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Australia’s ‘Bondi Hero’ Receives $1.65 Million Raised by Global Donors

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Ahmed al Ahmed, the bystander hailed as the “Bondi hero” for disarming a gunman during a deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, has been handed more than A$2.5 million ($1.65 million) raised through an online fundraiser. Tens of thousands of people worldwide contributed to the campaign, organised by social media influencer Zachery Dereniowski, who presented the oversized cheque to Ahmed at his hospital bed.

During the attack, Ahmed hid behind parked cars before charging one of the gunmen from behind, seizing his rifle and knocking him to the ground. He was later shot by a second attacker and remains in hospital recovering from surgery. More than 43,000 donors contributed to the fundraiser, including billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, while Australia’s prime minister and state premier visited Ahmed to commend his bravery.

Speaking from hospital, Ahmed urged people to stand together and protect life, saying he acted “from the heart.” A 43-year-old tobacco store owner who migrated from Syria nearly two decades ago, Ahmed did not say how he plans to use the money. Fifteen people were killed and dozens wounded in the attack, which police allege was carried out by a father and son during Hanukkah celebrations at the popular beach.

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King Frederik: Tens of thousands turn out for succession

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In a historic moment for Denmark, King Frederik X succeeded his mother as the nation’s monarch, drawing tens of thousands of people to Christiansborg Castle. Overwhelmed with emotion, King Frederik expressed his aspiration to be a unifying king for the future and praised his mother, who had voluntarily abdicated after an impressive 52-year reign, marking the first Danish monarch to do so in over 800 years. Despite the event being initially planned as low-key, the crowd celebrated as Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen officially proclaimed King Frederik on the balcony of the palace.

In his inaugural speech, King Frederik, now at the helm of Europe’s oldest monarchy at the age of 55, spoke of his lifelong commitment to becoming a unifying leader with pride and joy. The ceremony included a heartfelt moment as the new king wiped away tears, joined by his four children, including 18-year-old Crown Prince Christian, the newly designated heir. A kiss shared between King Frederik and his Australian-born Queen Consort Mary elicited cheers and whoops from the enthusiastic crowd.

As Queen Margarethe formally bid farewell to the throne after her unprecedented 52-year reign, thousands of people lined the streets to express their gratitude. The 83-year-old monarch had announced her decision to step down during a New Year’s Eve broadcast, citing reflection following back surgery in 2023. She will retain her title as Queen, while the King’s wife, Queen Consort Mary, maintains her own title. The British monarchs, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, sent their best wishes, acknowledging Queen Margarethe’s many years of dedicated service to Denmark.

Celebrations extended beyond Denmark, reaching Australia where King Frederik and Queen Consort Mary first met, with events in Sydney’s Slip Inn pub and across Queen Consort Mary’s home state of Tasmania. The global recognition reflected the significance of King Frederik’s ascension to the throne.

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Queen Letizia of Spain to be present at World Cup final against England

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Queen Letizia of Spain is set to travel to Australia to witness the World Cup final between England and Spain in Sydney on Sunday. Notably, no British royals will be present at the event.

The match marks the first-ever final appearance for both England’s Lionesses and the Spanish team in the women’s tournament. Although Prince William, the President of the Football Association, will support the England team from the UK, he has opted out of making the long-distance journey to Australia due to his focus on climate change concerns.

In contrast, Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, will be attending the final, while King Felipe will be engaged in official obligations and won’t accompany them. The Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed the queen’s participation, mentioning her prior visit to the team during training where she delivered a speech to the players and coaching staff.

Similarly, Prince William interacted with the Lionesses during training and awarded manager Sarina Wiegman an honorary CBE. Despite his absence from the event, Prince William is expected to watch the final on television. Both Prince William and King Charles conveyed their congratulations to the teams on their achievements and extended their best wishes for the upcoming final match.

Notably, England’s women had previously been awarded their medals by Prince William after winning the European championship, while Queen Elizabeth II had attended England’s men’s team’s World Cup final victory in 1966.

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