Latest news with #AustralianSurvivor
The Guardian
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Conservative son of a ‘leftist firebrand' takes on a former dolphin trainer in Labor's most marginal WA seat
The Liberal candidate Howard Ong will challenge a former dolphin trainer, Sam Lim, in Saturday's election for the knife-edge Western Australian seat of Tangney, on the same day his little brother – Singapore's health minister – goes to the polls. Ong, an IT consultant born in Singapore, will face off against the Labor incumbent, Malaysian-born Lim, while his brother, One Ye Kung, stands for the governing conservative party, the People's Action party. Their father, Ong Lian Teng, was a member of Singapore's parliament in the 1960s. He has been described as a 'leftist firebrand' who was once arrested for his opposition to the party his son may one day lead. Labor is battening down the hatches in Western Australia after its convincing sweep there in 2022, when it picked up four Liberal seats, and a surprisingly emphatic win at last month's state election. Lim – who is also a former police officer and monk – holds Tangney with a post-redistribution margin of 2.8%. The relatively wealthy riverside electorate enjoys higher than average incomes, education levels and home ownership. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Just over 16% of those living there claim Chinese ancestry, which is more than three times the national average. The Liberal party initially preselected a former Australian Survivor contestant and SAS soldier Mark Wales, despite concerns about a novel he has written depicting a civil war in Australia after a Chinese invasion. Wales stepped down after a family member suffered a serious medical episode. John Phillimore, the executive director of Curtin University's John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, says before 2022 Tangney was a 'classic, obvious Liberal seat', without the shifts that favoured teal independents. 'It was the real out-of-the-box result last time,' he says. 'You'd imagine the Liberals would have it high on its list of seats to win back.' As in the rest of the nation, the cost of living is a big issue in WA. But the state is reaping the benefits of another mining boom, with low unemployment and high wages. The fight over ending live exports is a mainly rural issue, although farmers are trying to make it a statewide one. In the lead-up to Saturday's election, Lim tells Guardian Australia he had 'goose bumps' when he was elected, and Parliament House was an 'alien world'. 'It was a humbling moment,' he says. 'I also can feel on my shoulders a big responsibility because I represent the people of Tangney … so every time I walk in there I remember that.' Lim sounds wide-eyed and enthusiastic but he doesn't forget his political lines. 'I'm very proud that we've helped them in many ways … cheaper medicines, cheaper childcare, tax cuts for everyone … people talk to me about cost of living and as a result I ask them to vote for me,' he says. Ong declined to speak to Guardian Australia. According to his official bio, he was 'raised by hardworking parents' in Singapore, where he did his national service before moving to WA to study at Curtin. He glosses over his father's history, saying merely that he was 'a politician for a number of years'. Phillimore says big names from both sides had been regularly visiting Labor's most marginal WA seat, 'doing their bit to get their guys across the line'. The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has described Lim as 'one of the hardest working MPs' she has ever met while the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has praised Ong's 'wonderful work'. But as Labor continues its creep forward in the national polls, YouGov has switched its projections for Tangney from a Liberal to a Labor win. 'At the beginning of the year if you asked most people they'd say Tangney and Bullwinkel would go to the Liberals,' Phillimore says. 'The results of the state election make that less the case … Labor won pretty comfortably in all the seats along the river there.' He refers to the 'sophomore effect', under which someone in their second term can expect a swing towards them. 'I think they'd be feeling confident,' he says. Tangney was named for Labor's first female senator, Dorothy Tangney, whose maiden, wartime speech in 1944 paid tribute to working women, the importance of freedom and democracy, and the need for social security, education, adequate pensions, a national health system, decent housing, and care for veterans. The Labor stalwart John Dawkins won the newly created seat in 1974 but swiftly lost it after Gough Whitlam's dismissal and the 1975 election. He returned to parliament in the seat of Fremantle. Wales is not the only Tangney Liberal to pen a novel. Dennis Jensen, who held Tangney until 2016, famously wrote a racy novel that served up graphic sex and a fictional war between Australia and an Indonesia-China coalition. He lost a preselection vote to Ben Morton, a close ally of the former prime minister Scott Morrison. Morton in turn lost the seat to Lim. The other Tangney contenders are Eric Hayward for the Greens, the chilli enthusiast Phillip Leslie from the Legalise Cannabis party, Steve Kefalinos for Pauline Hanson's One Nation and James Rai for the Australian Christians.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Australian Survivor winner splits from co-star and moves on with ANOTHER contestant from the reality series
