Latest News from Perth Now
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Cassie Ventura ‘has welcomed her third child'
Cassie Ventura has reportedly welcomed her third child. The 38-year-old singer was heavily pregnant as she gave harrowing testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ongoing federal trial after she accused him of a series of abuses, and it has now emerged she gave birth days after finishing her disturbing appearance in court. According to an ABC News report on Wednesday (28.05.25) she has now given birth, with her and her husband Alex Fine, 32, expected to share further details in the coming days. News broke on Tuesday (27.05.25) she had gone into labour. Cassie and Alex have already shared their pregnancy journey on social media with snaps of Cassie showing off her growing baby bump in recent weeks. The singer, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, confirmed in March her third the baby would be a boy. In a birthday message to Alex on Instagram, she wrote: 'You've taken care of me and my heart like no other, you're hands down the best girl dad and I'm SO excited to see you now become a father to OUR SON!' The couple already share two daughters – Frankie, born in late 2019, and Sunny, born in 2021. Cassie and Alex married in 2019 shortly after the singer's relationship with Combs ended. Alex was present in New York City earlier this month as Cassie gave testimony against her former partner, who is facing federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies all allegations. Cassie spent four days on the witness stand, offering detailed accounts of what she described as an abusive relationship with Combs. According to her testimony, she endured years of physical and sexual abuse, as well as episodes of forced drug use. Her testimony followed a civil lawsuit filed in November 2023, in which Cassie accused Combs of rape, battery and human trafficking. The case was settled out of court, with Cassie later revealing during proceedings that she received a $20 million settlement. Cassie has spoken publicly about the balancing act of being a mother and maintaining her own career. In a 2020 interview with Hatch, she said about bringing up her daughter: 'I don't want to lose myself in becoming a mom. Of course, I will do anything for her, but I also want to remain true to myself. 'I want her to grow up watching me do my thing. I want her to see me making music, building my business, being a mom, a wife, a force, and be inspired by it all.' Sunny, the second child of Alex and Cassie, was born on 22 March 2021. Announcing her birth, Cassie posted on Instagram: 'On Monday March 22nd, 2021 @ 10:22am our hearts got bigger. Welcome to the world baby girl! We love you so much Sunny Cinco Fine!'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex suffers money guilt
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex suffers money guilt. The 43-year-old has just launched her lifestyle brand As Ever and is continuing with her podcasting while living in a mansion in California with her husband Prince Harry, 40, valued at more than $14 million, and she has now said she feels conflicted about her financial success. Revealing she has experienced guilt over wealth and struggled with a 'scarcity mindset' when it comes to money, she told Sara Blakely on the 'Confessions of a Female Founder' podcast: 'There's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot. And at the same time, there's a scarcity mindset. 'It's easy to attach to (the idea) of, like, 'I'll never have enough.'' Meghan added: 'I'd love to have a healthier mindset about money.' The former actress best known for her role in 'Suits', made the comments on Tuesday's (27.05.25) episode of her entrepreneur-focused podcast, which is part of her recent media and business resurgence. Meghan and her husband Harry – who have children Prince Archie, aged six, and Princess Lilibet, three – are estimated to have a combined net worth of around $60 million, according to Forbes. The London Times reported in September 2024 Harry and his older brother Prince William inherited nearly £12 million following the death of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. A source told Page Six in 2023: 'They certainly don't like to spend their own money. It's always other people's money.' Elsewhere in her podcast episode, Meghan spoke about her experience as a solo entrepreneur, describing it as both 'incredibly lonely' and 'liberating'. She said her partnership with Netflix marked a turning point in her career. 'It was a U-turn moment,' she said of their involvement in her new lifestyle brand As Ever. Meghan launched her first line of As Ever products in April, shortly after the debut of her Netflix show 'With Love, Meghan'. Last month, she also launched a podcast under Lemonada Media, part of a wider expansion into branded content and wellness-related ventures. Meghan's recent focus on media, entrepreneurship and lifestyle branding follows her and Harry's dramatic step back from royal duties that began in 2020, when she and the prince left their official roles within the royal family.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs being warned not to take stand in federal sex trafficking trial
