Syan Vallance
The UK and European Union have reached a wide-ranging agreement on security co-operation and trade at their first formal summit since Brexit. Mon 19 May Mon 19 May Mon 19 May 2025 at 10:28pm
The youngest cardinal to vote in the conclave has described his experience of electing the new pope. Sat 10 May Sat 10 May Sat 10 May 2025 at 2:08am
A fierce fire burning near Mount Dandenong flared overnight, with locals voicing anger about the time it took for warnings to be issued. Sun 16 Mar Sun 16 Mar Sun 16 Mar 2025 at 1:40pm
Long-shelved board games are being dusted off as families on the Gold Coast make the most of prolonged outages. Sun 9 Mar Sun 9 Mar Sun 9 Mar 2025 at 12:49am
Thousands of residents living along the waterways are expected to face the brunt of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Wed 5 Mar Wed 5 Mar Wed 5 Mar 2025 at 6:36am
Residents living on the edge of the Grampians National Park, in the communities of Cavendish and Halls Gap, are told to prepare for difficult days ahead. Fri 31 Jan Fri 31 Jan Fri 31 Jan 2025 at 3:16am
Katelynn Clark felt certain her home would burn to the ground when a raging bushfire hit the edge of her rural property on Monday night. Tue 28 Jan Tue 28 Jan Tue 28 Jan 2025 at 9:34pm
Pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, with many saying the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal does not go far enough. Sun 19 Jan Sun 19 Jan Sun 19 Jan 2025 at 7:36am
Halls Gap is dependent on tourism and some businesses have lost more than a third of their income, but many don't qualify for government support. Wed 15 Jan Wed 15 Jan Wed 15 Jan 2025 at 4:04am
A new generation of lifesavers will hit the beach this summer, as Australians are urged to heed warnings and swim between the flags. Sun 5 Jan Sun 5 Jan Sun 5 Jan 2025 at 6:10pm
Amid the turmoil of evacuations, residents in western Victoria have provided shelter, food and Christmas cheer to those in need. Fri 27 Dec Fri 27 Dec Fri 27 Dec 2024 at 8:48pm
Victorians are being warned of a "problematic" Boxing Day as extreme temperatures, gusty winds and dry bushland create dangerous conditions which may even threaten the city of Ballarat. Mon 23 Dec Mon 23 Dec Mon 23 Dec 2024 at 10:40am
After a suspected terror attack on a Melbourne synagogue, Jewish Australians reflect on their hopes and fears. Fri 13 Dec Fri 13 Dec Fri 13 Dec 2024 at 7:56pm
Kilvington Grammar and the organiser of a school trip have both apologised in court for the death of a diabetic 16-year-old student in 2019. Wed 11 Dec Wed 11 Dec Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 8:50am
A jury finds Emil "Bill" Petrov guilty of the violent murder of Cindy Crossthwaite in her Melton South home in Melbourne's north-west in 2007. Wed 11 Dec Wed 11 Dec Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 4:39am
As counter-terrorism police investigate the torching of a Melbourne synagogue on Friday, its community is fighting to save priceless Torah scrolls damaged in the arson attack. Tue 10 Dec Tue 10 Dec Tue 10 Dec 2024 at 10:36pm
The extradition of Easey street accused Perry Kouroumblis has highlighted other Australians on Interpol's "red notice" list, including Anthony Sitar. Fri 6 Dec Fri 6 Dec Fri 6 Dec 2024 at 9:10pm
A magistrate says a teenager facing explosives charges should remain in custody, after he allegedly downloaded graphic videos of mass murders while planning his own attacks. Fri 6 Dec Fri 6 Dec Fri 6 Dec 2024 at 4:53am
Nearly 48 years after two women were stabbed to death in their Melbourne home, the man accused of carrying out the killings has been charged and faced court for the first time. Wed 4 Dec Wed 4 Dec Wed 4 Dec 2024 at 7:46am
The Indigenous community that lost almost $1 million to disgraced leader Geoff Clark says it can start to rebuild now he's been jailed after a decade-long investigation. Sun 1 Dec Sun 1 Dec Sun 1 Dec 2024 at 10:52pm
The parents of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones remain at their bedsides in separate Thai hospitals as the Melbourne women fight for their lives after drinking tainted alcohol. Tue 19 Nov Tue 19 Nov Tue 19 Nov 2024 at 8:56am
A report by Our Watch has revealed the average teenage Australian girl has viewed pornography before her 14th birthday, with fears it is becoming a default source of sexual education for children. Wed 13 Nov Wed 13 Nov Wed 13 Nov 2024 at 1:32am
The 20-year-old victim of a fatal shooting in Melbourne's inner north has been remembered as having a "beautiful heart" and always putting others first, as police and community groups call for calm. Sun 3 Nov Sun 3 Nov Sun 3 Nov 2024 at 6:46am
