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Fallout after French President shoved in the face by wife

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron has found himself at the centre of an unexpected media storm after a moment of apparent tension with his wife, Brigitte Macron, was caught on camera as the couple disembarked from a plane in Hanoi.</p> <p>Arriving on Monday for a six-day tour of Southeast Asia, the Macrons made headlines not for diplomacy, but for a brief, seemingly physical exchange at the top of the aircraft stairs.</p> <p>Brigitte, 72, dressed in a striking red suit, appeared to shove her husband’s face with both hands as the cockpit door opened – just as members of the international press and Vietnamese officials looked on.</p> <p>The 47-year-old president appeared visibly taken aback, momentarily flustered before regaining his composure. He smiled awkwardly and waved before descending the stairs without his wife, who remained momentarily behind, partially obscured by the fuselage and refusing to take his arm.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rwST8m0dRlM?si=Q9p9oNRkdbPSqowR" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>When questioned about the moment, Macron dismissed it with a laugh, telling reporters, “We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife. I’m surprised by it – it turns into some kind of global catastrophe where people are even coming up with theories to explain it. It’s nonsense.”</p> <p>The Elysee Palace echoed the president’s tone, describing the incident as “a moment of closeness” and “a laugh” shared between the couple before beginning their official engagements.</p> <p>Still, the footage quickly went viral on social media, prompting a flurry of speculation, jokes and criticism. While some observers saw it as harmless marital banter, others questioned the optics and tone, calling it an “embarrassing” spectacle for the French head of state.</p> <p>Gilbert Collard, a former member of the European Parliament, sarcastically commented, “Everyone is laughing,” referencing the well-known age gap and history of the couple, who met at a Jesuit high school where Brigitte was Macron’s drama teacher. He was 15 at the time.</p> <p>Social media users piled on, with one post noting, “Looks like even world leaders have to navigate a little domestic turbulence! Just goes to show, no matter how high you fly, there’s always someone to keep you grounded.”</p> <p>Others shared screenshots of Macron’s seemingly clenched jaw and balled fist in the seconds following the push, scrutinising his body language in search of deeper meaning.</p> <p>The Hanoi visit marks the first by a French president in nearly a decade, aimed at bolstering France's diplomatic and economic presence in the region – especially in its former colony. Yet for now, global attention remains fixed not on policy, but on a fleeting, dramatic moment between two of Europe’s most scrutinised public figures.</p> <p>As the tour continues, so too does speculation about what really happened on those stairs – and whether the Macrons will manage to shift the narrative back to matters of state.</p> <p><em>Image: YouTube</em></p>

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"We are deeply sorry": Qantas faces record-breaking penalty ruling

<p>Qantas could be forced to pay more than $121 million in penalties after the High Court unanimously rejected its appeal over the illegal outsourcing of more than 1,800 ground workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>A three-day Federal Court hearing began in Sydney on Monday to determine the financial penalty for the airline’s 2020 decision, which has been ruled to contravene the Fair Work Act.</p> <p>During the hearing, Qantas People Manager Catherine Walsh acknowledged the company’s wrongdoing and expressed regret over the years-long legal battle and its impact on affected workers. “We are deeply sorry, and we apologise for the impact on the workers, the TWU, to the court for their time, and to the family and friends that felt the impacts,” she said. “We hope we can get to the stage where there can be some finality for them in this.”</p> <p>However, the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) continued to press Qantas on its internal decision-making and corporate culture. Barrister Noel Hutley SC challenged Walsh over the airline’s motives and the role senior managers played in the decision to outsource jobs, suggesting the move was driven by a desire to sidestep potential protected industrial action.</p> <p>“It is extraordinary that nothing was said about a matter that was obviously an illicit reasoning for outsourcing,” Hutley said, questioning whether Qantas leadership ever scrutinised the justification for the move.</p> <p>Hutley argued that the outsourcing had caused “massive or irreparable harm” to workers, many of whom had been loyal, long-serving employees. He described the case as the “largest ever instance” of contravening the Fair Work Act and urged the court to impose the highest penalty available.</p> <p>The TWU has formally called for Qantas to be fined the maximum $121 million, in addition to a $120 million compensation fund already being administered to affected workers.</p> <p>“Not only was it an appalling act to get rid of a loyal workforce, it was the biggest case of illegal sackings in Australian corporate history,” said TWU national secretary Michael Kaine in a statement. “The penalty to Qantas must reflect this and send a message to every other company in Australia that you cannot sack your workers to prevent them from using their industrial rights.”</p> <p>Kaine also criticised current outsourcing arrangements, citing severe understaffing and high turnover among external contractors like Swissport. “This cannot be a business case for outsourcing,” he said. “Qantas should not only pay the maximum legal penalty for its actions but commit to funding fair standards throughout its supply chain.”</p> <p>The Federal Court had previously found that Qantas’ outsourcing was driven, at least in part, by a desire to avoid industrial action – a motivation that breached employee protections under the Fair Work Act. The airline lost its appeals in both the Federal and High Courts.</p> <p>Following the High Court’s ruling, the airline entered mediation with the TWU to determine the extent of financial compensation owed to the dismissed workers. The hearing before Justice Michael Lee continues this week.</p> <p><em>Image: Qantas</em></p>

