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Funniest family movies

Fluff the sofa cushions and pop the popcorn – we have some serious laughs coming your way!

Stuck inside with stir-crazy kids on a rainy Sunday? These hilarious movies will keep the whole family busy, and laughing themselves silly. From classic comedies to more recent knee-slappers, these family favourites will tickle your funny bones.

Toy Story (1995)

The adventures of toy cowboy Woody and spaceman figurine Buzz Lightyear have been cracking kids up for nearly two decades now. All three instalments of the franchise made the top 10 on Rotten Tomatoes’ Top 100 Kids & Family Movies list, so you can’t go wrong with any of them. But if you want to watch the first feature-length film to be animated entirely by computer, check out the original.

Finding Nemo (2003)

The Oscar-winning tale of a clownfish’s mission to save his abducted son Nemo continues to capture the hearts of children, more than 10 years after it was first released. Set in the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef, it’s chock-full of deep-sea adventure and laughs.

Shrek (2001)

This is another franchise that kids love to watch over and over again. There’s something so lovable and heart-warming about the big green ogre and his darling, Princess Fiona and while they both have their funny moments, it’s Donkey and his loud singing that will have your family in hysterics.

Mary Poppins (1964)

What’s not to love about a magical nanny who flies down from the sky with her umbrella and lets kids float up to the ceiling? We bet your whole family will be singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” for weeks after you watch it.

Ratatouille (2007)

A sewer rat named Remy who aspires to become a famous chef joins forces with a young cook in a fancy Parisian restaurant to create culinary masterpieces. But will all his dreams come crashing down around him when his true identity is revealed? Don’t be fooled by the serious storyline – giggles are guaranteed!

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Taking children’s age-old fear of monsters in the closet to a whole new level, the endearing beasts in Monsters, Inc. might have your little ones hoping they really do exist. Giant blue furball Sulley and his one-eyed sidekick Mike Wazowski are sure to have you all in stitches.

The Goonies (1985)

Ask any thirty-something what their top-five childhood movies are and there’s a good chance The Goonies will make an appearance on the list. It tells the story of a group of kids who set out to find hidden pirate treasure in hopes of saving their neighbourhood from being replaced by a golf course. It might be nearly 30 years old, but the humour is timeless.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Sword fights, pirates and giants – oh my! This fantastical fairytale follows the adventures of Westley as he tries to rescue his one true love, Buttercup, from the evil Prince Humperdinck. This movie doesn’t take its damsel-in-distress genre seriously – and neither will you.

The Muppets (2011)

The beloved Muppets reunite to save the Muppet Theater when an oil tycoon threatens to destroy it to drill for oil. With Miss Piggy now a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris and Animal doing a stint at a celebrity anger management clinic, you’ll love this hilariously-modern storyline.

Home Alone (1990)

Another family comedy classic, Home Alone first tickled our funny bones a quarter of a century ago. Who can forget Macaulay Culkin’s side-splitting schemes to defend his home against burglars when he’s forgotten there by his family over Christmas? Your children are sure to love it as much as you did.

This feature is brought to you by the makers of Panadol

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Grandma sued for $90k by granddaughter for accident

A woman who suffered serious burns as a child has won a case against her grandmother, who was looking after her at the time

The 30-year-old woman successfully sued her grandmother for more than $90,000 for injuries sustained when she was a toddler.

Kobie Thompson from Coffs Harbour told the court that she pulled on a cord of a boiling kettle, causing it to splash hot water all over her at her grandma’s Central Coast home in the 1980s.

The NSW District Court heard that although Ms Thompson has no memory of the incident, she had suffered serious burns to her right nipple, abdomen, leg and foot.

Her grandmother defended claims of negligence, saying that she believed the 20-month-old child was being supervised by her mother.

Ms Thompson said the burns had impacted on her general wellbeing, she was embarrassed by the scarring, could not breastfeed her children due to the injury and was worried her appearance would hamper her prospects of finding a new partner.

The judge found the grandmother to be negligent in her duty of caring for the youngster, saying that “the burden of taking precautions would have been very light … the kettle could simply have been located in a safer place”.

He ruled the grandmother must pay her granddaughter $92,909.10 in damages. Ms Thompson said she would use at least $10,000 to pay for breast reconstruction surgery.