Judy Small has made her mark in three careers: as a family lawyer, a Federal Circuit and Family Court judge, and a singer-songwriter. The 71-year-old is one of 21 people to be inducted into Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
Tue 1 Apr Tue 1 Apr Tue 1 Apr 2025 at 8:00am
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
British singer Lewis Capaldi says he was ghosted by Justin Bieber: ‘Text me back, please'
Lewis Capaldi has revealed that he was ghosted by a huge A-list singer, as he opened up on the shock snub. The Scottish singer opened up about a night out with pop sensation Justin Bieber at a star-studded bash, but says the Baby singer failed to message him back. Lewis, 28, said that he and Justin had exchanged numbers but after dropping him a message the following day, Lewis was left with no reply. Chatting to Chris Stark on Capital Breakfast, Before You Go singer Lewis revealed: 'It was amazing, there was famous people, Charli xcx was there, Justin Bieber was there. 'Justin Bieber comes over and said 'Hey man, what's going on?' And I said, 'You don't remember my name?' And he said, 'Of course I do, you're Lewis Capaldi.' 'Me and Bieber had this super night together, like really lovely evening together. We didn't spend the night together, but we hung out and I'm like, 'Me and the Biebs are gonna be best pals, this is huge.'' But things didn't turn out as planned for the singers, as Lewis continued: 'And he's like, 'Man, make sure I get your number tomorrow.'' 'I text him maybe the most sucking up his a*** text. I said, 'Just wanted to jump on, bro, last night was so special, great guy, so nice to hang out with you, such a dude.' 'He likes it and doesn't reply. So if you're out there Bieber, wherever you are, text me back, please. Bieber aired me.' Scots singer Lewis made his long-anticipated return to Glastonbury this summer, two years after he broke down on the very same stage. Capaldi, who had Tourette's, took a two-year hiatus from performing after his 2023 Glasto set saw him tear up and suffer repeated tics. But he made an emotional return as he swaggered onto the stage as a crowd of more than 100,000 people chanted his name. The Bathgate-born popstar told fans the past two years had been 'difficult' but admitted he had unfinished business to resolve. He said: 'Glastonbury, it's so good to be back. I'm not gonna say much up here today because if I do, I think I'll probably start crying. 'But I said it's just amazing to be here with you all, and I can't thank you all enough for coming out and coming and seeing me.' Making light of his 2023 performance, which he was forced to cut short, he said: 'Second time's a charm on this one, everybody. 'It's just a short set today, but I just wanted to come and finish what I couldn't finish the first time.' Festival-goers teared up and chanted 'Oh Lewis Capaldi' as he treated them to the surprise 35-minute set with hits like Before You Go and Hold Me While You Wait.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Stand up': Star's proposal to boyfriend divides
Former Disney Star Bella Thorne has sparked debate by proposing to her British boyfriend, producer Mark Emms... who she is already engaged to. The 27-year-old, who rose to prominence as a child actor on the Disney television show Shake It Up and in movies like Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's Blended, has just gotten down on one knee and asked her boyfriend to marry her. The romantic gesture isn't just surprising in the fact that she's forgone the tradition of the man proposing and popped the question herself, but it is also slightly random, because the pair are already engaged - and have been since 2024. Ms Thorne didn't offer much explanation but posted a clip of her proposing on social media to her millions of followers. '3 years ago we met, 1 year later he proposed, now year 1 later, so did I,' she wrote. There is some music over the top of the video, so you can't hear Mr Emms' response, but he clearly said yes. The 45-year-old even covered his mouth with his hand in shock before dropping to his knees and joining the former Disney star on the ground. It was quite the romantic scene but the proposal really baffled people online. While some commented on how 'sweet' it was and gushed over the couple, many didn't like the idea of a woman proposing to a man. 'Girl stand up. I'm saying this with love,' one advised. 'If he had already proposed. Why did you do it? I'm confused,' another said. 