Advertisement
Home Page 4799

Obama wins! Second term for US President

Obama wins! Second term for US President

Barack Obama announced his president victory via Twitter, posting this photo of him and First Lady Michelle

Barack Obama has been re-elected to a second term as President of the United States.

“Four more years” read the tweet that confirmed the count, as Obama’s official Twitter account announced victory while votes were still being counted.

In pictures: Obama’s victory

The social media announcement was accompanied by a picture of the President and First Lady, Michelle, in a celebratory embrace.

The President also thanked his supporters via social media.

“We’re all in this together. That’s how we campaigned.” he tweeted.

The race to the White House was called early as Obama’s Democratic party claimed the key swing state of Ohio, while votes are still being counted.

The latest count shows Obama is on track to win as many as 300 electoral votes — 270 are needed for an election win.

Obama claimed victory over conservative Republican candidate Mitt Romney, closing off a close and expensive campaigning competition.

While Romney is yet to deliver his concession speech, which will be followed by Obama’s victorious remarks, Democrats across America are already celebrating.

Whie House women: Glamorous First Ladies

The crowd at Obama’s campaign headquarters in Chicago started celebrations even before the count was confirmed, and the Empire State Building in New York has been lit up blue to mark the party’s victory.

Obama is the first US president to announce his election via social media, and Tuesday’s election has become the most tweeted about event ever, clocking up more than 20 million mentions by the time polling booths had closed.

Video: Obama elected to second term

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

Meet the girl who charmed a Duchess

The girl who charmed a Duchess

The Duchess of Cornwall and Georgina Gallagher, 13, from Port Phillip Specialist School.

Meet the little girl who today charmed a Duchess.

Thirteen-year-old Georgina Gallagher from Port Phillip Specialist School, south of Melbourne, was among a group of students who met Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall at the Victorian College of Arts (VCA) this morning as part of the royal duo’s whirlwind tour of Australia.

Georgina and fellow students from the school for children with learning and intellectual disabilities sat with the Duchess and read from a series of children’s books — part of an ongoing literacy program run by the VCA in association with the Port Phillip Specialist School.

Related: Utterly charming Camilla wins fans with impish sense of humour

“Don’t you look smart with your yellow ribbon!” exclaimed the Duchess as Georgina stood to hug her.

“The students have been very excited all week,” explained Port Phillip Specialist School Assistant Principal, Alison Druce.

“They will be talking about this now for weeks.”

The reading session was one of several showcases put on for the royal couple at the College of Arts, including a choral recital, a stirring performance from a 100-student-strong choir and a series of an impressive dance displays.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

Is this Australia’s biggest Royal fan?

Jo Green has set up her royal-watching station outside Government House in Melbourne
Loading the player...

Certainly no-one would dare question Melburnite, Jo Green’s dedication to the royal cause.

The 70-year-old and her trusty of folding chair have been permanent fixtures at the gates of Government House the past three days as she waits to catch a glimpse of her regal idols, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Related: ‘Utterly charming’ Camilla wins fans with ‘impish’ sense of humour

“I was here, in the rain, at 11 o’clock on Monday night when they arrived, and I have been back here every day since,” she told The Weekly.

Proudly brandishing a Queen Elizabeth cushion, the Melbourne pensioner said her patience had been rewarded with “a few waves from the Prince” as the royal couple have moved in and out of Government House, attending their various engagements in and around the city.

No republic! Australia loves Charles and Camilla

“I’ve been a huge fan of the Prince for as long as I can remember,” Ms Green added.

“But I have never seen him look so relaxed and happy. They look like they are in love. It’s wonderful to see.”

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

‘Utterly charming’ Camilla wins fans with ‘impish’ sense of humour

'Utterly charming' Camilla wins fans with 'impish' sense of humour

Camilla arriving at Government House this morning, where she throughly impressed Eleanor and Martha Baillieu.

The Duchess of Cornwall continued her Down Under charm offensive this morning, delighting a room of dignitaries and osteoporosis sufferers with her easy manner and impish sense of humour.

Camilla met with a select group of dignitaries, medical practitioners and patients at a special event for Osteoporosis Australia at Government House in Melbourne.

No republic please! Australia loves Charles and Camilla

Elegant in a blue pleated silk skirt and cream jacket by designer Anna Valentine, the Duchess made everyone she encountered feel at ease, even eschewing stuffy royal protocol to crack jokes at her own expense.

Upon being introduced to sisters Eleanor and Martha Baillieu, the two very tall daughters of Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, the Duchess joked she should have brought her racing binoculars from the Melbourne Cup in order to make eye contact.

“She was utterly charming,” pronounced Primrose Dunlop, the Countess Krasicki V Siecin, after meeting the Duchess.

“Very down to earth. No airs or graces. And she’s into horses. And anyone who likes horses is alright by me.”

For Lady Potter, another guest at the function, the Duchess was “elegant and warm.”

“She was charming and warm, she couldn’t have been nicer,” Lady Potter said. “She and Prince Charles are obviously very happy together, it’s lovely to see.”

