Tag Archives: oceania

Fears mount for Australians after plane goes missing near volcano

Fears are mounting for two South Australians after a light plane went missing near a volcanic crater in the Philippines.

Wet weather is hampering the search for mining engineers Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam, identified as passengers onboard a Cessna RPC340.

The plane went missing minutes after it departed Bicol International Airport in Albay at 6.43am local time on Saturday.

READ MORE: Body found in search for missing UK woman Nicola Bulley

Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam have been identified as passengers onboard the missing Cessna RPC340.

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The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said air traffic controllers last contacted the plane at 6:46 am, when the plane was in the vicinity of Camalig at an altitude of 2600 feet (just over 790 metres).

The aircraft was expected to arrive in Manila at 7.53am.

Four people were onboard, including the pilot and crew.

Pictures have surfaced of plane wreckage near the Mayon Volcano, which is close to the airport, but the aircraft is still officially listed as missing.

READ MORE: Two dead in a week at popular tourist spot

The small plane went missing shortly after takeoff on Saturday.

Senior Superintendent Achilles Santiago of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Albay reportedly said the wreckage of Cessna RPC340 was seen at the forested boundary between the towns of Guinobatan and Camalig.

Search and rescue crews from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Camalig Fire Station (FS), and other teams have been deployed to the area.

The search has been slow going due to wet weather.

READ MORE: US bombers fly after North Korea threats

A search and rescue mission is underway after a Cessna RPC340 went missing in the Philippines.

Camalig fire station chief senior inspector Hamor Laguilles told local media the plane was "flying too low, (emitting) smoke and making a loud crumbling sound before it disappeared."

It's understood Chipperfield and Santhanam were travelling to Manilla after conducting a site visit at Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed Australian officials were providing support to the families of the men reported to be missing.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of reports that authorities lost contact with a light aircraft in the Philippines on Saturday 18 February 2023," a spokesperson told 9News.

"The Australian Embassy is in contact with local authorities and DFAT officials are providing consular assistance to the families of two Australians reported to be missing.

"Our thoughts are with their families, friends and loved ones at this difficult time."

'Crushing' jail time cut for social media serial rapist

A man convicted of sexually assaulting 14 women and girls after befriending them on social media has had five years cut from his jail term.

Andrew James Benn was jailed in 2018 for at least 30 years after raping and indecently assaulting 14 girls and women between September 2012 and January 2017.

Benn was between 23 and 27 when he committed the offences against victims aged between 15 and 28.

READ MORE: Body found in search for missing UK woman Nicola Bulley

Andrew James Benn was jailed in 2018 for at least 30 years after raping and indecently assaulting 14 girls and women between September 2012 and January 2017.

He pleaded guilty to 33 charges including 21 counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

"Depraved", "despicable" and "evil" were all used to describe his offending by sentencing District Court Judge Roy Ellis.

Benn would randomly trawl social media pages of young women in the NSW Hunter region, arranging to meet before attacking them.

He spent weeks chatting to a 17-year-old, who told him she had never been on a date, then raped her twice, leaving her shocked and worried about how her family would react if she told them.

Another woman was told not to tell police because an outlaw motorcycle gang Benn claimed to associate with "can make you disappear".

She hid in her bathroom for eight hours after he raped her.

READ MORE: Fears mount for Australians after plane goes missing near volcano

Law courts, New South Wales, NSW court.

Benn appealed against his sentence with a hearing held in March 2022.

His appeal proceeded in part after an error was identified, requiring re-sentencing.

Justice Fabian Gleeson proposed a sentence of 35 years with a non-parole period of 26 years and three months, which Justices Natalie Adams and Mark Ierace agreed to in a decision published by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal on Monday.

Benn argued the sentencing judge erred in determining his sentence, which was manifestly excessive, and reasons were not given for departures from standard non-parole periods and a finding on whether there were special circumstances.

The initial aggregate 40-year sentence and 30-year non-parole period could be fairly described as "crushing" compared to other cases, Benn said.

"The Crown correctly responds that this analysis is flawed and of little assistance," Gleeson wrote.

The Crown, however, also pointed out the starting point for his indicative sentence on one count was higher than the maximum penalty.

READ MORE: Visitor accidentally shatters Jeff Koons' 'balloon dog' sculpture

Benn was re-sentenced once the error was established, but his initial jail term was not determined to be manifestly excessive.

"An offender sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment may well consider the sentence to be 'crushing' but in many cases a long sentence may be the proportionate response to the circumstances of that case," Adams observed.

She said it was "pertinent to note" no issue was taken with Benn's sentencing for offences against 14 individuals, only with the "transparency" of the decision-making.

"The transparency contended for on behalf of the applicant under this ground would no doubt have highlighted to the 14 victims the relatively short time the applicant would be serving in custody in relation to the offences committed against each of them," she wrote.

Benn will be eligible for parole in April 2043.

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Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Woolworths expands self-checkouts using artificial intelligence

Woolworths is expanding the rollout of its self-checkouts using cameras and artificial intelligence in stores across Australia.

The self-checkouts use camera vision and artificial intelligence to detect when items aren't scanned correctly.

