Blow for Ben Roberts-Smith witness

An SAS soldier, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Ben Roberts-Smith, has lost a bid to keep service documents sealed as he prepares to take to the stand as a witness in the decorated soldier’s defamation trial.

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Watch live: Sky News

For rolling coverage watch Sky News Australia on Foxtel or visit www.skynews.com.au.

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Joe Biden commemorates 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre

President Biden has declared a day of remembrance to mark a dark episode in United States history as 100 years ago today, white rioters destroyed a thriving black community in what came to be known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. There are only three people alive who were there when the massacre occurred in Greenwood, also known as Black Wall St, which saw the suburb razed to the ground in just 18 hours. With a Democratic White House, movement towards giving the victims’ families reparations is seriously being considered. Descendants of victims are now demanding reparations and justice from the city, saying the reason for the lack of compensation is racism.

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Thousands of Trump supporters gather in Florida for Memorial Day boat parade

Donald Trump has welcomed the thousand of supporters who took part in a pro-Trump boat parade off the coast of Jupiter, Florida, as part of the Memorial Day weekend.

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China introduces three-child policy as it grapples with aging population

China will be scrapping its two-child policy and allowing couples to have three children as the world’s most populous country grapples with an aging population. It is projected one in three people will be of retirement age by 2050. China changed its controversial one-child policy in 2015 but the high cost of raising children deterred a surge in births. The government announced it will introduce supportive measures including lowering education costs for families and housing support.

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Victorians experiencing a ‘huge amount’ of anxiety, frustration, and despair

Victoria Shadow Heath Minister Georgie Crozier says Victorians are experiencing a “huge amount” of anxiety, frustration, and despair during the state’s fourth lockdown.

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Harry and Meghan should ask the Queen to ‘suspend’ their royal titles

Prince Harry should approach the Queen himself and ask her to "suspend" his and Meghan Markle's royal titles as they continue to damage the monarchy, says a royal expert. Royal expert Lady Colin CampbelI created a petition, that has tens of thousands of signatures already, which argued Harry and Meghan should relinquish their royal titles. "I have spoken to people, many people, who think it's the right thing to do and it is the solution," she said. "It is a dignified solution for all concerned. "To humiliate no-one and protect everyone. I think it's a humane way of solving a very regrettable situation."

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China urges US to stop ‘politicising’ origins of COVID-19 and let scientists lead investigation

A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the United States has “politicised” the origins of COVID-19 by calling on intelligence agencies to act and this “gravely disrupted” any progress. “These US acts which politicise origins study have gravely disrupted and undermined normal international cooperation in origins study,” Wang Wenbin said. “And created difficulties and barriers for national efforts to fight the virus and save lives." China’s mouthpiece urged the United States not to interfere by calling on intelligence agencies and instead let scientists lead the investigations into the origins. “We stand for a scientists-led study of origins featuring solidarity and cooperation, not an intelligence-led investigation stoking confrontation and sowing division," the statement read. “The process should not be dictated by any country's will."

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Minister‘s admission on vaccine rollout

A senior federal minister has conceded on national television that the government has fallen short in its vaccine rollout, but says the problems could not have been foreseen.

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Confronting pictures show virus reality

Confronting pictures have captured the tragic reality of Victoria’s virus crisis, showing a frail elderly woman being transferred from one of Melbourne’s locked down aged care facilities.

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Stunning admission over covid crisis

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck has made a stunning admission over the bungled vaccine rollout in nursing homes admitting he doesn’t know how many workers have got the jab.

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Roadside memorial in honour of Oatlands crash victims repaired

A roadside memorial in honour of four children who were killed in Oatlands has been repaired after it was vandalised over the weekend. The makeshift shrine, which contained images of the Abdallah siblings - Antony, Angelina, and Sienna - and their cousin Veronique Sakr, was erected in the wake of their deaths in February last year. It comes as Oatlands Golf Club faces public backlash after the board rejected proposals from Parramatta City Council to establish a permanent memorial which would encroach on the grounds of the golf course.

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Man films bizarre rant at Woolies

A man has filmed himself going on an anti-lockdown tirade in Melbourne and getting aggressive with shoppers buying donuts at a Woolworths.