The Duchess had specifically requested a function for Osteoporosis Australia be built into the royal tour, having been personally touched by the disease.

“It is a cause that is very, very close to my heart,” she told the assembled guests. “I watched my mother die in agony of this disease.”

She told the room it was disease that was “utterly preventable”.

Related: ‘Marry me Charles!’ Racegoer woos Prince

The chairman of Osteoporosis Australia the former Opposition Leader, Dr John Hewson said more than 1.2 million Australians were afflicted with osteoporosis and a further 5.4 million had low bone density.

Guests at the function included Osteoporosis CEO Shelley Evans, former Victorian Premier Joan Kirner, Osteoporosis Australia patron and broadcaster Helen Daley and Premier Ted Baillieu.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

Zara Phillips goes Gangnam Style

Korean pop sensation Psy has reached global fame with his song Gangnam Style and while a number of celebrities have tried their moves at the song, it looks like it has hit Royalty as well.

Zara Phillips is the latest star to give Gangnam Style a try and has even got her British eventing team in on the act. The team have performed the dance in honor of charity Children In Need.

While the full video is set to be released on Monday, here is a sneak peek of what you can expect.

Other stars who have joined in on the Gangnam style phenomenon include X Factor judge Mel B who danced to the song with Psy himself, Carrie Underwood, who showcased a Country-style rendition and Nelly Furtado, who performed an English version of the song at a recent concert.

Zara Phillips and the British eventing team.

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood at the CMA Awards.

Nelly Furtado performs Gangnam style at her concert in Manila.

Mel B and Psy on the X Factor.

Britney Spears and Psy on The Ellen DeGeneres show.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

Charles and Camilla’s Aussie adventure

Charles and Camilla’s Aussie adventure

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Prince Charles cuddles up to a Koala called Kao whilst Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall holds a koala called Matilda at Government House in Adelaide.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla was keen to taste some of the Adelaide wines on offer.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

The pair shared a glass of red as they toured the Penfolds Magill State Winery.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla is welcomed by a sea of Aussie flags in Adelaide.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Prince Charles stops to meet members of the public after visiting the Cattle Rancher’s Hall of Fame Longreach, his first stop in Australia.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

The pair were presented with a cattle whip to take home during their tour.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

While Prince Charles was happy to just pat a kangaroo…

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

…Camilla wanted a cuddle!

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Prince Charles talks to members of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla meets her big (and little) fans in Longreach.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

The royal pair are no strangers to horse racing, so it’s no surprised they love the Melbourne Cup.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Prince Charles greets his many fans at the Melbourne cup.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Fans rush to get a glimpse of the UK’s future king.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

Relaxed Charles ‘at home’ in Aussie outback

Charles and Camilla all smiles in Longreach

Charles and Camilla in Longreach, Queensland.

In an impressive speech at a community bbq attended by 300 guests — stockmen and their families, farmers and people who work on the land from the isolated community of Longreach — Prince Charles paid tribute to the outback and recalled his own experiences as a schoolboy in the Australian bush.

“The outback is a large part of the Australian experience, its history and its sense of identity,” he said to the rapt crowd.

Relate: Charles and Camilla all smiles in Longreach

“I was fortunate enough to experience just a little of outback life when I was a schoolboy in Victoria nearly 50 years ago.

“And I cannot pretend to remember a great deal about my school curriculum but I can recall in every detail the long treks through the bush in searing heat.

“And for company I remember funnel web spiders, bull ants, leaches that could only be removed with a cigarette end, snakes of every description and kangaroos that overtook us on the country runs through the bush at Timber Top.

Related: Charles and Camilla a hit in Papua New Guinea

“If, as they say, those are your formative years, then they certainly formed me and ladies and gentlemen look at the result.”

The crowd clapped loudly and a chuffed Prince Charles chuckled.

It’s rare to see the heir to the throne so relaxed and happy in his skin and despite admitting fighting jetlag, it was a great start to his Australian journey.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

No Marilyn moments: Queen’s wardrobe secrets revealed

No Marilyn moments: Queen's wardrobe secrets revealed

Queen Elizabeth

Prince Philip accidentally flashed his crown jewels in July, Kate’s bikini top fell off in September and Harry’s clothes abandoned him completely in Las Vegas, but Queen Elizabeth has never had a wardrobe malfunction in her 60 years in the spotlight.

Come rain, hail or gusty winds, the 86-year-old monarch never looks anything less than perfect — but perfection doesn’t come easy.

Related: Charles and Camilla a hit in Papua New Guinea

Angela Kelly — personal dresser to the Queen since 1994 — has revealed the almost military precision that goes into clothing Elizabeth II in her new book Dressing The Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe.

Angela leads a team of up to 12 people, including three dressmakers, a milliner and four dressers, who staff the Queen’s wardrobe.

Each outfit begins as a piece of fabric, which is thoroughly tested with a number of fans to see how it will move in a breeze.

If the material passes the test, it is presented to the Queen along with sketches of at least four possible designs.

The monarch picks one and the dressmakers produce a rough cotton prototype, which is fitted to a top secret mannequin shaped to match the Queen’s figure.

