldi spokesperson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Numbers quoted by the SDA are significantly inflated and are not representative of the number of employees we believe may be impacted by the decision.”</p> <p dir="ltr">NSW branch secretary Bernie Smith said they are still working on individual back payments required to their members.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Unlike the way the multinational likes to present itself in its advertisements, it turns out Aldi is not good and not different.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Multinational companies operating in Australia can’t set their own rules.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Judge Humphreys will make an order in regards to payments on Friday. </p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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By order of the Peaky Blinders, the TV show’s movie script is almost ready

<p dir="ltr">By order of the Peaky Blinders, a movie script following the popular TV show is being finalised. </p> <p dir="ltr">The gangster series dropped its sixth and final season on Netflix, but this isn't the end for fans of Tommy Shelby and his brothers. </p> <p dir="ltr">The show’s creator Steven Knight confirmed the movie script is being finalised and shooting should begin within 18 months or so.</p> <p dir="ltr">He explained that the show’s lead actor, Cillian Murphy who plays Tommy Shelby has quite a busy schedule at the moment as he films Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated Oppenheimer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re going to shoot [the movie] at the studios in Digbeth, and on-location in Digbeth and Birmingham,” Knight said on British radio station Heart FM.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Digbeth and Small Heath [are] where the Peaky Blinders actually roamed, so it’s like Peaky’s coming home.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Knight expects most of the current cast to come back for the movie but there will be “some new faces that will hopefully be quite surprising”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Peaky Blinders</em> tells the story of a notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, England, that is led by Tommy Shelby, a crime boss set on moving up in the world no matter the cost.</p> <p dir="ltr">The movie is slated for a 2024 or 2025 release. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Netflix</em></p>

TV

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Law and Order crew member shot dead on set in New York City

<p dir="ltr">A Law and Order: Organized Crime crew member has been fatally shot outside the series set in New York.</p> <p dir="ltr">Johnny Pizarro, aged 31 who was identified as the show's parking enforcer, was killed on the 19th of July, during a car ambush in Brooklyn, according to the NYPD.</p> <p dir="ltr">The father of three, was then take to Woodhull Hospital where he was pronounced dead.</p> <p dir="ltr">The murder happened around 5:15 am in the Greenpoint area when a killer opened the door of the victim's vehicle and shot him in the face and neck.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pizarro was inside his vehicle and had a traffic cone on the roof of the car at the time of the shooting. Reports claim he was gunned down while reserving spaces for filming.</p> <p dir="ltr">The NBC crime show, had been gearing up for its third season after it was renewed in May. "We were terribly saddened and shocked to hear that one of our crew members was the victim of a crime early this morning and has died as a result," NBC said.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;">"We are working with local law enforcement as they continue to investigate. Our hearts go out to his family and friends and we ask that you respect their privacy during this time."</p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"> </p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><em>Image: Fox News</em></p>

News

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Daniel Johns ordered to complete community service over drunk driving incident

<p>Daniel Johns has narrowly avoided jail time with a 10-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community over a high-range drink-driving car crash.</p> <p>The former Silverchair frontman has also been disqualified from driving for seven months and ordered to fit an alcohol-reading interlock device to his car for 24 months when he gets his driver's licence back.</p> <p>In March this year, Johns was charged with high-range drink driving after a head-on crash at North Arm Cove, north of Newcastle.</p> <p>When tested, he returned a blood alcohol reading three times the legal limit.</p> <p>The police report states that Johns was heading north when his SUV crossed onto the wrong side of the Pacific Highway and collided with a light commercial truck travelling in the opposite direction.</p> <p>Both vehicles ended up on a nearby nature strip, with the 51-year-old driver of the van and his 55-year-old female passenger being treated at the scene by paramedics. </p> <p>Johns entered rehabilitation of his own will for four weeks after the crash and the court was told he had not touched alcohol since.</p> <p>In his sentencing submission, defence lawyer Bryan Wrench said his client suffered from complex mental health issues from his time as a child musical star.</p> <p>"He was a very successful musician. He was 14 when that came to him in an unwanted fashion and that came with attacks and vitriol," Mr Wrench said.</p> <p>"He is a recluse, his house is his only safe place."</p> <p>These defence submissions are what helped Johns avoid time behind bars, as Magistrate Ian Cheetham said Johns was best served to continue with psychiatric treatment in the community.</p> <p>"There is no doubt a custodial sentence will not achieve an appropriate result for him or the community," Magistrate Cheetham said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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Law & Order actress drowns

<p dir="ltr"><em>a</em> actress Mary Mara has died aged 61 after reportedly drowning.</p> <p dir="ltr">The US actress had gone for a swim at the St. Lawrence River in the town of Cape Vincent in New York on Sunday morning when she drowned. </p> <p dir="ltr">State police received a call about 8.10am following reports of a drowning and found the body. </p> <p dir="ltr">Initial investigations suggest there was no foul play with Mara’s death with the body being taken for an autopsy. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mara’s manager Craig Dorfman confirmed the tragic death in a statement. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Mary was one of the finest actresses I ever met,” he wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I still remember seeing her onstage in 1992 in ‘Mad Forest’ off Broadway. </p> <p dir="ltr">“She was electric, funny and a true individual. Everyone loved her. She will be missed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mara had many popular roles in shows such as <em>ER, NYPD Blue, Law &amp; Order, Shameless</em> and <em>Break Even</em> and much more. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to IMDb, Mara appeared in a whopping 20 movies and 40 television shows.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mara leaves behind her stepdaughter Katie Mersola, sisters Martha Mara and Susan Dailey, brother-in-law Scott Dailey and nephew Christopher Dailey.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