'Okay ladies. Let's not normalise this okay?' One wrote. 'Girl you cannot be serious,' someone else said 'Get up,' someone instructed. One social media user commented that you 'don't ever propose to a man,' another countered, that argument saying everyone should leave Ms Thorne alone and 'let her cook' and propose to her boyfriend. The lovebirds originally got engaged after just nine months of dating. Emms, 45, works behind the scenes as a producer, and owns a bar in New York City and the pair met at model Cara Delevingne's birthday party. Ms Thorne has previously shared on social media that the two have been 'through every emotion together and I love them all equally' and she has told People that the pair have even seen a therapist before marriage. 'We're still really learning each other's traits, and trying to get them right before we get married,' she said. She added that the wedding planning is 'going great' and said it has been a 'wow' experience to find her partner. 'Every day we kind of draw closer. It's really like, 'Oh wow, we're really, and you're my partner.' Let's do this together,' she said. 'So that kind of becomes more real every day and kind of solidifies our partnership more and more every day.'
ABC News
11 hours ago
- ABC News
After years of private turmoil, Alex Lloyd is ready for the spotlight again
Life was so sweet for Alex Lloyd for a while. Amazing, even. The boy from Balmain's hit song had catapulted him to stardom. He'd met and married his great love, started a family and moved to London. But then, to borrow from the lyrics of that song that is so deeply woven into Australia's fabric, every wolf was at his door. "I ended up in a place where no one could really help me," Alex tells Australian Story in an exclusive interview. A legal fight over the authorship of Amazing sparked an unravelling. Resurfaced childhood trauma led to a marriage breakdown, extreme weight gain and ultimately an addiction to oxycodone that saw the four-time ARIA Award winner, including three for Best Male Artist, fade from view. But now, at 50, with his first studio album in 12 years in the works, Alex Lloyd is learning to "be OK with me" and is ready to do some amazing things. "Now, I'm seeing the world differently. And I think I'm ready to share this part of me now and be scrutinised again," he says. He was a chubby kid with a mohawk, an acoustic guitar and a voice that mesmerised the bustling crowd at the Balmain Markets in the mid-1980s. "He would play blues covers with such strength and conviction, people would just stop what they were doing," says friend Sally Gluckstern, who met Alex when he was 10. "He came alive when he sang, but when he wasn't singing, he was incredibly shy," she recalls. "I remember feeling there was something sort of heavy about him. Heavy inside." Music was always Alex's escape from a chaotic childhood of dyslexia, violence, love and loss. By 13, he was gigging at pubs and his bluesy, soulful voice and poignant storytelling would become his ticket out of struggle street. When Amazing hit the airwaves in 2001, it took Alex into rarefied air. "It genuinely is one of the Aussie anthems of the last 25 years," says friend and former triple j announcer Adam Spencer. "It's left an indelible mark on Australian music." They were heady days — travelling the world, partying and making music. "I've had some extreme highs, like highs that hardly anyone gets to experience," says Alex. "I got to sing in a castle and meet kings and queens and princesses, like, it's crazy." He married Amelia Mills, who he'd spotted in the crowd on a tour for his debut album Black the Sun, became a dad and moved to London to work on his first independent album. He was the "happiest guy on the planet". Then, the legal letter arrived. Out of the blue, truck driver and one-time musician Mark O'Keefe alleged Alex had stolen Amazing. O'Keefe claimed he'd co-written the hit with Alex on the back of coasters when they played at the same pub when Alex was a teenager. The "ridiculous" claim challenged Alex's artistic integrity. "I couldn't think of anything worse than stealing somebody's song," he says. But more destructively, in order to rebut the claim, Alex had to cast his mind back to those tough years he thought he'd left behind. Childhood trauma "just comes and bites you in the arse", Alex says. Alex's parents split when he was about six, and he and his brother, Oliver, lived with their mother, Bridget Lloyd. He loved his "crazy in a beautiful way" mum, a struggling artist