Category Archives: headline

headline

Abandoned Gold Coast mansion trashed by squatters

An abandoned Gold Coast mansion is causing a headache for neighbours after it has become a haven for squatters.

The multi-million-dollar Nerang mansion, now labelled as a "disgrace" by local residents, has had its windows, walls and ceilings smashed in.

One neighbour forced to deal with the properties unsavoury visitors is Tony Burchill.

READ MORE: Two sisters 'escape quarantine in Northern Territory'

The multi-million-dollar Nerang mansion, now labelled as a "disgrace" by residents, has had its windows, walls and ceilings smashed and destroyed and is covered in graffiti.

"We have had people off their face walk up and sit on our furniture on the back deck," Mr Burchill told 9News.

"It's made it difficult for my 10-year-old to even sleep in her own bed."

The 23-hectare property was once owned by Japanese billionaire Toshiaki Ogasawara.

The 23-hectre property and villa was once owned by Japanese billionaire Toshiaki Ogasawara.

It is now owned by developer Pointcorp which promised to transform the land into a $22,000,000 master-planned community when purchased in 2018.

However, the site has been vacant since and is now vandalised beyond recognition.

Pointcorp today told 9News the property would be demolished in two weeks, finally making way for the promised development. Though, it seems too little too late for some.

"Too bad it's taken them two years to get the message," Mr Burchill said.

An abandoned Gold Coast mansion has been turned into a shadow of its former self, becoming a haven for squatters, drug addicts thieves, all while becoming a headache for neighbours.

headline

Canada: Remains of 215 Kids Found at Indigenous School Site

Reuters- The remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, were found at the site of a former residential school for indigenous children, a discovery Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described as heartbreaking on Friday.

The children were students at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia that closed in 1978, according to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation, which said the remains were found with the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist.

“We had a knowing in our community that we were able to verify,” Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir said in a statement. “At this time, we have more questions than answers.”

Canada’s residential school system, which forcibly separated indigenous children from their families, constituted “cultural genocide,” a six-year investigation into the now-defunct system found in 2015.

The report documented horrific physical abuse, rape, malnutrition and other atrocities suffered by many of the 150,000 children who attended the schools, typically run by Christian churches on behalf of Ottawa from the 1840s to the 1990s.

The former Kamloops Indian Residential School is pictured, after the remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, were found at the site, in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada May 29, 2021. REUTERS/Dennis Owen
The main administrative building at the Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada circa 1970. Library and Archives Canada/Handout via REUTERS
A new classroom building at the Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada circa 1950. Library and Archives Canada/Handout via REUTERS

The main administrative building at the Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada circa 1970. Library and Archives Canada/Handout via REUTERS

It found more than 4,100 children died while attending residential school. The deaths of the 215 children buried in the grounds of what was once Canada’s largest residential school are believed to not have been included in that figure and appear to have been undocumented until the discovery.

Trudeau wrote in a tweet that the news “breaks my heart – it is a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our country’s history.”

In 2008, the Canadian government formally apologized for the system.

The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation said it was engaging with the coroner and reaching out to the home communities whose children attended the school. They expect to have preliminary findings by mid-June.

In a statement, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee called finding such grave sites “urgent work” that “refreshes the grief and loss for all First Nations in British Columbia.

The post Canada: Remains of 215 Kids Found at Indigenous School Site appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

headline

Colombia: Mass Protests to End Protests as UN Steps In

Waving flags and dressed in white, thousands marched in Colombia’s capital Bogota on Sunday to demand an end to protests and roadblocks, as well as to express support for security forces, following a month of demonstrations.

“They (the roadblocks) are taking the cities hostage. They are stopping the economy,” Patricia Gonzalez, 45, said.

The roadblocks have caused shortages of food and supplies in some parts of the country.

Though acknowledging the use of excessive force by some police, Gonzalez said not all police were corrupt and that the protests had gone on long enough.