Once approved, the dress is crafted in the final fabric, and details like buttons, trimmings, collars and cuffs are added.

When four or five new outfits are ready, Angela calls the Queen in for a fitting, which can last half a day.

The finished dresses are then given a name and entered into the Queen’s official wardrobe log.

This detailed handwritten diary keeps track of every outfit, hat and accessory the monarch wears to ensure she doesn’t commit an embarrassing faux pas.

Once a dress has been worn, it won’t come out again for several months. Even colours aren’t repeated — if the Queen wears red to an engagement, that colour will be off-limits for a period afterwards.

Colours are also strategically chosen to match the occasion. If the monarch will be planting trees in a garden, green will be avoided so she stands out, and if she’s visiting a school, bright colours and fun details like feathers and ribbons will be chosen to appeal to children.

The weather is also considered. Winds are countered by clever tailoring, which makes it impossible for dresses to blow up over the Queen’s knees.

Angela and her team also sew weights into the hems of certain coats and dresses to prevent a gust of wind catching Her Majesty unawares.

Rain presents different challenges. Angela and her team provide an umbrella to match every outfit the Queen has and where hats are required, they always ensure a matching headscarf is on hand in case the hat is damaged in the rain.

Hats also come with a range of rules of their own. The brim must never obscure the Queen’s face, and the crown can’t be so tall it presents problems exiting a vehicle.

Related: Charles and Camilla begin tour in PNG

Further rules exist governing choice of handkerchiefs, shoes, handbags and gloves.

On the day of an engagement, months of planning come to fruition. The chosen outfit is carefully prepared, along with the matching accessories, and the Queen steps out into the world, looking effortlessly perfect, as always.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

Isla Fisher’s slimming secrets

Isla Fisher's slimming secrets

Isla Fisher has given a rare interview opening up about her slimming secrets and the pressure that Hollywood puts on celebrities.

The usually private actress, who is married to controversial funny man Sacha Baron Cohen, told Women’s Health magazine that although her confidence has been constantly tested in Hollywood, she never suffered body issues or felt pressured to bounce back after giving birth to her daughters Olive, 5, and Elula, 2.

“I’ve been blessed in that I never had any body issues during pregnancy. I loved being able to eat whatever I wanted and the whole experience of giving life,” she says.

“And I never worried about losing the weight afterwards, because breastfeeding burns all the calories up so fast. Breastfeeding – that’s my big slimming secret! That and Spanx. Anytime anyone compliments me on my figure, I’m wearing my Spanx undies.”

But things weren’t always easy for the former Home And Away star, who says that Hollywood rejection almost crushed her spirit more than once.

“After doing that [first Hollywood movie Wedding Crashers], I had 12 months where I was auditioning three times a day and I didn’t get a single job,” she says.

“That was a real low point. But with hindsight, those movies turned out to be awful, so I dodged a bullet. If I’d got any of them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Despite now being a big name in Hollywood, Isla still doesn’t take herself too seriously.

“I’m not actually very good at the maintenance thing. I don’t buff, exfoliate, pluck, rinse, moisturise, suck, bleach… whatever all those women do,” she says.

“I don’t have vajacials. Have you heard of those? It’s like a spa for your vagina!”

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4799

*Big Brother*’s Trevor: My bucket list blitz!

Big Brother's Trevor: My bucket list blitz!

Big Brother’s biggest winner is still riding high on his 2004 victory.

For a lot of house mates, Big Brother is a springboard for launching a career in show biz, but for Trevor Butler, he just wanted to tick it off his bucket list. “I had a to-do list,” Trevor tells Woman’s Day.

“One was to go on Big Brother; another was to win a million dollars. Another was get married and start a family. People went into the house knowing what they wanted to do afterwards—TV or radio—while I went on just to have my 15 seconds of fame and then get off. I didn’t go in to win; I went in to tick something off the list.”

Trevor killed three birds with one stone when he took out the grand prize of a million bucks and popped the question on stage at the finale to girlfriend Breea. Eight years on, the couple have ticked another box – to start a family. They have two sons Maika, 4, and Creedance, 1.

“I took a few years off while Breea worked and then along came our second child and I thought, ‘well we can’t have three kids under the one roof!’” he laughs, adding that being a stay-at-home dad was “terrifying”. “I didn’t want to miss out on seeing Maika grow up,” he says. “Most parents don’t have this chance, so I was one of the lucky ones.”

Now Trevor splits his time between looking after the kids and working part time for a radio station on the Gold Coast. “It’s the easiest job I’ve ever had in my life, going around and talking on the radio, just being myself,” he says.

“I want to try and pull my finger out and get into a bit of brekkie and arvo shows…but it’s hard with kids.”

As for Trevor’s to-do list, there are still a few things eluding him. “One was to skydive, haven’t done that yet…Get into premier league, haven’t done that, get a six-pack, working on that!” he laughs.

As Trevor’s trails off, he remembers one last and most important thing. “To have a daughter.” Given Trevor’s track record we have a feeling he won’t have any problems making his latest dream a reality!

Related stories


Advertisement