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Coalition faces leadership crisis after devastating defeat

<p>The Coalition is reeling from a crushing federal election defeat that has triggered a leadership vacuum, widespread soul-searching, and an urgent need for reinvention. After suffering an historic landslide loss, the party is now sifting through the wreckage of what many insiders are calling one of the most chaotic and miscalculated campaigns in recent memory.</p> <p>Opposition Leader Peter Dutton fronted the media on election night to accept responsibility for the outcome, which saw the loss of several senior Liberal figures and a significant erosion of the party's base.</p> <p>"There are good members, good candidates who have lost their seats or their ambition. And I'm sorry for that," Dutton said in a sombre concession speech.</p> <p>Nationals leader David Littleproud pointed to what he described as a brutal character assassination campaign by Labor, which he claimed rendered Dutton "unelectable in his own electorate and across the country".</p> <p>But political analysts say the problems run much deeper than Dutton’s public image. Nine’s national affairs editor Andrew Probyn argued that the Coalition failed to present a coherent and inspiring vision to voters, despite widespread discontent over cost-of-living pressures.</p> <p>Among the missteps was a proposal to end remote work for public servants – a plan that was swiftly abandoned early in the campaign – and a pledge to cut 41,000 public service jobs. The job-slashing rhetoric drew uncomfortable comparisons to the political style of Donald Trump, a connection reinforced by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s controversial “make Australia great again” remark.</p> <p>“Restoring a viable opposition will start with recognising what went wrong,” Probyn said. “And it’ll need a new leader who’s prepared to take the party in a new direction.” Among those tipped to contest the leadership are Angus Taylor, Andrew Hastie, Sussan Ley and Dan Tehan.</p> <p>Former Coalition Minister Christopher Pyne echoed calls for change, urging the party to shift back towards the political centre if it hopes to win back mainstream support.</p> <p>Treasurer Jim Chalmers, fresh from Labor’s emphatic win, said voters had rejected what he termed the Coalition’s “backward-looking pessimism”.</p> <p>Nine political editor Charles Croucher said the result reflected a “seismic shift” in the electorate. “Labor ran a very disciplined campaign, surprised the electorate with tax cuts, and executed brutally effective attacks on Peter Dutton,” he said.</p> <p>Croucher also pointed to external factors that compounded the Coalition’s woes, including the global impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs and the party’s faltering stance on nuclear power. “For the Coalition, the campaign was disastrous,” he said. “Bad plus bad plus bad equals really bad for Peter Dutton.”</p> <p>As the dust settles, the Coalition must not only choose a new leader, but also decide what kind of party it wants to be in a rapidly changing political landscape.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC News</em></p>

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Cruise passenger facing life sentence after onboard discovery

<p>A Brazilian passenger has been charged with drug-related offences after authorities discovered a significant quantity of cocaine hidden in his cruise ship cabin upon docking in Sydney Harbour on Saturday.</p> <p>The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege that the 48-year-old man had concealed 10kg of cocaine within the ceiling cavity of his room aboard the vessel, which had arrived from Argentina. During a search conducted by Australian Border Force (ABF) officials, officers reportedly uncovered 28 individually wrapped parcels of the substance, which tested positive for cocaine.</p> <p>In addition to the drugs, authorities also discovered "body packing material" hidden in the ceiling cavity and the wardrobe. According to the AFP, such materials are commonly used by drug couriers attempting to smuggle narcotics across international borders and security checkpoints.</p> <p>An examination of the suspect’s mobile phone allegedly revealed further evidence linked to drug trafficking. The AFP subsequently charged the man with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.</p> <p>AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy highlighted the potential impact of the drug haul, noting that the seized cocaine could have been distributed in 10,000 individual street deals, with an estimated street value of $3 million.</p> <p>“This amount of cocaine could have been sold in the community as 10,000 individual street deals of 1 gram for about $3 million,” Cressy stated. “Drug traffickers are motivated by greed, and they do not care about the harm they cause. These drug deals put pressure on the health system.”</p> <p>The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that between 2022 and 2023, there were more than two hospitalisations per day in Australia due to drug-related incidents.</p> <p>ABF Superintendent Matt O’Connor acknowledged the increased risk of drug smuggling during the cruise season but reassured the public of law enforcement's vigilance in tackling such operations.</p> <p>“The cruising season brings with it additional opportunities for criminal syndicates to attempt to smuggle illicit drugs into the country; however, Border Force officers are very attuned to their pivoting tactics,” O’Connor said. “Our ABF officers process and border-clear thousands of passengers and crew members on every international cruise ship which arrives into Sydney and are ready to respond to any threat which may present itself.”</p> <p>The accused is set to appear in court as investigations continue into the broader implications of the smuggling attempt.</p> <p><em>Images: Australian Federal Police</em></p>

