Debris washes up near WA beach

All the news you need to know.

DEBRIS washed up on a West Australian beach is being examined and photographed in a bid to find out if it has anything to do with missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.

The debris was found washed ashore on a beach, 10km east of Augusta, and was reported to police.

Authorities say it is now at Bussellton police station where it has been photographed.

The images have been sent to Malaysian officials and to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Mystery jet ... A shadow of a Royal New Zealand air force P-3 Orion aircraft involved in the search for the missing plane. Picture: Rob Griffith

The Australian-lead Joint Agency Coordination Centre said the photos were being examined "to determine whether further physical analysis is required and if there is any relevance to the search of missing flight MH370".

But the JACC would not comment further and the head of Malaysia's Civil Aviation Department, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, told a press briefing in Kuala Lumpur the possible debris was not confirmed to be related to the plane.

Speaking alongside the country's Defence and acting Transport Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, both men initially appeared puzzled by suggestions any part of the plane could possibly have been found on a WA beach.

Later Mr Rahman said: "That's not been verified yet as a part of the aircraft, we have not received any verification, any information that is related to MH370."

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is also investigating the debris which was found this afternoon.

The debris will be given to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority later tonight.

Investigators are urging people to be cautious of the debris and its origin, saying the more they look at it, the "less excited" they are.

Another report claimed aircraft debris had been found in the Scott River in the south-west of WA.

Nine News reports three objects have washed up, one is believed to be the length of a car with "distinct rivets".

WA INVESTIGATION: Is it MH370 plane debris? Follow the updates.

The news comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared Australia won't be abandoning the search for MH370, even if no wreckage is located during the underwater search.

Is it MH370? ... Debris has been found near the coast off Western Australia. Source: News Corp Australia

The air search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has been suspended for the second day in a row due to poor weather.

Officials say heavy seas and poor visibility are making the air search ineffective and potentially hazardous.

The Prime Minister said he had "no advice whatsoever" to suggest there is any truth in claims the plane may have landed somewhere.

"Our expert advice is that the aircraft went down somewhere in the Indian Ocean, we have identified a probable impact zone, which is about 700km long, about 80km wide," Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra.

Waiting for news ... Chinese relatives of passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 rest during a meeting at the Metro Park Hotel in Beijing. Source: AFP

Despite not finding any trace of the plane yet, the search isn't finished, he said.

"Australia will not rest until we have done everything we humanely can to get to the bottom of this mystery," Mr Abbott insisted.

"We are not going to abandon the families of the six Australian citizens that were on the plane. We are not going to let down the families of the 239 people on that plane by lightly surrendering while there is reasonable hope of finding something."

He said even if at the end of scouring the underwater search area crews locate nothing, it won't be abandoned.

"We may well rethink the search but we will not rest until we have done everything we can to solve this mystery.

"We owe it to the families of the 239 people on board, we owe it to the hundreds of millions, indeed billions of people who travel by air, to try to get to the bottom of this.

"The only way we can get to the bottom of this is to keep searching the probable impact zone until we find something or until we have searched it as thoroughly as human ingenuity allows at this time."

Malaysian authorities last night announced that an international investigations team, comprising experts from all around the world, will be set up to investigate the unprecedented missing plane.

Mr Hussein said the team would look at three aspects — operational, human and medical — but would not address criminal aspects which are being handled by the Malaysian police.

Members of the team will be announced next week. Mr Hussein said the team would work under terms of reference to be drafted by the Ministry of Transport.

And Mr Hussein also vowed that the search for the plane would continue.

He said that after the current search area, which has now been 80 per cent completed, was finished assets, including more undersea vessels, would be added to the search.

The New Straits Times quoted sources close to the investigation saying that the failure to turn up any debris at the current southern Indian Ocean search site was causing a rethink among investigators.

Sombre ... A man stands in front of a billboard in support of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as Chinese relatives of passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have a meeting at the Metro Park Hotel in Beijing. Source: AFP

The latest report comes as authorities prepare to send the robotic vehicle underwater today for mission number 10.

After being suspended yesterday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has planned a visual search today about 855 kilometres north west of Perth.

But again the weather may affect the effort, with heavy rain, widespread low cloud and south easterly winds predicted.

Visibility is expected to be limited to one kilometre.

Sources told the New Straits Times that they were considering revisiting the scenario that the plane had landed at an unknown location.

"The thought of it landing somewhere else is not impossible, as we have not found a single debris that could be linked to MH370. However, the possibility of a specific country hiding the plane when more than 20 nations are searching for it, seems absurd," the sources said.

