Home Blog Page 1518

Tate Brothers’ Extradition Battle: Key Dates Revealed

0

MIAMI — In a significant legal showdown, lawyers representing the controversial social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate will engage in discussions with U.S. federal prosecutors in Miami on Monday. The key agenda includes outlining a strategy for a complex and potentially lengthy extradition battle to the United Kingdom, where serious allegations of rape and sex trafficking have been leveled against the brothers.

The upcoming status conference is expected to establish a timeline for critical legal proceedings, such as setting a date for a bond hearing. This meeting will also determine deadlines for the submission of legal documents and schedule a formal extradition hearing. The Tates, who were briefly seen in court following their arrest on July 18, may soon know what lies ahead in their legal journey.

Monday’s conference will proceed without the Tates’ presence, as their legal team announced on Friday that the brothers have opted not to attend. Currently, they remain in close proximity to the courthouse, held in federal custody.

Renowned for their promotion of wealth, male supremacy, and controversial views on misogyny, the Tates have carved out a unique niche as divisive figures in the digital landscape. Once professional kickboxers, the brothers, who hold dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom, boast millions of followers and are outspoken advocates of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Despite their public displays of support, the White House has made it clear that the Tates should not anticipate presidential intervention in their extradition case. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly dismissed any notion of interference on Thursday, reinforcing the administration’s stance on allowing the legal process to unfold independently.

“No, we’ve already answered that question,” Leavitt said.

The Tates’ attorney, Joseph McBride, said after last week’s hearing that they should remain in the U.S.

“We are of course objecting to extradition because Andrew and Tristan are innocent,” McBride said. “They’ve never done nothing wrong. They shouldn’t be extradited for crimes they did not commit.”

McBride said the extradition attempt is politically motivated and suggested the case involved former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to step down, though he provided no details.

Prosecutors in Britain said the new charges relate to four new accusers and were brought after authorities received evidence from police in Bedfordshire, in southeastern England. The allegations, which span from 2010 to 2017, include rape, assault, trafficking and offenses relating to “indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.”

McBride said none of the latest accusers have been identified.

The brothers are already charged with rape, bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain relating to three other accusers in the U.K. between 2012 and 2015.

The new allegations are the latest in a long-running international legal saga involving the Tates that has spanned the U.S., Britain and Romania. The brothers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

The brothers moved to Romania in 2016 and were arrested there in 2022, accused of participating in schemes to lure women for sexual exploitation. They denied those allegations, and the Romanian case hasn’t gone forward because of legal and procedural problems.

Travel restrictions were lifted last year, and they flew to Florida.

Andrew Tate, 39, became known a decade ago when he was a contestant on the U.K. reality television show “Big Brother.” He was booted from the show when a video appeared to show him assaulting a woman.

He has amassed over 10 million followers on X but has been banned from other platforms, including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, for violating hate speech guidelines. He has made widely condemned comments, such as saying women who are sexually assaulted should bear some responsibility for the attacks and sharing graphic descriptions of how he might attack women.

The Tate brothers have consistently denied allegations of abuse and human trafficking, claiming their violent and misogynistic statements have been taken out of context or were intended as jokes.

Beloved Wildlife Presenter Bill Oddie Dies at 85: Last Heartwarming Photo Captures Him Laughing with Family

0

Renowned as Britain’s “best-loved birder,” Bill Oddie has passed away at the age of 85.

Oddie initially captivated audiences as part of the comedic trio The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. He also made significant contributions as a writer for popular shows such as That Was The Week That Was.

His fame, however, soared through his television work focused on wildlife conservation, as Oddie passionately campaigned for environmental issues and spoke openly about mental health challenges, drawing from his own experiences with depression and bipolar disorder.

Born in Rochdale and raised in Birmingham, Oddie became a cherished figure among generations of viewers, notably for his appearances on Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and his own shows like Birding with Bill Oddie and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.

The final image of the beloved bird enthusiast appeared on Instagram in September 2020. Shared by his youngest daughter Rosie in a birthday tribute to her partner, the photo captures a beaming Bill, raising a cup alongside his wife Laura and daughter.

The broadcaster’s last TV appearance was on Celebrity Britain by Barge in 2020, alongside Pete Waterman, Anne Diamond and Jennie Bond.

That year, he almost died after being poisoned by lithium, which he took to manage the mental health problems that led to a number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals, including after he was dropped from Springwatch by the BBC.

He said the BBC’s decision still pained him years later and meant he could no longer bear to watch the show he loved.

His agent today paid tribute to his friend’s ‘intelligence and wit’ following his death. The RSPCA said in a tribute to their former vice president that nature has lost one of its ‘best friends’.

Oddie is survived by his wife Laura and his three daughters, Bonnie, a choreographer, Kate, an actress, and Rosie, a musician.

Bonnie and Kate are daughters from Bill’s first marriage to jazz singer Jean Hart. Kate starred in The Krays alongside Gary and Martin Kemp and in Mona Lisa with Bob Hoskins. She uses the surname Hardie, a blend of her mother’s surname and Oddie. 

Bill Oddie, whose death was announced today, pictured with his wife Laura and daughter Rosie in the last known picture of him in 2020

Bill Oddie, whose death was announced today, pictured with his wife Laura and daughter Rosie in the last known picture of him in 2020

Bill Oddie - Britain's best loved birder - has died at the age of 85

Bill Oddie – Britain’s best loved birder – has died at the age of 85

Bill, pictured right in 1973, first found fame with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden as part of The Goodies

Bill, pictured right in 1973, first found fame with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden as part of The Goodies

Bill Oddie and his wife, Laura in the garden of their Hampstead home. He had three daughters - two from his first marriage and a third from his marriage to Laura

Bill Oddie and his wife, Laura in the garden of their Hampstead home. He had three daughters – two from his first marriage and a third from his marriage to Laura

Bill with Springwatch and Autumnwatch co-star Kate Humble. Mr Oddie rarely watched the programme due to the grief of being dropped from the BBC show in 2009

Bill with Springwatch and Autumnwatch co-star Kate Humble. Mr Oddie rarely watched the programme due to the grief of being dropped from the BBC show in 2009

In a statement, David Foster said: ‘It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder.

