lonely – USMAIL24.COM

Inside ‘lonely’ Grealish international breakthrough… while fans can’t stop eyeing his hair

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:57:19 +0000

“LONELY” Jack Grealish has mesmerized fans with the mystery of his perfect hair – even UNDERWATER.

The Manchester City hero shared incredible photos of his solo situation as he misses two prestigious friendlies in England due to special training.

Fans were amazed that Jack Grealish made his hair look good, especially underwaterCredit:

Grealish needs distraction even while he is recoveringCredit:

The Man City hero’s followers are in awe of his perfect hairCredit:

Grealish is aiming to get back into top form this monthCredit:

Etihad boss Pep Guardiola wants the winger to finally overcome his injury problems during additional rehabilitation this month.

And Grealish showed himself sitting at the bottom of a pool amid what he called a “lonely month on the way home”.

But amid an outpouring of well-wishes, many of his 9 million Instagram followers seemed more fascinated by the way the 28-year-old kept his hairstyle even when he was “practically drowning.”

His appearance remained unchanged regardless of his fitness training.

In the tomb where people were sacrificed so that deceased loved ones would not be lonely

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 03:24:50 +0000

A chilling tomb full of gold has been discovered in the jungles of Panama, where a terrifying ritual of human sacrifice once took place.

Archaeologists have unearthed the ancient cemetery that was built so that the rich and powerful dead would not have to suffer a lonely afterlife.

Archaeologists have discovered a terrifying grave in the Panamanian jungleCredit: Ministerio de Cultura de Panama

Among the human remains and ancient artifacts were several gold piecesCredit: Ministerio de Cultura de Panama

A gold plate, freshly excavated from the siteCredit: Ministerio de Cultura de Panama

The grave was found in the jungle of central Panama

Located in the El Caño Archaeological Park in the Natá district, Coclé province, the tomb was the resting place of a young gentleman from about 750-800 AD.

In the ancient Coclé culture, which existed between 200 B.C. and 1550 AD. In Panama, elite individuals did not have to worry about eternal loneliness.

Instead, archaeological evidence from ancient cemeteries suggests that Coclé leaders and nobility were sometimes buried together with their companions.

The chosen persons, usually their favorite wives or servants, were sacrificed as part of the funeral Fashion history.

A K-Pop Star’s Lonely Downward Spiral

Jeffrey Bailey — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:27:05 +0000

The K-pop star looked utterly drained. Her face scrubbed of makeup, Goo Hara, one of South Korea’s most popular musical artists, gazed into the camera during an Instagram livestream from a hotel room in Japan. In a fading voice, she read questions from fans watching from around the world.

“You going to work, fighting?” one asked.

In halting English, she gave a plaintive answer: “My life is always so fighting.”

By the time she climbed into bed at the end of the livestream in November 2019, she had reached a low point after a lifetime of struggle. As a child, she was abandoned by her parents. Her father at one point attempted suicide. After grueling training, she debuted in a K-pop group at 17, early even by the standards of the Korean hit-making machine.

With the group, Kara, she found international fame, and Ms. Goo became a regular on Korean television, eventually anchoring her own reality series. But with celebrity came ravenous attacks on social media from a Korean public that is as quick to criticize stars as it is to fawn over them. Following a sordid legal fight with an ex-boyfriend, the harassment only intensified, as commenters criticized her looks, her personality and her sex life.

On Nov. 23, 2019, less than a week after her Instagram appearance, she posted a photo of herself tucked in bed, with the caption “Good night.”

The next day, she was found dead in her home in Seoul.

Ms. Goo’s suicide, at the age of 28, shocked South Koreans. But it was just one of several among young Korean entertainers in recent years. Weeks before Ms. Goo’s death, one of her best friends, a fellow K-pop star known as Sulli, 25, also died by suicide. And last year, two performers — Jung Chae-yull, 26, an actress at the start of a promising career, and Moonbin, 25, a member of the K-pop band ASTRO — were found dead within days of each other.

The deaths have exposed a darker side to South Korea’s entertainment industry, a cultural juggernaut whose crushing demands often fall on the performers who fuel an insatiable assembly line of pop bands and streaming series.

The industry represents an extreme version of a pressure-packed South Korean society pummeled by educational, economic and other stresses. The country has the highest suicide rate among the world’s wealthiest nations, with the gap especially stark for women.

In the K-pop world, the squeeze starts early. Many young recruits are isolated from their families and deprived of the socialization that is essential to adolescence. They are often told what they can and cannot do in public — down to what they can eat, whether they can date and how they can interact with others.

Acknowledging the heavy strains, Hybe, the agency that represents wildly popular acts like BTS and NewJeans, recently began allowing trainees to take extended mental health breaks, and last month, it announced the industry’s first in-house psychiatric clinic.

It is impossible to know whether such measures could have helped Ms. Goo. Before she died, she had already attempted suicide at least once. On top of the online harassment and troubles with her ex-boyfriend, she was having difficulty as a newly solo artist replicating the skyrocketing success she had enjoyed with Kara, which disbanded in 2016.

“Her work as a K-pop star got a lot of love and attention from fans,” Goo Ho-in, Ms. Goo’s older brother, said in an interview in Seoul. But once she went solo, “she worked less and less and she spent more and more time alone at home. So she received less and less love and attention from other people and she struggled, because she is someone who needs a lot of love and attention.”

‘Who Else Can Understand Us?’

Goo Hara’s life was precarious almost from the start.

When she and her brother were in elementary school, their mother left them to be raised by their father in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Not long after, Mr. Goo found his father passed out and foaming at the mouth after he had swallowed more than 20 sleeping pills. “What made her so broken is her environment growing up,” Mr. Goo said of his sister.

The siblings moved in with an aunt, an uncle and younger cousins, but they always felt like a burden, Mr. Goo said. Their father, who survived the suicide attempt, left to work construction jobs around the country and visited his children only three or four times a year, Mr. Goo said. Through Mr. Goo, the father declined a request for an interview.

When Mr. Goo moved in with another uncle, Ms. Goo stayed with their aunt and enrolled in a local dance school for students who aspired to K-pop stardom. As she recounted in a TV documentary, she would often practice until 11 p.m. “I went to classes even when I was sick and had nosebleeds,” she said. “If I didn’t practice, I got nervous.”

Their father reappeared suddenly when the siblings were in their teens, telling them to pack up for a move to Seoul, where they met a new stepmother, Mr. Goo said. It had been years since they had heard from their mother, who is named only as Ms. Song in redacted court documents. She could not be reached for comment.

Ms. Goo began to audition regularly in Seoul, and within two years she was signed by an entertainment agency. Three months after she started official training, she debuted as one of five members of Kara, which became a top girl group.

A frequent guest on variety shows, she competed against other K-pop stars in boxing, arm wrestling or ssireum, a style of Korean folk wrestling. Some fans called her “Goo Barbie.” In 2014, she starred in her own reality TV show, “Hara On & Off: The Gossip,” which gave the illusion of peering into her private life.

There may have been more than a hint of truth in an episode in which she hosted a group of makeup artists, hair stylists and production assistants at her home to cook a meal. These were her closest friends, she said. Because of her work and fame, she could trust few people. “Who else can understand us even if we talk to them?” Ms. Goo said.