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Vaccination could be the key to travel bubble with US and UK

Successful COVID-19 vaccination rollouts in the UK and US could be the key to establishing a travel bubble with Australia. The Pacific Islands are the frontrunners to the next destination as international borders are predicted to stay closed until at least 2022 and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said vaccination is the path to reopening borders sooner. Other travel industry members stress the federal government needs to provide consistent measures to provide travellers with confidence.

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India economy at worst since independence

India’s economy has plunged 7.3 per cent in the past financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the country’s total infections passing 28 million. Although it grew 1.6 per cent at the start of the year the second wave of infections has stifled its recovery. The recession is considered to be the worst since India’s independence.

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Police release CCTV in murder mystery

Detectives are still trying to piece together the final movements of Sydney man Scott Bradshaw whose body was found submerged in a pond, surrounded by dense bushland, last month.

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Victoria records three new cases

Victoria has recorded three new cases of COVID-19 putting the state on the verge of going into a deeper and prolonged lockdown. Contact tracers appear no closer to finding the missing link cases and the number of infections is expected to grow. The cluster has grown to 54 cases.

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Marles: Staff should not be allowed to work across multiple aged care facilities

Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles says staff should not be allowed to work in multiple federally run aged care facilities while the pandemic is ongoing even if there are no hotspots or cases in the community.

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Rain Outlook

Rain Outlook

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Regional Victoria lockdown ‘against’ hotspot definition

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan says the fact that regional Victoria is locked down seems to go against the hotspot definition. “I can completely understand the frustrations of Victorians about this, I’m not seeking to blame anyone for this particular outbreak,” Mr Canavan told Sky News. “This one probably could have happened anywhere, we are living through a global pandemic. We try and reduce risk to all Australians, but we cannot reduce the risk to zero. Mr Canavan said he agrees with most of the decisions imposed by the state government, aside from some rules in regional Victoria. “It’s right to impose some restrictions where outbreaks are occurring and let’s hope they can get on top of them.”

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New names for mutant Covid strains

Covid variants now have new names based on the Greek alphabet.

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China’s irate response to ScoMo and Jacinda

China has blasted a joint statement made by Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern about Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong and its incarceration of Muslims in Xinjiang.

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‘You didn’t think’: Kochie fires up

The nation’s aged care minister has been hounded over Victoria’s latest Covid outbreak and a sluggish vaccine rollout in a heated interview on breakfast television.

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Israel may see a ‘national unity government’ replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu’s era as Israel’s prime minister could be coming to an end as far right party leader Naftali Bennett is “siding with a new opposition coalition”, according to Sky News contributor Michael Ware. Israel's opposition parties are moving closer to reaching an agreement that could mean the end of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 12 years in power. Mr Bennett, leader of the small Yamina party and a kingmaker following elections held in March, said he would join a diverse collection of opponents - including the country's opposition leader, Yair Lapid - to form a unity government and topple Mr Netanyahu. The pair have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which they are expected to each serve two years as prime minister on rotation. A self-made millionaire, Mr Bennett, 49, is a former Netanyahu aide turned rival. Mr Ware said the coalition was made up of centrist, leftist, and Arab political parties who only hold “their opposition to Netanyahu.” “The reason he says he’s done this is that he believes the country has no other choice, he says it’s either a coalition government or a national unity government or more elections, and that would make it the fifth round of elections in over two years.”

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Jacinda’s role in Australia’s China stoush

Australia has welcomed New Zealand’s offer to act as a third party in talks with China as Canberra seeks to mend its fractured relationship with Beijing.

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Twisted Minds Episode 1: Daniel Kelsall

We hear about Forensic Psychologist Dr. Susan Pulman's experience assessing convicted murderer Daniel Kelsall.

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Flames Rip Through Historic Building on Mackinac Island, Michigan

Fire ripped through a historic building on Mackinac Island in Michigan on May 30. Local media reported Brigadoon Cottage, a Victorian-era private residence, caught alight around 6 pm. “So far everyone is safe and the surrounding structures look like they will be good,” a witness posted on the Haunts of Mackinac Facebook page. Video filmed by uploader Angela Hopkins shows fire crews working to extinguish the fire. Credit: Angela Hopkins via Storyful

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Another two aged care workers test positive to COVID in Melbourne

Victorian officials have confirmed at least two workers at the Arcare Maidstone aged care home in Victoria have tested positive for COVID-19 as the state grapples with the latest outbreak of the novel coronavirus. A worker at another aged care facility, BlueCross Western Gardens in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine, has also tested positive to the virus. At least two other aged care centres have gone into lockdown after revelations potentially compromised staff worked across multiple centres.