‘Bill was a multi-talented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist. Yet it was never fame that he valued.

‘Instead he encouraged us to respect and protect the environment.

‘He taught us the wonder of it. He protested, lobbied and campaigned for it.

‘He led the way and people of all ages and backgrounds responded to his call. And such a massive contribution to conservation will never be forgotten.

‘As Bill’s agent I witnessed close hand his intelligence and wit. He was my friend and it was an honour and a privilege to represent him for so many years. I will miss him terribly.

‘My thoughts and love are with Bill’s wife, Laura, and his daughters Bonnie, Kate and Rosie.’

A birdwatcher since childhood in Birmingham, Oddie was a respected ornithologist who became a popular broadcaster, renowned for his passion for nature and his gravelly yet gentle Brummie accent 

He was a council member of the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and The Worldwide Fund for Nature. He was also president of The Northumberland Wildlife Trust and represented many other nature organisations.

In addition, he wrote a number of books on birds and other wildlife topics.

His comic career began in Cambridge Footlights, when he started writing for shows including That Was The Week That Was.

He went on to write and appear on numerous programmes including I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again, which featured many of his comic songs.

He first found fame as a member of The Goodies and the trio earned household name status in Australia and New Zealand, as the television comedy show attracted millions of viewers in its heyday.

His songs led the Goodies to several major chart hits, most notably The Funky Gibbon.

He continued to work with his fellow Goodies on programmes including Bananaman, before turning his attention to nature shows.

Bill Oddie pictured in his 'Man of the Year' portrait in 1964

Bill Oddie pictured in his ‘Man of the Year’ portrait in 1964

The Goodies pictured together in 1981

The Goodies pictured together in 1981

Mr Oddie's breakthrough came in comedy but he moved into wildlife TV, he's great passion

Mr Oddie’s breakthrough came in comedy but he moved into wildlife TV, he’s great passion 

Mr Oddie said in 2020 he was 'knocking on Heaven's door' for almost a year after getting lithium poisoning

Mr Oddie said in 2020 he was ‘knocking on Heaven’s door’ for almost a year after getting lithium poisoning

In 1966, Oddie married Jeanne Hart and they had two daughters, Bonnie and Kate. They later divorced.

In 1983, Oddie married Laura Beaumont-Giles. They had a daughter, Rosie.

Bill struggled with mental health issues throughout his life.

Oddie spoke openly about suffering from crippling depression, and he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2009 after being dropped from the BBC show Springwatch, of which he was one of the original presenters.

He was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition where depressive periods alternate with manic activity.

Speaking in 2014, he said he still felt a lingering sadness that his days on Springwatch were cut short, and he rarely watched the programme.

He said: ‘I very much miss it, but when I do see it, it brings back many happy memories and I like to think I contributed to its success.

‘It’s still so well loved and helps encourage people to enjoy the natural world. That’s all to the good because I fear so many people wear earphones for their phones and music players that increasingly they miss out on everyday joys like birdsong.

‘My plea to people would be to ‘go naked’ occasionally – take off those earpieces so you hear nature and, of course, birdsong. You may not realise how precious it is until it’s gone.’

In 2020 he almost died after being poisoned by lithium he took to treat his bipolar and stabilise his mood.

In September that year he said he had been ‘very ill most of this summer. Lithium toxicity. Almost fatal! I am still here but very confused about most things! But then aren’t many of us. IT fuddles my brain. Confusion. Will I return? I Really dunno. I do hope so. Please wish me luck. XX.’

He had tried to take his own life twice and said that his depression was genetic, passed down on his mother’s side.

The crippling depression which saw him admitted to psychiatric hospital in 2009 – after he was dropped from Springwatch – abated in recent years, he said.

In 2014 he said he was afflicted with another problem – particularly difficult for a birder – he was going deaf. His eyesight also became poor in his fifties.

‘I first noticed it when I was out on Hampstead Heath bird watching.

‘I was stood with a friend who said a meadow pipit was going over – it makes a soft ‘seep’ sound – but I couldn’t hear it. 

‘My friend said the call was quite loud and I suddenly realised that my hearing had gone. I hadn’t suspected it at all before then but I went home and tested it by playing other high pitched bird call recordings and I couldn’t hear them either.’

His comic career began in Cambridge Footlights, when he started writing for shows including That Was The Week That Was

His comic career began in Cambridge Footlights, when he started writing for shows including That Was The Week That Was

Describing his mental health he said: ‘I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve been absolutely fine for years now and have had a good stretch.

‘I’m still on medication – lithium for the bipolar and an antidepressant which I have been on for about 10 years. It is the lithium that made the difference. Once you take something like that basically you stick with it unless you absolutely don’t need it anymore. That’s the same whether it’s psychological or physical; nobody wants to be on medication but if you know it helps and is keeping you going, why give it up?

‘I’ve got friends determined to come off whatever medication they’re on who keep causing themselves problems as they relapse – that sort of purism can be very destructive.

He added: ‘It’s undeniable that being outdoors and having an interest in the outdoors is good for mental health in general.

‘There’s no doubt that being involved with nature is good for you.’

