If you thought having COVID-19 once was bad enough, spare a thought for Newcastle man Will Benson.

The 20-year-old says he seemingly caught the virus twice within one month.

On December 27, Will received a text from NSW Health advising him he was positive. 

READ MORE: Iconic Sydney live music venue The Lansdowne Hotel is closing

"I had done RATs all through that time which came back negative, which was a bit confusing," Mr Benson told 9News. 

The disability worker said he spent one week recovering, then resumed his normal routine once he'd completed isolation requirements and returned a negative rapid test. 

"I was 100 per cent. Back to going to the gym full time, at work full time," Mr Benson said.

"It was back to normal life … when I took that negative RAT I was feeling 100 per cent."

READ MORE: NSW records 12,632 COVID-19 cases, 38 deaths

Less than one month later, on January 30, Will became unwell again and was shocked when his rapid test returned a positive result, forcing him into round two of isolation. 

"I contacted NSW Health and explained the situation to them and the lady on the other end of the phone unfortunately seemed just as confused as I did," Mr Benson said.

The double-positive stumped experts at the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

"It's unusual. Normally the protection you get from the infection is quite strong in the days and weeks ahead," Associate Professor Nathan Bartlett told 9News.  

READ MORE: Free headphones or hotel rooms for constant Westconnex noise

But the expert said reinfection was not out of the question, particularly with different variants circulating.

"The fact there's been a new onset of symptoms suggests it's a new infection," Associate Professor Bartlett said.

This case is proof of the importance of remaining vigilant, experts have warned, even if you've already had COVID-19.

"You should be cautious if you do become symptomatic again in the couple weeks after the initial infection. You should get checked again," Associate Professor Bartlett said. 

The estranged wife of construction union boss John Setka has declared she won't be "covering up" for him any longer.

Emma Walters has lodged a police complaint against Mr Setka, accusing him of abuse in a 20-minute, foul-mouthed recorded phone conversation.

"The manner in which John Setka behaves towards me is so outrageous," Ms Walters told Nine News.

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"And I want to say this publicly, and I want to put it on the record."

Victoria Police is investigating the phone call, which took place on January 26.

"All you're good at is calling the coppers and acting like a ******* dog! That's all you're good at," Mr Setka says during the call.

"The most reasonable people around reckon you're a ******* dog."

In 2019, Ms Walters stood by her husband outside court, after Mr Setka was convicted and fined for harassing her via text.

READ MORE: John Setka pleads guilty to harassing wife Emma Walters, breaching court order

She now says she did "the wrong thing".

"I have covered up what he's done. I am not going to do that any longer," Ms Walters said.

"I'm going to stand up, speak up, loud and proud."

In August last year, Ms Walters made a separate complaint to police, accusing Mr Setka of assaulting her at their West Footscray home.

Mr Setka denied the allegations and it's understood police are no longer investigating the matter, due to a lack of evidence.

Mr Setka is heard in the phone recording telling Ms Walters: "All you've done is try to sink me".

"So there ya go! I'm telling ya. And ask anyone," he says.

"The more that tell you to your face. They all reckon you're a ******* dog! For what you did."

Mr Setka has been contacted for comment.

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Stock in Meta – formerly Facebook – dropped more than 20 per cent in after-hours trading following a disappointing fourth-quarter earnings result.

If realised on the markets tomorrow, the one-day drop could punch a hole the size of $USD USD 24 billion ($USD 33.6 billion) in the personal net worth of its founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The company posted a net income of nearly $USD 10.3 billion ($14.46 billion) in the final three months of last year, a decline eight per cent from the same period in the prior year and below Wall Street analysts' projections.

READ MORE: Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest pursues criminal case against Facebook

The profit decline comes as Meta invests heavily into the VR and AR technologies it believes will help build the metaverse, a so-far-just-conceptual immersive form of the internet that CEO Mark Zuckerberg has identified as the company's future.

At the same time, Meta is combating a change to Apple's iOS that has weighed heavily its core advertising business.

Meta's shares plunged as much as 23 per cent in after-hours trading following the report.

Meta posted a more than $USD 10 billion ($14 billion) loss for the year in its AR and VR unit, Reality Labs, the first time it has reported financials for the unit.