Mark Wales has confirmed a fresh romance with former Australian Survivor player Phoebe Timmins, who rose to fame on the reality series in 2016. Taking to his social media on Tuesday, the 45-year-old ex-Australian Army officer and Australian Survivor winner posted a galley of loved up snaps with his new girlfriend. Mark made headlines in 2019 when he tied the knot with his ex, another Australian Survivor star, Samantha Gash. The hunky former SAS soldier had met Sam, 40, while the pair were competing in the 2017 season of the survival show. Confirmation of Mark's new ladylove follows rumours that the reality star had split from Sam several months ago after she had unfollowed him on social media. 'I'm very, very lucky to have met someone who I really love,' Mark said of Phoebe in his Instagram post on Tuesday. He then gushed over his new sweetheart, who gave birth to a daughter last May. 'She is kind, honest, thoughtful, very smart, has a huge heart, is a great mother and an even better partner.' Several of the photos Mark shared see piling on the PDA with Phoebe and include her eight-month-old - their identity protected with a love heart emoji. In a new interview with Yahoo Lifestyle on Wednesday Phoebe, 36, confirmed that she and Mark have been an item for 'five or six months'. She also revealed that the pair were 'old acquaintances' and had 'reconnected through genuine friendship towards the end of last year.' Phoebe continued: 'At the time, he was separated and single, and I was adjusting to life as a new mum, so romance was far from my mind.' She said that there 'meaningful' connection 'caught her by surprise'. 'It wasn't something either of us sought out, but it's turned into something really lovely,' Phoebe added. Elsewhere in the chat, Phoebe revealed she is based in Abu Dhabi and plans to continue to solo parent. It comes after Mark and his ex Sam made headlines when they announced their engagement in 2019. The couple found love on the reality show after the cameras stopped rolling in 2017, before welcoming a son, Harry, several months later in March 2018. They later revealed the happy news on Instagram, declaring they were looking forward to a 'long, happy, chaotic life' together. Mark later went on to win Australian Survivor: Blood v Water in 2020. Phoebe, who has had a career as a criminal lawyer, never shared the screen with Mark in the reality series, first competed on Australian Survivor in 2016. She returned for the All Stars season in 2020.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Australian Survivor 2025 champion wins $500,000 in nail-biting finale: 'So happy'
After 47 days of strategic gameplay, brutal blindsides and gruelling challenges, the winner of Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn II was decided in Monday night's grand finale. AJ Antonios, Kaelan Lockhart and Myles Kuah, who were each originally on the 'Brain' tribe, went head to head following Zara Callianiotis' elimination at the final four. Each of the remaining contestants had played a dominant game, with some fans calling it the "best final three" they've ever seen. They'd been part of an alliance called the 'Post-Graduates' since the beginning of the season and managed to take out their opponents to make it to the end. The episode began with Kaelan winning the final immunity challenge and taking Myles to the final tribal council, leaving AJ devastated. The duo then delivered their compelling speeches to the jury about why they should each win the game, with a majority of the eliminated contestants voting for Myles. Myles received seven votes out of a possible eight and won the title of Sole Survivor alongside the $500,000 prize money. RELATED: Survivor: Australia v The World 2025 cast finally announced: 'Thrilling' Australian Survivor winner reveals dramatic 17kg transformation: 'Shocked' Survivor host JLP reveals 'toughest' part of his job: 'Incredibly difficult' The 'Jungle Rat' had broken the record for the most Hidden Immunity Idols found in a single season with four, received the most elimination votes of any person this season, and is the first person in the franchise to correctly play the Knowledge is Power advantage. "I will never give up," Myles said of what he learned from his time in the game. "I will always find a way." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Australian Survivor (@survivorau) Social media was quick to erupt over Myles' win, with fans sharing their happiness over his victory. "Let's go Myles! So happy to see my fave win #SurvivorAU," one viewer wrote. "Also thought Kaelan played an amazing game, I knew he'd go far." "Hell yeah @mylesmkuah! You were my winner pick from the moment I saw you on the stripper pole. So unapologetically yourself," raved another. "Whelp we all know @mylesmkuah," another fan said. "First time you meet them they annoy the hell outta you & over time they become your all time favourite that you'd lay down and die for. Biggest annoying to adorable arc since BB SarahMaree congratulations mate!" "Loved every minute of your game Myles! Congratulations and hope they get you back again! You were awesome to watch!" someone else commented. Congrats @mylesmkuah ! One of the best AU players ever!!! #SurvivorAU — Cisnice (@cisnice123) April 14, 2025 While the Australian Survivor finale was filmed last year, the winner typically only learns about the result when watching the episode on TV. Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains champion Liz Parnov revealed to Yahoo Lifestyle following her win in 2023 that the reality show had filmed multiple different results. 'We filmed alternate endings for everyone, so I only actually found out that I'd won yesterday,' she explained. 'So it's all very, very fresh.' When asked about how they filmed alternate finales, Liz said the show's host Jonathan LaPaglia read 'fake votes' from the voting urn. 'They can bring in fake votes and read them out, and then they don't show the real votes,' she detailed. 'It's wild.' Channel 10 announced on Sunday that Survivor fans won't have to wait another year for another season to air on TV, thanks to Survivor: Australia v The World. The all-star series will see the best of the best Aussie contestants going up against players from the US, South Africa, Finland and New Zealand franchises. The season was filmed in Samoa last year over just 16 days, making it a much shorter series than fans are used to, as the Australian version typically films for 47 days and the American edition takes place over 26. Despite its short length, a production insider tells Yahoo Lifestyle that it was the 'most thrilling season' that has ever been filmed. SHOP: 💅 Aussie company making beauty more accessible and less of a burden 👙 Summer essential with 200 positive reviews and available in sizes 8 to 26 🍕 Domino's brings back 'unexpected' $7 menu item: 'Soft and fluffy' Alongside the cast announcement, Channel 10 has revealed that Jonathan LaPaglia will return as host, and the winner will receive $250,000. The series is tipped to premiere following MasterChef Australia, which historically ends in mid-July. You can check out the 14 contestants set to compete on Survivor: Australia v The World here.