On social media, Ms. Goo seemed to subscribe to the theory that any attention was good attention. “What matters is how many comments and how many views,” she said in another episode of “Hara On & Off.” “What they say in the comments is not important.”

Her detractors could be cruel. When she had plastic surgery on her eyelids and uploaded a photo, commenters mocked her.

After Kara disbanded, Ms. Goo released a solo album that did not sell well. But she still appeared regularly on TV variety shows. On one of them, in 2018, she met Choi Jong-beom, a hairstylist with a strong social media following in his own right. They began dating, and he moved in with her.

They broke up after three months. When Mr. Choi returned to Ms. Goo’s house to collect his belongings, he entered late at night while she slept, using a door passcode — numbers that corresponded to their first date — to let himself in.

Ms. Goo woke up and the two began fighting, leaving them both scratched and bruised. Mr. Choi posted pictures of his injuries on social media and sent a message to a celebrity news outlet, suggesting he had a salacious tip about Ms. Goo.

He also sent Ms. Goo a sex video recorded on his phone and threatened to release it publicly, according to lawyers who represented Ms. Goo in a criminal lawsuit against Mr. Choi. Against the initial advice of those lawyers, who thought she would suffer a backlash, Ms. Goo decided to report to the police both the altercation and what she said was a blackmail attempt.

“She was actually risking her livelihood as a celebrity by taking or making it known that there was this sex video,” said Michael Chang, a lawyer with Shin & Kim, a large firm in Seoul that represented Ms. Goo.

Once the media learned of the video, the incident escalated into a full-blown frenzy. Mr. Choi told one news outlet that Ms. Goo had recorded the footage herself, and told another that she had an “explosive personality.”

Ms. Goo tried to tamp down the spiraling hysteria, telling an internet news daily that she wanted to apologize and halt the “ungainly war of attrition” in which the two ex-lovers were “slinging mud at each other like little children.”

Retreating Into Isolation

Before Ms. Goo was scheduled to testify in the criminal suit accusing Mr. Choi of blackmail, she posted a message on Instagram in May 2019.

“I am tired of pretending that I am happy and everything is OK,” she wrote. “I don’t want to cause concern among other people.” Five days later, another post appeared with a cryptic caption: “Goodbye.”

Her manager found her unconscious in her home and rushed her to the hospital. When her brother visited, she was still being administered oxygen but immediately wanted to check her phone. “She was looking for articles about her,” he said.

In response to news about the fight with her ex-boyfriend, commenters online had criticized her “terrifying personality.” Even in mundane selfie posts, people called her “low quality” or sniped that “her previous face was better.”

Mr. Choi was eventually found guilty of assault and intimidation. A judge sentenced him to one year in prison. Through his lawyer, he did not respond to requests for comment. A court in Seoul ruled in a separate lawsuit in 2022 by Goo Ho-in and his father that Mr. Choi must pay 78 million won (about $60,000) in a settlement to the Goo family.

During this period, Ms. Goo seemed to shut herself off from the few people she trusted.

“She was the kind of person who wouldn’t express her struggles very much, and she kept things inside,” said Choi Ran, a makeup artist who knew Ms. Goo from her earliest days in Kara and even lived with her at one point. But in the months leading up to Ms. Goo’s death, she had isolated herself, and Ms. Choi only read about her famous friend’s troubles in the news.

In November 2019, as Ms. Goo prepared for a tour in Japan, where she had built a fan base during her time in Kara, she seemed to rally, inviting members of her retinue for dinner, Ms. Choi said.

Days later, disaster struck. Sulli, an outspoken K-pop star who had drawn her own fierce social media criticism for appearing in public without a bra and discussing her social anxiety, was found dead at her home.

Ms. Goo and Sulli had long bonded over their shared experiences dealing with a zealous and at times unforgiving fan base. In a tearful farewell posted online from Japan, Ms. Goo vowed to “work harder and live harder.”

After her tour, she went back to her home in Seoul, a two-story brick villa in the upscale neighborhood of Cheongdam surrounded by luxury boutiques and restaurants. She had recently invited a former classmate to stay with her because she was afraid to live alone.

The house was so spacious that sometimes they would text each other — “What should we eat for dinner?” or “Let’s go to sleep at 9” — from different parts of the villa, the friend, Goo Da-hae, who is not related to Ms. Goo, said in a telephone interview.

Mr. Goo knew his sister was depressed but thought she had stabilized upon her return. “She looked better than I thought she would,” he said. She was encouraging her brother and sister-in-law to have children, and had even helped pay for visits to an obstetrician. It seemed as if she was looking ahead to a new phase.

The weekend she died, Mr. Goo offered to visit, but his sister told him she was going to a party. A maid discovered Ms. Goo’s body on Sunday, Nov. 24. The police found a handwritten note “lamenting her personal situation” and declared the death a suicide.

On the day of Ms. Goo’s funeral, her brother learned that his wife was pregnant. Ms. Goo’s mother emerged from her long absence to claim half of Ms. Goo’s estate, her legal share.

Mr. Goo, his father and his aunt filed a lawsuit arguing that Ms. Goo’s mother should receive nothing. A judge reduced her share to 40 percent, and Mr. Goo filed a petition to change the law so that parents who abandoned their offspring in childhood would be barred from inheriting any part of their estate. The National Assembly has yet to act on what sponsors are calling the Goo Hara law.

Ms. Goo’s brother said he had mostly made peace with her death. “I decided that if she died because there was nothing else she could do, and that choice would make her feel comfortable,” he said, “then I would respect her choice.”

For fans, the memory of Ms. Goo lingers. At a K-pop awards ceremony in Osaka, Japan, her former band, Kara, reunited to debut a new single. Two concertgoers brandished paper fans imprinted with the faces of the band members, including Ms. Goo.

“When she passed away, every day was so painful, and I was crying every day,” one of the concertgoers, Natsumi Yatabe, said. “When the day of her death comes around, I think about her and start to tear up again.”

A video montage shown onstage included footage of Ms. Goo. Her name went unmentioned.

“Move again, we waited for this time,” the band sang. “Roller-coaster ride, strong survive.”

Su-Hyun Lee and Choe Sang-hun contributed reporting from Seoul, and Hikari Hida from Tokyo.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. In South Korea, call 109 for the Health Ministry’s suicide prevention hotline, or go to the Korean-language site 129.go.kr/109. In Japan, contact TELL Lifeline at 03-5774-0992 or telljp.com/lifeline/, or go to the Japanese-language site inochinodenwa.org.

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It's lonely at the top

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 10:56:16 +0000

Not ready to be nice

What should I do if my boss wants more than professionalism? My boss is terrible at his job and wastes the time and energy of the 100 people under him. If he is unclear, I, as one of the leaders directly below him, ask clarifying questions. He becomes nervous and defensive. As a woman, it's important to me that I don't adopt a demure and flirty attitude just to make him feel comfortable, but recently I was drawn into his office to work on my negativity. What's the best way forward? Let me repeat: I am extremely professional – I just don't put on the typical girly song and dance to make myself more palatable.

– Anonymously

Your boss is entitled to his preferences, but he has no right to make you jump through unnecessary and gendered hoops to do your job effectively. I wish you had provided more information in your letter. Has he given you any details about what he considers negativity? Has he offered preferred solutions to this communications impasse?