CFO Dave Wehner had previously warned that investments in Reality Labs would reduce the company's overall operating profit in 2021 by about $USD 10 billion ($14 billion). The unit brought in only $USD 2.3 billion ($3.2 billion) in revenue during the year.

READ MORE: Facebook to stop facial recognition software over privacy concerns

"Investors will look at these numbers closely as a first indicator of how far off the Metaverse is from being a profitable reality," Tom Johnson, global chief digital officer at media agency Mindshare Worldwide, said in emailed commentary.

Meta reported slowing growth in its core advertising business, which still makes up around 99.5 per cent of its total revenue.

Advertising revenue grew 20 per cent year-over-year — its slowest growth rate for the year — to $USD 32.6 billion ($45.78 billion), as the iOS changes made targeted advertising more difficult. The company also failed to grow its daily or monthly active user bases on Facebook from the third quarter, an unusual miss for the company.

The company's total revenue for the year hit nearly $USD 118 billion ($165.69 billion), the first time its annual revenue has surpassed $USD 100 billion ($140 billion).

READ MORE: Facebook changes its company name after PR nightmares

Meta also shared a rough forecast for the upcoming quarter, saying it expects revenue to grow only between three per cent and 11 per cent due to "headwinds to both impression and price growth" in its advertising business. It added that its platforms face increased competition for people's time.

The disappointing results also come after months of critical news coverage and hearings with lawmakers related to the Facebook Papers, a string of recent high-profile executive exits, and amid conversations by regulators about how to crack down on the tech giant.

In the full-year 2022, "Meta may only generate single-digit revenue growth," Third Bridge global sector lead Scott Kessler said in an email.

"And that's before any further legal and regulatory developments and actions. It seems that many [investors] are re-evaluating in real-time."

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Ben Roberts-Smith has accused a serving SAS member of lying about a Taliban raid in 2009 when he claimed he saw the war hero execute an Afghan and order the killing of another.

The soldier's memory has been called into question as the Victoria Cross recipient sues Nine Newspapers for defamation.

Mr Roberts-Smith is Australia's most decorated soldier, but a fellow comrade said there were members of the military who believed Roberts-Smith wasn't worthy of the accolades.

It was during a Taliban raid in 2009 the same SAS member, codenamed "Person 41", claims he saw Mr Roberts-Smith execute an Afghan and order the killing of another.

The barrister for the war hero, Arthur Moses SC, challenged his version of the operation today.

"On this day… you saw other members of your patrol engage in heroic acts… and you were scared?" Mr Moses asked Person 41.

"I don't recall seeing any heroic acts that day," he responded.

It wasn't until 2020, after allegations of war crimes were printed in Nine Newspapers, that the specialist soldier says he first spoke up.

"You didn't say anything for over 11 years. The story is to dissuade your feelings of guilt that you were unable to cut it that day as a soldier," Mr Moses said.

"That's incorrect," Person 41 said.

The witness admitted to joining others in drinking from the prosthetic leg of the man Roberts-Smith maintains he killed within the rules of engagement.

Person 41 is now done on the stand. He was the first military witness, but he won't be the last.

Twenty defence personnel will give evidence for the newspapers in the high-stakes defamation trial.

Nine, the publisher of this website, also owns Nine newspapers.

A State Memorial Service to honour the four Victoria Police officers who died in the Eastern Freeway tragedy in 2020 has been held this afternoon at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium.

The service paid tribute to the legacies of Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris.

It allowed the officers' friends, family, colleagues and members of the public to gather to honour the officers, with the event having previously been postponed due to COVID-19 public health advice, and was followed by a formal Guard of Honour.

READ MORE: Victoria's COVID-19 cases drop to 12,157 as 34 more people die

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the event was about celebrating the officers' entire lives, not just their involvement in policing.

"It's been 653 days since we lost four of our colleagues, and not a day goes by when they're not in our thoughts," he said.

Speaking before the memorial this afternoon, Premier Daniel Andrews said the service was important to remember and honour each of the four officers.

"Today is a day to acknowledge their service, their commitment, their bravery and all that they gave to keep Victoria safe," he said.