Man Arrested for Vicious Attack on Girlfriend with Hammer

0

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – 22-year-old Jabar Darnel Colley was apprehended yesterday in connection to two incidents of domestic battery. On July 20, he allegedly struck the victim and injured her hand by slamming a door on it. A separate altercation on July 25 allegedly involved him choking the victim and brandishing a hammer menacingly.

In the first altercation on July 20, the victim recounted to a Gainesville Police Department officer that an argument with Colley escalated after she asked him to vacate her home, but he declined. During the confrontation, he is said to have initially clenched his fist but ultimately slapped her leg. As tensions rose and she attempted to leave, Colley allegedly closed the apartment door on her hand before exiting the premises.

The officer observed that the victim bore a hand-shaped mark on her leg in addition to a bleeding and swollen cut on her hand.

On July 25, the situation further deteriorated when Colley allegedly gripped the victim’s throat, obstructing her ability to breathe, and forcefully pushed her to the ground. She described a struggle that ensued, during which she managed to escape from his grasp. As she fled her apartment, Colley reportedly pursued her with a hammer, instilling fear for her safety.

The officer noted that the victim had red marks around her neck, and a hammer was reportedly found on the floor inside the residence.

Post Miranda, Colley reportedly said that he and the victim fight a lot, and the fights have gotten physical. He said the victim kicked him in the knee, and the officer noted that his knee was bleeding. Colley denied choking the victim or threatening her with a hammer during this incident, but he said he might have grabbed her by the throat in previous fights.

Colley, whose address is listed as Tampa, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic battery by strangulation, and domestic battery. His full criminal history is unavailable. Judge David Kreider set bail on the domestic battery charge at $25,000 and ordered him held without bail on the aggravated assault charge, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

NBA Champion Defies Political Norms: Leftists Backlash Over Unfiltered Commentary

0

It seems that progressives are keen on athletes, particularly basketball stars, voicing their opinions—just as long as those opinions align with progressive ideology.

During the weekend, Kyle Kuzma, a celebrated NBA player who clinched the 2020 championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, made headlines. He shared a tweet from New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), who had stirred controversy with a dramatic video labeling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal.”

Kuzma did not hold back, delivering a metaphorical slam dunk on the mayor’s pretentious display. He criticized the mayor for pretending to wield more influence than he actually does, especially with calls for the arrest of the Prime Minister.

“It’s amusing to watch people act as if they possess the authority, talent, or history to play roles they have no business assuming—all for the sake of creating content,” Kuzma pointed out. “We have a mayor masquerading as a president.”

The NBA star went on to highlight numerous instances reflecting this growing trend in the digital era, where individuals masquerade as roles they are far removed from in reality.

“We’re raising a generation that (learns) the reward isn’t in doing the thing, it’s in looking like you did the thing. The clip is the career. The pose is the product. The soundbite is the substitute for a life’s work,” he concluded. “Don’t fall for distractions.”


The Hidden Struggles Behind Finding a Stylist for Your Curly Hair Needs

0

Veronica Vazquez has been blessed with naturally curly hair all her life, though accepting it didn’t come easy.

Raised in a rural area, her curls often made her feel different from those around her.

“With everyone sporting straight blonde hair, I resorted to wetting my hair at the school drinking fountain, trying to flatten my unruly mane,” she shares with SBS News.

Her striking curls were a gift from her Spanish father, but her Malaysian mother lacked the experience and techniques needed to care for curly hair.

As a mother herself, Veronica now watches her nine-year-old daughter, Ivory, navigate similar experiences of having curly hair that sets her apart in her school environment.

She says she’s determined to break the cycle and empower her daughter to feel confident about her appearance.

A woman in a brown blazer with curly hair is talking as she sits inside a salon. There's a young girl with curly hair standing behind her.

“I just have to embrace, educate and show her all the beautiful styles that are possible with curly hair.”

For many Australians with curly, coily and afro-textured hair, finding a hairdresser with the right skills remains a challenge. Stylists say the problem starts in the classroom, where training has long failed to keep pace with the needs of textured hair.

Finding a stylist who understands curls

A horror haircut is a common experience within the curly hair community.

Unlike straight hair, curly, coily, afro or textured hair has a different structure that requires specialised cutting techniques. Experienced stylists often cut textured hair while it is dry to better understand how the curls fall and frame the face.

Vazquez and her daughter travel nearly two hours to Curl Lab in Sydney, a salon specialising in curly hair cuts and education, but she says it took years of trial and error to find the right place.

“We went to one salon, and they straightened Ivory’s hair and cut it. Unfortunately, her hair is never straight, so by the time we’ve gone home, showered, the curls bounced up and it was just chopped everywhere,” she says.

It’s really no fault of the stylist; they’re just not educated in how to cut curly hair.

Curl Lab owner Natasha Thandekafountas says the current hair education system teaches students the same cutting techniques for clients with both straight and textured or afro hair, rather than providing training tailored to different hair types.

“If you’re cutting curly hair when it’s straightened or wet, it’s going to look good until the curls bounce up,” Thandekafountas tells SBS News.

A woman with curly hair is speaking in a salon with a hairstylist attending to a client behind her.

“We like to call it the ‘Lord Farquaad’ bob, so many clients come in for us to fix that,” referring to the character from the film Shrek, who has a pageboy bob haircut.

How history shaped hair standards

The challenges faced by many people with curly and afro-textured hair are rooted in decades of beauty standards that experts say favoured straight hair.

Early anthropologists and naturalists once used the colour and texture of hair as markers of social hierarchy.

Farida Fozdar, a sociologist and professor of anthropology at Curtin University, says hair texture, much like race, was historically used to reinforce ideas about status, with so-called ‘Caucasian hair’ — blonde, light coloured or straight hair — often viewed as the ideal.