I'm afraid there's not much you can do, because you're not really the problem. If he gets nervous and defensive when you ask clarifying questions, it's probably because he doesn't have the answers and can't admit it. If he wants you to charm him with your feminine wiles, then that is a personal problem. If you are professional, and I believe you are, that is all you have to do. In the meantime, document that you went to his office and the conversation you had, and document any other instances where he is being unreasonable, just in case.

Divided by service

I am writing to ask for advice on how to deal with a situation that would have been completely unthinkable six months ago. An American colleague has traveled to Israel to volunteer in support of the war effort. Not only was this colleague given permission, this person was also given a special dispensation to exceed the number of annual leave days granted.

We are the only two Jews in the office and live in a part of the country where Jews are a minority. I'm willing to hold my nose about the permission our supervisors gave for the trip and even the extra days off they gave, because I expect a workplace to allow an employee to pursue their interests outside the office, within reason.

But how should I continue to collaborate with this colleague? I consider this colleague to be the worst kind of self-hating Jew because through these actions he besmirches our shared peaceful religion. My supervisors are completely unaware of my dilemma and anger for the time being.

What would you do? Do you feel like my feelings are legitimate, or am I overreacting?

– Anonymously

You're entitled to your feelings, but you can't dictate what other people do with their time, energy, and resources. You can't decide that your coworker is self-loathing because he made a choice you don't agree with. It's none of your business that he's taking time off to volunteer in Israel.

You don't want to get involved in why people take time off, because there are all kinds of reasons why people apply for and receive special leave dispensations. If your colleague were a US Army reservist, would you have the same feelings? When your colleague returns, you may have a conversation to better understand his choices, but what will that accomplish?

Although you share a cultural background, you have different ideas about how to acquit yourself. There is common ground to be found, but you both have to be willing to meet there. Your anger is something you need to control. Put that energy into something productive, like participating in a protest or volunteering your time at an organization that reflects your values.

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Inside sick dating scammers using AI and deep-fake videos to STRIP lonely people

Jeffrey Bailey — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 22:16:44 +0000

CHECK OUT the two bikini images below and be afraid, very afraid, of what scammers have done to a completely innocent holiday selfie.

An online report obtained by The Sun shows scammers training fellow cyber fraudsters on how to hijack a social media clip and how to make the woman remove her costume to appear nearly naked.

An online report obtained by The Sun shows scammers are training fellow cyber fraudsters on how to hijack a social media clip and 'strip' the woman of her costume to appear nearly nakedCredit: supplied

These images can then be used to release the victim for a large amount of money

The result can then be used to release the victim for a large sum of money.

It's just one example of a growing scourge of romance fraud, with scammers preying on dating apps and social media sites to take advantage of users.

With advanced deep-fake video and voice cloning, they can also create fake dating profiles, using AI, to woo both women and men, before asking them to invest in scams or pay out for 'emergencies'.

Glamorous dating profiles are also stolen and manipulated to lure admirers and trick them into parting with money.

Scammers are using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to exchange tips on new scams, including pre-written 'romantic' scripts apparently sent by real lonely hearts.

The latest figures show that the number of romance scams is increasing by a fifth year on year.

As many as one in three Britons are duped – and in total cost around £95 million a year.

Campaigner Anna Rowe infiltrated the schemers' training sessions on the dark web and spotted them exchanging messages, such as the selfie edit, which she shared with The Sun.

Mother-of-two Anna, 51, has now set up websites and social media platforms to help victims – and knows their pain all too well.

She fell for a man on dating site Tinder.

Love Island legend Cally Jane Beech 'shaken to her core' after finding deepfake nude photos of herself online

'Antony' then dated her for months before discovering he had lied on a fake profile, and had a wife and children, as well as FIVE lovers who he also fooled.

Anna said: “It's getting more dangerous.

“Scammers have training groups and trade in hacked accounts and scam tools.

They can clone a voice and create deepfake videos that will soon be so convincing that it will appear as if they are sitting on the screen in front of a victim and having a conversation.

For many scammers, English is not their first language, so they use scripts.

They now use AI software like ChatGPT, which is extra compelling.”

Anna found a group, Yahoo Boys, where a trainer told scammers how to pressure victims with fake or real nude photos.

In a blueprint message, he calls the potential victim a bitch and threatens to send photos to everyone she knows, adding: “You'll soon blame yourself.”

Another online scammer shares a chilling script he sent to a woman that reads: “I have your nudes and everything I need to ruin your life.”

According to Lloyds Bank, the number of customers robbed by romance fraud rose by 22 percent last year.

Men made up 52 per cent of cases and were hit for an average of £5,145, compared to £9,083 for female victims.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau received more than 8,000 reports of romance scams in 2022, but experts fear many victims may feel too embarrassed to contact law enforcement.

Lisa Mills, fraud expert at Victim Support, said: “We had a woman who lost thousands in a case involving AI.

“The scammer transplanted the face of the profile he had hacked into his own, and was able to have a conversation with the lady involved online.

“People have become suicidal because of romance scams.

“They are going through a period of grieving after they thought they were building a real relationship.”

People have become suicidal because of romance scams

Lisa Mills

Mum-of-four Julie-Anne Kearns shared her breast cancer journey on social media, but was attacked.

Julie-Anne, 46, a care assistant from Poole, Dorset, underwent a double mastectomy after doctors discovered she carried a faulty gene, putting her at high risk of breast cancer.

In November 2022, she started talking to a man named Andrew whose friend request she accepted on Facebook.

He claimed to have worked in the military on a Peace Corps mission in Afghanistan – an operation that Julie-Anne now knows was shut down in 1979.

She said: “He told me how much he wanted to be with me, asked me what gifts I liked and where I wanted to go on holiday.

“He asked me if I believed in love at first sight and fate, and said we were meant to be together.

“I now know that this is known as love-bombing, the first stage of the manipulation game.

“Then came the sob story.

“He said his wife had died after being hit by a drunk driver and that he had a daughter at boarding school in London.”

But Julie-Anne became suspicious when 'Andrew' started asking her to send him iTunes gift cards.

When she put his image in a Google search, it appeared on many profiles – and she blocked him.

Julie-Anne, who now runs a TikTok page that gives advice to other women, added: “If I hadn't confronted him he would have gone ahead and asked for more money.”

Similarly, in 2014, grandmother Ruth Grover decided to lose her husband and become a scammer target.

I now know that this is known as love-bombing, the first stage of the manipulation game

Julie-Anne

Ruth, 66, from Hartlepool, created Facebook and Instagram sites called ScamHaters United, which now have tens of thousands of followers and expose fake profiles.

She says the problem is worse than ever, with victims being contacted through dating apps, social media, online games such as Scrabble and Words With Friends, on their Fitbits and even on karaoke platforms.

She said fraudsters often claim they are covering up their lies.

She said: “Romance scams have been a big problem throughout Covid as everyone has been glued to technology, and it hasn't let up.

“Thousands of people contact me.”

People whose profiles are stolen by fraudsters also suffer greatly.

James Blake, 30, who runs a digital marketing company in Lisburn, County Antrim, had his identity hacked by scammers who wooed women and then stole sums of up to £50,000.