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Bruce Lehrmann faces fresh charges

<p>Bruce Lehrmann has found himself back in court over charges of stealing a car in Tasmania. </p> <p>The former Liberal staffer fronted Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday morning over allegations of stealing a Toyota Prado.</p> <p>The court heard the 29-year-old was alleged to have stolen a car from Mountain River, about 30km from Hobart CBD, on November 20th.</p> <p>Mr Lehrmann did not enter a plea and his matter was adjourned until June 19th. </p> <p>In a statement to <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/bruce-lehrmann-faces-motor-vehicle-stealing-charge-in-tasmania/news-story/d3500e0dea6d7cdb069b453022846e32" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> the state’s Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management said Mr Lehrmann was arrested in December over the charges. </p> <p>“A 29-year-old man has been charged with motor vehicle stealing in relation to a matter at Mountain River on 20 November 2024,” it said.</p> <p>“He was arrested, charged and bailed on December 2nd 2024.”</p> <p>As part of his strict bail conditions, Mr Lehrmann has been ordered to not contact two women named in the proceedings.</p> <p>The Hobart court appearance is the latest in a seemingly never-ending legal battle for the law student and former federal government adviser, after last year when he was found by a Federal Court judge to have raped his one-time colleague Brittany Higgins in March 2019.</p> <p><em>Image credits: MICK TSIKAS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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TV star shot in the face at husband's birthday party

<p>Actress Christy Carlson Romano has opened up about a terrifying accident that left her fearing for her life. In a candid video shared with her 735,000 Instagram followers, the former Disney star revealed that she was shot in the eye while participating in a clay pigeon shooting activity for her husband Brendan Rooney's birthday.</p> <p>Romano explained that an unidentified member of their party "unsafely fired in the wrong direction", resulting in her being struck in the face. Displaying her injuries on camera, she showcased a visibly bruised eye and disclosed that she sustained multiple hits, with one fragment landing only centimetres from her right eye.</p> <p>Recalling the ordeal, Romano shared that her husband immediately rushed her to the hospital. Medical professionals determined that a fragment was still lodged behind her eye, but said it was too risky for surgical removal at the time. She also pointed out another fragment embedded in her forehead.</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/reel/DF0dgT5uibG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF0dgT5uibG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Christy Carlson Romano (@thechristycarlsonromano)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Despite the severity of the incident, the actress reassured her fans that she could still see normally and was under medical supervision. "With everything that happened, all I can think about is how grateful I am to be alive," Romana wrote. "I love my daughters, husband, family, and friends so much. I saw my life flash before my eyes and I’m telling you, hug the people around you every chance you can. Life can change in an instant."</p> <p>Fans and fellow celebrities quickly flooded her post with messages of support, and hours later Romano took to her Instagram Story to express her gratitude, writing, "This has been scary and your positivity is meaningful to my healing."</p> <p>Romano, who rose to fame in the early 2000s with roles in Disney Channel’s <em>Kim Possible</em> and <em>Even Stevens</em> alongside Shia LaBeouf, has since transitioned into podcasting. She currently hosts "Vulnerable", a show where she discusses personal and industry-related topics.</p> <p>Married to producer Brendan Rooney since 2013, the couple shares two children together. As Romano continues to recover, fans remain hopeful for her swift and full healing.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Andrew O'Keefe faces more drug charges

<p>Troubled former TV host Andrew O'Keefe has once again faced court over allegations of driving under the influence of drugs. </p> <p>Andrew O’Keefe, 53, was stopped at 11:30am on July 28th for random testing while driving his Mercedes in Rose Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.</p> <p>Police say he recorded a positive result for the roadside drug test, while he returned a negative result for the roadside breath test.</p> <p>The former <em>Deal or No Deal</em> host was taken to Waverley Police Station where he underwent a second oral fluid test that returned another positive reading.</p> <p>He was charged with driving a vehicle with an illicit drug present in his system.</p> <p>The former host of The Chase was represented by his lawyer Jahan Kalantar in Waverley Local Court on Monday, where Magistrate Stephen Barlow adjourned the matter until early next month.</p> <p>O’Keefe will remain out on bail.</p> <p>The new charge comes after O’Keefe received a 30-month community corrections order and $2,500 in fines after pleading guilty to drug-related offences in October last year.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Channel Seven</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

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Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness rumoured to face "messy" divorce