The Independent
01-04-2025
- The Independent
Passengers left ‘angry and scared' after woman tries to force open emergency door at 30,000ft
An 'abusive' Jetstar passenger who attempted to open the emergency exit door was restrained by an off-duty police officer during a 'nightmare' flight to Australia on Monday (31 March). Flight JQ-34 from Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport to Melbourne was forced to return to Bali when an unidentified female passenger lifted the handle of a cabin door, triggering an alarm on the Airbus aircraft. A fellow passenger shared on Instagram: 'Just got off our Jetstar flight from Bali to home. Two hours in, a lady tried opening the emergency door because she wanted to get off mid-air. 'Absolutely nightmare. Had to turn around and land back in Bali for her to get arrested. 260 angry and scared passengers. Police escorted her off plane.' In a clip from the cabin, the captain told passengers: 'A lady down the back of the aircraft that tried to physically open the door and lifted the handle. We got a door warning at the front of the aircraft... the safest course of action was to come back here and return to land.' Australian reality star Brooke Jowett wrote on social media: 'Two hours into our flight, flight attendants start running, people start freaking out and we get told to put our seatbelts on immediately.' She added in an Instagram story that a fight between the woman and Jetstar staff had escalated 'because she wanted to sit in a different row and have a chair that could recline'. The Australian Survivor contestant said: 'One of the guys who was sitting in front of us was down near the toilets and he pulled her away from the door as she was trying to open it. 'He was an off-duty police officer so he saved the day, thank god for that.' Data from FlightAware shows that the aircraft departed Denpasar at 8.29pm local time, before making a U-turn over the Indian Ocean around an hour into the journey. According to the airline, the passenger was removed from the aircraft by the local authorities in Bali. Jetstar said in a statement: 'We had an aircraft return to Denpasar last night after a disruptive passenger attempted to open one of the aircraft doors and was abusive to our crew. 'The safety and welfare of our customers and crew is our top priority and we thank them for the way they responded to the situation. 'This sort of unacceptable behaviour will never be tolerated on our flights.' The airline added that customers travelling on the cancelled journey had been provided with an alternative flight.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Home and Away actress Sam Frost welcomes second baby: 'Love the name'
Former Home and Away actress Sam Frost has taken to Instagram to announce the birth of her second son. She shared a black and white photo of herself and her newborn, introducing him to the world, writing, "This is Bobby ❤️. "Bobby Jordan Frost-Hansen. We love you so much little man," she said, adding that he was born on the 29th of March. Sam first announced she was pregnant in November by sharing a snap of herself, her partner Jordie Hansen and their son, Theodore. "Our family is growing from three to four 💚 it has been a wild ride but we are extremely grateful our little one is healthy and doing okay in there," Sam wrote. "We are all very excited to meet you, especially your big brother! "Huge thank you to our family and friends for all their love and support over these past few months. We love you xxxx." RELATED: Home and Away's Sam Frost reveals 'beautiful' family update: 'Wild ride' Home and Away's Sam Frost stuns fans with transformation: 'Obsessed' Former Bachelorette Sam Frost's vulnerable interview: 'I hated myself' Lisa Wilkinson commented on Sam's post, writing, "I'm melting! Bobby is just beautiful. And well done you. Congratulations." "Bobby!! What a little bruiser! Congrats dudes!!" Tim Blackwell added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sam Frost (@samfrost) "Congrats angel! So happy for you!" Brittany Hockley wrote. Survivor star Shonee Bowtell commented, "Gorgeous family!!!!! Congrats! I absolutely love the name." SHOP: ☕️ 'Love it': $2.25 item the secret to perfect at-home coffee 🐔 Red Rooster's 'wild' $6 new menu item causes a frenzy: 'Super light, crispy crunchy' 🕶️ Aussie brand founded by Air Force pilot solves year-round parenting problem: 'Essential' Rachael Finch also added, "Congratulations angel!!! He is just beautiful." Sam, who rose to fame on The Bachelor and became Australia's first Bachelorette, began dating Australian Survivor star Jordie in early 2022. They announced their engagement just a few months later, and their son Theodore was born on March 7, 2023.