“There was a bit of a tendency to assume kinky, or curly hair was somehow abnormal or a lesser quality of hair,” she tells SBS News.

“There were a number of researchers who described it as ‘woolly’ hair, suggesting it was more like animals.”

Fozdar says those attitudes began to shift as Australia became more culturally diverse following the end of the White Australia policy and the increase in migration from the 1960s onwards.

“People who migrated in the 60s, 70s and 80s found it very difficult to find hair salons, but there is a growing awareness about the need to cater to populations who are different,” she says.

While specialist salons are now becoming more common, many stylists say education and training have struggled to keep pace with Australia’s diverse population.

Why hairdressing education is falling short

More than a decade ago, afro and curly hair education became part of the national training curriculum developed by Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA), the Jobs and Skills Council for personal services.

However, the content is delivered as optional training in some qualifications, meaning many apprentice hairdressers can complete their studies with little or no practical experience working with textured hair.

In some states, including NSW, there’s an elective unit on using a protein treatment to relax curly hair that teaches professionals to analyse hair, select products, apply heat, and smooth curls.

Amelia Canet, a curl stylist based in Sydney, says the standard hairdressing training qualification doesn’t adequately cover the basics.

A hair stylist in an all-black outfit is working on a client's hair in a salon while another client with curly hair is sitting on a chair behind her.

“There wasn’t any curl education at all. If we did have any textured clients, we were told just blow-dry them,” she tells SBS News.

Other curly stylists, like Tulsi Prasad, say they had to take matters into their own hands and teach themselves to cut and style textured hair.

“I just had to learn on my own, watch my own videos, do my own private course, but go through TAFE to learn the proper ways to do everything else,” she tells SBS News.

Salon owner Thandekafountas says she invests heavily in training because graduates often arrive without the skills needed to confidently work with textured hair. She sets aside a portion of the business budget to train new staff.

“We need to catch up. Close that gap and really have things mainstreamed,” she says.

“How come we’re not being serviced in the same way someone with straight hair is?”

It’s not just hair; it’s our identity, it’s our culture, and for so long we’ve been told that it’s too big, it’s too busy, it’s not professional. So we really want to change that image.

The push for curriculum reform

In March 2025, SaCSA began reviewing and updating its standards for some of the hairdressing and barbering qualifications to ensure they align with current industry practice and workforce needs.

Part of its proposal includes recommendations for three new units focusing on cutting and colouring curly and coily hair.

Natalie Turmine, CEO of SaCSA, says learners will also gain knowledge of the history and culture of curly and coily hair, but adds there isn’t enough demand in the industry for the units to become compulsory parts of the curriculum.

“As demand and industry become more aware and more customers are coming in and that demand builds, then we’ll be able to look at potentially building in skill sets and building it in as a mandatory part of the qualification,” she tells SBS News.

Two women in blazers with blonde hair are listening intently.

For the hairdressing industry, the recommendations represent more than just new training units — they signal growing recognition of the need for textured hair education.

Fiona Beamish, CEO of the Australian Hairdressing Council, says the proposed reforms are a significant first step and hopes the units will eventually become compulsory.

“Data tells us that we are ready for this training package to include these units and I’d like to think in the future we could have this as a mandatory training package,” she tells SBS News.

Driving change from within the industry

The push for better training comes as the hairdressing industry continues to grapple with a shortage of skilled workers.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, only 45 per cent of advertised hairdressing roles were filled in 2022-23, with 85 per cent of applicants deemed unsuitable.

A 2026 SaCSA report examining the drivers behind the hairdressing workforce shortage found the sustainability issue is largely linked to “outdated course content and insufficient workforce preparation”, raising broader questions about whether current training is meeting the industry’s needs.

Sydney hairstylist and educator Chrissy Zemura has spent years delivering private courses and professional education, and creating products for customers with textured hair.

In 2020, she started an online petition calling for a mandatory module on curly and afro-textured hair, which attracted more than 42,000 signatures.

“While the curriculum is the mountain peak, a lot has changed over the past six years, including people’s mindsets,” Zemura tells SBS News.

SaCSA says the updated training recommendations are in the final stages of review with state and federal departments. They will then be assessed by the Assurance Body before the new training package is published early next year.


Dazzling Meteor Showers: Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids Light Up the Sky This Week

0

Look up!

As the calendar flips towards the end of July, prepare for a celestial spectacle with two incredible meteor showers set to illuminate our skies.

The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids are primed to dazzle stargazers as they reach their peak brilliance consecutively from July 28 to 31.

Meteor showers occur when Earth’s journey around the sun crosses paths with a trail of debris left by passing comets or asteroids.

During these cosmic intersections, these remnants—affectionately dubbed space debris—ignite and descend through our atmosphere, resulting in the radiant streaks and fiery bursts that captivate us and spark our imaginations.

First to show up and show out this month are the Southern Delta Aquariids.

Active for around six weeks, from mid-July to late August, the Southern Delta Aquariids are born to burn from the short-period comet 96P/Macholz, which orbits the Sun once every 5.27 years.

The radiant point of this shower is in the constellation Aquarius, hence the name.

The peak for this shower, i.e., when we can expect to see the most meteors per minute, is in the evenings of July 28th and July 29th, when it will be possible to see as many as 15 meteors per hour.

Bear in mind that these streaks are typically faint, with weak trails, and visibility will be compromised this year by the light of the moon in its waxing gibbous phase.

However, the Southern Delta Aquariids have been known to surprise viewers; in 1977 and 2003, the showers produced “outbursts,” meaning a stronger-than-usual show is possible this month.

