Schools may need to implement a “distance learning programme” if they can not reopen soon.

The damage follows a protest outside his Auckland home last week.

An expert can't determine how a young woman died because her body was crushed in a garbage truck six weeks after she was allegedly murdered, a court has heard.

Marat Ganiev, 53, is accused of killing Isla Bell on October 7, 2024, three days after the 19-year-old was last seen leaving her Brunswick home in Melbourne's north.

Her remains were found at a rubbish tip in the city's southeast on November 19.

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Ganiev faced Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link today, listening through an interpreter for the start of his committal hearing.

Eyal Yaffe, 58, who allegedly helped him dispose of Bell's body, also fronted court charged with assisting an offender.

Ganiev is accused of murdering Bell before 2am on October 7, with CCTV allegedly showing him striking the teen in the kitchen of his St Kilda East apartment.

Prosecutors allege he spent two days cleaning his home before Yaffe came over towing a trailer carrying a black fridge.

The pair was allegedly seen removing a different fridge wrapped in plastic onto the back of the trailer on October 17.

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Yaffe is accused of driving the fridge to a Caulfield South address, while police say Ganiev then moved the appliance multiple times over the course of two weeks.

Ganiev allegedly left the fridge concealed behind other items in a removalist van on October 30, with another resident locating the appliance on November 18.

The man found a bag inside after smelling a foul odour and threw it in the bin, believing it was a dead animal.

Bell's remains were discovered in the Dandenong rubbish facility the next day after her disappearance sparked an emotional missing-person appeal from her family.

Forensic pathologist Hans de Boer told the court today he performed Bell's autopsy but was unable to determine her cause of death due to the advanced state of decomposition.

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There was evidence of injuries including lacerations and fractures, but the expert said he could not ascertain if they occurred shortly before death at the time of death or later on.

When defence barrister Ian Hill KC asked if all of the injuries could have been caused by the compactor in the rubbish truck, Dr de Boer replied: "Absolutely, yes".

Forensic anthropologist Samantha Rowbotham, who also analysed Bell's remains, told the court the injuries happened at or near the point of death, but she could not be more specific about timing.

She said she had not been informed Bell's body was compacted in the rubbish truck before the remains were discovered.

Toxicology reports showed the presence of prescription medication and illicit drugs including MDMA in Bell's system at the time of her death, the court heard.

The committal hearing will continue tomorrow.

Meta and TikTok fronted Parliament’s Education and Workforce select committee on Monday.

Her reaction to the iconic doll was priceless.

Victoria's Director of Public Prosecutions will appeal mushroom killer Erin Patterson's sentence on the grounds it is "manifestly inadequate".

The Office Of Public Prosecutions Victoria today revealed it had filed an appeal against Patterson's sentence handed down last month.

Patterson was handed three life sentences for the murders of Heather Wilkinson, Don Patterson and Gail Patterson, and 25 years for the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, with a 33-year non-parole period.

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"We confirm that a DPP appeal has been filed on the basis that the sentence handed down to Erin Patterson is manifestly inadequate," a spokesperson said.

Patterson is also expected to appeal her convictions.

The 51-year-old's appeal period was due to expire at 11.59pm today, but during the hearing last Thursday, Justice Christopher Beale cited a new court practice note directing applications for appeal extensions of 28 days or fewer to be granted automatically.

Patterson's defence had not given any indication of an intention to appeal during her sentencing last month.

To appeal her sentence or convictions, Patterson's defence team need to provide specific grounds for the appeal, such as errors of law, an unreasonable verdict, or a miscarriage of justice.

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If the appeal grounds are valid, Patterson's case would be heard by judges in the Court of Appeal.

These judges have the ability to overturn sentences or convictions if they find grounds to.

If an appeal against a sentence is allowed, the Court of Appeal could reduce or increase the sentence.

If the Court of Appeal decides there was no legal error, the appeal will be dismissed and the original sentence will stand.

A breakdown of Patterson's prison sentence

Patterson was last month sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years, meaning she will remain behind bars for at least that long.

Assuming it is not successfully appealed, Patterson's sentence, which includes the 676 days she served in pre-sentence detention, would see her eligible for release on parole in 2056 at the age of 81.

Beale sentenced Patterson to four separate sentences, all to be served concurrently:

• For the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Patterson was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
• For the murder of Heather Wilkinson, she was sentenced to life in prison.
• For the murder of Don Patterson, life in prison.
• For the murder of Gail Patterson, life in prison.

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CBD business association finds shopkeepers blame neglect, disorder for lack of customers.

The father who allegedly randomly fired up to 50 shots from his unit window in Sydney's inner west, injuring 16 people, has been identified as 60-year-old Artemios Mintzas.

Residents were locked down as a major police operation responded to a gunman firing up to 50 shots from a 30-calibre rifle on Georges River Road, near the intersection of Brighton Avenue, in Croydon Park about 7.45pm yesterday.

Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry alleged Mintzas was firing shots "indiscriminately" at passing cars from the window of his unit above a business, injuring more than a dozen people and hitting several cars.

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There are a number of restaurants, small businesses, a church, and a vet nearby. 

Mintzas allegedly exchanged fire with specialist and tactical police before they narrowed in, arresting him about 9.30pm and seizing a gun.

"Our tactical operations group are highly trained, very skilled at what they do, and they executed the plan extremely well," Parry told reporters this afternoon. 