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Jacinda’s role in Australia’s China stoush

Australia has welcomed New Zealand’s offer to act as a third party in talks with China as Canberra seeks to mend its fractured relationship with Beijing.

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‘No hope’ for Victorian employees without JobKeeper

Victorian businesses have welcomed the Andrews government’s recent support package announcement but are calling for a JobKeeper package to keep workers afloat. According to Business Victoria, the government's support package will offer $250 million to assist small to medium business during the lockdown. CEO of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council Felicia Mariani says if the lockdown continues for more than seven days, people will be “devastated”. “Up until this point, when these lockdowns have happened, we’ve had the safety net of JobKeeper to protect the businesses, and indeed to protect the employees of those businesses,” Ms Mariani told Sky News. She said there is now no safety net for employees without income during the lockdown.

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Watch live: Sky News

For rolling coverage watch Sky News Australia on Foxtel or visit www.skynews.com.au.

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Education and industry collaborating to deliver ICT workforce of the future

The Gateway to Industry Schools program is actively working to help students develop their skills, giving them an authentic understanding of the industry that they are passionate about. Project Manager at Australian Computer Society (ACS) Matthew Jorgensen says the program connects schools, teachers and students with tech industry leaders to provide skills that are needed in the workplace. This segment is presented by ACS.

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State reveals new investment amid ‘crisis’

Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a new hospital expansion in Brisbane’s southwest and a promise to allocate “significant” funds in the state’s upcoming budget to relieve the health system struggling amid capacity issues.

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‘A disgrace’: PM’s $2b Victoria insult

Scott Morrison has been accused of being “missing in action” over the Victorian lockdown by allowing his home state of New South Wales to quietly pocket more JobKeeper cash despite fewer lockdowns.

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‘Asia’ comments come back to bite MP

Former NSW Labor leader Michael Daley has asked for a second chance after 2018 comments he made about Asian Australians have resurfaced.

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Virus warning 800km from Brisbane

Queensland health authorities are urging people to monitor for symptoms and come forward for testing after fragments of Covid-19 were detected in wastewater 800km from Brisbane.

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Caroline Kennedy tipped to be Australian ambassador

There are reports President Joe Biden is 'seriously considering' appointing Caroline Kennedy as the United States ambassador to Australia. The daughter of late President John F. Kennedy previously served as the US Ambassador to Japan under President Barack Obama. She endorsed President Biden early in his 2020 election campaign and spoke at last year's Democratic National Convention on his behalf. There are also reports Vicki Kennedy, widower of the former President's brother Ted Kennedy, will be appointed an ambassadorship role.

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PM must take ownership of ‘woeful’ vaccine rollout

Prime Minister Scott Morrison cannot continue "hiding under the doona" when it comes to Australia's slow vaccine rollout program, according to Labor frontbencher Stephen Jones. Australia's vaccine rollout has been marred by problems with the global supply chain coupled with vaccine hesitancy. The government had been hoping to have 4 million people inoculated by March and have all of Australia vaccinated by October, a target the Coalition now concedes it will not meet. According to official data, approximately two per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated, as opposed to 41 per cent of Americans. Without a fully vaccinated population, states are vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks, such as what is occurring right now in Victoria. Shadow Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones told Sky News the prime minister needs to take ownership of the country's COVID strategy. "This is a national problem, we need national support and national leadership here," he said. "The job is not finished, we still have a woeful rollout of the vaccine, we still have confusion, we have a hotel quarantine service that isn't working, it is no longer fit for purpose, we've got vaccine hesitancy growing by the day. "Scott Morrison can't be hiding under the doona when Australians need him out and on the job doing the Commonwealth's part in this terrible break out in Victoria."

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Terrifying new covid strain emerges

A country that is home to 97 million people has “discovered a new hybrid variant” of coronavirus that has one worrying characteristic.