<p>Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have yet to file for divorce, according to the Daily Mail. </p> <p>Insiders told the publication that their split could get "messy" as the former couple struggle to divide their estimated $250 million fortune. </p> <p>They are now planning to file in New York "in the next couple of weeks."</p> <p>"One of the biggest reasons why they haven’t yet filed is that they never had a prenup," the source told the Daily Mail. </p> <p>"When they got married, they thought it would be forever. Who doesn’t? At the time, neither of them expected Hugh’s career to get as enormous as it has.</p> <p>"Because there was no prenup, and he made a fortune during their marriage, this divorce is not going to be cut and dry. It may even get messy because the stakes are high.</p> <p>"A lot of moving parts need to be worked out and there is a huge amount of money involved.</p> <p>The insider insisted that the couple both want to "make this as easy as possible," but after three decades together and Jackman's huge rise to fame, "it’s not quite that easy."</p> <p>Furness and Jackman announced their <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">split</a> in September 2023, and not long after, rumours of the <em>Wolverine</em> actor's new relationship with Broadway co-star Sutton Foster started emerging, with the pair finally confirming their romance last week. </p> <p>His new relationship has reportedly added to the growing tension between Jackman and Furness, who had struggled with "resentment and an imbalance of power" towards the end of their marriage. </p> <p>The division of assets, including their properties in East Hampton, New York, Sydney, and Manhattan, is also complicated by the fact that they are "no longer friends". </p> <p>"Hugh and Deborra-Lee are cordial to each other, but they are no longer friends," the insider said.</p> <p>"They put their differences aside to co-parent and he cares a lot about is children."</p> <p>The insider clarified that there was no overlap with Jackman and Furness by the time he started dating Foster. </p> <p>Just a few days ago, Furness said that she was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/deborra-lee-furness-reacts-to-hugh-jackman-s-new-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relieved </a>to see images of Jackman and Foster as it finally confirmed her "suspicions" that the pair would get together. </p> <p><em>Image: Guerin Charles/ABACA/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

Relationships

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The Block billionaire faces unlawful lottery charges

<p>Adrian Portelli has responded after being charged by South Australian authorities for unlawful lottery. </p> <p>The billionaire his business Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which trades as LMCT+, have had charges brought against them by South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services.</p> <p>The charges come just days after the 35-year-old was praised for <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/the-block-billionaire-s-generous-christmas-stunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giving away $150,000 </a>in grocery vouchers at two Coles in Western Sydney. </p> <p>Portelli has been charged with nine counts of conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery, while his business has been charged with 10 counts of the same offence.</p> <p>He has since responded to the charges, writing  “It’s okay SA we still love you," in a post shared to his business Instagram account. </p> <p>“Your gambling commissioner won’t allow you to win major life-changing prizes so I’ve decided to run exclusive, DAILY $1000 cash giveaways to you guys instead,” he added. </p> <p>“We still love you and I’ll definitely be visiting to do more grocery voucher handouts.”</p> <p>His business, LMCT+, is a shopping tool and rewards club which has three membership tiers that all offer different prizes for their regular giveaways. </p> <p>The first prize in these giveaways can range from a new car to major cash prizes of $500,000 and $1,000,000, with each membership tier having different benefits including the amount of entries into the giveaways. </p> <p>Consumer and Business Service alleged unlawful lottery activity occurred between January 29, 2023, and May 16, 2024.</p> <p>The matter is set to be mentioned in Adelaide Magistrate’s Court on January 15.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Sixteen people missing after tourist yacht sinks

<p>Egyptian officials have confirmed sixteen people are missing after a tourist yacht capsized in the Red Sea after being struck by strong waves. </p> <p>The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers saved 28 people from the sinking vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.</p> <p>The Egyptian Navy warship El Fateh and military aircraft have intensified their efforts to locate the missing, with rescue teams working around the clock.</p> <p>A total of 44 people were on board the yacht, including 13 Egyptians, and 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.</p> <p>The governor confirmed that 16 people are still missing, including four Egyptians and 12 foreign tourists. </p> <p>The boat had no technical issues, while passengers onboard said the reason behind the sinking was a strong wave that hit the boat, causing it to capsize. </p> <p>The governorate received a report shortly before dawn on Monday of a distress call made from the yacht, which had left Marsa Alam for a five-day journey.</p> <p>The Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.</p> <p>The boat is the second vessel to sink in the area this year. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Disgraceful": Government red tape causes funeral to be cancelled

<p>A local council has cancelled a funeral just 24 hours before it was set to take place due to government red tape. </p> <p>Ever since Shellharbour local Judy passed away, her brother Ron had been working hard to give her a decent send off. </p> <p>However, less than one day before her planned funeral, the Shellharbour Council cancelled the service over an unpaid burial fee. </p> <p>Ron had been liaising with two government agencies to get payment to council for the burial, which <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/sydney-council-cancels-funeral-after-government-fails-to-pay-burial-fee-on-time/60cfa883-6a45-4ff7-badd-1a2e4c52b6aa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a> said was a matter of one government organisation waiting for a simple sign off from another government agency.</p> <p>Confirmation of the payment came through just one day after the funeral should have gone ahead.</p> <p>Ron was left heartbroken over the cancellation and said the council was "very disrespectful" in their dealings, and said he is owed an apology. </p> <p>"Disgraceful in fact. Low-life mongrels to do that to any family in this sort of situation," Ron told <em>ACA</em>.</p> <p>He says the most devastating part was calling family one by one, including Judy's intellectually disabled son, to deliver the news, as he recalled, "He was in tears. I had to get his support worker over just to calm him down."</p> <p>Shellharbour City Council told <em>A Current Affair</em> via email it was "unable to grant interment rights which are legally required before a burial because the fee hadn't been paid".</p> <p>They went on to say in a statement, "Shellharbour City Council acknowledges the complexity of the burial process and apologises for the hurt the family has experienced."</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair </em></p>