Mintzas was also taken to hospital with minor injuries after glass smashed and shattered around his eye, and has since been released.

He is currently at Burwood Police Station and is expected to be charged with firearm offences later this afternoon.

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Croydon Park remains an active crime scene today as police scour the site looking for more evidence.

"We have found a number of items at the scene which will lead us to a number of lines in inquiry," Parry said. 

Investigations remain ongoing.

The public has been assured that there is no ongoing risk to their safety. 

Who is the accused shooter?

Mintzas is a customer service worker for Sydney Trains. 

His employment status is now under review pending the outcome of the investigation.

Parry said Mintzas is a father with very little history with police. 

He said he does not have a firearms license and does not have any links to terror, organised crime or mental health issues.

"He's a 60-year-old male who does have a couple of children and has very few recorded interactions with the police over the last 20 years," he said.

Mintzas' family has been notified. 

Detectives are currently questioning Mintzas to determine his motives and how he allegedly obtained the gun.

Parry said he is speaking "freely" with officers. 

"My 35 years in the police, there's been very few instances of this nature where somebody is randomly targeting people in the street driving past in vehicles," he said.

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At least 16 people injured

A total of 13 cars, including two police vehicles, and a nearby bus shelter were shot at with bullets shattering through the glass.

At least 16 people suffered minor injuries.

Three people were taken to hospital, including a man who was shot in the neck while he was in the backseat of a car with his family.

His family drove him to hospital, and he has since undergone surgery. 

"My understanding is that the injuries are not life-threatening and he is expected to survive thankfully," Parry said.

Two other people who were hospitalised have since been released.

No police officers were injured.

Parry said that it was "incredible" that no one was killed and, if not for the response by police, the situation could have been "a whole lot worse". 

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'Bang, bang, bang': Residents and police duck for cover

Local police who were first on the scene were forced to duck for cover and call in specialist and tactical police as shots rang out on Georges River Road.

Parry said last night's operation was "highly dangerous" as police put themselves at serious risk of death or injury.

"One shot was fired through the window of one of the police cars," he said.

"If the police vehicle was occupied at the time, that police officer would have sustained fatal injuries."

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told 2GB earlier this morning that body-worn footage showed police officers forced to take cover as they tried to help members of the public.

One of those officers had only graduated from the academy five weeks ago, he said. 

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A taxi driver who came under fire spoke to Today, saying he'd been driving when he heard a "bang, bang, bang".

"And then I looked next to me, and I saw a couple of holes through the window. How he missed me, I don't know, I'm just shocked," he said.

"It feels like it's a movie, you know what I mean? Like, I was just going home to watch the grand final, you know?"

Michele told 9News she was close to being shot.

"I came around here and then boom. I see the bullets had hit here, and the cement had actually sprayed out," she said.

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Premier says 'no place for this sort of violence' in NSW

Premier Chris Minns condemned last night's shooting, saying it has no place in NSW.

"There is no place for this sort of violence in our state," he said in a statement.

"A man has now been arrested on and remains under police guard in hospital, and I have full confidence in the NSW Police as they continue their investigation."

Minns praised the "incredible bravery" of police in what he described as a "confronting and dangerous" situation. 

"I saw firsthand the composure, professionalism and courage of the officers who responded to this life-threatening incident," he said.

"Their actions under pressure reflect the very best of the NSW Police Force who put themselves in harm's way every single day to keep us all safe."

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Thousands of dead fish that washed up on a Gold Coast beach last week are yet to be removed, but council has confirmed the water remains safe for swimming.

Images of scores of baitfish on the shore were posted to Facebook on Saturday by the Save Our Southern Gold Coast community group.

Department of Environment officers were tasked to inspect the area on Wednesday and found dead baitfish but "no obvious source of pollution".

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"On-site water quality monitoring indicated high water temperature and low dissolved oxygen in the area, which can cause fish deaths," a spokesperson said in a statement.

In a video posted to Facebook, Kath Down from Save Our Southern Gold Coast expressed her concern that the fish could be a biohazard.

The City of Gold Coast Council has conducted water quality testing and confirmed the water is safe for swimming.

The Gold Coast Waterways Authority is responsible for the clean-up.

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Australian affordable shoe retailer Famous Footwear has announced it will shut up shop permanently in the coming months.

The women's footwear brand, which has been operating for 25 years, confirmed to customers it will cease online orders by December 31.

It will then close its physical stores in NSW, Queensland and Victoria by early 2026.

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According to the brand's LinkedIn page, Famous Footwear employs over 200 people.

"It's with sadness we announce the end of our journey," the company said in a post on social media.

"Famous Footwear will be closing permanently, with our online store open until 31st December 2025.

"We've loved helping you find your famous fit for more than 25 years. We're truly grateful for the loyalty and support from our community over the years."

The brand said customers can still place orders until midnight on New Year's Eve this year.

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The remaining brick-and-mortar stores will be closed by early 2026.

Famous Footwear has 17 stores across Australia and is owned by parent company Asco International, which is based in Molendinar, Queensland.

The stores stock brands including Pied a Terre, Naughty Monkey, London Rebel and Venice Beach Shoes.

No reason was given for Famous Footwear's closure.

It comes after fellow Australian shoe brand Wittner collapsed into administration in April.

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