Woman hurt after driving into parked cars

September 29, 2013 – 10:39AM

Caroline Zielinski

Police Reporter at The Age

A woman has been gravely injuried after her car collided with parked vehicles in Melbourne’s east.

Victoria Police believe the woman, aged in her 40s, was travelling east on Glen Park Road, Bayswater North, when her 2009 Toyota Yaris sedan collided with the parked cars about 2pm on Saturday.

Ambulance spokesman Ray Rowe said the woman was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital suffering lacerations to her legs and possible upper body injuries.

Police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or visit http://www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/woman-hurt-after-driving-into-parked-cars-20130929-2ulzo.html#ixzz2gEyaaZJT

Hotel collapses unexpectedly in Christchurch

The Copthorne Hotel in Christchurch after its middle section collapsed unexpectedly

 

The Copthorne Hotel in Christchurch’s central city red-zone area has collapsed today.

The nine-storey building on Colombo Street collapsed about 1.30pm, Brett Watkins of southern police communications said.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

The middle of the building collapsed, leaving two outside walls standing, he said.

“At this stage we do have the area cordoned off in case those two sides do fall down.”

One News reporter Lisa Davies said an eyewitness saw two demolition workers running away from the building as it went down.

The Copthorne is in the process of being demolished.

There was no obvious trigger for the collapse, Mr Watkins said.

Specialist engineers would inspect the site and make a decision on what to do with the remains of the building, he said.

 

The New Zealand Herald

Ministers claimed costs for wedding trip

September 29, 2013

James Robertson

Reporter

 

EXCLUSIVE

Taxpayer funded trip: Barnaby Joyce and George Brandis.

Two of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s most high-profile ministers claimed thousands of dollars in taxpayer entitlements for attending the wedding of close friend and Sydney shock jock Michael Smith.

It was a little less than two years ago and Smith had just left 2UE after a falling out over his attempt to raise allegations about then prime minister Julia Gillard’s relationship with a former union official and the misappropriation of funds.

He was tearing up the dance floor.

The shock jock did not have a best man. But two close friends spoke: George Brandis, then one of the Abbott opposition’s lead attack dogs and now Attorney-General, and deputy Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce. Mr Joyce read a poem called Fair Dinkum Love. Senator Brandis made a bridal speech before dominating the dance floor.

According to travel expenses lodged with the Department of Finance, the duo collectively billed taxpayers nearly $3000 for flights, hire cars and incidental expenses incurred on the trip.

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Senator Brandis claimed $1700, including more than $1000 on return flights, $143 on a hire car and the overnight ”official business” allowance designed to cover accommodation and incidentals.

He told Fairfax Media on Saturday that he regarded the wedding as a chance to ”foster collaboration” over Mr Smith’s work covering the then prime minister and the Craig Thomson scandal and it was therefore ”primarily a professional rather than a social engagement”.

”These were both matters of significant national interest on which I spoke frequently in Parliament and the media,” he wrote in a statement.

The federal Department of Finance’s guidelines state MPs are allowed to claim travel and accommodation expenses for official business including ”meetings of a government advisory committee or taskforce” or ”functions representing a minister or presiding officer”. Meeting with journalists is not a purpose sanctioned by the guidelines.

Senator Brandis let his hair down at the wedding reception at John Singleton’s boutique hotel, Bells at Killcare.

”He was tearing up the dance floor,” Mr Smith said about his wedding guest at the time.

But Mr Smith told Fairfax there were nearly 10 people working in the media at his wedding and the senators used it as a chance to network. Mr Smith and his wife arranged for the two senators to be dropped back at the Mantra Ettalong Beach hotel by stretch limousine.

Senator Brandis later claimed $349 in ”official business” entitlements for overnight trips and designed to cover accommodation, meals and incidentals. Mr Joyce did not claim that entitlement.

Mr Joyce claimed a flight to Moree the next day and about $500 worth of charges for the use of a Commonwealth car on the day of the wedding. He said he could not recall whether he had other meetings that day but defended the use of public resources to attend the wedding.

”There were, no doubt, lots of people there involved in politics,” he said. ”It was one of these things where you’re noted more by your absence than by your participation.”