Talks between the government and national protest leaders are to restart on Sunday, after stalling last week. read more

Widespread protests began at the end of April in opposition to a now-withdrawn tax reform but have since expanded to call for a basic income, opportunities for young people and to end police violence.

The month of protests have been beset with violence. The national government has so-far linked 17 civilian deaths and the deaths of two police officers to the protests, while rights groups say security forces have killed dozens of civilians.

In Colombia’s third-largest city, Cali, 13 people were killed during a day of protests on Friday, Mayor Jorge Ivan Ospina said on Saturday, stressing it was not certain how many of these were linked to demonstrations. read more

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on Sunday called for those responsible for the violence in Cali to be held accountable.

“I call for an end to all forms of violence,” she said in a statement, calling for an investigation into the deaths and injuries.

While a “pre-agreement” to further negotiations was reached on Monday, strike organizers have since accused the government of deliberately stalling talks by not signing the deal.

The government says protest leaders must condemn roadblocks as part of the pre-agreement, calling the point non-negotiable.

The post Colombia: Mass Protests to End Protests as UN Steps In appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

headline

Mother pays emotional tribute to son killed in SA crash

A mother has paid an emotional tribute to her teenage son after he was tragically killed in a motorbike crash in South Australia.

Kyle Sydenham, 17, was riding along Burdett road to his girlfriend's house about 8.30pm yesterday when he was hit by a ute near Pompoota, in the Murraylands.

Tragically, behind the wheel of the ute was a friend and in the passenger seat, his girlfriend's brother.

Kyle Sydenham (left) with his mother Dianne.

"Kyle was a very clever boy, loved fixing motors and working on motorbikes," his mother, Dianne Sydenham, said today, returning to the spot where his life was cut short.

Ms Sydenham lay floral tributes as she collected debris from the crash, small reminders of her caring son who was meant to start as an apprentice mechanic today.

The 17-year-old ute driver was charged with aggravated driving without due care.

"I will miss him more than I could ever explain … he was smart, strong and happy, he brought so much joy into many lives, especially mine," Kyle's girlfriend told 9News.

Dianne Sydenham (left) with her daughter.

Although devastated, Kyle's mother hopes this tragedy sends a strong message to others.

She wants drivers to slow down and to be more cautious of motorbike riders.

"Please drive carefully, it's such a dangerous thing there is no protection on motorbikes," Ms Sydenham said.

headline

Five charged after Sydney WWI Cenotaph vandalised

Five men have been charged after CCTV was released of a group of alleged vandals climbing onto the WWI Cenotaph in Sydney's Martin Place and inappropriately posing with the statue.

The video, released by NSW Police, shows the alleged men, aged 19 to 21, clambering over the monument, with one shown sitting on the shoulders of the statue.

Police have described the alleged incident as "an act of stupidity" and "extremely disrespectful".

LIVE UPDATES: Five new virus cases in Victoria

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also expressed her disappointment, describing the incident as "personally hurtful" while announcing a new training program for war veterans.

"I think it's really hurtful that a small number of Australians don't appreciate the sacrifices many Australians made for our freedom," she said.

"That's what hurts me the most, that some people don't understand our history."

READ MORE: Teen charged after four stabbed at house party

Police began an investigation into the incident after being notified of damage to the bayonet on a statue.

Three men were arrested at Sutherland Police Station about 1.30pm today with inquiries into the incident still ongoing.

A fourth man, aged 21, also attended Sutherland Police Station this afternoon.

Three of the men – aged 19, 20, 21 – were issued Court Attendance Notices for desecrate protected place.

READ MORE: Three COVID-19 cases at aged care home

The second 21-year-old was issued a Court Attendance Notice for offensive conduct.

They are all due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 30 June 2021.

About 3.30pm today, a fifth man, aged 21, was arrested at Sutherland Police Station and charged with destroy or damage property and commit offensive act in, on war memorial/interment site.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 28 June 2021.