The cheats hijacked James's dashing Instagram photos, which show him driving a Lamborghini and McLaren race car and showing off a Rolex.

He said: “I realized something was up when a man in my office asked if I had just followed him from a new Instagram account.

“It was clearly a fake profile.

“We laughed and thought, 'This is a kid in his bedroom messing around.'

“But more and more profiles were added in the coming weeks.

“I deleted them. But then I started getting messages from women asking, 'Are you talking to me on this dating app?'

“I was shocked because I wasn't there. But things snowballed.

“I woke up every day to messages from women saying, 'I thought I was talking to you and now I realize it's fake and I gave money for an investment project,' or for X, Y, Z.

“The amounts ranged from a few hundred to £50,000 and the women came from all over the world.

“Many are really invested in the relationship.”

Last year James investigated the scammers with the BBC Three documentary Hunting The Catfish Crime Gang, now on iPlayer.

He revealed secret centers in Cambodia and Myanmar where trafficked Chinese and South Asian nationals work for a pittance to defraud people – and are beaten by gang masters if they fail.

How to recognize signs

SOMEONE you just met online or in person is declaring their love for you too quickly.

Many online impostors claim to work in the military or medical fields and have to travel, giving them excuses as to why they can't video chat or meet in person.
They often ask for money to help them through time-critical emergencies.
Most will touch the heart with stories about death or debt.
Their photos are too perfect to believe. Try a Google image search to check if their photo was taken somewhere else.
They will tell you to keep your relationship private.

HOW CAN YOU GET HELP

You can report romance scams to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
Anna Rowe is co-founder of a site that offers advice and support to victims, at loveaid.org.
You can view profile photos used by fraudsters at ScamHaters United, on Facebook and Instagram.

Julie-Anne Kearns shared her story of breast cancer and being attacked by a man during 'Afghan army duties'Credit: Chris Balcombe

Anna Rowe was duped by 'Antony', then infiltrated scammers and shared her findings with The SunCredit: SWNS: South West News Service

'Antony' had a personal relationship with Anna for months before discovering that he had lied on a fake profile, and had a wife and children, as well as FIVE lovers that he also fooledCredit: SWNS: South West News Service

James Blake's Insta profile of race car and Rolex shots was stolen and used to woo and then rip off womenCredit: instagram/mrjamesblake

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From a terrier that never stops licking to a lonely horse: questions about pets are answered

Jeffrey Bailey — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 02:06:29 +0000

HE is on a mission to help our pets. . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.

Sean, head veterinarian at custom pet food company tails.com, has been helping owners with questions for a decade. He says, “If your pet is acting strange or sick, or you want to know more about diet or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”

This week Sean helps a reader with a Biewer terrier Jolie who never stops lickingCredit: AFP

Sean McCormack, chief veterinarian at tails.com, promises he can 'keep pets happy and healthy'Credit: supplied

Q) MY little Biewer terrier Jolie is a loving three year old, but she never stops licking her.

She is busy and loved, although you can't do anything with her or sit with her without her doing it all the time. It drives us all crazy.

I've tried to teach her to stop, but she just can't help it.

I would really appreciate your advice.

Maggie Machin, Rayleigh, Essex

A) You've got something on your hands.

I know this turns people off, but I have to admit I find it quite funny.

But if you take it seriously, there's an ick factor for a reason.

It's not the most hygienic practice to know what else dogs are putting in their mouths – and most don't brush their teeth every day.

But why do they lick? For the most part, it's friendly, conciliatory behavior.

As pups in the wild, the canine family largely licks around their parents' mouths when returning to the den to stimulate food regurgitation.

It's a way of saying, “I'm small and fragile, please take care of me.” This can extend into adulthood.

As we have bred domesticated dogs as pets for generations, many now continue to exhibit puppy-like behavior well into their older years.

How to stop it? Reward-based training.

Use a command like “leave it” when Jolie licks, and reward her when she stops.

Repeat this again and again, even with other people.

Q) CAN a horse mourn a companion?

I recently lost my old horse Bow, who was a friend of eight-year-old gelding Blaze.

Now Blaze seems to be really in trouble.

What can I do to cheer him up?

I'm thinking of getting another companion.

But does it have to be a horse?

We go for rides regularly, but I think he's grieving.

Liz Green, Launceston, Cornwall

A) Absolutely, all animals grieve close companions to some extent, just as we would if we lost a close friend.

The problem with animals, however, is that they seem to bounce back in time, generally a lot faster than we do.

That said, there are things you can do to help and a lot of it involves finding Blaze company again.

Another horse or pony is best.

Donkeys or perhaps goats are often recommended as companions for horses, but these are all completely different species and each needs its own type of social companionship.

Q) Apart from allowing me to give him a quick cuddle every now and then, my cat Tigger is quite aloof.

He may come over for a quick cuddle every now and then, but he's really bad-tempered.

I give Tigger his space, but can I get him to like me more, or at least pretend to?

Emily Clarke, Newcastle upon Tyne

A) Some cats are exactly like that.

It sounds like you really want a dog, or at least a cat with a dog attitude.

There's a difference between being distant and independent, or actually being bad-tempered.

I assume he doesn't bite or hiss at you?

If not, consider that a win.

Some cats just aren't that affectionate and will happily accept the occasional rub, or if you give them food, water and shelter to end the appointment.

In return, Tigger will grace your household with his presence.

If he's always been like this, you have to accept it.

If it is a recent change, have you noticed that he is in pain or discomfort?

Arthritis, for example, can affect our pets, so a vet check is worth it if you're concerned.

Star of the week

DELCEE the Parson Jack Russell is a lifesaver for owner Julie Dowling after she was diagnosed with a breathing disorder.

The 51-year-old from Crayford, Kent, who is also deaf, was recently diagnosed with COPD.

Delcee the Parson Jack Russell is a lifesaver for owner Julie Dowling after she was diagnosed with a breathing disorderCredit: supplied

Julie says: “Delcee takes me for walks, which is essential for my breathing as I need to stay as healthy as possible. That is a life saver for me.

“Being deaf, walking her has allowed me to meet other dog lovers, which has helped me make many new friends.

“Seven years ago she almost died from a rare blood disease. I am so lucky that she has transformed my life.”

WIN: €50 voucher

WE have joined forces with B&M to give five lucky pet lovers the chance to win a £50 in-store voucher

With a wide range of treats and supplies, you can find everything from cat and dog food, toys and accessories to bird feeders and seeds that will help them out this winter.

To enter, send an email titled B&M to sundaypets@the-sun. co.uk before February 11, 2024.

Visit bmstores. co.uk to see the full range. General terms and conditions apply.

Pet care in cold weather

OWNERS have been told to take extra care of their little friends during the cold snap we are facing.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “If temperatures drop below freezing, you may want to move your rabbit indoors.

Owners have been told to take extra care of their little friends during the cold snap we are facingCredit: supplied

“Guinea pigs should be indoors when it drops below 15 degrees Celsius. If you must leave them outside, provide extra bedding and ensure their home is protected from bad weather with insulating but ventilated covers.”

Cats should have access to the house or other indoor space – and make sure your dog has a coat.