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is being warned not to take the stand in his federal sex trafficking trial. The 55-year-old rapper's federal trial is continuing in New York, and has seen a series of big-name witnesses take to the stand so far too testify against the Bad Boy Records founder – and legal analyst Lisa Bonner has now insisted Combs giving his testimony during proceedings would open him up to questioning on a range of damaging allegations. She told Page Six: 'Once you take the stand, everything you've ever done – related to any of these alleged crimes – become fair game. 'You are under oath and you can go to jail for… perjury, so you want to avoid taking the stand.' Combs is on trial on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering and obstruction. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces life behind bars if convicted on all allegations. His trial, now in its third week, has seen high-profile testimony from witnesses including his singer ex Cassie Ventura, 38, as well as rapper Scott Mescudi – known as Kid Cudi – and singer Dawn Richards. Ms Bonner added Combs would be risking exposure to uncomfortable cross-examination if he also took the stand. She said: 'There is a lot of evidence that will be presented, even up until now, that I wouldn't want to answer if I was Diddy. 'For example, 'Did you drop the Molotov cocktail in the car or did you have any involvement in that?'' she added, referring to a 2012 firebombing of Kid Cudi's car. Meanwhile, Combs' defence team have requested a mistrial. They are alleging prosecutorial misconduct over the questioning related to the apparent destroying of evidence in the arson case involving a car belonging to Combs' fellow performer Kid Cudi. Combs' lead lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has criticised the prosecution for making an 'outrageous' suggestion his client could have been involved in the destruction of fingerprint evidence connected to the 2011 Molotov cocktail attack on Kid's Porsche. Mr Agnifilo argued the implication was unfairly presented to the jury during the cross-examination of arson investigator Lance Jimenez. Lance had testified fingerprint evidence from the Molotov cocktail bottle was destroyed in 2012 without his knowledge, on orders from the Los Angeles Police Department, which was not part of his investigative team. After a brief recess and with the jury excused, Mr Agnifilo said the prosecution's remarks 'implied that someone in this courtroom was responsible for the destruction of the fingerprint cards'. He urged Judge Arun Subramanian to declare a mistrial on grounds of prosecutorial misconduct, but the motion was denied. The judge agreed to strike the fingerprint evidence discussion from the record and instructed the jury to disregard it as irrelevant to the case. Day 11 of Combs' trial began on Wednesday (28.05.25) with testimony from a Los Angeles police officer who responded to the break-in at Kid Cudi's property in December 2011.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Ryagun left ‘paralyzed' after viral Olympic break-dancing
Australian breakdancer Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn has spoken out about the deep impact the viral reaction to her Olympic performance had on her mental health. Gunn, 37, revealed she was already dealing with anxiety before the Olympics, but the global backlash after her routine made things much worse. She described feeling 'paralysed' and 'panicky' if her husband wasn't nearby. Opening up to News Corp, Gunn said getting off social media, support from loved ones, and regular psychologist appointments helped her cope. Gunn, who recently performed with Richard Branson on a Virgin Voyages cruise after her Olympic routine went viral, shared that she began taking anti-anxiety medication about six months before Paris due to the pressure of being the first Australian woman to qualify for Olympic break-dancing. 'The Olympics is such a huge event and there's so much pressure on you, regardless of your chances,' she said. 'My journey with anxiety started before the big day when everything changed, but because I'd already had that experience with it and a bit of a support structure in place it meant I was able to get through that whirlwind of an adventure and the wild ride a bit easier.' The months after the Olympics were especially tough. Gunn described feeling 'paralysed' and 'frozen' at times. 'I was just kind of stuck and paralysed until either Sammy (husband Samuel Free) came back or we found some friends or something,' she said. 'For a long time I generally felt out of my body, if that makes sense, like the whole world was different. 'I would have a good cry probably every couple of weeks because I felt so numb the rest of the time, like I couldn't be angry, I couldn't be upset, I was just trying to process everything that was happening. 'Then I would have a good cry and I would feel a bit better for a while. 