If a product is not scanned a short video is replayed for the customer on the self-checkout and the customer has an opportunity to rescan it.

Woolworths expands artificial intelligence self checkouts.

READ MORE: Body found in search for missing UK woman Nicola Bulley

It was first trialled at Woolworths in Seven Hills in NSW a year ago but is now being used at more than 250 stores in three states.

"Following a recent trial phase, we're expanding the rollout of this technology to more stores in NSW, Victoria and Queensland," a Woolworths spokesperson told 9News.com.au.

"It helps reduce mis-scans and is one of a number of initiatives we've rolled out across our checkouts to make shopping more convenient and seamless.

"While most customers do the right thing at our self-serve checkouts, we're all busy and mistakes can easily happen."

READ MORE: Fears mount for Australians after plane goes missing near volcano

Woolworths expands artificial intelligence self checkouts.

The technology is reportedly not viewed live but if it is viewed back by staff, a customer's face and pin pad is blurred to protect their privacy.

Woolworths said it is also used for training purposes for staff.

The supermarket added it has strict policies in place to protect customer privacy.

Stores using the technology also must have signage at the entrance and front of the supermarket to alert customers.

It comes after calls last year to review the privacy act in lieu of the rise in facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology.

Retail giants Bunnings, Kmart and the Good Guys paused the use of facial recognition technology after consumer advocacy group Choice referred the stores for potential breaches of the act.

READ MORE: Visitor accidentally shatters Jeff Koons' 'balloon dog' sculpture

Woolworths expands artificial intelligence self checkouts.

Attorney-general Mark Dreyfus' department released its review of the privacy act last week which found it was not "fit for purpose" and doesn't protect Australian's privacy in the digital age.

"Our current privacy regulations are woefully inadequate, out of date, and not fit for purpose for the technical realities of the modern digital economy," program lead at Digital Rights Watch Samantha Floreani said.

"People deserve meaningful privacy protections and a regulator who can enforce them properly.

"Protecting privacy is an essential component to upholding our democracy, reining in corporate power, and fostering online safety in the digital age."

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Le dollar bean, accountants: The rise of algospeak and shadowbanning

Unalive, mascara, accountant, le dollar bean or corn- all of these words might seem nonsensical to you but they're actually a language popping up on the popular social media platform TikTok.

These words appear completely random but they're a specific vocabulary or language alteration to navigate a platform's content moderation – it's called algospeak.

Let's break it down.

TikTok is one of the most popular apps in Australia.

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Cate Blanchett wins best actress BAFTA

Cate Blanchett has won the best actress gong at the British Academy Film Awards while antiwar German movie All Quiet on the Western Front won seven prizes, including best picture, building the somber drama's momentum as awards season rolls toward its climax at next month's Oscars.

Blanchett was a firm favourite to win the coveted trophy for her performance in Tár, beating out the likes of Viola Davis, Danielle Deadwyler, Ana de Armas, Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh.

"All of my fellow nominees the conversation with you off the screen and on the screen have been nothing short of remarkable and we know that we're just the tip of the iceberg," the Aussie said in her speech.

READ MORE: Body found in search for missing UK woman Nicola Bulley

Cate Blanchett wins Best Actress at the 2023 BAFTAs.

Irish tragicomedy The Banshees of Inisherin and rock biopic Elvis took four prizes each.

All Quiet, a visceral depiction of life and death in the World War I trenches, won Edward Berger the best director award. Its other trophies included adapted screenplay, cinematography, best score, best sound and best film not in English.

Austin Butler was a surprise best actor winner for Elvis. Baz Lurhmann's flamboyant musical also won trophies for casting, costume design and hair and makeup.

Martin McDonagh's Banshees, the bleakly comic story of a friendship gone sour, was named best British film.

"Best what award?" joked McDonagh of the film, which was shot in Ireland with a largely Irish cast and crew. It has British funding, and McDonagh was born in Britain to Irish parents.

READ MORE: Fears mount for Australians after plane goes missing near volcano

Banshees also won for McDonagh's original screenplay, and awards for Kerry Condon as best supporting actress and Barry Keoghan for best supporting actor.

The prizes — officially the EE BAFTA Film Awards — are Britain's equivalent of Hollywood's Academy Awards and will be watched closely for hints of who may win at the Oscars on March 12.

Madcap metaverse romp Everything Everywhere All at Once, the Academy Awards front-runner, – was the night's big loser, winning just one prize from its 10 BAFTA nominations, for editing.

Actor Richard E. Grant was a suave and self-deprecating host — with support from TV presenter Alison Hammond — for the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall, where the UK's movie academy heralded its strides to become more diverse but said there was more to be done.

Grant joked in his opening monologue about the infamous altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at last year's Oscars.

READ MORE: Visitor accidentally shatters Jeff Koons' 'balloon dog' sculpture

"Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight," he said. "Except on the back."

Guests and presenters walking the red carpet on the south bank of the River Thames included Colin Farrell, Ana de Armas, Eddie Redmayne, Brian Cox, Florence Pugh, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Julianne Moore and Lily James.