The sources told the paper that another possibility was that the plane had crash landed in a remote spot.

Anguish ... Relatives of the missing MH370 passengers at the Metro Park Hotel in Beijing. Picture: Wang Zhao Source: AFP

MH370 went missing March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing along with its crew and 227 passengers, most of them Chinese.

The hunt for the jet has focused on a search area about 1500km north west of Perth after pings believed to be from the plane's black boxes were detected there.

The air search has been suspended due to bad weather as a result of Tropical Cyclone Jack.

"It has been determined that the current weather conditions are resulting in heavy seas and poor visibility, and would make any air search activities ineffective and potentially hazardous," the Joint Agency Coordination Centre said in a statement.

Up to 10 military aircraft were part of the visual search. The 10 ships involved in the search will be able to continue their planned activities.

The unmanned submersible Bluefin-21 is still scouring the ocean depths on its ninth mission trying to locate wreckage from MH370.

So far it has searched about two thirds of the underwater area, with no contacts of interest found to date.

Unhappy with investigation ... Sarah Bajc with her boyfriend Philip Wood, a passenger on MH370. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

Meantime, family members of passengers lost on the missing flight have criticised the Malaysian government for an investigation they say has been mismanaged.

Appearing on US morning television, Sarah Bajc, the girlfriend of MH370 American passenger Philip Wood, told Today host Matt Lauer passengers' loved ones all just "wanted to go back to square one".

"We just don't believe they're using proper evaluative techniques to check the data," she said. "It's day 45 and we're basically on the same position we were on the first day."

Ongoing search ... The unmanned submersible Bluefin-21 is still scouring the ocean depths. Source: Getty Images

20.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Buddy Franklin involved in Rose Bay car crash

Three cars involved in the crash / Picture: Craig McDonald/Twitter Source: Supplied

SYDNEY Swans $10m recruit Lance "Buddy" Franklin has been caught in a new bingle.

The club's star recruit was interviewed by police after a car crash in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Franklin, 27, was understood to have been driving along New South Head Road, Rose Bay, near Cranbrook Road, when he lost control of his vehicle and slammed into four parked cars, about 7.05pm Wednesday night.

The car, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, is believed to belong to his girlfriend, television presenter and model Jesinta Campbell.

Photos of the crash quickly appeared on Twitter with Rose Bay resident Craig McDonald tweeting: "Buddy Franklin has just totalled three parked cars on New South Head road outside my place."

Pictures show the 4WD smashed head-on into the vehicles, causing serious damage to the hood and deflating the air-bags.

Police attended the scene and were seen taking a statement from Franklin about the crash.

A spokesman from Rose Bay police station said Franklin returned a negative blood alcohol test.

Police said no one was injured in the crash and the driver, who they described as 27-year-old man from Bondi, was believed to be travelling alone at the time.

Franklin left the scene with friends and his car was towed away.

Rose Bay resident Phoebe Edwards, owner of one of the vehicles, said: "I just came out to take the rubbish out and someone has wiped out the back of my car."

It's not the first time Franklin has experienced car trouble since relocating to Sydney.

Earlier this year teammate Dan Hannebery crashed Franklin's Mercedes.

"Franklin had lent the car to teammate Dan Hannebery. Franklin was not driving nor was he a passenger in the car," the club said at the time.

One of the cars involved in the crash / Picture: Simon Palan/Twitter Source: Supplied

Model Jesinta Campbell and boyfriend Buddy Franklin / Picture: Instagram Source: Supplied

20.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

The royal effect: We’ll reap millions

Fans in Adelaide show their excitement for the arrival of Prince William and Kate during the Australian Royal Tour. Courtesy: Channel Ten

THE young royal family's picture postcard tour Down Under is set to inject tens of millions into the coffers of Australian tourism operators.

Recent high profile visits by US TV stars Oprah and Ellen led to a record number of Americans visiting Australia last year, and the tourism industry says it expects a similar pay-off from the 10-day visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George.

Analysts predict it could lead to an additional $50-60 million in tourist spending driven by a boost in visitors from Britain, with even more from other countries.

ROYAL DIARY: Kate and Wills in Adelaide

The visit has taken in some of the country's best-known tourist attractions such as the Opera House, Taronga Zoo, the Blue Mountains and Uluru, as well as some lesser-known highlights.