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"Lots of NDAs": Channel Nine could face class action

<p>Channel Nine could face a class action over <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/damning-report-exposes-toxic-workplace-culture-at-channel-nine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegations of bullying</a>, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct, according to one of Australia's leading employment lawyers Josh Bornstein. </p> <p>Bornstein told<em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/channel-nine-could-face-class-action-over-allegations-of-bullying-sexual-harassment-and-inappropriate-conduct/news-story/7e7f5979007ae16ae81621e48e48acab" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> news.com.au</a></em> that a class action might be an option for men and women who were the victims of a "hostile workplace". </p> <p>“There is a provision of the Sex Discrimination Act that is relatively recent and was introduced as a result of the Respect At Work changes,” he said.</p> <p>“It is a new provision that says that it’s a breach of the Act for an employer to maintain a workplace that is hostile for women.</p> <p>“So in light of the report, which indicates widespread bullying, sexism, punishment, sexual harassment, and favouritism of male reporters over female reporters getting access to stories, there is at least the basis on which to start considering whether a class action could be brought.”</p> <p>Bornstein is the principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn, a law firm that has won more than  $4.3 billion in settlements for clients since their inception in 1998. </p> <p>“If the report is right, it’s systemic, which means many women have been impacted, and they’ve been subjected to an environment that’s hostile to them because of their gender, and if they’ve been harmed by that, a class action could give them some form of redress," he added. </p> <p>However, one of the complications would be the nondisclosure agreements some of the women may have signed before leaving the companies. </p> <p>“I’m aware there’s lots of NDA, particularly at Nine, and lots of releases as well.</p> <p>“A class action just requires a sufficiently large enough group of affected people who come together to lodge a case that says, ‘This is the sort of workplace environment we’ve been subjected to’.</p> <p>“They have to show that they’ve been subjected to the sorts of behaviours that are dealt with in the report and that or that adverse conduct was based on their gender, and then if they were able to show that the law had been breached, then compensation would be based on individual harm.”</p> <p>He added that in his opinion, while it might be better "for women to band together to pursue a collective case" it may be a bit more difficult as "there’s a fear that if you take on commercial networks, that’s the end of your career," which he said is a "well founded" fear. </p> <p><em>Image: FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Legal

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Qantas faces the music for selling seats on cancelled flights

<p dir="ltr">Qantas has been fined a whopping $120 million for purposefully misleading customers on flight bookings for several years. </p> <p dir="ltr">After being sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over dishonest conduct relating to the sale of tickets on cancelled flights, the airline admitted they were deceiving travellers by continuing to sell tickets on flights that had already been cancelled. </p> <p dir="ltr">On Tuesday, Justice Helen Rofe formally ordered Qantas to pay a $100 million fine for their conduct, and another $20 million to travellers who were affected. </p> <p dir="ltr">Qantas agreed to pay $225 to affected customers on domestic flights and $450 on international flights.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This is a substantial penalty, which sets a strong signal to all businesses, big or small, that they will face serious consequences if they mislead their customers," ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement following the court orders.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, Cass-Gottlieb described Qantas’ conduct as “egregious and unacceptable”, after data showed that between May 2021 and August 2023, the airline sold tickets on cancelled flights to more than 86,000 customers.</p> <p dir="ltr">In addition to cancelling the flights, the airline also failed to inform travellers that their flights were no longer going ahead as scheduled. </p> <p dir="ltr">ACCC barrister Christopher Caleo claimed that some senior airline managers knew about different aspects of the issue, including the fact that cancelled flights were not removed from booking pages or that customers could still book those flights, but no single manager was aware of the severity of the issue. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Qantas was aware of deficiencies in their systems," Caleo said. "Despite their awareness, it persisted over an extended period of time and affected a large number of consumers."</p> <p dir="ltr">Caleo added that the sizable fine presented to Qantas was required in order to deter them from any further devious conduct. </p> <p dir="ltr">"A penalty must send a signal to other companies in Australia, particularly to other large companies, that contraventions of Australian consumer law will not be tolerated," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It must sting and must not be an acceptable cost for Qantas for failing to have systems in place."</p> <p dir="ltr">Qantas said it has made changes to its systems and agreed to notify customers of cancelled flights no longer than 48 hours from cancelling a flight and stop selling tickets for those journeys within 24 hours, with these changes also taking effect with subsidiary Jetstar.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The fact that Qantas made these changes makes it clear that Qantas wants to avoid the matter from occurring again," barrister Ruth Higgins said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

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Police commissioner faces his son's killer in court