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Hijackers ‘flew low to evade radar’

The search for Flight MH370 has expanded yet again as officials name hijacking as one of the lead causes for the planes disappearance.

Lead investigators believe the Malaysia Airlines plane may have evaded the radar of at least three countries by dropping to altitudes as low as 1524 metres (5000 feet) to engage in a risky flying technique called “terrain masking”.

The plane, with 239 people on board, is understood to have kept to regular commercial airline routes as it flew for more than seven hours after diverting from its scheduled flight path over the South China Sea, officials believe.

“All right, goodnight,” was the last known verbal communication with Kuala Lumpur. Investigators say the final words were spoken by someone in the cockpit minutes after the plane’s main communication system was deliberately disabled on-board, and it was said calmly so as to give no indication that anything was wrong.

Terrain masking is used by military pilots for stealth flights and officials believe that whoever had control of the aircraft pursued commercial routes so as not raise the suspicion of people monitoring radar of the countries it flew over.

Kuala Lumpur’s The New Straits Times newspaper is quoting investigators as saying the “person who had control over the aircraft has a solid knowledge of avionics and navigation and left a clean track”.

So far background checks done by both Malaysian and other foreign intelligence agencies indicate that no one else on board is likely to have had as much flying expertise as Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah.

Malaysia’s police chief, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, confirmed that all crew on-board the missing Boeing 777 are being investigated and the luxury home of Captain Shah, 52, has been searched.

“We took possession of a simulator, a flight simulator and we have dismantled it from the home (of the pilot) and we have assembled it at our office and we are getting experts to look at it now,” Mr Abu Bakar said.

Aside from Malaysia, it is unclear which other nations the aircraft masked over but Malaysian Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein said the search now covered 11 different countries as well as “deep and remote oceans” and that 25 countries were now involved.

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Marine to model: Soldier signs underwear deal

His military career was cut short when he lost a leg in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan but Alex Minsky wasted no time finding a surprising new profession – underwear model.

His military career was cut short when he lost a leg in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan but Alex Minsky wasted no time finding a surprising new profession – underwear model.

The 25-year-old amputee spent 47 days in a coma after his truck was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009. As well as losing his leg, he suffered brain injuries and severe burns.

He suffered from depression when he returned to the US and developed an alcohol problem before deciding to stop drinking and start working out. A few months later he was discovered by a photographer who quickly got him work as a male model.

Minsky now exercises for four hours every day to keep his physique photo shoot ready and has appeared in ad campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands.

Encouragingly, he’s not the only unorthodox model to find fame in recent months – these non-traditional beauties are all making waves in the fashion world.

War veteran Alex Minsky lost his left leg in Afghanistan but has now found success in the modelling industry. Photography by Martin Ryter Hollywood.

He suffered from depression when he returned to the US and developed an alcohol problem before deciding to stop drinking and start working out. A few months later he was discovered by a photographer who quickly got him work as a male model.

Louis Evans, 22, who was tormented for his bright red hair has triumphed over his bullies, becoming an internationally successful catwalk model.

Sarah Wright was bullied for being albino but this year won the UK’s Alternative Model of the Year crown.

Alternative models have been growing in popularity in recent years. Jillian Mercado, who is wheelchair-bound, appears in the latest Diesel fashion campaign.

Moffy, who has cross-eyes, is another alternative model who has shot to fame recently. Photographed by Tyrone LeBon for POP magazine.

Debbie van der Putten, who has one arm, is having success as a high fashion model.

Kelly Knox for Think New.

Double amputee Aimee Mullins is a L’Oreal spokesmodel.

Transgender model Isis King for American Apparel.

Faye Povey doesn’t let her crutches stop her from modelling.

Jenna Talackova has made it as a fashion model after being disqualified from Miss Universe because she was born male.

Transgender model Carmen Carerra in a risque ad for La Femme fragrance.

She spent the first 21 years of her life living in one of the world’s most conservative communities – this year Amish beauty Kate Stoltz has found freedom and a modelling contract.

Sophie Morgan models from her wheelchair.

Holly Greenhow, 7, has cerebral palsy and is a model for Mini Boden.

Valentina Guerrero, who has Down syndrome, modelling for DC Kids swimwear.

