LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization’s Europe chief warned Friday that monkeypox cases in the region have tripled in the last two weeks and urged countries to do more to ensure the previously rare disease does not become entrenched on the continent. And African health authorities said they are treating the expanding monkeypox outbreak […]
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In a strange twist in the Chris Dawson murder trial, a man who has never met the former teacher has been called as the sole defence witness.
Dawson is accused of killing his wife Lynette, but today the court heard from a man named Paul Cooper, who claimed he saw the missing mother after she ran away from her unfaithful husband.
Cooper, a convicted criminal, was asked about a conversation that took place 40 years ago.
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He said he saw a woman who looked like Lynette at a Warner's Bay hotel in Lake Macquarie in 1982.
"She had left her husband… he had been playing up on her… I asked her was she going to go back and she said no," Cooper told the Supreme Court on Monday.
"I said: 'what about your children? It's not fair to them'.
"She didn't have any ID… she had money because she had sold something.
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"She was also waiting to get a passport… she was going to go to Bali and then head off to another overseas country."
Lynette's family shook their heads in disbelief as Cooper gave evidence. They maintain she would never have abandoned her daughters.
Cooper claims the discussion went even further and he suspected the woman was trying to frame her husband.
"I said to her they were going to think he knocked ya… I thought she was setting her husband up."
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In 2018, Cooper saw photos of the missing nurse on A Current Affair which prompted him to come forward – not to police but to Dawson's solicitor Greg Walsh.
The witness's credibility was called into question. The court was told he'd done jail time for drugs, theft, break and enter, as well as armed robbery.
He also admitted to being a regular cannabis user in 1982.
Dawson waived his right to give evidence, leaving only closing statements in the marathon trial.
The Crown argues he murdered his wife so he could move on with the family babysitter.
A policeman searches bus passengers near the area where three police officers were killed by alleged gang members, in Santa Ana, El Salvador, on Wednesday. Photograph: José Cabezas/Reuters As President Nayib Bukele arrests tens of thousands over gang fears, activists and family members grapple with the fallout Tom Phillips in San Salvador The Guardian For […]
The post The Lives Swept Up in El Salvador’s Continuing Mass Arrests appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem on Sunday defended her state's abortion ban, which includes an exception when the pregnant person's life is at risk but not in cases involving incest or rape.
When asked by CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" whether children similar to a 10-year-old child abuse victim who travelled from Ohio to Indiana to receive an abortion should be forced to give birth, Noem said, "this tragedy is horrific".
"I can't even imagine. I have never had anybody in my family or myself gone through anything like this. … But, in South Dakota, the law today is that the abortions are illegal, except to save the life of the mother."
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Noem told Bash she would not be in favour of amending the current law, a so-called trigger law that took effect following the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade to add an exception for similar situations.
"I don't believe a tragic situation should be perpetuated by another tragedy," she said.
But Noem did signal that a 10-year-old in the described situation may qualify for the state exception for life-threatening medical emergencies.
"I think that's something that, yeah, that situation, the doctor, the family, the individuals closest to that will make the decisions there for that family," she told Bash.
"That's what's interesting about the time we live in right now," Noem added.
"Every state will have different laws on the books.
"The decisions will be made by the legislators that are closest to the people. That's appropriate. It's the way our Constitution intended."
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The US Supreme Court's recent majority ruling that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion has led more states to implement their own abortion policies.
The ruling has already resulted in a patchwork system, as was anticipated, in which access to the procedure is, for many people, determined largely by whether a state is controlled by Republicans or Democrats.
Along with South Dakota, trigger abortion laws have been implemented in at least three states: Arkansas, Missouri and Wisconsin.
A Mississippi trigger law is set to take effect on July 7.
Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho, and Tennessee are awaiting state action, and legal fights over abortion restrictions are underway in more than a dozen states.
Noem was also asked Sunday about supporting paid family leave or greater financial access to child care.
"That's a discussion we're going to have. I think it's important that we back up exactly what I have been saying since I'm governor, that we want stronger families," she told Bash.
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"Many times, it's the financial cost, the medical cost and the leave policy that many people have a tough time supporting.
"But I think, in South Dakota, that the time is right."
Noem, however, said she does not back expanding Medicaid, which is on the state's ballot in November.
The measure would cover low-income women without health insurance in South Dakota during and after pregnancy.
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS — The second activity on the St. Kitts Plastic Free July 2022 (PFJ2022) calendar of events, the distribution of environmentally-friendly reusable shopping bags on Saturday July 2, saw hundreds collect the reusable bags, among them Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, and Minister of Health the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett. “We were […]
The post PM Harris, Minister Byron-Nisbett Lauded for Supporting ‘Plastic Free St. Kitts’ appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
An investigation is underway after a young boy was left unsupervised at school holiday care for two hours in Melbourne.