The spokesperson added: “For birds in aviaries, coops or runs, provide plenty of dry and warm bedding, such as straw, and cover the enclosures to keep out wind and rain.

“If you have a fish pond, check it every day to make sure the surface is not completely frozen, as toxic gas can build up under the ice.

“Breaking the ice can harm the fish. Gently place a pan of hot water on the surface to melt a hole. Don't pour.

“For wildlife, omit seeds and grains, cooked pasta or rice and cooked potatoes and keep birdbaths free of ice.”

See rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal.

The post From a terrier that never stops licking to a lonely horse: questions about pets are answered appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

The world’s best 100 beaches named by Lonely Planet, with FIVE in the British Isles making the cut alongside gems in the Caribbean, Australia and the U.S. Which one do YOU want to visit the most?

Albert Elence — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 18:32:08 +0000

These beaches may prompt a cry of ‘shell yeah!’

They all feature in eye-catching new Lonely Planet book ‘100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches‘.

Scroll down and you’ll see that the title of the tome is no exaggeration – they’re all stunning.

Five beaches in the British Isles make the cut, alongside gems in the Caribbean, Greece, Hawaii, the Seychelles, Cape Town and Australia.

Lonely Planet says in the introduction to the ravishing compendium: ‘Discover the world’s most extraordinary shorelines inside this dazzling display of diverse beaches – caves, coves and arches; mystical fog and sprawling coastlines; urban, sprawling and surfing beaches; unique formations, coastlines, colors and perspectives. These are the world’s most spectacular beaches.

‘Featuring transporting photography, tips for how to reach each beach, and reasons why Lonely Planet selected these as the 100 best, this is the ultimate collection of the sand, stone and sea the world has to offer.’ See below for MailOnline Travel’s pick of the bunch. Which one do you want to put on your bucket list?

RHOSSILI BAY, GOWER, WALES: Lonely Planet says: ‘Rhossili dazzles with its almost three miles (5km) of honey-toned, Atlantic-beaten sands. Part of the 73-sq-mile (188-sq-km) Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this wonderfully secluded pocket of Wales retains a special soul-stirring energy’

KEEM BAY BEACH, KEEL, COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND: This beach clearly moved Lonely Planet. The text accompanying this image reads: ‘A vertiginous yet jaw-droppingly beautiful 4.9-mile (8km) drive from Keel village, at the distant western end of County Mayo’s Achill Island, sets the scene for one of Ireland’s most glorious, secluded strands. Sloping green hillsides spill down to a deep-set horseshoe bay, where a Blue-Flag delight of a pale-blonde beach sits framed by the Croaghaun Cliffs (Ireland’s highest sea cliffs) and the thundering moody-blue Atlantic’

KYNANCE COVE, LIZARD, CORNWALL. Lonely Planet says: ‘Whether you’ve hiked for miles along the long-distance South West Coast Path or just fancy a paddle in the tempting teal waters, Kynance Cove stops everyone in their tracks. Curled into the west side of southern Cornwall’s wild Lizard peninsula, near the southernmost tip of mainland England, this is one of the country’s dreamiest beaches’

DUEODDE, BORNHOLM ISLAND, DENMARK: Lonely Planet describes this beach as ‘a secluded sweep of glistening-white sand… on a dune-sprinkled shoreline’

KOKKINOKASTRO, ALONNISOS ISLAND, SPORADES, GREECE: Lonely Planet describes Kokkinokastro as ‘among the most spectacular of mountainous Alonnisos’s many sultry beaches’, where ‘a craggy rust-red cape juts out into the unbelievably blue water’

HANALEI BAY, KAUA’I, HAWAII, USA: Lonely Planet’s verdict? A ‘photogenic two-mile crescent of golden sand’

ONELOA BEACH/BIG BEACH, MAUI, HAWAII, USA: This is a ‘pleasingly untamed’ beach, says Lonely Planet, which abuts Pacific waters that are an ‘otherworldly blue’

AWAROA BEACH, ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND: Lonely Planet notes that Awaroa Beach has ‘golden sands, turquoise waters and a secluded location on the north coast of the South Island, backed by granite hills and lush coastal forests’

SQUEAKY BEACH, GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: Lonely Planet says: ‘Enclosed by impressive granite boulders at either end, Squeaky Beach is a standout in Wilsons Promontory National Park, an awe-inspiring slice of wilderness at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia’

PFEIFFER BEACH, BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA, USA: ‘Due to dangerous surf, Pfeiffer Beach isn’t recommended for swimming, and it can get windy,’ says Lonely Planet, ‘but the walking, beachcombing and sunsets are superb’

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, NATIONAL SEASHORE, MARYLAND & VIRGINIA, USA: Lonely Planet says that ‘with wild horses galloping across its wind-swept beaches, Assateague Island National Seashore exudes a surprisingly feral vibe, a rarity along the highly developed shores of the Mid-Atlantic’, while ‘thick maritime forests and rugged dunes round out the dramatic scene’

CABLE BEACH/WALMANYJUN, BROOME, WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Lonely Planet says that this beach is ‘a magnificent sweep of blonde sand’ that has ‘earned its renown as Western Australia’s most famous stretch of sand’

HAUKLAND BEACH, VESTVAGOY, LOFOTEN ISLANDS, NORWAY: ‘Haukland has a blinding stretch of luscious sand bathed by cool Arctic waters,’ says Lonely Planet. ‘The sea doesn’t really creep higher than around 59F (15C) and that’s in August, but the spectacular natural setting still makes this one of the most unbelievably beautiful spots among Norway’s thousands of beaches’

SVETI STEFAN BEACH, BUDVA, MONTENEGRO: Lonely Planet’s summation? The book says: ‘The fortified, honey-walled 15th-century island village of Sveti Stefan (now a private luxury resort) makes up the spectacular backdrop to this Adriatic pearl. Just across the delicious blue-green sea from the islet, the unspoilt pebble-and-sand beach sweeps around a small, curving mainland bay’

PARALIA TIS GRIAS TO PIDIMA, ANDROS, CYCLADES, GREECE: Lonely Planet describes this as ‘one of the dreamiest back-to-nature beaches in the Cyclades’ that’s ‘entirely free from sun loungers, umbrellas and restaurants’. The book adds: ‘It has a mellow feel, with craggy cliffs framing the powdery sand’

KABAK BEACH, MUGLA, TURKEY/TURKIYE: This is ‘one of Turkiye’s most heavily guarded travel secrets’ that has a ‘castaway-esque magic’

AO MAYA, KO PHI-PHI LEH, KRABI, THAILAND: ‘Maya Bay meets even Hollywood’s standards for a tropical paradise,’ notes Lonely Planet, pointing out that its ‘beautiful sands were controversially used as a film set for the Leonardo di Caprio-starring blockbuster The Beach’. The beach reopened on January 1, 2022, having been shut for four years to combat damage caused by visitors, the book explains

HAT THAM PHRA NANG, RAILAY, KRABI, THAILAND: With ‘fairy-tale limestone formations’ and a ‘cerulean sea’, this is a ‘vision of paradise’, says Lonely Planet

SUNAYAMA BEACH, MIYAKOJIMA ISLAND, OKINAWA, JAPAN: ‘Snow-white sands and a dramatic arch’ helped this beach earn a place in Lonely Planet’s top 100 ranking