who'd start painting at midnight, waking Alex up with the smell of oil paint and Ry Cooder on the stereo. Her relationship with a violent binge drinker led to terrifying times, when the man would beat Bridget, "banging her head against the hard wood floor". Alex would try to intervene but was too young and powerless — and had his own battles with his volatile brother. "I had to go back in time and discover all this shit that I hadn't dealt with," Alex says. "The beatings on my mother, the beatings from my brother, being called a fat shit all the time." When Bridget died suddenly, when Alex was 16, he "cried for six months". The legal action took him back there, with O'Keefe initially claiming Amazing was written in 1989 soon after Bridget's death. But Bridget died in 1991. O'Keefe withdrew his claim soon after the case reached court, but the damage was done. Depression set in, his weight ballooned and the songs wouldn't flow. "I fell apart," Alex says. "I was scared to write songs on my own because I thought, 'If I write this song on my own, anyone can say they wrote it.''" By 2012, Alex and the family returned to Australia but the marriage didn't survive. Losing Amelia and not living with his four children sent Alex into a spiral. On the weekends, when he had the kids, he'd cook up a storm and "pull out all stops". But when they left, he'd walk up the street to the bottle shop. "I'd buy really expensive champagne … and a pack of Twisties," Alex says. "Then the next three days, I'd eat KFC and Pizza Hut and Domino's. And I'd lie in bed." He was frittering money away, "trying to doubly be destructive to my bank balance", which had already taken a $300,000 hit in legal fees from the court case. Performing had always been a joy but this period was different. "I was 168kg and I was going out and doing shows in front of 10,000 people with my face on a massive screen," Alex says. Photographs of him online attracted a flood of fat-shaming comments. "I didn't feel very good about myself," he says. "[I was] in a lot of pain all the time, emotionally and physically." He was suffering crippling nerve pain caused by the complete wearing away of the cartilage between vertebrae in his neck. Nothing he was prescribed worked. One day, someone offered him the painkilling opioid oxycodone. It is, Alex says, "an evil drug". None of Alex's rock star partying prepared him for the insidious assault of oxycodone. At first, he thought: "This is the answer to everything." His pain was managed, his depression eased and he was motivated, pulling back his drinking and running long distances. But, he says: "I had no idea what I was getting into with that drug … I didn't know how addictive it was." He took more and more — but it wasn't enough. He tried to get off it but couldn't. "Eventually, it's a very empty, lonely sense of impending doom," Alex says. It was in this state that Alex headed to Brisbane to do some gigs with multi-instrumentalist Salliana Seven. She describes Alex as an open soul and says he never tried to hide his addiction from her. His failed attempts to break free of oxycodone were heartbreaking. "I saw him at his lowest of the lowest of low," she says. "You know, suicidal." "As cooked as he was when I met him … he opens his mouth and I'm just blown away." Relief came with Suboxone, a medication to treat opioid dependence. It was a gruelling transition as his body adjusted, but his children, and his renewed joy for music, gave him the impetus to push through. "I think he's finally let go of the broken fairytale of his marriage," Salliana says. "I really feel that losing that just destroyed him on top of all the other trauma that he's had … He's moving through that, which is massive." As he works through his own long-buried trauma, Alex is hoping to help today's kids navigate tough times by working with the KIDS Foundation. "I really believe in and want to be an advocate for childhood trauma and giving kids skills at an early age to deal with it later because it hit me and I didn't even know what it was," he says. At a recent musical workshop, as Alex sits in a field with a guitar on his lap, a couple of teens share their fear of being judged, or trolled, for their music. Alex tells them that every artist must face those fears, and every artist falls on their face at some time. Getting back up is where the success lies. "You can't beat yourself up over everything," Alex says, as much to himself as the kids. "Otherwise, you'd just be stuck there forever. There is no such thing as mistakes, only lessons."