Seb White, who has Down syndrome, modelling pyjamas for JoJo Maman Bebe.

Six-year-old Ryan Langston (far left) has Down syndrome and models for US Target.

Ryan has also modelled for US department store Nordstrom.

Five-year-old Natalia Goleniowski (right) also has Down syndrome but models for Frugi.

Ella Kinder, a child model with Down syndrome. Photo by Carrie at photographybycarrieperez.com.

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Braith and Jodi’s new bundle of joy

The proud parents share loving pictures of their beautiful newborn baby girl, Aleeia

The proud parents share loving pictures of their beautiful newborn baby girl, Aleeia

Proud parents, Braith Anasta and Jodi Gordon, share loving pictures of their beautiful newborn baby girl, Aleeia.

“It’s like an instant, obsessive love,” say Jodi of her bond with her baby girl.

Braith is in awe of his daughter: “I just want to give her all the love in the world.”

See the new mum and dad introduce Alleeia to the world in our gallery.

Daddy’s little girl.

Hands-on dad Braith was first to change a nappy.

Braith says he controlled his emotions: “I didn’t cry until it was all over.”

“She’s been a dream baby and we’ve loved every minute,” Jodi says.

“I still can’t believe we brought this amazing little girl into the world,” Braith says.

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How post-plastic surgery bodies really look

The brutal aftermath of plastic surgery has been captured in a series of arresting portraits.
plastic surgery

Before the glamorous “after” photos, women who have undergone plastic surgery endure weeks of agonising pain, severe bruising and unsightly swelling.

This brutal post-surgery period has been captured in a series of arresting portraits called Beauty Recovery Room by South Korean artist Ji Yeo, 29.

Yeo decided to depict what post-cosmetic surgery bodies really look like after having consultations for several procedures and realising she had no idea what the aftermath would be like.

“I was going to get heavy plastic surgery to my entire body,” she said. “After consultation and consultation I realised I hadn’t been exposed to the procedure.

“No one really explained what the side effects would be, or that going under anaesthesia – I might die.”

The portraits are horrific and clearly show the suffering and misery of the subjects but Yeo says their cases are far from out of the ordinary.

“This is very typical. It is not extreme at all,” she said.

The brutal aftermath of plastic surgery has been captured in a series of arresting portraits.

Plastic surgery is reaching astronomical levels in Yeo’s native South Korea.

Yeo found her subjects on an online plastic surgery forum, and nursed them through their recovery in order to secure their permission to photograph them.

The women were hiding out in Seoul hotels, trying to hide their swollen “after” bodies from their significant others until they looked more acceptable.

None of the women photographer were wealthy, taking out loans to fund their expensive procedures.

“I bought prescriptions, I cooked soup for them, I drove them to the hotels and drove them to the clinic for their appointments. I let one subject stay at my apartment for a week,” Yeo said.

Despite this, Yeo found it difficult to stay in touch with her subjects. “Most of them didn’t reply to my messages or phone calls after three to six months. It’s like they don’t want to remember and they’re living their new life with new features.”

The portraits are horrific and clearly show the suffering and misery of the subjects.

“This is very typical. It is not extreme at all,” Yeo said.

“No one really explained what the side effects would be, or that going under anaesthesia – I might die,” Yeo said.

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Pippa Middleton joins school volleyball team

Pippa Middleton is more commonly seen drinking champagne than making charity visits but she took a leaf out of her older sister’s book last week, playing a game of volleyball for a local special needs school.

Pippa got sporty during a visit to Mary Hare, a school for the deaf near her parents’ home in Berkshire.

She is an ambassador for the school and wrote about her return to the volleyball court in her fortnightly newspaper column – titled Sport and Social – admitting she was “rather nervous” ahead of the match.

“I haven’t played volleyball for years, let alone in front of such a large audience,” the 30-year-old wrote. “Two minutes later I’m in position and being ordered around by my team-mates as I struggle to recall the different techniques I once knew.”

Pippa also gushed about the “wonderful things” the specialist school does for the children who attend.

“Mary Hare is going from strength to strength. It now educates a quarter of all children who attend schools for the deaf in England,” she wrote.

