Trending | Russia-Ukraine | View in Browser March 31, 2022 Here is today’s selection of top stories from The Associated Press at this hour to begin your day. Today’s Headlines Ukrainian president says defense is at a ‘turning point’ KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian president said his country’s defense against the Russian invasion […]
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Bruce Willis’ family has announced the actor is retiring from the profession after being diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects a person’s ability to communicate. Willis’ family members posted a joint statement to social media announcing the actor’s retirement. “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to […]
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WASHINGTON (L.A. Times) — Vice President Kamala Harris — whose father emigrated from Jamaica —met Wednesday with the island nation’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, at the White House, marking another historic moment for the first Black and South Asian vice president. The meeting marked the first time since 1995 that a Jamaican leader has visited […]
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The Caribbean has remained an excellent destination for Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Short flights, gorgeous beaches, and sunny weather make for an incredible vacation. Still, COVID-19 restrictions have—albeit often strictly—stayed in place. Many Caribbean nations are now easing entry requirements now. Some countries, such as Aruba and Curaçao have eased all COVID-19 restrictions. […]
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By Marc Frank HAVANA, March 30 (Reuters) – Cuba’s communist government is seeking to rally support for a new family code that would open the door to gay marriage and boost women’s rights, but experts and a recent survey suggest an upcoming referendum vote may not provide a rubber stamp. Tepid support for the reforms, […]
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Families have been reunited after the first direct flight from Australia to Wellington touched down in New Zealand from Brisbane this morning.
It's the latest direct international flight to take off from Brisbane Airport following the mass culling of routes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maatakiri Rapira hadn't seen her parents in New Zealand for almost four years.
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"I just want to go home and hug my parents, that's all I want to do and they don't know I'm coming," she said before her flight.
Mags and Miles Thompson, also travelling to Wellington, were excited by the new route, which marks a return to more accessible international travel.
"Oh it's the best thing ever. I actually cried when I passed my COVID test this morning," Ms Thompson said.
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Daily flights from Brisbane to Dubai resumed this month.
From tomorrow, direct flights from Brisbane to Los Angeles and Kuala Lumpur will resume.
From July 1, Air Canada will resume flights to Vancouver four times a week, with Philippine Airways flights to Manila returning from April 3.
Jetstar flights from Brisbane to Bali return in May.
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Rachel Bronish from the Brisbane Airport Corporation said the flight routes marked a new chapter for the airline and travel industry.
"We truly think this is the beginning," she said.
Ms Bronish added with ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions and rules varying according to country, supporting a travel agent for international trips was the best way forward.
"Getting a travel agent is always a good option, because there are different rules for different countries so it always pays to do your research in the first instance," she said.
SAN SALVADOR, March 30 (Reuters) – El Salvador’s gang lords and their followers will face prison sentences ranging from 20 to 45 years under penal reforms passed by Congress on Wednesday in the wake of 89 registered murders, allegedly by groups like MS-13, over the weekend. President Nayib Bukele’s administration invoked emergency powers on Sunday […]
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Renowned Māori leader Tā Tipene O’Regan, of Ngāi Tahu, has won the 2022 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year award. Tā Tipene successfully led the negotiations of one of the country’s first iwi settlements – he…
By Branwen Jeffreys Education Editor BBC Schools in 23 countries, with 405 million pupils, are still partially or fully closed because of Covid, the United Nations Children’s Fund says. The charity, Unicef, estimates 147 million children have missed at least half of their in-person schooling. Some vulnerable children, especially girls, have not returned to those […]
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Five people have been killed after a helicopter crashed into rugged terrain in regional Victoria this morning.
Police said a pilot and four passengers were on board the helicopter, all of whom died at the crash scene near Mt Disappointment, an hour north of Melbourne's CBD.
Police announced the tragic update just after 7.30pm.
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They said the crash victims were:
– A 32-year-old man from Cheltenham, Victoria
– A 50-year-old woman from Inverloch, Victoria
– A 73-year-old man from Albert Park, Victoria
– A 59-year-old man from New South Wales
– A 70-year-old man from New South Wales
"It's believed the chartered helicopter had taken off from Moorabbin Airport before picking up passengers in Batman Park, Melbourne about 7am," Victoria Police said.
"The flight was destined for Ulupna, located in northern Victoria.
"Police Air Wing located the wreckage in the vicinity of Blair's Hut about 11.45am on 31 March."
Police said the cause of the crash was still unknown.
The area where the helicopter crashed is covered by such dense bush that police had been unable to access it by ground or land a helicopter nearby.
Bulldozers and an excavator were required to clear a path to the crash site during the search and rescue operation.
Rescuers had to be winched from a police helicopter down to the crash site, near Blair's Hut.
State Emergency Service volunteers, paramedics, police and Fire Forest Management workers set up a staging point more than 8km from the wreckage.
The helicopter was one of two travelling north in convoy from Melbourne's CBD over when it disappeared just after 9.30am, according to Victoria Police.
It was believed to be carrying a group of cattle farmers headed to Yarrawonga.
The second helicopter landed without incident at Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne's south-east.
Both Microflite Helicopter Services aircraft took off from the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne CBD near Crown just before 8am.
Microflite Helicopter Services' executive general manager Rodney Higgins said the private charter flight that crashed was being flown by a highly respected pilot.
He said the charter lost communication with the other helicopter just after 8am, with the incident then immediately reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in accordance with standard protocols.
Mr Higgins said the company would cooperate with extensive investigations into what had occurred.
"I extend my deepest condolences to all affected by this incident," he said.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is sending a team from Canberra and Melbourne to investigate the incident.
"Once on site, they will examine the wreckage and site surrounds, and will retrieve any relevant components for further examination in the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
"The ATSB will also analyse any recorded data and conduct interviews with those who have knowledge of the flight."
Mr Mitchell said the ATSB expected to publish a preliminary report about the crash in six to eight weeks' time.
"However, at any stage should we identify critical safety issues we will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken," he said.
The area where the crash has occurred was covered with low cloud and smoke from recent bushfire burn-offs.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said heavy fog and cloud hampered the aerial search for the crash this morning.