<p>The South Australian police commissioner has faced the young man accused of killing his son in a hit and run in an Adelaide court, sharing an emotional statement about his family's grief. </p> <p>Randhawa, 19, was behind the wheel when he struck Charlie Stevens, 18, who was out celebrating schoolies with his friends. </p> <p>Randhawa has pleaded guilty to aggravated driving without due care and leaving an accident scene after causing death, as Charlie died from his irreversible brain injuries following the crash. </p> <p>“Not a single day goes by when we don’t talk about Charlie, when we don’t talk about him together, there is not a day when we don’t shed a tear thinking about our son and how much we miss him,” Commissioner Grant Stevens said. </p> <p>“Charlie would have been 19 on the 28th of April this year, but instead of celebrating it, it took all our efforts just to get through the day. And we know that that grief is with us for the rest of our lives.”</p> <p>Mr Stevens then addressed Randhawa directly as he said, “We acknowledge you have taken responsibility for what you have done and we are sure this has been difficult for you.”</p> <p>“But you get to move on and the people close to you still have you in their lives. We don’t have Charlie and we want you to remember that.”</p> <p>Charlie’s sister Sophie Tregloan also addressed Randhawa, saying, “Do I hate you? Yes, I absolutely do – but what I hate most is what you’ve taken from myself and my family.”</p> <p>“You have taken so much from us in a split second dumb decision. It’s Charlie’s heart I will miss the most. He was kind, inclusive of all, a pillar of strength.”</p> <p>Randhawa then delivered an emotional apology to the Stevens’ family, saying, “You’re always on my mind and so is Charlie and you will be forever.”</p> <p>“There’s so much I’d like to say but mostly I want to say I’m sorry, and I’m sorry Charlie.”</p> <p>Judge Joanne Tracey is still considering an appropriate sentence for Randhawa, who is out on bail.</p> <p><em>Image credits: SA Police / Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Offering end of life support as part of home care is important – but may face some challenges

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jennifer-tieman-378102">Jennifer Tieman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></p> <p>Earlier this month, the government announced <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-government-has-a-new-plan-for-residential-aged-care-heres-whats-changing-238765">major changes</a> to aged care in Australia, including a A$4.3 billion <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-the-governments-home-care-changes-mean-for-ageing-australians-238890">investment in home care</a>.</p> <p>Alongside a shake up of home care packages, the Support at Home program will include an important addition – an <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/support-at-home-fact-sheet.pdf">end of life pathway</a> for older Australians.</p> <p>This pathway will allow access to a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/features">higher level</a> of in-home aged care services to help Australians stay at home as they come to the end of their life. Specifically, it will provide an extra A$25,000 for palliative support when a person has three months or less left to live.</p> <p>This is a positive change. But there may be some challenges to implementing it.</p> <h2>Why is this important?</h2> <p>Older people have made clear their preference to remain in their homes as they age. For <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269216313487940">most people</a>, home is where they would like to be during their last months of life. The space is personal, familiar and comforting.</p> <p>However, data from the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/research/classifying-place-death-australian-mortality-statistics">Australian Bureau of Statistics</a> shows most people who die between the ages of 65 and 84 die in hospital, while most people aged 85 and older die in residential aged care.</p> <p>This apparent gap may reflect a lack of appropriate services. Both palliative care services and GPs have an important role in providing medical care to people living at home with a terminal illness. However, being able to <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/815-dying-well.pdf">die at home</a> relies on the availability of ongoing support including hands-on care and assistance with daily living.</p> <p>Family members and friends often provide this support, but this is not always possible. Even when it is, carers may <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38533612/">lack confidence and skills</a> to provide the necessary care, and may not have enough support for and respite from their carer role.</p> <p>The palliative care funding offered within Support at Home should help an older person to remain at home and die at home, if that is their preference.</p> <p>Unless someone dies suddenly, care needs are likely to increase at the end of a person’s life. Supports at home may involve help with showering and toileting, assessing and addressing symptoms, developing care plans, managing medications, wound dressing, domestic tasks, preparing meals, and communicating with the person’s family.</p> <p>Occupational therapists and physiotherapists can assist with equipment requirements and suggest home modifications.</p> <p>End of life supports may also involve clarifying goals of care, contacting services such as pharmacists for medications or equipment, liaising with organisations about financial matters, respite care or funeral planning, as well as acknowledging grief and offering spiritual care.</p> <p>But we don’t know yet exactly what services the $25,000 will go towards.</p> <h2>What do we know about the scheme so far?</h2> <p>The Support at Home program, including the end of life pathway, is scheduled to start from <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/support-at-home-fact-sheet.pdf">July 1 2025</a>.</p> <p>We know the funding is linked to a prognosis of three months or less to live, which will be determined <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-15/new-payment-aims-to-make-it-easier-for-people-to-die-at-home/104347984">by a doctor</a>.</p> <p>Further information has indicated that an older person can be referred to a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/features">high-priority assessment</a> to access the end of life pathway. We don’t know yet what this means, however they don’t need to be an existing Support at Home participant to be eligible.</p> <p>The pathway will allow 16 weeks to use the funds, possibly to provide some leeway around the three-month timeline.</p> <p>Although more details are coming to light, there are still some things which remain unclear.</p> <p>Home care providers will be looking for details on what can be covered by this funding and how they will work alongside primary care providers and health-care services.</p> <p>Older people and their families will want to know the processes to apply for this funding and how long applications will take to be reviewed.</p> <p>Everyone will want to know what happens if the person doesn’t die within three months.</p> <h2>Some challenges</h2> <p>Ready availability of appropriate supports and services will be crucial for older people accessing this pathway. Home care providers will therefore need to assess how an end of life pathway fits into their operational activities and how they can build the necessary skills and capacity.</p> <p>Demand for nurses with palliative care skills and allied health professionals is likely to increase. Providing end of life care can be <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33096682/">especially taxing</a> so strategies will be needed to prevent staff burnout and encourage self-care.</p> <p>How pathways are implemented in rural and remote areas and in different cultural and community groups will need to be monitored to ensure all older people benefit.</p> <p>Effective coordination and communication between home care, primary care and specialist palliative providers care will be key. Digital health systems that connect the sectors could be helpful. Family engagement will also be very important.</p> <p>Escalation pathways and referral pathways should be established to enable appropriate responses to emergencies, unexpected deterioration, and family distress.</p> <p>Finally, <a href="https://bmcpalliatcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12904-023-01155-y">accurately determining</a> when someone will die can be difficult. Knowing when the last three months of life starts may not be easy, particularly where frailty, cognitive issues and multiple health concerns may be present.</p> <p>This might mean some people are not seen as being ready for this pathway. Others may not be willing to accept this prognosis. An older person may also be expected to live with a terminal illness for many months or years. Their palliative care needs would not be met under this pathway.</p> <p>Despite these challenges, the announcement of an end of life pathway within the home care program is timely and welcome. As a population we are living longer and dying older. More details will help us be better prepared to implement this scheme.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/239296/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jennifer-tieman-378102">Jennifer Tieman</a>, Matthew Flinders Professor and Director of the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </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/offering-end-of-life-support-as-part-of-home-care-is-important-but-may-face-some-challenges-239296">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Retirement Life

