BBC- Police in Brazil say 18 people have been killed during a raid against a criminal gang that controls one of Rio de Janeiro’s most violent favelas. Four hundred heavily-armed military police were deployed to the Alemão favela in the early hours of Thursday. Sixteen of the dead were suspected criminals, while a police officer […]
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The Morrison government "sabotaged the protocols" of Australia's border security for "political gain" by publicly announcing the interception of a people-smuggling vessel on election day, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil has said.
Then-prime minister Scott Morrison pressured the Operation Sovereign Borders task force to announce the interception of SIEV (Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel) 915 on May 21, the day of the election, a report by Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo found.
The task force was asked by the prime minister's office to issue a statement at 11.58am that day.
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After internal wrangling, the statement was published on its website at 1.09pm that day.
Morrison had been asked about the vessel at a press conference moments before the statement was published.
"I've been here to stop this boat," Morrison said.
"But in order for me to be there to stop those that may come from here, you need to vote Liberal and Nationals today."
A text message from the Liberal Party was then sent out to voters two hours later, fashioned as a news alert.
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"BREAKING – Aust Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Aus," the text message read.
"Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today."
Pezzullo's report, released today, noted the Morrison government's actions were lawful, but pointed out it created difficulties during the operation.
"The detailed chronology of events indicates there was pressure placed on officials to release a public statement regarding the interception of SIEV 915 prior to the conclusion of the operational activity," the report read.
"The pressure was exacerbated by the direction to draft and publish the statement within 15 minutes."
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O'Neil issued a scathing statement today after the release of the report.
"The former government had a duty to protect Australia. Instead, they sabotaged the protocols that protect Operation Sovereign Borders for political gain," she said.
"Their actions undermined the integrity of this complex operation, making it more difficult and dangerous."
She commended Border Force, Defence Force and public servants for acting with integrity and "the highest standards at all times".
"The profound compromise of a military-led operation is without precedent in Australia's history," she said.
"It was disgraceful, shameful, and characteristic of a national government which frequently pursued political interests above the national interest."
Biden experiencing ‘very mild symptoms’ after testing positive for COVID-19 by Morgan Chalfant The Hill President Biden tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday and is experiencing mild symptoms, the White House announced in a statement. The president, who is 79 years old, is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but the development is certain to trigger […]
The post Biden Has Covid, US Cases Surge, Low Kids Vax Rate, World Covid Stats appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
Three men have died in a suspected murder-suicide in a rural town in Victoria's south-west.
Police have spent the day investigating two crimes scenes, with two men shot by the roadside near Warrnambool before their alleged killer's body was found in a house sometime later.
Paramedics rushed to treat the two injured men by the side of Kirkstall-Koroit Road in Kirkstall after the shooting was called in about 10.20am.
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However, both men died from their injuries at the scene.
It is believed the pair were shot then mowed down by a vehicle, with one trying to run from the scene.
A witness who lives near where the two men were found has told 9News she heard at least two gunshots around the time of the incident and then a vehicle speeding off.
Shortly after the shooting was reported to police, officers received reports a man had been found dead at a property on nearby Chamberlain Street.
"Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the matter," Victoria Police said in a statement.
Police believe the men were known to each other.
The town of Kirkstall has a population of just 400 people.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
Robert Wilson was discussing plans to move in with a woman he met online just days before he locked her inside his home and held her prisoner.
Five days of horror followed for the woman, who in March 2019 was raped 18 times, humiliated and beaten until her face was so swollen she could no longer see.
Wilson told the woman if she tried to run away from his home, northwest of Melbourne, he would kill her, deport her or turn her into a "money-making machine" by inviting men around to have sex with her.
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Wilson's Darley property was surrounded by metal shutters and an electric fence, with security cameras tracking her every move. She could not leave his bedroom without a security alarm going off.
He beat her with a metal bar, held a speargun to her head, strangled her, forced her to engage in sex and asked her: "Do you want to die?"
He forced her to transfer him money and deleted her phone and Facebook contacts.
When friends noticed the woman was missing, he manipulated them and forced her to film videos to send to them.
After four days, he decided to drive his victim interstate. Along the way, he directed her in a chilling video that he would later send to her friends.
He told her to nod or shake her head in response to questions including if she felt safe with him, whether he had been hitting her and if she wanted to stay with him.
They made it to Adelaide and then drove back to his home, where he raped her again.
He released her after five days, on March 29. He drove her to her house and demanded incriminating Facebook posts by her friends be deleted and that she not tell anyone what had happened.
Wilson, 35, who appeared by video link, was sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison by County Court Judge Fiona Todd on Friday.
He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, three counts of rape, theft and intentionally causing injury.
Wilson, who will be a registered sex offender for life, must serve at least 16 years before he is eligible for parole.
Wilson's offending was "grossly horrific", Judge Todd said.
She wanted to ensure his sentence reflected the gravity of the attacks and the seriousness of intimate partner violence.
"This was boundless cruelty," she said.
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"Rape is fundamentally an act of violence, which occurred in this case within a broader range of other violent and degrading acts.
"The episode of driving into the night in your car must have been particularly terrifying, and the return to your house on the Friday morning particularly devastating."
She said the offending had a catastrophic impact on the victim, who cannot contemplate ever being in another relationship with a man.
"She was paralysed with fear much of the time you harmed her, but her will to survive was strong," Judge Todd said, reading the victim impact statement.
"She said she feels different now, thinks that she will never be normal again."
It took two months for the woman's facial swelling to subside from the beatings and she still suffers nightmares from the ordeal.
Judge Todd praised the victim's "herculean" efforts in describing the attacks to her friends, police, the courts and for enduring days of cross-examination.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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A Gold Coast fisherman has had a close encounter with one of the world's most powerful marine predators.
A pod of killer whales put on a show for more than four hours, as Bill Bain captured the encounter on his GoPro.
"I was a little bit to flustered to do anything at first, I just slowed the boat down," Bain said.
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"Then they came over to me and pretty much straight away the males were playing with the boat, having a look and sussing me out.
"Eventually they brought the baby over to me and introduced me to the baby.
The fisherman then attempted to hand feed one of the whales before dropping the fish into the water.
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"It's something that you don't see ever so I didn't want to ruin the opportunity," Bain said.
Lauren Horner from Seaworld Cruises said the whales were simply interacting with an object in their environment.
"They're not necessarily feeding but playing with the fish," she said.
"They're also blowing bubble rings, which is a sign of killer whales either being curious, surprised or excited."
Experts believe these particular whales are in a transitory pod, migrating with humpback whales.
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