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Joyce concedes government needs better messaging on vaccine rollout

Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce has conceded the government could have chosen "better words" when it comes to its messaging surrounding Australia's vaccine rollout program. According to official data, approximately two per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated, as opposed to 41 per cent of Americans. Vaccine hesitancy has been blamed for the slow uptake of the vaccine, while Labor also criticised the government for saying vaccinating the population is "not a race".

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Queensland considering mass vaccination hubs

The Queensland government is set to open a number of mass vaccination hubs in an effort to increase the number of COVID shots distributed. Venues such as Suncorp Stadium, the Ekka showgrounds, and the Brisbane Competition and Convention Centre are in consideration for conversion. It comes after the state government pledged to open 14 community vaccination hubs across Queensland in a bid to vaccinate people between 40 and 49 by the end of July.

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Kochie fires up over Covid vaccine

Sunrise host David Koch has fired up in an interview with Qantas boss Alan Joyce about Australia’s vaccine rollout.

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Mystery COVID-19 case at Victorian aged care facility

Health authorities in Victoria are awaiting test results for dozens of elderly residents after a staff member at a Melbourne care home tested positive to COVID-19. This marks the Melbourne luster’s first mystery case and Victorian health officials are saying the infection is of major concern. The cluster is believed to have originated in Melbourne’s north and a link between existing cases and this one is being investigated. The woman who is in her 50s tested positive on Friday and was believed to have worked while she was infectious on both Wednesday and Thursday. The aged care facility was linked to 14 different cases of COVID-19 during Victoria’s second wave.

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Weather To Watch

Weather To Watch

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Fears aged care residents have virus

Partly-vaccinated residents at the aged care facility sent into lockdown after a worker tested positive may have been infected, Labor MP Bill Shorten has said.

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State shivers through freezing morning

Victorians have shivered through their third freezing start in a row, with temperatures dropping to -4.4C in some parts of the state on Monday morning.

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Victoria is ‘run by imbeciles’: Rita Panahi

The government is treating Victorians like “we’re imbeciles” but the truth of the matter is “we’re run by imbeciles,” according to Sky News host Rita Panahi. Victoria was plunged into a seven-day state-wide lockdown on Thursday after Melbourne’s northern suburbs cluster grew to 26. The cluster has since grown to over 40, while Victorian health authorities have expanded the list of exposure sites to 174. Ms Panahi said the outdoor mask mandate for the entire state showed how “insane” the lockdown was. “You’ve got people up in Mildura who have not had a case of COVID for 13 months – up near the border – having to wear masks when they're outdoors,” she said. “You can be out walking across a paddock by yourself, and if you’re not masked, you’re technically breaking the law. “This is insane, it is not based on evidence. They don’t even release the evidence behind their decision-making, and they’re treating Victorians like we’re imbeciles, but the truth is we’re run by imbeciles.”

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Lefties make ‘handbrake U-turn’: Yesterday’s COVID-19 ‘conspiracy theory’ is now ‘perfectly feasible’

Sky News host Rowan Dean says “yesterday's conspiracy theory” about the Wuhan lab leak theory is now “perfectly feasible and highly likely” despite being previously dismissed as “heresy”. “Long before anyone else was talking about it secretary Pompeo also told Outsiders about his suspicions that the bat soup story was baloney and the virus had leaked from a Wuhan biotech lab,” Mr Dean said. “Facebook and social media were soon censoring anyone who dared even suggest the virus came from a Chinese biotech lab, and, of course, the devious American COVID adviser Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, dismissed any such suggestion, presumably because it came from Donald Trump. “Now, a year later, Facebook and all the lefties have done a massive handbrake U-turn, and what was yesterday's conspiracy theory is now perfectly feasible and highly likely. “All these issues we raised on this show months ago now finally being picked up by the mainstream media.” Mr Dean said the previous US administration suspected the virus had come “not only from a Chinese lab but a Chinese weapons lab”, yet the Biden administration immediately closed down that investigation. “We also learned this week that one of the first actions of Joe Biden's presidency was to cancel a special secret US investigation set up late last year by Mike Pompeo to determine whether or not the coronavirus was actually the result of China's biotech weapons programs,” Mr Dean said. “You have to ask yourself, why? What were they afraid of? What did they think it might have uncovered? Was Dr Fauci involved in that decision?” Mr Dean said. “Xi Jinping's legitimacy and leadership could come into question within China because of this.”