The column – which is published in the UK’s Daily Telegraph newspaper – is not Pippa’s first foray into journalism. She turned food writer for Waitrose, in the upscale supermarket chain’s magazine, columnist for The Spectator and contributing editor at Vanity Fair, producing sports commentary.

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Kim and Kanye ban phones at their wedding

The A-list couple will ask wedding guests to sign confidentiality agreements and part with their mobiles phones

In an attempt to keep the wedding ceremony top secret (until it is screened exclusively for the world to see on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, that is), it is rumoured that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian will force guests at the event to hand over their mobile phones.

That means no tweeting, facebooking, instagramming, recording or playing games while the lavish ceremony is taking place.

A friend of the couple has stated that: “Mobile devices will be held at a secure location and if someone needs to use during the festivities, accommodations will be made, but a long way away from the festivities. This is all designed to discourage guests from using their phones.”

Unless you happen to be Beyonce and Jay Z because, honestly, who is going to ask those two to comply with the mobile phone rule?

“There is no way Kanye would ever even dare to ask Jay Z or Beyonce to sign a non-disclosure agreement, or take away their cell phones, as he knows neither one of them would betray him,” the source said.

It’s believed the extreme measures will be put into place due to the leak of footage from Kanye’s proposal to Kim late last year, which is currently being dealt with in court.

Related video: Kim and Kanye’s prenup

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Kissing cousins: Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas related

Prince Harry and his girlfriend Cressida Bonas are cousins, according to genealogy archives published online.
Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas

Prince Harry and his girlfriend Cressida Bonas are cousins, according to genealogy archives published online.

The blue-blooded discovery comes after more than 11 million documents, known as the Tithe Records, charting proprietorship and residence of land in England and Wales between 1836 and 1930 were uploaded on to website TheGenalogist.co.uk in partnership with the National Archives.

After sifting through the records, genealogy experts revealed that Bonas, 25, has an ancestral link to Harry, 29, that could be traced back to Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, Princess Diana’s great-great-grandfather.

The ancestral link means that Prince Harry and his sweetheart are fourth half-cousins once removed, sharing 1.6 per cent of their genes with their common ancestor, David Osborne of The Genealogist told The Sunday Times.

Experts also discovered that Cressida’s linage could also be traced back to Winston Churchill.

As predictions of a royal engagement between the pair mount just weeks after Cressida accompanied Harry to an official engagement, a source close to couple reportedly insists that the dance graduate “isn’t ready” to give up her career for royal life.

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Katy Perry’s preacher parents publicly shame her

While Katy Perry is still dealing with her high-profile split from John Mayer, the singer has a new problem on her hands – her parents.

The 29-year-old’s controversial preacher parents, Keith and Mary Hudson have once again publicly shamed their superstar daughter, saying she is “off track” from going to heaven.

Currently on theirArisetour of America, the pair is heaping fresh shame on Katy, publicly denouncing her in front of huge crowds at their church services.

Keith, known for his strange outbursts and last year branding Katy a “devil child”, has asked churchgoers to pray for the one person who needs it the most – his daughter – saying he wished she would act more “like a Christian”.

He also admitted she was in a tough place right now following claims that John cheated on her with a fitness instructor.

“I let Katy do what she wanted to do, now listen she may not be where she’s supposed to be but it ain’t over yet. We didn’t force her to do anything,” he told a packed church.

“Now let me just say something, it isn’t over, and God is working behind the scenes. We’ve gone through tough times. We get together, we pray, we rise above it.”

During the service he expressed his confusion over Katy being brought up a Christian, but writing the pro-lesbian songI Kissed A Girl,before asking the congregation to help find his son David a wife, saying he looks just like Tom Cruise.

Apart from repeatedly shaming their daughter during their bizarre service, the evangelical speakers proclaim that we’re “only days away” from the “Last Call” and have urged church goers to build arks because we are about to experience a similar fate as the biblical character Noah.

“Tell the church that they must begin to prepare your ark for the saving of their household. You must listen to me,” he said.

“Begin to pray for your family like never before. Your family is number one in this Earth. More than anyone else, it’s your family.”

The pair’s 150-minute long service includes reading the fortune of churchgoers, asking people for $400 to fund “marriage guidance” weekends at the five-star Marriott hotel on Kauai Beach, Hawaii and dismisses depression saying you just need “15 minutes in your closet talking to God”.

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