Category Archives: headline

headline

McGowan says Western Australia hard border could extend into 2022

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has flagged his state's hard border with the rest of Australia will not be lifted until early next year.

Mr McGowan told Today his goal was for his state to reach full-vaccination levels of 80 to 90 per cent before he'd set a date for the state's reopening.

"That may be two months from then. That would allow everyone who wanted to get vaccinated to get vaccinated," Mr McGowan said.

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WA's vaccination rate is currently one of the lowest in Australia. It is on track to reach 80 per cent double-dose vaccination in early December for people aged 16 and over.

Mr McGowan said the state government's priority was to ensure vulnerable WA residents were fully vaccinated over the coming months.

"We have got to get into some of those communities that have low levels of vaccination, Aboriginal communities, poorer parts of the state."

He said COVID-free states had slower vaccination rates due to not receiving advanced supplies of the jab.

"We supported New South Wales and indeed Victoria and Queensland getting extra supply above their per capita share because they had outbreaks and so vaccinating people more quickly was the right thing to do, but we are going up by about 0.7 percent each and every day," he said.

"As more supply comes on, we will put in place more measures to get more people vaccinated as quickly as we possibly can."

READ MORE: COVID-19 vaccines compulsory for WA health workers

Mr McGowan defended his decision to maintain the hard border, saying that the focus should be on managing outbreaks in states with COVID-19.

"Imagine if it was the other way around and Western Australia was the infected place with thousands of cases and New South Wales or Victoria had none, would they really want to open to us?" he said.

"The answer I think would be no. So we're just doing what is required to keep our people safe."

headline

Where people died inside World Trade Center

Most of the 2749 people who died in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center were above the point of impact when the two planes hit the twin towers.

A 2004 study, conducted by US federal investigators, with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, painted a comprehensive picture of who died where in the twin towers.

Investigators concluded 1466 tenants and visitors died in the North Tower, which was struck first by American Airlines Flight 11 at 8.46am, while 624 people died in the South Tower.

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Diagram of the twin towers illustrates how those caught above the point of impact endured far greater fatality rates than people below, who mostly were able to escape the buildings before the structures collapsed. Created by Tara Blancato.

The location of another 73 people who died in the towers that day could not be accounted.

At least nine of every 10 deaths in the North Tower were the workers and visitors at or above where Flight 11 hit, with the passenger jet crashing into floors 93 to 99.

The plane's impact immediately blocked all three stairwells in the North Tower, trapping anyone above.

Those in the South Tower, which United Airlines Flight 175 hit between floors 77 and 85 just 17 minutes later, were luckier.

One stairwell to escape remained open, at least for a time.

Of the 624 killed in the South Tower, 618 were at, or above, the impact point.

Investigators estimated at least 17,000 tenants and visitors were inside the twin towers at the time of attack, with the vast majority able to make it out safely.

Although it was hit second, the South Tower fell first at 9.59am.

At 10:28am, 102 minutes after Flight 11 flew into it, the North Tower came down.

The heroism of New York City's first responders will never be forgotten. Created by Tara Blancato.

The investigation also detailed the 421 first responders who died, with New York City Fire Department losing 343 firefighters that day, as they bravely scaled the stricken buildings to try and help those stuck or trying to flee.

There were 37 Port Authority Police killed, and 23 New York City Police Department officers who never made it out of ground zero.

Seven hospital and paramedic staff were killed that day.

The total number of plane passengers and crew killed was 147, plus the 10 hijackers, with 18 people killed outside the buildings by debris and jet fuel.

Investigators interviewed hundreds of people and analysed data and anecdotal evidence in an attempt to accurately tally who died where.

The study did not include people killed in Flight 77's attack on the Pentagon or those aboard hijacked Flight 93 which crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.

READ MORE: 'Have you seen my daughter?' The hellish aftermath of Ground Zero

Words: Mark Saunokonoko

Graphics and videos: Tara Blancato

headline

Man charged after 'biting female officer on the leg'

An 18-year-old man has been charged after allegedly biting a female police officer on the leg during an incident outside an Adelaide hotel.

Authorities were called to the Marion Hotel on Marion Road, in the city's suburb south, just after 11pm yesterday after reports of an assault.

When police arrived, witnesses directed them to a man in the carpark.

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https://twitter.com/ollie_haig/status/1434357229793120256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

As officers attempted to arrest the man, he allegedly became aggressive and did not comply with their requests.

"He allegedly resisted, violently biting the female officer on the leg," a statement from South Australia Police said.

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"Police taster the man and eventually were able to place him under arrest. The male officer sustained an injured wrist."

The Morphett Vale man was taken to the Flinders Medical Centre as a precaution before being charged with assault and two counts of assault prescribed emergency worker.

He was refused bail and is due to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Count tomorrow.

The officers were taken to Wakefield Hospital for treatment.