MYRTOS BEACH, KEFALLONIA, IONIANS, GREECE: ‘Resting at the foot of a dramatically zigzagging road in northern Kefallonia, off the western Greek mainland, Myrtos remains one of the most-photographed and entrancing beaches in a country bursting with glorious Mediterranean-lapped sands,’ says Lonely Planet

BOTTOM BAY, BARBADOS: ‘Bottom Bay ticks all the boxes for a quintessential Caribbean beach,’ says Lonely Planet. ‘There’s the translucent turquoise water, smooth white sand, and wind-gnarled palms dotting the shore. But there’s also a wildness to Bottom Bay’

ANSE SOURCE D’ARGENT, LA DIGUE, SEYCHELLES: ‘It regularly tops world’s best beach lists,’ says Lonely Planet, ‘but does Anse Source d’Argent live up to the hype? In a word: yes’

PLAYA MANUEL ANTONIO, PARQUE NACIONAL MANUEL ANTONIO, COSTA RICA: Here you’ll find ‘blonde sand and calm turquoise water’. Plus monkeys, sloths and toucans in the adjacent park

CANNON BEACH, OREGON, USA: Come here for wildlife, ‘amazing sunset views’ and to behold Haystack Rock, which Lonely Planet explains is a 235ft-tall volcanic remnant ‘formed by 17million years of uplift and erosion’

WEST BEACH, BERNERAY, OUTER HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND: ‘This wildly remote jewel of a beach sprawls along almost three miles (5km) of untouched shoreline on tiny Berneray, off Scotland’s northwest coast,’ says the book, adding that it’s ‘a paradise for birdwatchers’ and the ‘surrounding landscapes burst with wildflowers’ in the spring

CAMPS BAY BEACH, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Beachgoers here are treated to ‘soft white sand and a backdrop of the craggy Twelve Apostles range (part of Table Mountain)’

WHITEHAVEN BEACH, WHITSUNDAYS, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: This is ‘one of Australia’s most photogenic natural icons’, says the book, adding: ‘When you sink your toes into the 98 per cent pure silica sands of this dazzling beach you’ll understand the hype’

DURDLE DOOR BEACH, LULWORTH, DORSET, ENGLAND: This beach is home to ‘a colossal almost-golden limestone sea arch [that] wows as one of the UK’s most-photographed coastal formations’, says the book, adding: ‘Swimming off the shingle-and-sand beach beneath the green-clad cliffs, with turquoise water stretching into the distance, is a special moment’

PLAYA DE TORIMBIA, LLANES, ASTURIAS, SPAIN: ‘This is serene Torimbia,’ the book says, ‘one of Asturias’ most-loved beaches and one of Spain’s original naturist spots since the 1960s, thanks to its secluded natural setting’

IPANEMA BEACH, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: This ‘sun-drenched sand in Brazil’s most famous coastal city has been popular with sunseeking cariocas (residents of Rio de Janeiro) since 1902’, explains Lonely Planet, ‘when a new streetcar line made the beach on the southern fringe of the city easier to access’

Best Beaches – 100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches is on sale February 9 in the UK, but pre-orders are available from Amazon (£23.59)

The post The world’s best 100 beaches named by Lonely Planet, with FIVE in the British Isles making the cut alongside gems in the Caribbean, Australia and the U.S. Which one do YOU want to visit the most? appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Behind the scenes of King Frederick's proclamation: Danish royal family shares intimate and VERY telling glimpses – from Queen Mary clinging to Princess Josephine to lonely Joachim watching an emotional balcony scene unfold

Sabir Ansary — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 10:41:37 +0000

The Danish royal family has shared some touching behind-the-scenes moments from yesterday's announcement.

King Frederik, 55, officially ascended the throne yesterday afternoon after Queen Margrethe, 83, abdicated following her 52-year reign.

The former monarch signed her historic abdication papers alongside her son and grandson Prince Christian, 18, present at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

The Queen's last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King.'

After this, the new king addressed the crowd that had gathered outside the royal palace from the balcony.

Harrowing behind-the-scenes footage on the Danish royal family's Instagram page shows the moment Frederik nervously approached the balcony to make his first public appearance since becoming king.

The father of four – wearing his military regalia – took a deep breath as he looked to an aide for permission to walk onto the balcony.

From the palace you can see Queen Mary, who was dressed for the occasion in an elegant white dress by Soeren Le Schmidt, clinging to her daughter Princess Josephine.

The 13-year-old looked suitably smart in a black jacket with gold buttons and her hair half up, half down and secured with a bow.

As Prince Christian stood behind his mother and siblings, 16-year-old Princess Isabella – who wore a red coat – lovingly placed her hands on the shoulders of her younger brother, Prince Vincent.

The footage then jumps to Queen Mary walking out to the balcony to wave to the crowd of royal fans with her husband.

The couple appeared overcome with emotion as they shared a loving look before being joined by their four children.

From the palace, King Frederick's younger brother Prince Joachim – whose four children were stripped of their royal titles in January 2023 – thoughtfully took in the scene unfolding on the balcony.

Pictured: Queen Mary, 51, pictured clinging to her daughter, Princess Josephine, 16, who looked pretty in a black coat and pearls

King Frederick's younger brother Prince Joachim – whose children were stripped of their royal titles last year – looked pensive as he watched the emotional balcony scene from the palace.

The footage then jumps to Queen Mary walking out to the balcony to wave to the crowd of royal fans with her husband

The royal, 54, attended the ceremony without the support of his wife Princess Marie and their two children, Count Henrik, 14, and Countess Athena of Monpezat, 11.

After Queen Margrethe stripped her grandchildren of their royal titles, Joachim and his second wife moved with their children to Washington DC – where the royal family works as a defense industry attaché at the Danish embassy.

Tensions first arose in the Danish royal family after the monarch decided to strip four of her grandchildren of their HRH titles in 2022. She subsequently apologized for the timing of the announcement, but stood by the measure.

Joachim had spoken out against his mother's decision in the days that followed – claiming that his two children, Counts Nikolai, 24, and Felix, 21 – born from his first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg – and Henrik and Athena , 'damaged thereby'.

The couple appeared overcome with emotion as they shared a loving look before being joined by their four children

The former monarch signed her historic abdication papers alongside her son and grandson Prince Christian, 18, present at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen

Poignant behind-the-scenes footage on the Danish royal family's Instagram page shows the moment Frederik nervously approached the balcony to make his first public appearance since becoming king

Months later, the sixth in line to the throne said there was a “lack of communication” within the royal family ahead of the shock announcement.

Joachim told Danish tabloid BT: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.'

Ahead of the proclamation, a palace spokesperson said: “Prince Joachim will be present, but the children will go to school, there is no special reason.”

They then added that Queen Margrethe's youngest son will leave Denmark the next day to return to his home in the US.

The behind-the-scenes footage of the proclamation racked up more than 260,000 likes on Instagram – with the Royal Household captioning the clip: 'Long live the King!'

Queen Margrethe yesterday became the first Danish monarch to abdicate as monarch in 900 years.

The former queen's emotional last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King.'

