Tag Archives: oceania

Andrew O'Keefe released on bail on the condition he goes to rehab

Former TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe has been granted bail by the New South Wales Supreme Court.

The 50-year-old will be released from Silverwater jail on the condition he immediately checks into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre and stay there full time for at least six months.

O'Keefe had been in custody since he was arrested in January and charged with assaulting and choking a woman.

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In February he pleaded guilty to a separate charge of drug possession.

Other bail conditions from today's ruling include not drinking alcohol or taking any drugs – prescription or otherwise – that are not prescribed by a doctor, and that he must undergo drug testing.

O'Keefe must also see a psychiatrist once a week, a psychologist twice a week and take all medications prescribed to him.

He will next appear in court on June 20.

O'Keefe, well known for hosting the reality game show Deal or No Deal, was also a former ambassador for White Ribbon – an organisation that works to combat violence against women.

Two new ancient flying reptiles found in outback Queensland

Two new ancient flying reptiles have been identified from remains excavated from the baked red clay of outback Queensland.

And bone scarring suggests one of the pterosaurs – the earliest vertebrates known to evolve powered flight – may have been snapped at by a crocodile.

The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum and Melbourne Museum announced the discovery last week, with the bones also described in the journal Alcheringa.

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A close-up view of the Boulia pterosaur femur.The second pterosaur femur was found near Winton, at the Elliot dig site in 2004.

The fossilised pterosaur bones were recovered on cattle stations in Boulia and Winton, approximately 355km apart.

It's believed they date back to the early to mid-Cretaceous period; about 145 million years ago.

The first bone, a partial right femur, was discovered in 1991 during a field expedition and a second partial femur was found over a decade later around Winton.

In Australia, remains from these ancient flying reptiles are rare; to date, only four pterosaur species have been identified in Australia.

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A previously discovered pterosaur, Thapunngaka shawi, is Australia's largest known flying reptile. It boasted a wing span of at least seven metres

The new findings have been celebrated by researchers as they provide invaluable evidence into how reptiles interacted millions of years ago.

Lead author, Swinburne University PhD student Adele Pentland, said: "Insight into how ancient animals interacted with one another can be difficult to find.

"However, the presence of two circular depressions on the pterosaur's femur suggests it may have been bitten by a small crocodile."

READ MORE: Underwater volcano with sharks living enters 'active eruptive phase'

Despite being separated by hundreds of kilometres, the two leg bones were very similar to one other.

"These pterosaurs share commonalities to each other as well as to others found in Brazil," Pentland said.

"At this time they were present on almost every continent and their similarities are a clear indication that they were incredibly successful animals."

Outback Queensland is one of Australia's richest sources of fossils.

Earlier this year a new species of crocodile dating back to the Cretaceous period was identified.

Its remains were excavated from a sheep station near the Winton Formation in 2010.

Its last meal was a young dinosaur.

Flu vaccine to be free for Queenslanders as cases double

All Queenslanders will be able to access a free flu shot at their pharmacy or GP from tomorrow until June 30, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced.

The move is a "preemptive strike" against dominant flu strain, influenza A, as cases of influenza double every week, threatening to place additional pressure on the state's already strained hospital system.

There are currently 4282 Queenslanders with the flu, with 150 people in hospital and 10 people in the ICU.

READ MORE: Albanese's 'must-do or we are stuffed' list

Palaszczuk said recorded flu numbers were doubling every week.

"Our cases are escalating and doubling quite quickly," Palaszczuk said.

"What we're particularly concerned about is the effect on young people."

Influenza A, currently accounting for 98 per cent of flu cases is particularly harmful for young people in the 10-39 age rage.

It also impacts the elderly and those with chronic illness.

"The symptoms are very similar to COVID," Palaszcuk said.

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https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1528584611592544256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The premier said Queenslanders may be experiencing "vaccine fatigue" in the midst of the pandemic, but that vaccinating against flu is crucial to keep hospital admissions down.

People can be infected with both the flu and COVID-19, increasing the severity of both illnesses.

Palaszcuk said the jab has been made free so it is accessible to all families.

READ MORE: Albanese to be sworn in as Prime Minister ahead of first overseas trip

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the current flu case numbers were comparable to the 2017 flu season, which saw large numbers of Queenslanders hospitalised.