In the last Parliament, Senator Brandis made the case for prosecutions of Mr Thomson and Peter Slipper.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Zero tolerance for bikie violence: Minister

September 29, 2013 – 12:01AM

Cameron Atfield

Brisbane Times and Sun-Herald journalist

Jack Dempsey Photo: Bridie Jabour

The Queensland government has vowed to throw whatever resources are necessary to the Gold Coast in a zero-tolerance approach to the region’s rampant violent crime.

The visible presence of the police will ramp up as of Saturday night, with at least 10 crews patrolling the tourist strip.

The move comes in response to a violent and brazen bikie brawl in the Broadbeach restaurant strip on Friday night, which saw 18 arrests and a number of injuries to police.

Jack Dempsey Photo: Bridie Jabour

It also follows a number of high-profile shootings on the Gold Coast.

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Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said he was deeply concerned by Friday night’s violence.

“The most concerning aspect of that was the fact they were prepared to wear their colours in open view in a public place, (and) then follow up by going to the police station, to Southport watchhouse, to try to protest the fact that members of their club had been arrested,” he said.

“…Police will not be intimidated by these people – they will do their job.”

Police Minister Jack Dempsey said he had directed Mr Stewart to use any resources available to stem the tide of violence.

“From now on, police will be knocking in their door. Police will be stopping them on the sides of the roads and pulling them out of their vehicles and stopping their bikes,” he said.

“Police will now be ensuring they will not be able to bring pain and suffering to the streets of the Gold Coast and police will also be pulling people who exhibit violent behaviour, or have anything to do with drugs or guns, and ripping them from their restaurants and their hidey-holes in the Gold Coast area.”

Mr Stewart said he would not go into specifics, citing operational concerns, but said it would include measures like extra police on the ground and additional funding for overtime.

‘‘Certainly, they have provided that assurance that we will have the material and the people to do the job,’’ he said.

“In the near term, what that means is as of (Saturday) afternoon we will have extra police on the Gold Coast from the southeast area. We will do that tonight (Saturday) and we will ramp that up over coming days.

“Ultimately, it is my hope that we will be able to establish a hub policing facility on the Gold Coast where we will have a standing task force, intelligence-led, to deal with any criminal behaviour but particularly anti-social and violent crime in that area.”

Mr Dempsey said the government had pledged 100 new police officers for the Gold Coast over four years during the election campaign – a target that had already been surpassed, with 137 new officers in the region.

But Mr Dempsey denied the government had underestimated the resources required.

Witnesses of Friday night’s brawl told police dozens of Bandidos members, dressed in full colours, descended on Broadbeach, apparently searching for a rival club member.

Diners said a fight erupted when they found the man, followed by another when police arrived.

Tasers were reportedly used to subdue some of the bikies who were taken to the lock-up .

During the incidents, three men received minor injuries requiring treatment at the Gold Coast Hospital.

Four police also sustained injuries but did not require medical treatment.

A total of 18 people were charged with offences including public nuisance, assault, obstruct police, assault police, disorderly on licensed premises and an unrelated stealing matter.

At the height of the incidents, police from Logan and specialist units from Brisbane were also called in.

Brisbane Times

ACT case sparks police pepper spray embargo

September 28, 2013

Phillip Thomson

Reporter at The Canberra Times.

Police across the country could be prevented from using pepper spray to defend themselves as a result of a legal case against a Canberra Australian Federal Police officer.

Sergeant Brett Coutts has taken his case to the Federal Court to clear his name after the AFP sacked him earlier this year for alleged use of excessive force.

His union is so concerned about the case it has funded his court battle, concerned his firing could set a nasty precedent affecting 56,000 police nationally.

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In court documents police say at 1.41am on May 26 last year the officer used capsicum spray on a man from a distance of 30 centimetres before holding him in a headlock and putting him in the back of a caged police vehicle.

The Australian Federal Police Association’s national president, Jon Hunt-Sharman, said his organisation was financially backing the court case because of its wide-ranging implications.