King Frederik, Queen Mary of Denmark, rides in a carriage past the crowd of well-wishers back to Amalienborg Palace after a declaration of the king's accession to the throne

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announces the enthronement of Danish King Frederik from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark share a kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen

On Saturday evening, the Royal – who announced she would step down on New Year's Eve – listened to the crowd sing for her on the eve of her abdication.

Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend, waving red and white flags in honor of their beloved Queen Margrethe.

In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, last night the crowd was seen singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe's winter residence.

One of the windows of the palace was wide open so that she could hear those who came to sing to her.

People pass an image of Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen, Denmark, before she hands over the throne to her son on Sunday

The queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style, was seen in the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowds.

Margrethe, who had said in the past that she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down.

However, she said a major back operation she underwent in February last year had made her rethink her future.

“The operation obviously gave rise to reflection on the future – whether it was time to pass the responsibility to the next generation,” she said in her speech.

“I've decided this is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.

“I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”

The post Behind the scenes of King Frederick's proclamation: Danish royal family shares intimate and VERY telling glimpses – from Queen Mary clinging to Princess Josephine to lonely Joachim watching an emotional balcony scene unfold appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

A brief, lonely presence at a major family occasion…A ‘spare’ who’s been openly critical of his family…Does Prince Joachim’s solo trip to see his brother made King of Denmark remind you of anyone?

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 14:46:20 +0000

This is a big day for Denmark as it welcomes a new King and Queen consort.

Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary will ascend the throne after the surprise abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe – and we can expect to see the royal family out in force to mark the occasion, along with leading lights of Danish society.

Not quite everyone will be there, however. Prince Joachim, Frederik’s younger brother, will attend the event to support his sibling – but he will do so without his wife, Princess Marie and their two children, Count Henrik, 14, and Countess Athena of Monpezat, 11.

The Danish palace has confirmed that the family will remain in Washington DC, where they live now that Joachim has become a defence industry attaché at the Embassy of Denmark.

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Prince Joachim of Denmark attend the funeral of Former King Constantine II of Greece last year

Prince Harry and Prince William are pictured at the unveiling of their mother’s statue in 2021. The rift between the two seems as great as ever

Like Prince Joachim, Harry is a second child and the ‘Spare’ – the title he gave to his best-selling memoir

Prince Harry is pictured leaving his father’s Coronation on May 6. He flew out of the country and back to California the very same day

Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, left, and Prince Joachim of Denmark at the balcony of Amalienborg Palace at the 83th birthday of the Danish Queen last year

Crown Prince Frederik, right, Attends The Wedding Of Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra Frederiksborg Castle

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his brother Prince Joachim (left) on board the Royal yacht ‘Dannebrog’ on a visit to the Baltic island of Bornholm in 1973

It is a long way for the children to come, of course – and a school day, as the palace points out.

All the same, the arrangements are a reminder that the Danish royal family shares problems – and attempted solutions – with their counterparts on this side of the North Sea.

Prince Harry, another ‘spare’ in the line of succession, is likely to sympathise in particular.

Based, like Joachim in America, he left his wife and two children at home to pay a lightning solo visit to his father’s Coronation on May 6.

And the similarities don’t end with an American link.

Like King Charles, Queen Margrethe has been wrestling with the question of what to do with the members of her family placed a little further from the throne.

Tensions first arose in the Danish royal household after the monarch decided to strip four of her grandchildren of their HRH titles in 2022. She subsequently apologised about the timing of the announcement but stood by the move.

Joachim had spoken out against his mother’s decision in the days that followed – claiming that his two children, Counts Nikolai, 24, and Felix, 21 – born from his first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg – and Henrik and Athena, had been ‘harmed’ in the process.

Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne said that ‘communication was missing’ within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement.

Joachim told Danish tabloid B.T.: ‘There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.’

In Britain, the idea of reducing the number of front-line royals has hit Prince Andrew in particular. He has his own problems, but the implication seems to be that his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will never enjoy senior royal privileges – something to which Andrew has objected.

Prince Joachim will be in Copenhagen today to see his brother become king. But the rest of his family, including wife Princess Marie, Count Henrik of Monpezat and Countess Athena of Monpezat will in Paris, France, in May 2023

Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary are pictured together on New Year’s day. His mother had announced her impending abdication the night before

Prince Joachim’s family, pictured with his mother, Queen Margrethe, centre. From the left: Counts Nikolai and Felix, wife Princess Marie, Countess Athena, Prince Joachim and Count Henrik. The children are scheduled to lose their titles under changes announced last year by Margrethe

Shortly after Queen Margrethe’s announcement that his children were stripped of his titles, Joachim claimed that he had only been given five days notice before the news was made public.

Joachim spoke to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, where he lived with his French-born wife Princess Marie and his two youngest children, and said his four children had been ‘hurt’ by their grandmother’s decision.

‘I was given five days’ notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January,’ he clarified at the time.

Speaking to B.T., Joachim and his second wife Marie also admitted their relationship with Prince Frederik and Princess Mary is ‘complicated’.

Meanwhile, Joachim’s ex-wife Alexandra said that her sons, Nikolai and Felix, had been left feeling ‘ostracised’ from the institution and the decision had come like a ‘bolt out of the blue’.

The Royal Household released a further statement, saying: ‘As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming.

‘We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen’s wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.’

The news that Joachim will attend Sunday’s event comes after a royal author claimed Denmark’s Crown Princess is the real ‘power behind the throne’, with people in the country already calling her ‘King Mary’.

Trine Villemann also told Hello! that the Australian mother-of-four, 51, is a ‘much better communicator and public speaker’ than her husband, Prince Frederik.

The Prince, 55, will become King Frederik X on 14 January, following the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe.

Europe’s longest reigning monarch, 83, announced her plans to step down in a dramatic New Year’s Eve speech.

Ahead of Margrethe’s daughter-in-law becoming Queen, Danish royal author Trine said: ‘Mary truly is the power behind the throne and will be for decades to come – there’s no doubt about that.

‘Frederik is a lovely guy and he’s very popular, but Mary is a much better communicator and public speaker. She has great skill and enormous talent, and people in Demark are calling her ‘King Mary’.

It has been claimed that Australian-born Crown Princess Mary is a better communicator than her husband, Crown Prince Frederik. They are pictured together in November

Queen Margrethe pictured during a live television broadcast to the nation on New Year’s Eve in which she announced she would be stepping down in favour of her son

‘Her approval ratings are higher than those of the rest of the royals, too… As we say in Denmark: Long live King Mary!’

The new King and Queen of Denmark, who are set to step into their roles this weekend, enjoy the support of more than 80 per cent of Danish people, a poll recently revealed.

A survey carried out for Ritzau revealed that Princess Mary enjoyed a little more popularity among the Danes than Crown Prince Frederik as the royal prepares to ascend the throne on 14 January.

The poll asked how well suited Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik are to become Queen Mary I and King Frederik X, ahead of the abdication of Queen Margrethe.

While 82 per cent of people believed Frederik is suited for the role of king, 86 per cent believe Mary will make a good queen.

Danish royal commentator Kim Bach believes that, although Frederik is popular, Mary’s slight lead over her husband is likely down to rumours of an affair that circulated after the soon-to-be king was spotted on a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid.