The royals take in Uluru in a photo opportunity captured by the world's media. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

One of the stars of the royal tour has been Taronga Zoo's bilby named George. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism chief executive Randall Walker said the impact of the royals' visit to the Blue Mountains last Thursday was "priceless", with the images of the couple at Echo Point and The Three Sisters beamed to potential visitors across the globe.

"It's really about the awareness that the royal couple bring from their visit and through helping to communicate an experience," he said.

"It has a priceless impact on consumer behaviour."

According to search data from booking website trivago.com.au, Australian destinations visited by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George have already seen a 41 per cent increase in interest, with Adelaide witnessing a whopping 213 per cent growth in searches.

THEN AND NOW: Royals' Uluru visits compared

And the luxury Uluru resort where the couple stayed Tuesday night, Longitude 131°, has reported a massive spike in web traffic.

Lodge operator Baillie Lodges said hits on the Longitude 131° website had been recorded at up to 250 per second during the royal visit, at times challenging the server's capacity.

THE ROYAL TENT: What it's like at Longitude 131

The visit also comes at a good time for tourism from the UK, with an increase in British visitors driven by the Ashes and last year's visit by the British Lions in June and July.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the number of UK arrivals jumped 6.8 per cent in 2013 to 634,100.

Destinations including the bushfire-affected Blue Mountains are set to benefit from the tour. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

The latest International Visitor Survey also shows Britain is Australia's most valuable international leisure market in terms of total spend — contributing 15 per cent, or $2.4 billion, of the total for all inbound leisure visitors to Australia.

Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan said he was confident the visit was already paying dividends.

"Some of our country's most famous tourism attractions have provided perfect backdrops for images beamed around the world — the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, the Sydney Show, Taronga Zoo, the nippers' demo on Manly Beach and, of course, the spectacular footage at one of our country's greatest icons, Uluru," he said.

Duchess of Cambridge greets surf life savers at Manly Beach. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey's visit brought a wave of US tourists. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

"These images are 'tourism gold' — the kind of international exposure that is difficult to put a price on and which will undoubtedly inspire many onlookers around the world to follow in their footsteps by booking a holiday of their own Down Under."

High profile visits by US TV stars Oprah Winfrey in 2010 and Ellen DeGeneres last year have contributed to a surge in Americans visiting Australia, demonstrating the impact of celebrity visits in driving tourist arrivals.

The other royal effect - Prince Frederik and Princess Mary in Sydney. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: News Limited

Last year, a total of 508,700 Americans visited Australia — up 6.2 per cent for the year.

Princess Mary's marriage to Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004 has also been credited with increasing Danish tourism to Australia, demonstrating that royalty also maintains its pulling power.

With estimates the royal tour will cost Australian taxpayers more than $2 million, tourism expert Dr David Beirman from the University of Technology Sydney said it may take several months for a boost in interest to translate into bookings.

However, he said the visit had "provided a lot of good promotion of Australia" and predicted it "would more than pay itself off".

"Ten days of exposure of a royal visit will certainly have some impact," he said.

"Australia already rates very highly from an aspirational point of view in the UK."

Royal tour highlights

20.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

‘She’s a man’: Housewives star Gina bites back

The Real Housewives of Melbourne (L-R): Lydia Schiavello, Andrea Moss, Chyka Keebaugh, Gina Liano, Janet Roach, Jackie Gillies. Source: News Limited

FOR weeks now, Real Housewives of Melbourne audience favourite Gina Liano has brushed off verbal attacks from several of the other cast members: She's late. She's rude. She's ugly. She's poor.

This week, she hits back.

But we'll get to that. Housewives being Housewives, episode nine opens with a booze-fuelled shopping trip (speaking of, did you test out our Housewives drinking game while you watched? If so, have you sought medical treatment?).

Janet and Chyka pop in for a visit to David Jones. Here's what 'shopping' looks like when you're unspeakably wealthy:

"Shopping is HARD." Source: Foxtel

Chyka asks Janet if she enjoyed her party in last week's episode — in particular, the surprise appearance by Gina.

"I nearly died. The crowd parted and Darth Vader appeared," Janet says, which we assume isn't a reference to Gina's magnificent hair-helmet.

Next up, we're with Gina, who's having a coffee with a representative from a dating agency. Yes, 'geographically impossible' relationship behind her, Gina's dipping her pedicured toe back into the singles scene.

Trudy from Elite Introductions asks Gina what she doesn't want in a man.

"If they've got a saliva problem or their thumbs stick out."