‘‘A dangerous precedent will be set if a highly experienced frontline operational cop can be sacked for using a non-lethal and safe tool issued to him, when he had a genuine belief that the offender posed a serious threat to members of the public and  himself,’’ Mr Hunt-Sharman said.

‘‘The outcome of the Federal Court matter will have a flow on effect to 56,000 police officers throughout Australia.’’

The incident happened outside The Cabinet nightclub in  Manuka,  and a colleague within the police force complained about the officer’s conduct a fortnight later.

The officer was immediately suspended with pay while the incident was investigated by the AFP’s professional standards unit.

The investigation finally concluded the officer had used excessive force and he was sacked in June this year.

In his defence filed in the Federal Court by his legal team, Sergeant Coutts argued the decision making process was biased, although the AFP rejected the claim natural justice had been denied.

ACT Policing did not comment because the matter was in court. According to the police association, Sergeant Coutts is now suspended with pay while the legal case is underway.

Publicly available AFP documents say the primary and preferred means of conflict de-escalation is negotiation and members should consider other use of force options before discharging oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray.

The federal police force is contracted to provide policing in the ACT.

Fairfax Media revealed last week Victoria Police would phase out capsicum spray and replace it with a  non-flammable product.

Canberra Times

Mini Matildas claim 8-0 win over Bahrain

Saturday, 28 September 2013 10:56 PM

The Australian U-16 Women’s team had a convincing 8-0 win in their opening match of the AFC Championships against Bahrain in Nanjing China.

Goalkeeper, Georgina Worth lead the team out as captain in Australia’s first match of the championships but she barely touched the ball in a first half as Australia dominated possession and comfortably passed the ball around the Bahrain team as they looked for openings in their defence. The first goal came in the 19th minute when Afrikah Mcgladrigan played in Rhianna Pollicina from the right, who beat two defenders and finished calmly inside the box.

Australia added another 2 goals in the next 5 minutes. Maddeline Stockdale got a touch from a corner for the second goal, then Jessica Pitts received a lay off and finished first time from outside the box.

Australia rounded off the first half with a fourth goal when Emily Henderson crossed in from the left wing which was finished first time by Afrikah Mcgladrigan running into the box.

The second half was similar to the first but it wasn’t until the introductions of substitutes Sunny Franco and Isabelle Dalton that Australia managed to add to the score line. Within 2 minutes of coming onto the field Franco added Australia’s 5th goal of the game in the 64th minute when she intercepted the ball from a Bahraini goal kick and rounded the goal kepper to finish.

Ten minutes later Franco scored her second and Australia’s 6th goal when Alex Chidiac calloected a loose ball on the edge of the goal box and played a first time ball to Franco in the goal box, who turned and beat the keeper with a low shot to the far post.

Alexandra Chidiac, also on as a substitute in the 70th minute, started and scored a fantastic team goal after she switched the ball to Emily Henderson on the left side of the field, who played a nice combination with Jessica Pitts down the wing before cutting the ball back in the box to Chidiac who finished first time.

Finally Sunny Franco wrapped up the match in the 85th minute after a short corner to Jessica Pitts who crossed into to Franco who was unmarked on the 6 yard box and finished neatly with a header to score her hat-trick and Australia’s 8th goal.

Coach Belinda Wilson was suitable pleased with the win but remained focused on the big test in the next match.

“I was very happy with the win and the team played the way we wanted for the whole 90 minutes. We continue to play our style of pro-active possession football, which created many chances, which we will need to finish against China.”

“I’m happy with a win in the first match and now we can concentrate on winning our next match against China.”

Australia currently sit second in their group, after China won their first match against Bahrain 17-0, and will face China on Sunday the 30th September knowing that a win allow them to progress to the semi-final of the competition. Only the top team from each of the four groups progress to the semi-finals on the 3rd October and the winners of the semi-finals face off in the final on the 6th October.

Australia’s matches can be seen streamed live on the AFC website: http://www.the-afc.com/en/u16-womens-championship-2013-schedule-results.html

Australia 8 (RHIANNA POLLICINA 19’, MADELINE STOCKDALE 22’, JESSICA PITTS 24’, AFRIKAH MCGLADRIGAN 35’, SUNNY FRANCO 64’/74’/85’, ALEXANDRA CHIDIAC 70’)
Bahrain 0
Jiangning Sports Centre, Nanjing, CHINA P.R.