from Breaking National News and Australian News | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/2R9NvGU

‘Lockdown happy’ Victorian bureaucrats should be ‘paying the price’

Sky News host James Morrow says if there was equity in Victoria then all the “lockdown happy” public servants under no threat would be “paying the price”. Victoria was plunged into a seven-day state-wide lockdown on Thursday after Melbourne’s northern suburbs cluster grew to 26. The cluster has since grown to over 40, while Victorian health authorities have expanded the list of exposure sites to 174. The family of an eight-year-old boy from Warrnambool who died on his first over-night camping trip were denied an exemption to the ten-person limit at funerals. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he was unaware of the “thinking around” the decision to deny the exemption for the funeral but said it was likely due to “equity reasons”. “I’m sure they are considering the equity issues for everyone who will have funerals in coming days and the equity issues around how you manage the risks in all those settings,” Professor Sutton said. Mr Morrow said real equity in Victoria would be if the public servants “without any skin in the game, without anyone ever being under threat” would suffer the same as the rest of the state. “They would be the ones who would be paying the price for these lockdowns, that would be equity,” he said.

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Victoria records five new local COVID cases

Victoria has recorded five new local cases of coronavirus on the third day of the state’s lockdown. There were 45,301 tests conducted in the last 24 hours with 17,702 vaccinations administered. An aged care worker at a facility in Melbourne's west was diagnosed with COVID-19 which sent the home into lockdown. The team member at Arcare Maidstone was not showing symptoms and was wearing a mask when they last worked at the home on May 27, but later tested positive. The facility said the worker had their first dose of the COVID vaccine.

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Joe Biden’s US leaving Pacific ‘naked and exposed’ to communist China

Sky News host James Morrow says the US is leaving the Pacific “naked and exposed” to the “depredations” of China's communist People's Liberation Army after reports its sole remaining aircraft carrier in the region is expected to move to the Middle East. “We all know that America under the Biden administration has gotten weaker,” Mr Morrow said. “And we are seeing it happen militarily as well. “The sole remaining US aircraft carrier in the Pacific is being sent to the Middle East to help with the withdrawal of American troops. “It needs all hands on deck to get the US out of a failed military adventure.” Mr Morrow said while the aircraft carrier’s repositioning didn’t mean China would invade Taiwan tomorrow, President Xi Jinping would be taking notice. “If the US no longer projects power into the Pacific, someone else will rush in to fill the gap,” he said. “And it raises another question, too: If the US military isn't about being geared up to fight America's foes, who is it fighting? “That's where things get really disturbing. “If you look closely, it seems the US military is now spending more time ferreting out ideological wrong-think than readying itself to fight its enemies.”

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‘Bungling, incompetent’ Andrews government plunges state into ‘heartless’ lockdown

Sky News host Rowan Dean says Victoria’s recent lockdown was the most “heartless and disgraceful” decision from a “heartless bungling and incompetent” government. Victoria was plunged into a seven-day state-wide lockdown on Thursday after Melbourne’s northern suburbs cluster grew to 26. The cluster has since grown to over forty, while Victorian health authorities have expanded the list of exposure sites to 174. The lockdown resulted in funerals across the state reduced to a capacity of only ten, while a ceremony for an eight-year-old boy in Warrnambool failed to receive an exemption. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he was unaware of the “thinking around” the decision to deny the exemption for the funeral but said it was likely due to “equity reasons”. Sky News host Rita Panahi said the decision was “heartbreaking, cruel” and plain “indecent”.

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Grave fears for missing skier

There are grave fears for a surf skier who has gone missing in dangerous sea conditions on Stradbroke Island as Queensland water police ramp up a wide-scale search to find him.