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Red tape threatens to remove a man with Down's syndrome from his elderly mother

<p>An elderly mother and her disabled son are at risk of being separated over the woman's aged care home's red tape. </p> <p>Anne Deans, 81, moved into an aged care facility in July and hoped that she would be able to bring her son, Mark, who suffers from Down's syndrome with her. </p> <p>Mark, 56, has always lived with his mother, and despite his disability, has lived a full life and has dabbled in acting, appearing on Aussie TV hit <em>Blue Heelers</em>.</p> <p>But now, the mother and son have been left in limbo by a bureaucratic battle. </p> <p>Despite the family's history and Mark's disability, the government refuses to fund a place for Mark at Anne's aged care home, stating that aged care is "not an appropriate service for people aged under 65".</p> <p>"People with Down's syndrome have a life expectancy of 60 years. That's if we're lucky. So Mark is experiencing all of the age issues that my Mum is," Mark's sister Sharon said.</p> <p>Sharon and her sister Michelle have been lobbying on Mark's behalf, with Michelle saying, "I don't know why it's so hard. There's so much red tape."</p> <p>"There's so many hills to jump, just to have a mum and a son together. It doesn't make any sense."</p> <p>Anne is digging in and appealing to the Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells for help. </p> <p>"I brought him up all these years, and all of a sudden someone's going to walk in and take him out," Anne told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/victoria-red-tape-threatens-to-tear-man-with-disability-from-his-mum/df4ef75b-6df1-4507-8a73-dfae0b258e08" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>.</p> <p>"It is damn ridiculous. They should open up their eyes and see what it's doing. He's not going anywhere. I don't know how I'm going to stop it, but I will."</p> <p>In a statement, Ms Wells said, "While Aged Care is generally not suitable for people under the age of 65, we recognise there are exceptional circumstances where people may need to enter aged care before this age, including when there is no suitable accommodation for them."</p> <p>"The New Aged care Act includes exceptional circumstances for people to enter Aged Care before they turn 65, including when they would otherwise be at risk of homelessness."</p> <p>"There are processes in place to support people to explore their options and ensure they have safe and appropriate accommodation."</p> <p>"We encourage Mark to continue to work with Ability First Australia and the Aged Care Assessment Teams to explore all the options."</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair </em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Never been seen before": Fergie reveals new details from 9/11 near miss