'It's still hard, to be honest, I still have bad days.' She's now slowly regaining her confidence to break-dance again. 'I used to practise on the street four nights a week, I still haven't got the confidence to do that but I am able to break at home with Sammy and a friend and build from there,' she said. 'Now I'm actually starting to enjoy it again and it's nice to be able to dance with no pressure and work on some moves.' Gunn continues to work at Macquarie University, marking essays and helping with teaching. 'I'm working on some stuff behind the scenes … you certainly haven't seen the last of me,' she said. She also shared her new hobby of knitting, calling her project 'my mental health scarf.' 'This is my mental health scarf,' she said, holding it up. 'It's the most ridiculous thing, it's so long, but it was because I was so restless watching TV or whatever, it helped me do something with my hands and keep them busy because I feel like I get a lot of anxiety. 'It's just for me, so who cares, it will be ready in winter 2027 … it's nice to do something that has no pressure and you can just keep working on it and feel a sense of accomplishment. 'This is the stuff you have to explore when you're struggling with your mental health.' On returning to Australia, Gunn found comfort in 1980s Aerobics Oz Style videos on YouTube to help her exercise. 'When I came back to Sydney, I could barely leave the house, so I wasn't about to go to a gym or join a class so I looked on YouTube a lot for some workout videos,' she said. 'I did pilates and I've been doing yoga for years and I actually got into the old 80s Oz-Style Aerobics which were on YouTube. 'They're fun, they're good, they're easy.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
King Charles takes veiled swipe at Donald Trump over Canada
Britain's King Charles III threw his weight behind Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, in a pointed show of unity as President Donald Trump continues to push for Canada to become America's 51st state. 'Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling,' the King said, addressing Parliament in both English and French. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: King Charles takes veiled swipe at Donald Trump. Calling it a 'critical moment,' Charles emphasized Canada's core democratic values and signaled the Carney government's resolve to defend them. 'Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values that Canadians hold dear and one which the government is determined to protect,' he said. 'The system of open global trade, that while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades is changing. Canada's relationships with partners is also changing.' Charles said Carney and Trump 'have begun defining a new economic and security relationship,' one 'rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.' While Charles serves as Canada's nonpartisan monarch and is currently undergoing cancer treatment, he did not author the speech — it was written by the Carney government as part of the formal Speech from the Throne. The monarch's comments come after President Trump made repeated calls to make Canada the 51st US state. Credit: Supplied / AAP Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those in attendance, dressed in a suit paired with green and orange sneakers. 'Every time I come to Canada, a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream and from there straight to my heart,' Charles said. 'I've always had the greatest admiration for Canada's unique identity, which is recognised across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defense of national values and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians.' He ended his address with a patriotic nod: 'As the anthem reminds us: The true north is indeed strong and free,' prompting applause from lawmakers. Before the speech, Charles and Queen Camilla arrived by horse-drawn carriage at the Senate of Canada Building, where he was greeted by a 100-person guard of honor from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. On Monday, the King met with Carney and Governor General Mary Simon, Canada's first Indigenous head of state representative. Though the monarchy holds limited sway over Canadian public opinion, Charles has stepped up symbolic gestures in recent months, from planting a maple tree to wearing Canadian medals and calling himself the 'King of Canada.' Carney, who took office in April after winning his party's leadership in March, said Charles' visit 'speaks to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct identity, and to the historic ties that crises only fortify.' The tone marked a shift from earlier this month, when Carney criticized the British government for hosting Trump, saying the invitation undermined Canada's efforts to present a united front against talk of U.S. annexation. Since January, Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada should become part of the United States — remarks that have sparked outrage among Canadians and diplomatic unease in London. Charles is set to return to the U.K. later Tuesday after visiting Canada's National War Memorial.