Mini Matildas line-up: 2. CHLOE O’BRIEN, 7. AFRIKAH MCGLADRIGAN, 9. TIA GAVIN (10. SUNNY FRANCO 62’), 12. JESSICA WATERHOUSE (8. ISOBEL DALTON 62’), 13. EMILY HENDERSON, 14. MADELINE STOCKDALE, 15. BEATRICE GOAD, 16. RHIANNA POLLICINA (22. ALEXANDRA CHIDIAC 70’), 18. GEORGINA WORTH (C) (GK), 19. VICTORIA GUZMAN, 23. JESSICA PITTS.

Substitutes: 1. TEAGAN MICAH (GK), 3. BROOKE GOODRICH, 4. SIENA SENATORE, 5. SOPHIE NENADOVIC, 6. AYESHA NORRIE, 11. ANGELA BEARD, 17. ELENI FAKOS, 20. MATILDA-LEE POTTER, 21. JADA MATHYSSEN (GK)

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Bahrain U16 line-up: 1. FARAH GHALY (C), 5. SHAIKHA LATIFA (2. ZAINAB QAROONI 73’), 7. NOOR, 8. AMIRA SOWAR, 9. ZAINAB ALQAIDOOM, 10. HESSA ALZAYANI, 11. ROSE FAYEZ FUAD ABDULLA TOBELLAH, 14. PHOEBE, 18. CATHE, 19. RAZAN SAYED, 21. DANA TARIF.

Substitutes: 3. NOORA ALI, 4. HANAN, 6. MARYAM, 13. MARYAM WAHEED NASER MOHAMED GHULOOM, 15. THAJBA HASAN ISA FARHAN ALBUNOODHA, 16. ZAIN, 20. RAWAN ALI AQEEL ALI MAHMOOD AL RAHMA, 22. ROZA, 23. NAWRAA.

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

 

Sydney United down Canberra FC

Sunday, 29 September 2013 5:40 PM

Sydney United 58 FC Coach Mark Rudan will prepare his squad for a trip to Brisbane next week for the next round of the NPL Finals following a 2-1 win against Canberra FC.

Despite a few lapses in concentration, United put on an impressive display in front of their fans at Sydney United Sports Complex on Sunday.

Looking to use its home ground advantage to full effect, Sydney took the game to Canberra from the opening whistle.

It was a strategy that paid off with the home side taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute when Mirjan Pavlovic headed home from close rang off a well-placed Glen Trifiro corner.

The early goal proved to be an eye opener for the visitors as they buckled down in defence.

Canberra Coach Mriro Trninic was left smiling in the 20th minute when a terrible gaffe from new Sydney United Goal Keeper Paul Henderson saw FC back on level pegging.

Henderson, caught on the edge of the 18 yard box after scrambling to clear the ball, was left to watch the ball sail over his head after FC defender Adam Spaleta’s long range effort hit the back of the net.

Locked at 1-1 at half time, Sydney United coach Mark Rudan must have stressed the importance of attack to his his players with the home side racing out of the blocks following the interval.

Canberra did well to weather the early attacking onslaught however it wasn’t enough with Matthew Bilic heading home in the 60th minute to give United a 2-1 lead.

Yet another Sydney United brain snap saw the home side once again making things extra difficult for themselves, this time Daniel Barac sent off for a reckless challenge on Canberra’s Daniel Bennett only moments after they regained the lead.

A late charge from the visitors created a few edge of your seat moments however it was always Sydney United’s match with the home side holding onto its 2-1 lead until the final whistle.