And that's literally it, fellas — all non-drooling, petite-thumbed applicants most welcome.

We'll get back to Gina's love life in a moment, but next we're at Lydia's house for the introduction of a new face, her housekeeper Johanna.

This woman deserves a medal. Source: Foxtel

"The hired help I've got is a very beautiful girl. I found her on the street," says Lydia, who sits intently in the kitchen and watches Johanna peel a carrot.

"I love the way you do that," she says, clearly awed. "Who taught you how to do that?"

"No-one," Johanna says, patiently. This isn't the first time she's had to field these sorts of questions from Lydia.

Lydia tells a story about her deep and special bond with Johanna.

"One morning when Johanna came into work, she came in with what looked like a huge tree. I said, 'Johanna, what have you found?' She had tears rolling down her face and said 'This is for you'. She had bought her family an acre of farm. They grow coconut and do all sorts of things. She's so appreciative — she's a saver."

Does anyone know what ANY of that meant? Answers on the back of a postcard, please.

This picture perfectly sums up Lydia and Johanna's relationship. Source: Foxtel

Lydia finishes with this appraisal of her "hired help":

"Johanna is more than a housekeeper, she's my very beautiful friend. She's my housefriend."

SHE'S. MY. HOUSEFRIEND.

Next we head to Jackie's house, where Chyka's dropping by to help with her La Mascara cocktail range. Now, Jackie has been known to describe absolutely everything in her life as 'having a real J Lo vibe,' but the intercom she has in her house seems like it's come straight out of the If You Had My Love video.

Wow, this intercom is giving me a real J Lo vibe. Source: Foxtel

With International Rock Star Ben and packaging designer Anton in tow, Jackie and Chyka go through the label mock-ups for La Mascara.

"Jackie and Ben actually created the artwork," says Anton.

"Here it is!" Jackie announces, theatrically throwing off a sheet to reveal the monstrosity she created while under some sort of psychic feather trance a few episodes back.

Yes, all art is subjective. However, this art is terrible. Source: Foxtel

"Oh my god," Chyka says quietly.

"I don't live in the real world," Jackie says, redundantly.

Chyka makes a hasty exit, because she's organised a shopping day for herself, Lydia, Andrea and Gina. She's hired a limo for the occasion and one by one, she collects the girls — including sworn enemies Gina and Andrea. It's ... pretty awkward.

Remember, Gina: Her vision is based on movement. Source: Foxtel

In a piece to camera, Gina helpfully sums up her issue with Andrea:

"You know if you don't care if someone's dead or alive? That's it."

Well, that's cleared that up then.

The foursome arrive at a Prue and Trude-esque homewares store for a look around. As they shop, Gina tells Chyka and Lydia she's planning a 'Girls Night In' event to raise money for a cancer charity. Given their frosty relationship, she's not sure if she should invite Andrea.

Lydia tells her to get over it.

"I'm not sure what part she wanted me to get over — the part that Andrea had morphed into a man? That she was aggressive? That she despised me?"

Gina's clearly quite chuffed with that 'morphed into a man' line, and she'll revisit it later in the episode.

Andrea and Lydia begin stage-whispering insults about Gina while she's browsing through the store just a few feet away.

Subtle, guys. Subtle. Source: Foxtel

At home later, Gina gets a call from Daryl, a potential match from the dating agency, who asks her out for a meal. She tells him she'll send him a message to "firm it up". Wait...they haven't even gone on a date and already she's sexting him?

Next we're in the studio with Jackie and Ben, who's hard at work on a new album. Yes, music fans, you breathe a sigh of relief: the drummer from Silverchair is working on fresh solo material.

Janet turns up at the studio, because clearly you can't make a good grunge-rock record without the presence of a 55-year-old property developer from Toorak.

"Oh Janet, I haven't rocked this hard since Rumba 2001!" Source: Foxtel

As Ben 'jams' (we promise we'll never use that term again), Janet and Jackie start doing embarrassing Valerie Cherish dancing. It feels like Janet's dangerously close to gathering the kids around and telling them stories about her days as a Leo Sayer groupie.

Jackie explains to Janet that Ben is so talented, he can play just about any instrument.

"Even he can play the harmonica?" Janet asks, wide-eyed.

Yes, Janet. Even he can play the harmonica.

The next day, we're at Chyka's house as she hosts a dress-up party for the other Housewives' dogs in an attempt to diffuse the growing tensions in the group.

"Everything was getting out of hand, so I decided it was time to have a party for our dogs," says Chyka. We may have fallen too far into the Housewives rabbit hole because this sounds completely reasonable to us. Please send help.