News

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Introducing the latest "Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter"

<p>Celebrating a royal milestone, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is thrilled to stand alongside the Queen and Prince Charles for this special occasion.</p> <p>Camilla has been formally invited into the oldest order of chivalry in the UK, the Order of the Garter.</p> <p>The royal milestone took place in a private ceremony in the Garter Throne Room in Windsor Castle. Going forward, the duchess will be formally acknowledged as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter.</p> <p>Reportedly, the duchess was "very pleased" to have the honour bestowed upon her and to celebrate the momentous occasion, Camilla, Charles and Her Majesty appeared in a royal portrait together.</p> <p>Camilla was wearing an ostrich plume hat while she and Charles were both donned in traditional velvet robes. The Queen, who continues to struggle with mobility issues, stood in the middle of the royal couple wearing her Sovereign of the Garter sash and could be seen holding a cane.</p> <p>The official portrait is both a celebration of Camilla's achievement as well as a signal of the future of the monarchy. It comes after the Queen's announcement earlier this year that it was her "sincere wish" that <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/queen-consort-prince-charles-responds-to-her-majestys-announcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Camilla will become Queen Consort</a> once Charles takes the throne.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew was banned from appearing at the ceremony. The senior royals reportedly told Her Majesty they would "pull out" of the royal event if the disgraced prince was given a public role. They feared "backlash" and insisted the Queen change the plans.</p> <p>Andrew was told to stay out of sight "for his own good" following the tense family orders, however an unknown source close to the Duke insisted that it was his own "personal decision" not to appear in public.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Toddler orders $130 worth of McDonald's cheeseburgers

<p>A DoorDash driver handed one very confused mum 31 cheeseburgers and thanked her for leaving a generous tip.</p> <p>When Kelsey Burkhalter Golden checked her phone she realised her toddler Garrett had been “playing” on her phone, logging the large order.</p> <p>"He was really just flicking it around and making like roller coaster moves with his arms and fingers," she said. "I thought he was just looking at his reflection and carrying the phone around and about 30 minutes later, I got a text from the DoorDash company that was like, 'Hey, it's gonna take a little bit longer than usual to take your order.'"</p> <p>When the doorbell rang and Golden saw the size of the order, she was shocked.</p> <p>"So I go and open the door and there's this girl standing there and she's like, 'Your 31 cheeseburgers?'" Golden laughed. "I just stared at her awkwardly for like 15 seconds but then I just took them, like, 'Oh, thank you!'"</p> <p>"And she was like, 'Thank you for the tip!'."</p> <p>The cost of the cheeseburgers came to $US61.58, but with a $16 tip and app fees, the total came to $91.70 ($AU131.85).</p> <p>"He actually doesn't even like cheeseburgers. He ate half of one," the mum said. "We had about 30 and a half cheeseburgers on our hands."</p> <p>Trying to find a solution, Kelsey posted in a neighborhood Facebook group that she had "31 free cheeseburgers from McDonald's if anyone is interested. Apparently my 2 yr old knows how to order DoorDash," accompanied by a hilarious picture of Garrett sitting next to the stacked cheeseburgers with a smug smile on his face.</p> <p>The majority was taken by a large local family, as well as other neighbours.</p> <p>"It was an innocent thing. He was just playing with my phone," she said.</p> <p>"I don't strive too much for perfection. My kids are really super happy and that's what matters."</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Melissa Caddick’s husband ordered to vacate $15 million mansion

<p dir="ltr">Melissa Caddick’s husband has been ordered to vacate the alleged fraudster’s multi million-dollar mansion in Sydney’s eastern suburbs within the next two weeks, ahead of its sale to repay Ms Caddick’s victims.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justice Brigitee Markovic told Anthony Koletti he had to leave the $15 million property in Dover Heights by May 18, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/melissa-caddicks-husband-anthony-koletti-ordered-to-leave-15-million-dover-heights-mansion/news-story/cde0b09f71b707f8771af7237c1a0775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sky News</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Anthony Koletti is to be granted liberty to apply on two days’ written notice in respect of any dispute regarding the removal of personal property items from the Dover Heights,” Justice Markovic said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The profits from selling the home will be used to repay 74 investors who lost a total of $23 million through Ms Caddick’s Ponzi scheme.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Caddick bought the three-bedroom mansion for $6 million using misappropriated funds in 2014, which was later raided by police on behalf of the Australian Investment and Securities Commission (ASIC) in 2020. </p> <p dir="ltr">ASIC has alleged that Ms Caddick duped friends and family into <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/melissa-caddick-s-hidden-millions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investing millions</a> by posing as a financial advisor and pretending to invest clients’ money with forged CommSec statements.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court order comes two weeks after <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/melissa-caddick-s-husband-claims-millions-in-jewels-cars-homes-and-assets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mr Koletti claimed</a> his financial and non-financial contributions to the home entitled him to parts of Ms Caddick’s assets, including her fine art collection, diamond jewellery and Gucci wedding dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Koletti, who married Ms Caddick in 2013, said in his statement that he was seeking a $4 million cut from the sale of her Dover Heights property, $360,000 from luxury cars already sold, and $7 million in shares.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Caddick, who disappeared the day after the police raid and whose decomposed foot was found washed up on a NSW beach, will be the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/not-so-innocent-detail-in-cute-puppy-pic-reveals-melissa-caddick-s-huge-profits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subject of an inquiry</a> in September which could answer some of the questions about her death and disappearance.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ddc95484-7fff-963a-3e3b-eb7f82b80fb7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: news.com.au</em></p>

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