"We are already at the hospital admission rate that we were at the end of 2017 which means this is escalating very quickly," D'Ath said.

"We could end up with 400 to 500 hospital admissions and that won't be the peak.

"We need you to go out and get vaccinated right now," she said.

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Perth father fatally stabbed after confronting teen over bike theft

A 42-year-old man has died after he was attacked while attempting to stop a teenager from stealing a bike in Perth's south.

The father conducted the act of good Samartian at Bull Creek after he witnessed the teen run off with another boy's bike.

Police say he confronted the teen at about 10.20am yesterday morning, when he was then stabbed in the stomach.

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A father has died after being fatally stabbed by a Perth bike thief

The man was taken to Royal Perth Hospital but could not be saved.

Police say the teen they believe is responsible for the death is on the run and are appealing for public information.

Treasurer concedes seat of 12 years to independent

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has conceded he has lost the seat of Kooyong, to 'teal' independent, Dr Monique Ryan.

For the first time, the seat will be held by a politician who isn't from the Liberal Party.

It comes as the future leadership of four Victorian seats remains in limbo as millions of postal votes are counted.

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Josh Frydenberg gives his last press conference as treasurer.

Kooyong

Conceding today, Frydenberg said it he had called Ryan to congratulate her on the election result.

"It's been an incredible privilege to have served as the local member for the last 12 years," he said in a statement.

"Kooyong is where I grew up, and where, with my wife Amie, we are raising our family. Every day I have given the job my all."

Kooyong independent Dr Monique Ryan says her main priority moving forward will be climate change.

Frydenberg said he is looking forward to spending more time with family.

Ryan said on Sunday she thought there was "momentum for change" in Australia's political system.

"I don't think any of us understands what we have achieved, we have built on a grassroots movement and it doesn't end here," she said.

Frydenberg was considered a potential leader-in-waiting of the Liberal party, but his likely exit from parliament would leave outgoing defence minister Peter Dutton in the box seat.

READ MORE: Here's how the key Victorian seats played out on election night

Ryan was steaming ahead in the contest, with 54 per cent of votes on a two-party preferred basis on Monday morning, when 71.66 per cent of votes had been counted.

However, her and Frydenberg were almost neck-and-neck when it came to first preference votes, with less than 100 separating the rivals.

Ryan has celebrated her "amazing journey" to parliament.

Ryan said received a phone call from Frydenberg to formally acknowledge his defeat this morning.

"Now, the work begins anew," she said, after thanking the 2000 volunteers and 3000 donors involved in her campaign.

Climate change action, integrity and equality for women are her main political priorities.

"Our team is preparing for the next step, helping ready me for entering parliament and immediately beginning work on our community's priorities: real and urgent action on climate change, a strong federal integrity commission, and equality, respect, and safety for women," she said.

Deakin

Liberal MP Michael Sukkar is hoping to get a fourth term as Deakin's representative, but he is in a tight contest with Labor candidate Matt Gregg.

The fight between the two is looking like it will come down to the knife's edge, with just over 1000 votes separating them on a two-party preferred basis on Monday morning, when about 80 per cent of votes had been counted.

Gregg was in the lead, however, Sukkar was leading the first preference votes, with Gregg being put in front by preferences from those who voted for Greens candidate Rob Humphreys.

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190703 Jacqui Lambie tax cuts demands Tasmanian social housing debt Coalition Federal Politics news Australia

Menzies

Liberal MP Keith Wolahan is on track to hold onto his seat of Menzies in Melbourne's outer northeast, which has never been held by Labor.

However, Labor candidate Naomi Oakley was just 624 votes behind on a two-party preferred basis, with 71.04 per of votes having been counted.

Casey

The Liberals are looking like they will manage to keep hold of Casey, but Labor candidate Bill Brindle was trailing behind by just over 2200 votes on a two-party preferred basis on Monday morning.

New Liberal candidate Aaron Violi was also leading the number of first preference votes, with 72.19 per cent of votes having been counted.

Retiring Liberal MP and longtime Speaker Tony Smith won the seat by 4.6 per cent in 2019.