The girls crack open the champagne, because obviously you can't have a dog costume party without getting tanked.

"When's the stripper arriving?" Source: Foxtel

True to form, Gina's late to the dog party. When she does show up, Andrea's immediately pissed off.

"She called me a slang word for female external genitalia," Andrea says, recounting her problems with Gina. Dear reader, we'll admit we haven't spent a lot of time in that particular area, but if YOUR female genitalia is entirely external, we suggest you seek urgent medical attention.

Soon enough, the dogs are dressed in outfits that demean both animal and human.

"Please, put me in a shelter." Source: Foxtel

"The dogs behaved beautifully — there was no dog fighting," Chyka says, and we're genuinely unsure whether she's referring to the animals or the other Housewives.

Pooches sufficiently humiliated, the cameras follow Jackie and Ben as they visit the venue where they'll hold the La Mascara launch. The bar owner asks for some details about the drink they'll be launching — indeed, serving — in just a few weeks' time, and the couple speak vaguely about 'concepts' and 'vibes'. It's clear they're still hopelessly behind schedule.

"I do know one thing, the angels are on my side," says Jackie.

Ben asks, for the first time, what might happen if the angels AREN'T on their side — if La Mascara isn't the biggest thing to hit the liquor market since some bright spark thought to mix Midori and lemonade. Jackie does not respond well to all this 'neggo' talk:

"If youse mess with me I'll get my angels on to youse" Source: Foxtel

In the next scene, all the Housewives (sans Gina, naturally) head to a horse racing soiree hosted by Emirates. Brynne Edelsten is also in attendance at the party and Lydia gets VERY territorial - seems there's only room for one D-list hornbag in this town:

Gina's been stirring the pot off-camera this week: apparently she phoned Lydia to let her know that, a few episodes back, Janet had called her 'brainless.' Lydia decides to confront Janet, who gets very cranky.

"I did not say you were brainless, I said you were not very bright!"

That seems like splitting hairs to us, but thankfully we're provided with a flashback to the incident to refresh our memories. AND WE QUOTE: "Who cares about Lydia. She's friggin' brainless!"

Lydia, Andrea and Janet all launch into Gina while Jackie watches on excitedly.

"This bowl of salad is giving me a real J Lo vibe" Source: Foxtel

Janet and Gina meet up for a one-on-one showdown to close the show. Gina's dressed from head to toe in angelic white, Janet all in black — make of that costume decision what you will.

The pair rake over the problems that have emerged between them in recent weeks: Gina's persistent lateness; Janet siding with Andrea and Lydia whenever they attack Gina.

Gina finds time to mention that "Andrea morphed into a man" (second time around, she still loves that line).

Andrea and Gina: The showdown. Source: Foxtel

"Do you think the way they behaved at Mission Beach was acceptable?" asks Gina.

"Yes I do."

"Well, that's the end of the friendship then."

It's all pretty sad, to be honest. Fights between Andrea and Gina are a guilty pleasure because the pair weren't friends before the show started and they won't be friends afterwards — with no emotional investment, it's just a fabulously boozy bitch-off.

But here we are, nine episodes in, and it appears the 20-year friendship between Janet and Gina is over.

Furious, Janet leaves the table and storms off into the night. Of course, Housewives being Housewives, she does so while still glugging her glass of wine, which somewhat lessens the intended effect:

"I am LEAVING! Hold up just lemme finish this delicious sem sav blanc" Source: Foxtel

The Real Housewives of Melbourne screens 8:30pm Sundays on Arena and if you aren't watching it you need to re-evaluate your life choices.

Previous recaps:

The ultimate Real Housewives of Melbourne drinking game

Episode 8: 'She's a poor ugly dog'

Episode 7: Legal threats and helicopter sex

Episode 6: Everybody Hates Gina

Episode 5: Meeting in the ladies room

Episode 4: One-night stands and drunk ski trips

Episode 3: Girls gone wild

Episode 2: Angels and demons

Episode 1: In their own words

20.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Former premier Neville Wran dead at 87

Former premier of NSW Neville Wran has died after a long battle with dementia.

FORMER premier of NSW Neville Wran has died after a long battle with dementia.

Tributes began flowing from both sides of the political arena following the news of his death.

Mr Wran, 87, the long-serving Premier of New South Wales who led the Labor government from May 1976 to July 1986 died just before 6pm Sunday in a nursing home in Elizabeth Bay where he was being cared for.