Under clear skies and away from the maddening glare of light pollution, both of these showers will be visible to the naked eye.

Experts recommend giving yourself about 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark.

While many people will reach for a telescope or binoculars, it is better to take in the entire sky rather than a small part by lying flat on your back halfway between the horizon and the middle of the sky above you and 45 degrees from Aquarius.

The Southern Delta Aquariids are best viewed in the Southern Hemisphere or along southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

If you fail to catch (pun intended) these showers, fear not; the Alpha Capricornids are closing out the month with a star show on July 30 and July 31

The Alpha Capricornids are the byproduct of the comet 169/NEAT that orbits the Sun once every 4.2 years. Their radiant point, or place in the sky from which they appear to originate, is, as the name implies, in the constellation of Capricorn.

The Alpha Capricornids are not a prolific shower (they only produce five meteors per hour at their peak), but what they lack in number, they make up for in strength as they shine exceptionally bright against the night sky.

This shower should be visible from both hemispheres, and, as with the Southern Delta Aquariids, hopeful sky watchers should seek out clear, dark skies.

Start your viewing around 10 P.M., and if you want to see as much of the show as possible, keep an eye on the sky until dawn breaks.

Meghan Encourages Heartwarming Garden Tradition with Archie & Lilibet: A Lesson in Nature’s Sweet Rewards

0

Meghan Markle recently revealed to viewers of MasterChef Australia that when her children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, ask for dessert, she encourages them to ‘pick’ fresh fruit from their own garden.

In an episode aired in Australia on Sunday, the 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex spoke fondly about the expansive garden at their extravagant £23 million Montecito estate, describing it as a ‘nice luxury’.

The former star of Suits shared how she is nurturing healthy habits in her children by guiding them to choose ‘a nice piece of fruit’ after dinner, enhancing their meals with nature’s bounty.

‘The kids are great eaters, we’re very fortunate in that regard,’ Meghan expressed to judges Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow, and Sofia Levin.

‘They get very involved, particularly with the garden,’ Meghan explained further. ‘It’s such a wonderful luxury to have so much space and access to fresh ingredients to cook with.’

‘If they say “Mama, can I have dessert?”, we say “If you can pick it, you can have it,”‘ Meghan said with a flourish, when Sofia interjected with: ‘You can’t pick chocolate!’

‘No, you can’t pick chocolate, but you can pick a nice piece of fruit,’ Meghan retorted, before seemingly backtracking to clarify ‘we always have a nice, as my husband would say, pud’.

Meghan has previously revealed Archie and Lilibet, who were recently reunited with their grandfather King Charles in the UK, sell produce from their garden at a local farmer’s market so that they understand the ‘value of things’.  

Meghan Markle told MasterChef Australia audiences that she encourages her children to 'pick' fruit from their garden when Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, ask for dessert

Meghan Markle told MasterChef Australia audiences that she encourages her children to ‘pick’ fruit from their garden when Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, ask for dessert

The former Suits actress shared she is trying to foster healthy eating habits in both her children by sending them out to 'pick a nice piece of fruit' after dinner. Pictured: Archie and Lilibet on an Easter egg hunt in one of Meghan's holiday snaps from April

The former Suits actress shared she is trying to foster healthy eating habits in both her children by sending them out to ‘pick a nice piece of fruit’ after dinner. Pictured: Archie and Lilibet on an Easter egg hunt in one of Meghan’s holiday snaps from April 

In an interview with British-born fashion entrepreneur Emma Grede, the Duchess said she tries to keep her children grounded by getting them to do gardening, admitting they are ‘very lucky’ to live in a ‘privileged’ home.

Meghan was one of the guests on Emma’s ‘Aspire with Emma Grede’ podcast last June, when she revealed: ‘We grow a lot of veggies. We sometimes do a little farmers’ market stand.’

The Duchess also revealed that she and Harry want Archie and Lilibet to know the value of money.

She said: ‘There’s a cost and a price for things, and I think that’s key for children to understand, especially children who are very lucky to have a home that has privilege, you need to know that just like manners, and taking care of the things around you, there is a value on things.

‘Gardening is really, really so great for children because it teaches them patience and teaches them to value and appreciate their food.’

Elsewhere during Meghan’s MasterChef guest spot yesterday, the Duchess shared that Prince Harry, who surprised Meghan with a FaceTime call while she was judging the final dishes, is ‘a real meat and potatoes guy’.

When asked about his spice tolerance, Meghan confirmed the duke can ‘handle a really good curry’. 

The moment on Sunday night’s episode came when series judge Jean-Christophe asked Meghan about the dish she loves cooking at home most. 

Meghan replied: ‘It’s a tough one because I have a lot of palates to appease. My husband, being from the UK, loves a lot of meat, potatoes, cream sauce.

‘As a California girl, I like a grilled fish, grilled meats, citrus. I just like using lots of really pure natural herbs and spices. I like heat in my food, anything with spices.’

After trying a contestant’s celeriac-based dish, Meghan, who refers to Prince Harry as ‘H’, said: ‘I mentioned my husband was a real meat and potatoes guy. This feels like the most elegant, elevated version of that. H would love this dish.’  

A producer then said: ‘Sorry to interrupt. We’ve had a phone call to the studio,’ as Meghan proceeded to FaceTime Harry as a treat for the Australian viewers. 

In what has been labelled by fans as a ‘cringe’ cameo, Meghan said: ‘My husband’s here,’ prompting cheers and shocked faces from contestants.  

Meghan with MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow on last night's episode

Meghan with MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow on last night’s episode 

‘G’Day! What’s going on? Have I interrupted something important here?’ Harry joked.