MATCH DETAILS

Sydney United 58 FC 2 (M PAVLOVIC 4′, M BILIC 65′)
Canberra FC 1 (A SPALETA 20′)

Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park, NSW
Sunday 29 September 2013
Kick-off: 3:00pm AEST

Sydney United: 1. Paul HENDERSON (GK),3. Benjamin JURMAN, 4. Nathan SHERLOCK, 6. Mitchell STAMATELLIS, 7.Mirjan PAVLOVIC (11. Luka GLAVAS 90’),16. Stejpan PARIC (2. Mitchell SPEER 51’),18. Glen TRIFIRO, 19. Mathew BILIC, 20.Ibrahim HAYDAR, 22. Daniel BARAC, 23.Ante TOMIC (5. Calum O’CONNELL 83’)
Substitutes not used: 8. Yuichi YAMAYUCHI, 30. Jordan JENNINGS (GK)

Canberra FC: 1. Adam PERAKOVIC (gk), 6. Ryan KEIR, 7. Marcin ZYGMUNT, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 10. Alex OLORIEGBE (9. Philippe BERNABO 68’), 11. Ivan PAVLAK (13. Daniel BENNETT 43’), 14. Josip JADRIC, 16. Matthew GRBESA, 17. Aidan BRUNSKILL, 19. Adam SPALETA, 20. James FIELD
Substitutes not used: 4. Marko VRKIC, 5. Julian BORGNA, 18. Anthony DIMOSKI

Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: ), 14. Josip JADRIC, 16. Matthew GRBESA (Canberra FC)
RED CARDS: 22. Daniel BARAC (Sydney United)

Referee: Steve Lucas
Assistant Referees: Andre Giev & Tom Lee
Fourth Official: Chris Young.

 

Rafael Cortez recusa convite para ser repórter do “Programa da Tarde”

As informações são da jornalista Janaina Nunes, da coluna “Em Off”

Divulgação/TV Record

Contratado em 2012 para comandar o “Got Talent Brasil”, Rafael Cortez atualmente está sem função dentro da Record.

Apesar disso, uma suposta recusa de um convite da emissora por parte do apresentador criou uma saia justa.

Segundo a jornalista Janaina Nunes, da coluna “Em Off”, a Record convidou o ex-humorista do “CQC” para ser repórter do “Programa da Tarde”, mas ele recusou a proposta, argumentando que não saiu da Band para ser repórter no canal de Edir Macedo.

Comenta-se nos bastidores que Rafael Cortez estaria cotado para apresentar um programa com enfoque jovem em 2014, aos sábados. Até lá, ele segue na “geladeira” do canal.

O “Got Talent Brasil” não deve ter uma segunda temporada na grade da Record, visto que sua audiência nesta primeira edição, exibida no primeiro semestre deste ano, deixou a desejar e não cumpriu as expectativas.

Audiência do último episódio de Saramandaia

João Gibão em “Saramandaia”: novela termina em horário avançado e tem audiência inferior às antecessoras – Divulgação/Globo

O desfecho de “Saramandaia”, que foi ao ar na noite desta última sexta-feira (27), não empolgou no quesito audiência.

A adaptação escrita por Ricardo Linhares alcançou média de 17 pontos e foi líder com ampla vantagem no horário. A Record, na mesma faixa, teve 7 pontos e o SBT veio em seguida com apenas 3.

Comparando com o capítulo final de “O Astro” e “Gabriela”, “Saramandaia” desponta como pior desempenho. “Gabriela” se encerrou no ano passado com 30 pontos de média e “O Astro” se despediu de seus telespectadores em 2011 com 26 pontos.

No entanto, vale lembrar que tanto “O Astro” como “Gabriela” entraram no ar muito mais cedo. “Gabriela”, por exemplo, foi ao ar logo após a novela das nove (na época, “Salve Jorge”). O capítulo final começou às 22h14 enquanto “Saramandaia” só entrou no ar após 23h30.

Esses índices são prévios e são baseados na preferência de um grupo de telespectadores da Grande São Paulo. Dados consolidados podem variar para mais ou para menos.

Europe ends DST on October 27, 2013

Daylight saving time (DST) in Europe will end at 01:00 UTC on Sunday, October 27, 2013. Most European countries observe DST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October every year.

Where is DST observed?

Clocks will be turned back by 1 hour on October 27 in:

• all countries in the European Union (EU) – including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy
• most other European countries – including Norway andSwitzerland

The following countries do not observe DST, so no time change will happen there:

• Iceland
• Russia
• Belarus