<p>Sarah Ferguson, affectionately known as Fergie, has taken to Instagram overnight to share new details of her 9/11 near miss. </p> <p>24 years on, the Duchess of York, who has previously revealed that she was meant to be in the World Trade Centre's North Tower when the plane struck the building, has shared more details of the day.</p> <p>Fergie recalled how her friend, billionaire businessman Howard Lutnick, gave her an office on the 101st floor of the World Trade Centre at the time, for her charity Chances for Children. </p> <p>The charity's logo had a mascot called Little Red, which was eventually made into a doll for a child named PJ who survived the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombings.</p> <p>On the day of the 9/11 attacks Fergie was due to attend a meeting in the office, but was running late because of an earlier engagement, so she was still on route to the building when the terrorists struck. </p> <p>"I was driving in the car and I was late for work... and Little Red was found in the rubble," she said in the video. </p> <p>Fergie opened a box to reveal her own Little Red doll that survived the attacks. While she has previously talked about the doll, this is the first time she revealed what it looked like. </p> <p>"A fireman picked her up, carried her out, like the fireman that picked up PJ all those years ago in the Oklahoma City Bombing," she continued. </p> <p>"And CNN filmed it and said, 'Look, a child's doll.' And Larry King said, 'That's no child's doll. That's Fergie's Little Red' and she stands for children's rights all over the world and she's a sign of hope for children.</p> <p>"What no one has ever seen before and I would like to share this with you is the actual doll that survived in 9/11.</p> <p>"So here, I have it at home. Normally I talk about Little Red and here is the actual doll that survived.</p> <p>"You can see the dust from the building — that's never been seen before.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_xjdvMKSCn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_xjdvMKSCn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sarah Ferguson (Fergie) (@sarahferguson15)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"And I hope Little Red will be talked about all over the world because she's just a very strong, stoic little person."</p> <p>She also shared that on the day, Little Red "sat on her desk overlooking Manhattan on that fateful day when the towers came down."</p> <p>"She came down through the rubble and landed fully intact," she wrote.</p> <p>"Little Red was carried out of the rubble in the fireman's hat exactly as PJ, a child burn victim, was carried years earlier in the Oklahoma City bombing, where the doll was first inspired to bring hope during difficult times and raise money for aid.</p> <p>"Little Red now sits in the 9/11 memorial museum and serves as a reminder of hope within the darkness. We will #neverforget," she continued before encouraging her followers to donate to the Cantor Relief Fund, to support families affected by disaster. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Paul Hogan's grandson facing jail over airport robbery

<p>Paul Hogan's grandson is facing charges after breaking into a secure room at Sydney Airport, just months after avoiding jail on other charges. </p> <p>Police have alleged that Jake Paul Hogan had housebreaking tools in his possession on August 10th when he broke into a secure employee bike rack room in the carpark of the Sydney International Airport.</p> <p>It was there he allegedly stole a custom bike worth $5,000, before returning just three days later with the same housebreaking tools and two black mountain bikes which are suspected to have been stolen.</p> <p>Mr Hogan was charged with six offences related to the break-ins on August 28th, when he was already in custody on remand over separate allegations of breaking and entering.</p> <p>The charges come just three months <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/turn-his-life-around-paul-hogan-s-grandson-set-to-be-released-from-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after</a> the 34-year-old was released from prison after 57 days behind bars. </p> <p>At the time of his release, Hogan broke down in court after learning that his father has moved to Sydney to support him in living a life without crime when he leaves jail.</p> <p>His father Todd Hogan, who is the son of the Crocodile Dundee star, flew back from New Zealand to support his son at the sentencing, in which he was sentenced for breaking into apartment buildings to fund his “high-level drug habit” and for breaching a court order against an ex-girlfriend in May. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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Veteran Seven journalist faces fresh allegations of inappropriate behaviour

<p>Veteran journalist Robert Ovadia is facing allegations from another 13 women of inappropriate conduct after claiming he was unlawfully <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/veteran-seven-reporter-sacked-over-misconduct-allegations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sacked</a> from Network Seven.</p> <p>Ovadia was let go from Seven on June 21st after working with the network for 23 years, when he was fired with immediate effect after it was revealed he was part of an investigation by the ABC’s <em>Four Corners</em> program into the alleged <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/bombshell-allegations-of-toxic-channel-seven-workplace-aired" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toxic</a> culture at the Seven Network.</p> <p>After he was let go, the <em>7News Sydney</em> journalist launched civil legal action against his former employer saying he was fired unlawfully. </p> <p>On Thursday, Network Seven’s lawyer Vanja Bulut told the Federal Court that the Network terminated Ovadia’s employment because of a “number of images sent to a former colleague”, who was a graduate news producer. </p> <p>Ms Bulut said the termination was also due to the “sending (an image) of a man’s genital to a colleague”.</p> <p>The Network is defending the decision to “summarily terminate” Mr Ovadia without notice, with Ms Bulut noting further allegations had arisen supporting that decision.</p> <p>“Subsequent to (Mr Ovadia’s) dismissal, 13 more females have come forward with complaints in regard to his conduct and they are subject to that investigation,” Ms Bulut told the court.</p> <p>“He has been written to setting out the additional allegations that have come out subsequent to the dismissal, and to the extent that those allegations are reported in documents. Even if they (Seven) didn’t have a basis to primarily terminate the applicant’s employment at that time, the conduct that has come to light subsequently does provide a basis,” she said.</p> <p>In a statement made after court, Mr Ovadia denied the claims against him, saying, “The claims are baseless and Seven has never provided evidence despite repeated requests.”</p> <p>“Even today, no evidence to support any of this - just a dirty tactic to try to bully me away from defending myself.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Seven </em></p>

Legal

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