The child was on a program run by Team Kids at Dingley Village Primary, in Melbourne's south-east, when he was left behind at the campus on Wednesday last week.
Seven-year-old William was one of around 40 children setting off for rock-climbing adventure, as part of a school holiday program.
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But the bus took off without William, who was left alone, without a phone and no way of contacting anyone for help.
William's nine-year-old sister raised the alarm at the venue and staff member did a headcount.
The staff then realised the young boy was left behind.
The staff member returned to the school, where they found him.
William's father, Nathan Cummings said he was "absolutely shocked" that his son was left behind.
"I just got this overwhelming shock, it was indescribable," he said.
"It's pretty daunting to think what could've happened 'cause, even if he fell off the playground, he's there by himself.
"That night I had a lot of trouble sleeping and a couple of nights after, I was just constantly thinking about 'what if?'"
Team Kids chief executive James Taylor says it was a result of staff forgetting to do a head check on the children before they left.
Four Team Kids staff members running the program that day have since been stood down.
An Education Department spokesperson said they were investigating the incident.
"The health and safety of all children is our top priority," the spokesperson said.
Video footage has captured the first moments of a newborn southern right whale off the coast of Queensland.
The baby was seen swimming with mum after it was born off the coast of Burleigh Heads, on the Gold Coast today.
More whales are expected to be spotted off Queensland's coast in the coming months as humpback whales make their annual migration journey north from Antarctica, to the warmer waters of Queensland to mate, give birth and care for their newborns.
Humpback whale season in Queensland is between June and September, with thousands of whales making the journey up the coast, stopping in famed whale watching locations like Hervey Bay, north of Brisbane.
Southern right whales, a type of baleen whale, typically migrate up the coast of New South Wales between May and September, peaking around July.
Watch the full video of the encounter in the video player above.
An aged care facility in Melbourne's north, where 45 residents died from COVID-19, has been charged.
WorkSafe Victoria charged St Basil's Homes For The Aged in Fawkner with nine breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act following the deadly COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
But the families of those who died in the notorious nursing home, are calling for prison sentences for those responsible.
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The workplace safety watchdog alleges that in July 2020, after being notified by a worker that they tested positive to COVID-19, the facility failed to require workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
It's also alleged the facility failed to train workers how to safely don and doff PPE, verify that staff were competent in using it, tell staff when it should be used and supervise the use of the equipment.
In the outbreak, 94 residents and 94 staff members tested positive for the virus, with 45 residents dying from COVID-19 related complications.
Spiros Vasilakis' mother, 81-year-old mother, Maria, was among 45 residents who died during the outbreak.
"This is significant, today is a day we found out that this facility would be held accountable," he said.
"It news brought about a sense of relief, it was elated, something has finally happened.
"At the same time, it draws up all those sad and bitter feelings."
Vasilakis said he hoped for a harsher penalty.
"They've been charged, fantastic. But that the end result is a fine, that's the hollow bit," he said.
"When an employer isn't providing a safe work environment, that should be a fine. But when the employer lacks a safe work environment and that results in death, that can't stop at a fine.
"Fifty lives can't be a fine, one life can't be a fine. I'm afraid that's a criminal charge only punishable by a stint in prison."
WorkSafe Victoria charged the aged care provider with multiples offences including two breaches of failing to enable workers to perform their work safely.
St Basil's was also charged with three breaches, after failing to ensure its employees were not exposed to risks to their health or safety arising from conduct of its undertaking.
The maximum penalty for each of St Basil's alleged offences is a fine of $1.49 million.
In November 2021, a coronial inquest found a failure in communication between state and federal health departments was at the root of the deadly coronavirus cluster.
The inquest began with a memorial to the victims.
The matter is listed for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on August 1.
More than 30,000 people remain on flood alert across New South Wales as the flooding crisis gripping much of the state continues.
There are more than 70 evacuation orders in place for western and south-western parts of the city as three major rivers burst their banks in another "life-threatening" flood emergency.
The State Emergency Service has responded to hundreds of calls for assistance and seven evacuation centres have been set up.
READ MORE: When is it going to stop raining?
As the situation is constantly changing, visit the SES, Bureau of Meteorology and LiveTraffic websites for the latest orders and information.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Nicole Hogan has pleaded with people not to take risks by driving into floods.
Images have shown multiple people being rescued from cars over the past few days. One woman was saved from a flooded park on Saturday night.
"The majority of our rescues have been cars in floodwater, with NSW SES members also supporting the community through medical transports and the safe removal of animals," Hogan said.