‘Well, we are actually in the middle of tasting all the dishes. We have four incredible cooks here! It’s amazing, they are so talented!’ Meghan replied.

‘I can see the chandeliers in the background; they look very nice… wonderful!’ Harry said.

He then asked to see the contestants’ dishes and Meghan panned the camera over them.

‘I wish you could try these. These dishes are fantastic,’ she cooed, before showing him the food. Harry signed off by telling her to enjoy it, adding: ‘Very sorry to disturb.’

During last night’s episode, contestants were asked to transform one of Meghan’s handpicked ingredients into a dish ‘fit for a duchess’. 

The ‘bounty’ included Australian honey, macadamia nuts, citrus, edible flowers and celeriac, as well as Brussels sprouts when Meghan boasted Archie and Lilibet had no problem eating the divisive food. 

‘My kids eat Brussels sprouts,’ Meghan told the judges, before Levin added ‘that’s impressive’. 

The Duchess, whose Netflix series With Love, Meghan was recently nominated for a Daytime Emmy, also had a few words of wisdom for the contestants as she acknowledged ‘there is a lot of pressure in this kitchen’.

‘I don’t like to cook that way, I like to cook in a really relaxed fashion,’ she said. ‘So, all I can say to the competitors was to just remember to have fun, to keep a sense of humour about it, and to cook from the heart.’

Meghan added that ‘food and cooking are how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family and my kids’ in another sweet nod to her and Prince Harry’s children. 

She told the contestants: ‘The hope is that you’ll really hone in on one [item] as your hero item. These are all things that, for me, feel really nostalgic. And I love if there’s a connection that you can find when, as you’re cooking something, you ask: what is the story behind it? It almost feels like an heirloom, right? What is something from your family or from a memory, something sentimental that we can also taste as we taste your dish?’

Meghan has said her love of good food and Australia were the two reasons she chose to be a guest judge on the country’s biggest cooking show.

‘What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? Two things: my love of food and my love of Australia. It was an easy yes,’ she said in a press release announcing the broadcast date.

‘It’s such a great show. I’m just really honoured that I was asked to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals.’

Meghan earned a surprise Daytime Emmy nomination for her Netflix cooking series With Love, Meghan, eight years after she reportedly ‘politely turned down’ an invitation to the awards.

She launched the first series on the streaming platform in March 2025, alongside unveiling her lifestyle brand As Ever.

A second series and Christmas special followed, with the mother-of-two offering hosting tips and cooking lessons from a rented multimillion-dollar mansion near the Montecito home she shares with Harry.

Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial Sparks Tense Courtroom Clash Over 911 Call and Crime Scene Photos

0

This article includes discussions on suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial has been finalized, marking a significant step in the case of the Massachusetts mother charged with murdering her three children. Her defense argues that extreme postpartum psychosis drove her to the tragic acts within the family’s home.

This diverse jury, comprising 12 women and six men, was finalized in Plymouth Superior Court on Thursday, setting the stage for opening arguments to commence on Monday. The trial will primarily focus on determining Clancy’s legal liability for her actions rather than the fact that she caused the children’s deaths.

Clancy, once a labor and delivery nurse at the renowned Massachusetts General Hospital, maintains her innocence against charges of multiple counts of murder and strangulation. These relate to the deaths of her children: Cora, who was 5 years old, Dawson, aged 3, and Callan, just 8 months old.

Lindsay Clancy

Lindsay Clancy was indicted on three counts each of murder in the 2023 deaths of her 5-year-old daughter Cora, 3-year-old son Dawson and 7-month-old son Callan. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via Pool)

Her attorneys do not dispute that she killed the children but plan to argue that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and lacked criminal responsibility. Prosecutors allege the killings were intentional and carefully planned.

“It is usually a hard battle to win,” criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno told News Media of the defense’s insanity bid. “But given the fact that she has such a documented history of treatment and going to doctors and being diagnosed and seeking out more treatment when she wasn’t doing well, I think she can lay the groundwork for it.”

Rotunno said Clancy’s attorneys are likely to emphasize that her condition allegedly continued to deteriorate even as she sought medical help.

“She continued to get worse. She continued to seek treatment,” Rotunno said, pointing to reports that Clancy discussed hearing voices and was prescribed several medications before the children’s deaths.

Clancy’s prior work as a nurse could cut both ways at trial. Prosecutors may argue that her medical background made her more capable of understanding her treatment and actions, but Rotunno said the defense could use the same fact to demonstrate the severity of her alleged psychosis.

“She was a nurse and still so out of it that she didn’t know she shouldn’t be taking all this stuff,” Rotunno said. “That, to me, doesn’t play into the intention on this. It’s the total opposite.”

Lindsay Clancy

Lindsay Clancy with two of her three children in this undated photo. (Lindsay Marie Clancy/ Facebook)

Authorities said Patrick Clancy left the family’s Duxbury home on Jan. 24, 2023, to pick up takeout food and an item from a pharmacy.

While he was gone, prosecutors allege, Lindsay Clancy used exercise bands to strangle the children before jumping from a second-story window in an apparent suicide attempt.

The fall left her paralyzed, and she now uses a wheelchair.

Cora and Dawson were pronounced dead after being taken to a Plymouth hospital. Callan was flown to Boston Children’s Hospital and died several days later. The medical examiner determined that Cora and Dawson died from asphyxia and that Callan died from complications of asphyxia.

Lindsay Clancy's blue, two story house.

Exterior view of the home of Patrick and Lindsay Clancy in Duxbury, MA on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Lindsay Clancy, 32, allegedly killed their three children here before attempting to take her own life on Jan. 24, 2023. (David McGlynn for News Media)

Clancy’s mental condition in the months and weeks before the killings are expected to become the central battleground at trial.