Macnamara

Labor MP Josh Burns is on track to keep hold of the seat of Macnamara, leading with about 4500 votes on a two-party preferred basis when 62.67 per cent of votes had been counted.

Liberal candidate Colleen Harkin was trailing with 42.4 per cent of the preference votes, with Greens candidate Steph Hodgins-May having picked up a significant number of first preference votes.

Why Pfizer's stock is in freefall

Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna are experiencing a post-vaccine hangover on Wall Street this year.

All three stocks surged spectacularly in 2021, thanks largely to their COVID-19 vaccines' success and strong sales. But 2022 hasn't been as kind to them.

Shares of Pfizer are down about 15 per cent, while its Comirnaty vaccine partner BioNTech has fallen 35 per cent. Moderna has fared even worse, plunging more than 40 per cent.

READ MORE: Albanese's 'must-do or we are stuffed' list

What gives? Sales of the COVID vaccines aren't the problem. 

Pfizer has said that it expects revenue from Comirnaty, which it splits equally with BioNTech, to hit $US32 billion ($45.15 billion) in 2022 while Moderna has forecast that it could generate nearly $US20 billion ($28.22 billion) in revenue from its coronavirus shot this year.

Part of the reason for the stocks' slump may simply be that investors already were anticipating strong demand and did what traders do best: Buy the rumor and sell the news. 

Pfizer's stock soared more than 60 per cent last year. BioNTech shot up more than 215 per cent in 2021 while Moderna shares rose nearly 145 per cent.

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Upshot to come?

Looking ahead, however, there could still be some more upside tied to the vaccines — especially for Pfizer and BioNTech's stocks.

Health regulators in the United States approved booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot for 5- to 11-year olds earlier this week.

Pfizer also could get an additional boost from COVID treatments thanks to its Paxlovid antiviral pill, which was approved late last year.

Pfizer has said it expects $US22 billion ($31 billion) in revenue from Paxlovid this year.

READ MORE: Albanese to be sworn in as Prime Minister ahead of first overseas trip

Pfizer may be best positioned of the three vaccine makers to thrive beyond COVID.

The company has been on a buyout binge lately, most recently announcing plans to acquire migraine drug maker Biohaven for nearly $US12 billion ($17 billion) earlier this month.

"The deal is a good use of cash for Pfizer, taking advantage of its sizable war chest to diversify into an approved drug that is taking share in the market and could grow revenues meaningfully," said CFRA Research analyst Stewart Glickman in a report following the Biohaven news.

The acquisition follows a nearly $US7 billion ($10 billion) deal late last year to buy Arena Pharmaceuticals, a company developing drugs to treat immuno-inflammatory diseases.

Pfizer also acquired cancer drug maker Trillium Therapeutics last year for more than $US2 billion ($3 billion). And even after all these deals, the company still has about $US24 billion (34 billion) in cash on its balance sheet.

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Pfizer's diversification is one key reason why analysts are expecting that the company's revenue will increase almost 30 per cent this year and that earnings per share will be up more than 50 per cent.

By contrast Moderna, which is not nearly as diversified as Pfizer, needs to find another big blockbuster. Nearly 97 per cent of the company's sales in the first quarter were from its COVID vaccine. 

Moderna's sales are expected to be up about 20 per cent this year but analysts are forecasting a drop in profit.

CEO Stéphane Bancel said during Moderna's most recent earnings call with analysts earlier this month that two of the company's top goals were to "expand beyond infectious disease vaccines into therapeutics" and to find merger candidates. Moderna is also working on vaccines for other viruses, such as HIV and Epstein-Barr.

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Pfizer has responded to reports a Queensland police officer was hospitalised in Brisbane with blood clots three days after receiving the companies coronavirus vaccine.

But the company also recently suffered from a big public-relations gaffe.

Moderna's newly hired chief financial officer was forced to resign after just days on the job following the disclosure of financial irregularities that are being investigated at his former employer Dentsply Sirona, a maker of X-ray machines and other dental equipment.

BioNTech, like Moderna, is also a bit of a one-trick pony right now in that nearly all of its first-quarter revenue was derived from Comirnaty.

Pfizer generated only about half its sales from the vaccine in the first quarter.