Genoveva Casanova was forced to deny what she labelled ‘malicious’ rumours after photos surfaced of herself with the Crown Prince in the Spanish capital, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they had dined together and watched Flamenco dancing until 1am.

Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband’s dinner with the socialite, and the royal couple have put on a united display in a number of public appearances.

However, speculation is mounting that Queen Margrethe’s decision to abdicate may have been a bid to keep Frederik’s wife of 19 years on side.

Princess Mary, who is set to become the first Australian-born queen in a number of days, has won over the Danish public with her dedication to royal duty and her fluency in the language.

She and Frederik have four children together, and their oldest son Christian will take over his father’s role of Crown Prince on January 14 when Margrethe abdicates.

Mary and Frederik’s relationship has often been dubbed a ‘real-life fairytale’.

Then Mary Donaldson, the Crown Princess was 28 when she met her husband-to-be in the Slip Inn in Sydney 23 years ago.

After the pub encounter, then 32-year-old Frederik – who was in Australia to support Denmark’s sailing team at the 2000 Olympics – asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed.

‘The first time we met we shook hands. I didn’t know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know who these people are’?’ Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne.

They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen’s Studieskolen in 2001.

In early 2003, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8.

Between raising her children and appearing at diplomatic events, Mary has worked tirelessly to prove her commitment to charity, becoming a patron of more than 25 international organisations since her marriage to Frederik in 2004.

Patronages include the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe and the United Nations Population Fund, where she supports their work to promote maternal health in more than 150 developing nations.

In 2007, the Princess launched The Mary Foundation, a charity focused on stamping out domestic violence, bullying and loneliness.

In a few days time, Crown Princess Mary will become the Queen of Denmark, as Queen Margrethe formally abdicates and leaves the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.

Crown Prince Frederik will become King tomorrow while his wife, Princess Mary, will become Queen Consort. They are pictured together at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen

Margrethe confirmed the news in a shock announcement on New Year’s Eve after 52 years on the Danish throne.

She said: ‘I have decided that now is the right time. 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as queen of Denmark. I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.’

Confirming that Prince Joachim’s children will remain in the United States and will not travel for Sunday’s enthronement, a spokesman for the Danish palace said:

‘Prince Joachim will be there, but the children go to school, there is no special reason,’ before adding that Queen Margrethe’s youngest son will return home the following day.

The post A brief, lonely presence at a major family occasion…A ‘spare’ who’s been openly critical of his family…Does Prince Joachim’s solo trip to see his brother made King of Denmark remind you of anyone? appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

American rapper Destroy Lonely orders his security to throw a fan off stage after they attacked him during Sydney concert

Albert Elence — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 01:59:08 +0000

By Monique Friedlander for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 8:40 PM EST, January 9, 2024 | Updated: 8:55 PM EST, January 9, 2024

American rapper Destroy Lonely endured a terrifying ordeal on stage during his live performance in Sydney on Tuesday evening.

The musician, born Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III, was performing at the Enmore Theater when a male fan suddenly jumped out of the audience and charged at him.

Thinking quickly, Destroy Lonely pushed the man to the ground and backed away as security took control of the situation.

As seen in a TikTok video taken by an onlooker, the fan then refused to return to the crowd and attempted to draw Destroy Lonely into a standoff.

The songwriter lost his temper and ordered a tough security guard to throw the troublemaker off the stage.

American rapper Destroy Lonely, 22, (pictured) suffered a terrifying onstage incident during his live performance in Sydney on Tuesday evening

You could hear the audience gasp as the fan’s belly flopped into the crowd below.

Destroy Lonely’s performance marked his final show in Australia after a string of performances in NSW and Victoria.

The rising hip-hop star is Down Under to promote his debut studio album If Looks Could Kill, which hit No. 1 on Apple Music just 24 hours after its release on May 5, 2023.

The musician, born Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III, was performing at the Enmore Theater when a male fan suddenly jumped out of the audience and charged at him.

The songwriter lost his temper and ordered a tough security guard to throw the troublemaker off the stage

Destroy Lonely also released an original horror film titled Look Killa at the same time as his album came out, which reached number 3 on YouTube.

“This is my debut album, and this is the way I can speak for myself wherever I am, so people can see my perspective on the world,” the artist recently shared. Paper magazine.

“Now I’m at a point where I’m comfortable with exactly what it sounds like. I had to do everything I wanted to do and now I just want to get it out there.”

“Everything after this will be the same way. However long it takes for me to feel this comfortable, however long it takes.”

Destroy Lonely’s performance marked his final show in Australia, following a string of performances in New South Wales and Victoria

The post American rapper Destroy Lonely orders his security to throw a fan off stage after they attacked him during Sydney concert appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

lonely – USMAIL24.COM

Inside ‘lonely’ Grealish international breakthrough… while fans can’t stop eyeing his hair

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In the tomb where people were sacrificed so that deceased loved ones would not be lonely

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A K-Pop Star’s Lonely Downward Spiral

‘Who Else Can Understand Us?’

Retreating Into Isolation

It's lonely at the top

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Inside sick dating scammers using AI and deep-fake videos to STRIP lonely people

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From a terrier that never stops licking to a lonely horse: questions about pets are answered

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WIN: €50 voucher

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The world’s best 100 beaches named by Lonely Planet, with FIVE in the British Isles making the cut alongside gems in the Caribbean, Australia and the U.S. Which one do YOU want to visit the most?

Behind the scenes of King Frederick's proclamation: Danish royal family shares intimate and VERY telling glimpses – from Queen Mary clinging to Princess Josephine to lonely Joachim watching an emotional balcony scene unfold

A brief, lonely presence at a major family occasion…A ‘spare’ who’s been openly critical of his family…Does Prince Joachim’s solo trip to see his brother made King of Denmark remind you of anyone?

American rapper Destroy Lonely orders his security to throw a fan off stage after they attacked him during Sydney concert

lonely – USMAIL24.COM

Inside ‘lonely’ Grealish international breakthrough… while fans can’t stop eyeing his hair

READ MORE ABOUT JACK GROELISH

In the tomb where people were sacrificed so that deceased loved ones would not be lonely

Read more in Tech & Science

A K-Pop Star’s Lonely Downward Spiral

‘Who Else Can Understand Us?’

Retreating Into Isolation

It's lonely at the top

Not ready to be nice

Divided by service

Inside sick dating scammers using AI and deep-fake videos to STRIP lonely people

How to recognize signs

From a terrier that never stops licking to a lonely horse: questions about pets are answered

Star of the week

WIN: €50 voucher

Pet care in cold weather

The world’s best 100 beaches named by Lonely Planet, with FIVE in the British Isles making the cut alongside gems in the Caribbean, Australia and the U.S. Which one do YOU want to visit the most?

Behind the scenes of King Frederick's proclamation: Danish royal family shares intimate and VERY telling glimpses – from Queen Mary clinging to Princess Josephine to lonely Joachim watching an emotional balcony scene unfold

A brief, lonely presence at a major family occasion…A ‘spare’ who’s been openly critical of his family…Does Prince Joachim’s solo trip to see his brother made King of Denmark remind you of anyone?

American rapper Destroy Lonely orders his security to throw a fan off stage after they attacked him during Sydney concert

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