Her attorneys say she sought help repeatedly as she struggled with depression, sleeplessness, suicidal thoughts and voices urging her to harm herself and the children.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital weeks before the deaths and was prescribed several medications as providers attempted to treat her worsening symptoms.

According to lawsuits filed by Lindsay and Patrick Clancy against her medical providers, she heard a voice on the day of the killings telling her it was her “last chance” to kill the children and herself.

The lawsuits accuse her providers of failing to properly diagnose, treat and monitor a severe postpartum psychiatric condition.

Lindsay Clancy

The defense is expected to argue Clancy lacks criminal responsibility because she suffered from postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via Pool)

Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan ruled Friday that the media and public may not record, display, reproduce or distribute Patrick Clancy’s initial 911 call or autopsy photographs of the children.

The ruling came after Patrick requested that the evidence be shielded by media dissemination.

Reporters may also describe what is heard or shown in court but cannot broadcast or publish the recording or images themselves, according to the two-page order.

Lindsay Clancy's backyard, filled with children's toys.

Exterior view of the home of Patrick and Lindsay Clancy in Duxbury, MA on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (David McGlynn for News Media)

The privacy dispute produced a heated courtroom exchange Thursday after the jury was seated.

Patrick Clancy asked Sullivan to limit the public and media’s ability to record, broadcast or distribute his initial 911 call, family and crime-scene photographs of the children, autopsy images and the clothing the children were wearing.

His attorney, David Meier, said the request was not intended to close the courtroom, prevent jurors from seeing the evidence or interfere with either side’s case. Instead, he argued that allowing the materials to circulate online would cause lasting emotional harm to Patrick Clancy.

Lindsay Clancy confers with her lawyer, Kevin Reddington

Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, and the witness list contains more than 200 names. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via Pool)

Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, supported Patrick’s request and accused prosecutors of planning to present the evidence in a manner designed to “inflame” the jury.

“Even though we’re in a court, let’s talk a little bit about humanity,” Reddington said. “Let’s talk a little bit about how we should try this case.”

Reddington said Patrick had suffered “one of the worst tragedies that anyone could ever suffer” and was attempting to rebuild his life.

“How that guy is still not an emotional basket case is beyond me. But nevertheless, he is trying hard to move on with his life. He has, as the court is aware, divorced. He’s remarried. He has a family. He has his extended family,” he said.

Lindsay and Patrick Clancy

Lindsay and Patrick Clancy with two of their three children in this undated photo. (Lindsay Marie Clancy/ Facebook)

Reddington accused the prosecution of trying “to put a circus in front of this jury” and later called its approach “reprehensible.”

“The district attorney wants to put that guy on the witness stand and show little onesies with bodily fluid of his child?” he said.

Sullivan interrupted and reminded Reddington that the issue before the court was whether the media could record or distribute the evidence, rather than whether prosecutors could introduce it at trial.

Sprague began responding that the defense wanted to “rush past what happened to these children” and “whitewash away what happened,” but Sullivan cut off the exchange.

Superior Court Judge William Sullivan

Superior Court Judge William Sullivan presides over day three of jury selection Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in the triple murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of murdering her three young children in 2023 in their Duxbury, Massachusetts home.  (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via Pool)

Reddington argued that calling one first responder after another would produce cumulative testimony intended primarily to stir jurors’ emotions.

“The Commonwealth did not choose the number of victims. The defendant did,” Sprague responded. “The Commonwealth did not choose the ages of the victims. The defendant did.”

Opening statements are scheduled for Monday morning at 9 a.m.

NYC High-Rise Residents Face Daily Struggles as Malfunctioning Elevators Force Stair Climbing

0

Sometimes, opting for the stairs might just be the safer bet!

In Queens, inhabitants of a particular rental complex are voicing concerns over the elevators, which they describe as not only frightening but also cacophonous, an ongoing issue spanning a decade. Just last month, residents experienced being trapped inside these precarious lifts three separate times.

These glitches plague two rent-stabilized, budget-friendly buildings at Hunter’s Point South in Long Island City. There are merely nine elevators serving nearly 1,000 apartment units, and locals report that these elevators frequently malfunction, occasionally lacking air conditioning or functional intercoms.

The misadventures with these elevators have become so routine that getting stuck is almost considered “a rite of passage,” according to Matt Aaron, a leader of the tenant association who has called this place home since 2018.

“If you’re stuck, too bad,” remarked the 37-year-old Aaron, noting the disturbing fact that the emergency call button doesn’t always connect residents to the help desk in times of need.

“The management said they are monitoring the cameras … but the front desk staff has to attend to other duties,” he added.

“When there is a problem, they don’t take us seriously.”

Two of the nine long-plagued elevators finally received an upgrade last month after a cable snapped and trapped a woman and child between floors in 2024 — but even the upgraded cars have since trapped other victims, tenants said.

“None of the elevator buttons worked,” said one resident, who said she was trapped in an upgraded elevator on June 14.

She was able to use the call button to call the front desk — which allegedly alerted the elevator company before the FDNY.

“Eventually they got no response from the elevator company — makes sense, it was 11 p.m. — so they called the FDNY, and they broke me out a few minutes later,” she said.

Several residents lamented to The Post about recurring outages, leaving some lifts to only stop at certain floors. They are routinely out of service altogether, residents said.

“One of the elevators, for a good couple weeks, was literally dropping, like a bungee cord,” resident Chris Szeles said.

Szeles, 56, said she was stuck for more than an hour when the problems began 10 years ago — and now she and her husband try to avoid taking the elevators.

“My husband takes the stairs when he can now, 29 flights,” she said. “He’ll be 60 next month. I have a bad knee.”