Mr Andrews said it was also important to acknowledge the work done by every single Victoria Police member and the families supporting them.

Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville said the service was an opportunity to say a formal goodbye to the four officers, which had been delayed by almost two years due to the pandemic.

She said the four heroes would be remembered forever, and that Victoria Police would always support their families.

Ms Neville gave her deepest condolences to the officers' families, and "the Victoria Police family".

Members of the public are invited to make a donation to support Victoria Police Legacy or the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation and/or to submit at tribute expressing their condolences on the Victoria Police website.

The four officers were killed in the deadliest incident in Victoria Police's history after a truck ploughed into the officers in the emergency lane of the Eastern Freeway near Kew, killing them on impact on April 22, 2020.

The truck driver responsible for the tragedy, Mohinder Singh, was sentenced to 22 years jail in April after he pleaded guilty to four counts of culpable driving causing death and six other charges in relation to the crash.

The Cranbourne father was high on drugs and had earlier stopped on his route to do a drug deal before he hit the police officers, who had pulled over Porsche driver Richard Pusey in the moments before the crash.

Justice Paul Coghlan described the footage of the horror crash as "chilling" during Singh's sentencing.

"Their deaths are entirely unnecessary and should have been avoided. Their deaths were caused by you."

At Singh's sentence hearing, Sharon Mackenzie, partner of Senior Constable King, said she had lost her "soulmate" she met when they were just teenagers.

"I haven't just lost a partner, I lost a man who is every part of me," Ms Mackenzie said.

"We lost the most dedicated, devoted man.

"He was my soulmate, my best friend, (an) incredibly devoted father and family man."

Andrew Prestney, the father of Constable Josh Prestney, read out a statement outside court following the sentencing.

https://twitter.com/Eliza_Rugg9/status/1382156516459900929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1382156516459900929%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.9news.com.au%2Fnational%2Ftruck-driver-mohinder-singh-sentenced-to-22-years-in-jail-after-killing-police-eastern-freeway-crash%2F302d95a0-f03f-42d7-8916-dc86388383ba

Mr Prestney said despite justice being served for the officers' deaths, it did not subside their pain.

"Even though justice has now been served in relation to the actual collision, no amount of punishment can replace the loss of our loved ones and the missing place at our tables that will be felt by us for the rest of our lives," he said.

"We would like to thank the people of Victoria, the people of Australia, and those from around the world for their outpouring of love and for embracing us with their hearts.

"We are consoled by the fact that our four will not be forgotten as we continue to carry them in our hearts."

Mr Prestney also thanked those who were first at the scene.

"Even though we do not know them all, we share a history with them now and forever."

A private memorial service was held on the anniversary of their deaths last year.

Iconic Sydney music venue The Lansdowne Hotel will close its doors this year after its operators chose not to renew the lease.

The venue has been operated by Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham – who are also behind Marys and The Unicorn – since 2017.

"Our lease is due to expire in the coming months, and the Landlords have chosen to close the Gig Room to build more Hostel accommodation," a statement posted to Instagram read.

READ MORE: Free headphones or hotel rooms for constant Westconnex noise

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZdRetFLDaa/

"This was not a part of our vision for the Lansdowne, and as such, we have decided to call time on our custodianship of this iconic live music venue.

The Lansdowne Hotel first opened in 1993 before it closed for the first time in 2015.

The legendary live music venue has hosted some of the best artists from Sydney, Australia, and around the world.

"Our re-opening of the Lansdowne in June 2017 marked a seismic shift in the Live Music scene in Sydney, after years of closures and devastating lockouts," the statement continued.

READ MORE: NSW records 12,632 COVID-19 cases, 38 deaths

"The Lansdowne came to be a figurehead in the recapturing of our collective conscience, a bulwark against the tide of closures and a voice against the apathy that had snuck into the core of the conversations around our vital night-time culture.

"The Lansdowne showed the power of art and its deeply important role in our city and our culture.

"We will forever be proud of what was achieved, and will continue our role in providing stages for new and emerging voices at Mary's Underground and in venues yet to come."

The venue will remain open until April. It has not been determined what will happen to the downstairs public bar.

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