His wife Jill was with him and all his family were close by.

Mr Wran has been suffering from dementia and has been under special care for the past two years.

"This is of course a very sad time for us all, but in fact a blessed release for Neville,'' his wife Jill said in a statement.

"Dementia is a cruel fate and I have been grieving the loss that comes with it for some years.

"But I hope now, especially this political climate, people will join me in celebrating the life of a great man, a true political hero."

Former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull said in a blog tribute, "We have lost a great man, a great mensch, today. Rest in peace old mate."

READ MALCOLM TURNBULL'S FULL BLOG TRIBUTE TO NEVILLE WRAN

Mrs Wran paid special tribute the nursing staff of Lulworth House who had been caring for the former Premier.

"They really are angels, " she said.

NSW Premier Mike Baird expressed his sadness at the news of Mr Wran's death.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Neville Wran, who was Premier of NSW between 1976 and 1986," he said.

Neville Wran in 1978. Source: News Limited

Neville Wran in 1981. Source: News Limited

"In the 1970s and 1980s Mr Wran was a towering figure in the NSW Labor Party and in the state. His legacy is positive and lasting.

"Kerryn and I pass on our deepest condolences to the Wran family."

Jill Wran and husband Neville circa 1983. Source: News Limited

Jamie Clements the General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party said Mr Wran was one of the greatest NSW Labor Premiers of all time.

Dead at 87 ... former NSW premier Neville Wran. Source: News Limited

"He was beloved by the people of NSW,'' he said.

"He had style, penash and was a great social reformer, '' he said.

Neville Wran in 1978. Source: News Limited

Neville Wran in his later years. Source: News Limited

Neville Wran dominated NSW politics for a decade and gave Labor new heart in one of its blackest periods.

Neville Wran in 1988. Source: News Limited

Nifty Nev., as he was known, was NSW premier from May 1976 to July 1986 and ALP national president for six years.

Neville and Jill Wran circa 1983. Source: News Limited

Neville Wran in 1982. Source: News Limited

The worldly lawyer from working class Balmain, for whom winning was everything, never lost an election and was a political rarity in deciding when to retire undefeated.

His success was built on ruthlessness, authority in party and parliament, an unerring instinct for what the voters wanted and pioneering exploitation of television's political clout.

Farewell ... former premier Neville Wran. Source: News Limited

20.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Penis-cutting rapper ‘on Angel Dust’

A suicide attempt goes from bad to worse. Courtesy: Fox News

MORE details have emerged about a rapper linked to the Wu-Tang Clan, who cut off part of his penis before jumping from a second-storey balcony.

The rapper, Andre Johnson, used a steak knife and was under the influence of drugs when the shocking incident occurred, E! News reports.

E! News also reports he was under the influence of the drug PCP (otherwise known as Phencyclidine or Angel Dust) when he jumped off a second story balcony in North Hollywood.

He also cut off the tip of his penis first, then removed his testicles and the remainder of his genitalia.

FANS SHOCKED: Rapper tries to cut off penis

Seriously injured ... rapper Andre Johnson. Picture: Wedgle's Music and Loan Source: Supplied

The 40-year-old music artist, who performs under the name Christ Bearer, was taken to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

He was found lying on the sidewalk with critical injuries.

He is still undergoing medical treatment.

According to TMZ, he posted the following bizarre message on his Facebook page on April 17: "Peace — feeling blessed."

The post, which was accompanied by a smiley face angel emoticon, has since been deleted.

Johnson performs with Northstar, a group affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan.

For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14

For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

The SANE Helpline is 1800 18 SANE (7263)

20.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Body found in Easter egg hunt

A dead body has been found under a deck during a childs Easter egg hunt in the US. Courtesy: Fox17 WZTV Nashville

A MOTHER who sent her young son on an Easter egg hunt in their backyard got a shock when she discovered a corpse under her deck.

Tara Hanouskova, from West Knoxville in Tennessee, recalled that she smelt a "foul odour" for several days around their family home, but had failed to find the source.

Ms Hanouskova said that when she first discovered the body, her son did not see it and "has no idea what happened", as he was at the back in the house.

Easter egg hunt shock ... a mother found a dead body under her deck. Picture: Fox 17 Source: Supplied

Forensic police say tests revealed the body belonged to a middle-aged man, who had been under the house for around two weeks.

She told WNCT: "I really don't even know how he got there."

His identity has not yet been established.

20.01 | 0 komentar | Read More