A request for comment from the building’s management, Related Companies, was not immediately returned.

A previous tenant of the building, who moved out in 2015, said her apartment shared a wall with the elevator — and that she was kept awake by vibrations and the sound of “clinking, clanking, screws turning.”

Department of Buildings inspectors have issued at least four elevator-related violations to the development, including one as recently as April.

Residents said the perennial problem has led to late after-school pickups, 3 a.m. laundry runs and wait times of up to 45 minutes for elevators to arrive.

Aaron noted that, when the elevators are late during the morning rush, tenants must often shell out on pricey Ubers to work — and during outages, the complex’s elderly and disabled tenants are left stranded.

Longtime resident Frank Llewellyn, 77, a campaign treasurer for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said he had to walk up to the sixth floor with “bad knees” when all elevators that went to his floor were down.

“It took me about 35 minutes,” he said, “because I do them one step at a time.” 

“For people who are disabled, elevators are their lifeline,” Aaron said.

Related, which received subsidies from the city for the development, stayed silent on the issue for years until the elevator cable snapped in 2024, the tenant leader said.

Residents held a media rally soon after to advocate for the much-needed repairs, and the announced upgrades this summer served as a beacon of hope — until the most recent string of outages renewed their concerns.

“When you get in these elevators, it’s sad to say, you make sure you go to the bathroom because you don’t know how long it will take,” Aaron said.

Tragic Crash: Pastor’s High-Speed Drive at 104mph Ends in Daughter’s Death

0

A youth pastor from Florida faces serious charges following an incident where authorities allege he was driving under the influence at a staggering speed of 104mph, resulting in a crash that took the life of his daughter. 

The pastor, 38-year-old Joel Leiniz, was taken into custody on July 19, nearly half a year after the tragic death of his eight-year-old daughter, Zoe, in West Palm Beach.

Court documents reveal that on January 17, Leiniz was behind the wheel of a 2017 Audi Q7, carrying his three children, when he collided with a concrete pole just before 10pm, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The pastor recounted to police that his family was en route from a church concert to a Mexican restaurant on the evening of the crash.

Leiniz reported that while attempting a lane change, an unexpected vehicle suddenly emerged in his path, prompting him to swerve. He lost control and hit the pole, resulting in the vehicle catching fire.

‘He did not recall how fast he was driving or what the speed limit was, but did not think he was speeding because he had kids in the car,’ the probable cause affidavit said.

The family of four was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and Zoe was pronounced dead as a result of injuries she sustained in the collision.

The vehicle’s event data recorder showed the car was speeding at 104mph in a 40mph zone about five seconds before the crash, according to the affidavit.

Joel Leiniz, 38, was arrested after police say he was speeding at 104 mph and intoxicated when he crashed his car, killing his young daughter

Joel Leiniz, 38, was arrested after police say he was speeding at 104 mph and intoxicated when he crashed his car, killing his young daughter

Leiniz told police he was driving from a church concert to a Mexican restaurant when he swerved into a pole and killed his eight-year-old daughter, Zoe

Leiniz told police he was driving from a church concert to a Mexican restaurant when he swerved into a pole and killed his eight-year-old daughter, Zoe 

Leiniz said he was attempting to change lanes when a car suddenly appeared in front of him, so he swerved and lost control of the vehicle

Leiniz said he was attempting to change lanes when a car suddenly appeared in front of him, so he swerved and lost control of the vehicle

At the hospital, testing showed Leiniz had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.083, which is slightly above Florida’s legal limit of 0.08, according to the affidavit.

Additional toxicology reports led investigators to determine that Leiniz was impaired at the time of the collision.

Leiniz was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence manslaughter.

At his court appearance on Monday, Leiniz’s attorney pleaded with the judge for a reasonable bond because he is a newly-widowed single father, CBS 12 reported.

‘Mr. Leiniz is a grieving newly-widowed father in addition to the devastating family tragedy that happened at the time of the accident,’ his lawyer, Anthony Genova, said.

‘You see less than a year before this terrible crash, his young wife died a slow death of cancer and he was the sole caretaker, which depleted his savings.’

Leiniz’s wife, Sasha Leiniz, died on January 26, 2025, according to a GoFundMe for her daughters. The couple shared three children, Esperanza, Zoe and Izabel.

Leiniz also told the judge he resigned from his job in January to spend more time with his family.

Additional toxicology reports led investigators to determine that Leiniz was impaired at the time of the collision

Additional toxicology reports led investigators to determine that Leiniz was impaired at the time of the collision

At his court appearance on Monday, Leiniz's attorney pleaded with the judge for a reasonable bond because he is a newly-widowed single father

At his court appearance on Monday, Leiniz’s attorney pleaded with the judge for a reasonable bond because he is a newly-widowed single father

Leiniz's wife, Sasha Leiniz, died on January 26, 2025 after  battling cancer. The couple shared three children, Esperanza, Zoe and Izabel

Leiniz’s wife, Sasha Leiniz, died on January 26, 2025 after  battling cancer. The couple shared three children, Esperanza, Zoe and Izabel

His LinkedIn profile describes him as a youth pastor and stated that he works as a ministry director at New Covenant Church.

Leiniz pleaded not guilty and was released on Monday after posting a $150,000 bond, Palm Beach County Jail records show. His next court date has not been listed.

A GoFundMe was also set up for the family after the crash.

‘As they continue to heal both physically and emotionally they are also grieving the unimaginable loss of their beloved daughter, Zoe,’ the fundraiser said.

‘There are no words that can fully capture the depth of this sorrow, yet we trust that God is near to them in this season of heartbreak.’

The Daily Mail contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Leiniz’s attorney and New Covenant Church for comment.