Heir to the throne Prince William, who is president of Britain's film and television academy, was in the audience alongside his wife, Kate. William wore a tuxedo with black velvet jacket, while Kate dressed in a floor-length Alexander McQueen dress that she also wore to the 2019 BAFTAs.

Helen Mirren paid tribute to William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September. Mirren, who portrayed the late monarch onscreen in The Queen and onstage in The Audience, called Elizabeth "the nation's leading lady".

Britain's film academy introduced changes to increase the awards' diversity in 2020, when no women were nominated as best director for the seventh year running and all 20 nominees in the lead and supporting performer categories were white.

This year there were 11 female directors up for awards across all categories, including documentary and animated films. But just one of the main best-director nominees was female: Gina Prince-Bythewood for The Woman King.

BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar said the academy's soul-searching had been "a necessary and humbling process". He said the "vital work of levelling the playing field" would continue.

West Side Story star Ariana DeBose opened the show by performing Sisters are Doin' it for Themselves, with an added rap shoutout to some of the nominated women, including Michelle Yeoh, Cate Blanchett and Viola Davis.

Blanchett said it had been "an extraordinary year for female performers. To be counted among them is really special."

It was a strong year for Irish actors at the BAFTAs, with Deryl McCormack up for the BAFTA Rising Star award — though he lost out to Emma Mackey – and Condon, Keoghan, Farrell and Brendan Gleeson all getting acting nominations for Banshees.

McCormack hailed the event as "the Irish BAFTAs".

"It is a small country, but to see the talent that comes out of it is quite amazing," he said.

Three-time Oscar winner Sandy Powell became the first costume designer to be awarded the academy's top honor, the BAFTA fellowship.

The harsh world outside showbiz intruded on the awards when Bulgarian journalist Christo Grozev, who works for investigative website Bellingcat, said he was now allowed to attend the awards because of a risk to public security. He features in Navalny, a film about jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny that won the best documentary BAFTA.

Navalny producer Odessa Rae dedicated the award to Grozev, "our Bulgarian nerd with a laptop, who could not be with us tonight because his life is under threat by the Russian government and Vladimir Putin".

Jamie Lee Curtis, a supporting actress nominee for Everything Everywhere, said the chance awards season provides to celebrate cinema was more important than who wins.

"It's a moment of celebration in the midst of everything," Curtis told The Associated Press on the red carpet. "It's hard out there. Everywhere. All at once. All the time."

'Heartbreaking:' Visitor accidentally shatters $61k 'balloon dog' sculpture

The artist Jeff Koons' famous sculptures might look like they're made from balloons – but the works are actually fragile, as one art fair attendee found out when she knocked over a $42,000 (A$61,170) piece Thursday, causing it to shatter.

A blue balloon dog sculpture created by Koons broke into tiny shards when a visitor accidentally kicked its podium, according to the gallery hosting the piece.

Bel-Air Fine Art was displaying the piece at its booth at Art Wynwood, a contemporary art fair in Miami, Florida.

READ MORE: Body found in search for missing UK woman Nicola Bulley

The sculpture, shown here before it was broken, was one of 799 editions created by Koons.

In a statement shared with CNN over email, the gallery's district manager, Cédric Boero, who was managing the Art Wynwood booth, told CNN that the gallery serves as "one of the official representatives for the famous Jeff Koons balloon dogs sculptures."

"Of course it is heartbreaking to see such an iconic piece destroyed," said Boero.

He said the piece fell after an unnamed art collector visiting the booth unintentionally kicked the pedestal during the fair's opening cocktail hour Thursday evening.

READ MORE: Fears mounting for Australians after plane goes missing near volcano

Bel-Air Fine Art was displaying the sculpture as part of its booth at Art Wynwood in Miami.

"The collector never intended to break the sculpture, in fact she never touched it with her hands," he said.

"It was the opening cocktail, lots of people were on our booth, she gave unintentionally a little kick in the pedestal, which was enough to cause the sculpture to fall down."

"This kind of thing unfortunately happens, that is why the artwork was covered by insurance," he said.

READ MORE: US woman escapes alleged abduction after 'year-long nightmare'

A porcelain Jeff Koons "balloon dog" sculpture, valued around A$61,000 broke into tiny pieces after an art collector accidentally kicked its podium at Art Wynwood in Miami.

The gallery shared photos of the sculpture reduced to scraps of ceramic lying on the floor.

The 2021 piece was entitled "Balloon Dog (Blue)" and valued at around $61,170 according to an email from Bel-Air Fine Art.

The sculpture was made of porcelain and measured 40 x 48 x 16 cm. A total of 799 editions of the sculpture were made.

Koons and Art Wynwood did not immediately reply to CNN's request for comment.

Koons' balloon animal figures are some of the most iconic – and expensive – sculptures in the contemporary art world.

His pieces have fetched jaw-dropping sums at auction: "Rabbit" (1986) sold for $132 million at Christie's New York in 2019, and "Balloon Dog (Orange)" (1994-2000) sold for $85 million six years earlier.

He has created hundreds of renditions of the balloon dogs, some of them towering over three-metres tall, and some of them just over a foot tall, like the sculpture that shattered.

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