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"If you are in a flood-prone area and undertaking travel that is not for essential purposes, we ask that you reconsider your travel plans.
"Our message is simple: if it's flooded, forget it."
The ADF has been deployed in the Windsor area, which is one of the worst-hit areas. They have set up a staging area in Vineyard, and are deployed in McGraths Hill.
The Windsor bridge is underwater again, as forecasters warned the flooding from the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Georges rivers would approach levels previously seen both in March 2022 and March 2021.
A man was rescued from his car in Windsor before it went completely under.
Earlier, Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said Sydney has had the equivalent of a Sydney Harbour's worth of rain dumped on it daily, exceeding the monthly average in the first few days of July.
"It is hard to fathom that we are seeing a rain event of this magnitude hitting this part of Australia once again," he told Today.
"We have had several of them already this year but this one in particular has been exceptional heavy for areas near and south of Sydney.
"The Illawarra coast has had about 600mm over the last three days. That is about the entire annual average for places like Canberra and Melbourne falling just over 72 hours."
In the past few days, the SES and other emergency services have performed 116 flood rescues.
Eighty-three of these were since 9pm on Sunday. Since then there have also been at least 1593 requests for assistance.
"And after every flood event, we have a number of flood rescues and sometimes deaths that take place because people don't follow that instruction and they drive through floodwaters," Perrottet said.
"People drive through floodwaters because they can't see the depth of the road beneath.
"You cannot appreciate how deep that water is.
"Please do not drive through floodwaters and keep you and your family safe and ensure the SES and other volunteers don't have to put their life on the line."
More than 100mm of rain has fallen in many places along the NSW coast, from Maitland and Newcastle right down to the Illawarra, in the last 24 hours.
"We are seeing a steady stream of showers tracking into the central New South Wales coast," Jane Golding from the Bureau of Meteorology said.
"At the moment, the focus area is very much along the Illawarra, through Sydney, into the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast area, and as mentioned, we are expecting that accumulation of rainfall for some locations to be very high again today.
"So, that is on top of hundreds of millimetres that these areas have received over the last two-three days."
She warned people to stay out of the water as the waves generated by the weather system are dangerous.
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Parts of the state have already had a months' rainfall in just hours, with the heaviest rain in 30 years falling in some areas.
"We are now facing dangers on multiple fronts," Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said.
"Flash flooding, riverine flooding, and coastal erosion."
The Hawkesbury also submerged the bridge at North Richmond, cutting off the small town from Greater Sydney.
With the Warragamba damn spilling, parts of Penrith, Camden and Chipping Norton are also underwater, with images showing street signs all but submerged in Penrith's west.
Cooke said raising the dam was under consideration. But she warned it would not be a short-term step.
"These dams were not created as mitigation dams to start with," she said.
"They were either water supply or irrigation dams. When you augment them for another purpose, it makes it a very big and complex project and process."
Senior weather bureau meteorologist Jonathan How said weather conditions will ease after today, but flooding remains a problem.
Heavy rain of up to 150mm is forecast in parts of NSW today, but by tomorrow afternoon it will slow down in the Illawarra and the Hunter.
"Even better news is that we are expecting to be dryer earlier than forecast," he said.
"By Wednesday, we are looking at mostly dry conditions across the east coast."
But he said rivers would remain swollen and floodwaters high for some time after the rain stopped.
New footage has emerged of one of Queensland's worst military disasters, which killed three marines and injured dozens more during a failed aircraft landing.
The video shows personnel in the military helicopter, the MV-22 Osprey, attempting a landing on a ship off the coast of Rockhampton in 2017 – when the aircraft falters and nose dives towards the deck.
Marines are heard shouting 'get back' as the aircraft's propellers narrowly avoided the flight crew.
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Upon landing, the cockpit of the helicopter was crushed due to the impact.
The aircraft then fell a further 10m from the ship – USS Green Bay – into the ocean.
Lieutenant Colonel David Berke said it's miraculous more people weren't killed.
"There are so many things that can occur in that landing phase, the bottom line is landing an aircraft aboard a ship is very demanding," he said.
Keith Tonkin, one of Australia's leading aviation experts, said the pilots were attempting a risky manoeuvre during the crash.
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"They were trying something very hazardous in the circumstances and sometimes unfortunately things go wrong," Tonkin, who has spent 15 years in the Royal Australian Air Force, said.
"It would have happened very quickly."
A Marine Corps report into the incident revealed "no one was at fault for the incident" but that "too much downwash" and potentially excessive weight in the aircraft may have contributed.
"It's technically very difficult aircraft to understand, interesting technology that took a long time to develop and there certainly have been accidents in the development of that aircraft," Tonkin said.
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