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‘Creepy’ Joe Biden is back

“Creepy” Joe Biden is back after the president went off script and made bizarre comments about a little girl while giving a speech at a military base in Virginia, says Sky News host Rita Panahi. President Biden went viral on Friday for his “creepy” moment complimenting a young girl during his speech. While speaking to the troops and their families at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, the president appeared to give a shoutout to the young daughter of a veteran who was present. "I love those barrettes in your hair," Biden said. "Man, I’ll tell you what, look at her. She looks like she’s 19 years old sitting there like a little lady with her legs crossed.” Ms Panahi said to “keep in mind the little girl he is talking about is primary school aged child”. “The little girl is like eight or nine, let's not comment on how she crosses her legs and pretend that she looks like she's 19,” she said. “You can imagine the media meltdown if Trump said anything like that but the media is too busy being dazzled by Biden's ice cream choices.”

from Breaking National News and Australian News | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/3vB8alV

Boris Johnson marries Carrie Symonds in secret ceremony

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reportedly married his fiancé Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony. The pair tied the knot in Westminster Cathedral in the company of close friends and family. The couple announced their engagement along with the pregnancy of their first child in February last year.

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Kate Middleton receives COVID-19 vaccine

The Duchess of Cambridge has received her first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Cambridge couple's official Twitter account posted a photo of the moment Kate Middleton got the jab at London's Science Museum. She said she was “hugely grateful to everyone who is playing a part in the rollout” while thanking health authorities. Prince William also said he was given a vaccine at the museum last week.

from Breaking National News and Australian News | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/3fxpcfi

Lefties make ‘handbrake U-turn’: Yesterday’s COVID-19 ‘conspiracy theory’ is now ‘perfectly feasible’

Sky News host Rowan Dean says “yesterday's conspiracy theory” about the Wuhan lab leak theory is now “perfectly feasible and highly likely” despite being previously dismissed as “heresy”. “Long before anyone else was talking about it secretary Pompeo also told Outsiders about his suspicions that the bat soup story was baloney and the virus had leaked from a Wuhan biotech lab,” Mr Dean said. “Facebook and social media were soon censoring anyone who dared even suggest the virus came from a Chinese biotech lab, and, of course, the devious American COVID adviser Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, dismissed any such suggestion, presumably because it came from Donald Trump. “Now, a year later, Facebook and all the lefties have done a massive handbrake U-turn, and what was yesterday's conspiracy theory is now perfectly feasible and highly likely. “All these issues we raised on this show months ago now finally being picked up by the mainstream media.” Mr Dean said the previous US administration suspected the virus had come “not only from a Chinese lab but a Chinese weapons lab”, yet the Biden administration immediately closed down that investigation. “We also learned this week that one of the first actions of Joe Biden's presidency was to cancel a special secret US investigation set up late last year by Mike Pompeo to determine whether or not the coronavirus was actually the result of China's biotech weapons programs,” Mr Dean said. “You have to ask yourself, why? What were they afraid of? What did they think it might have uncovered? Was Dr Fauci involved in that decision?” Mr Dean said. “Xi Jinping's legitimacy and leadership could come into question within China because of this.”

from Latest World News Headlines | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/2R9NvGU

Joe Biden’s US leaving Pacific ‘naked and exposed’ to communist China

Sky News host James Morrow says the US is leaving the Pacific “naked and exposed” to the “depredations” of China's communist People's Liberation Army after reports its sole remaining aircraft carrier in the region is expected to move to the Middle East. “We all know that America under the Biden administration has gotten weaker,” Mr Morrow said. “And we are seeing it happen militarily as well. “The sole remaining US aircraft carrier in the Pacific is being sent to the Middle East to help with the withdrawal of American troops. “It needs all hands on deck to get the US out of a failed military adventure.” Mr Morrow said while the aircraft carrier’s repositioning didn’t mean China would invade Taiwan tomorrow, President Xi Jinping would be taking notice. “If the US no longer projects power into the Pacific, someone else will rush in to fill the gap,” he said. “And it raises another question, too: If the US military isn't about being geared up to fight America's foes, who is it fighting? “That's where things get really disturbing. “If you look closely, it seems the US military is now spending more time ferreting out ideological wrong-think than readying itself to fight its enemies.”

from Latest World News Headlines | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/3uywsfd

Residents Flee Goma as New Volcanic Eruption Warned

Residents were told to evacuate from 10 neighborhoods in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 27, due to the threat of another volcanic eruption and repeated earthquakes. This footage, by Tom Peyre-Costa of the Norwegian Refugee Council, shows traffic jams as people leave. Peyre-Costa said the footage was filmed at the border with Rwanda. The evacuation comes in the wake of the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on May 22, which killed at least 32 people and prompted tens of thousands of people to flee. The Red Cross in Africa said it was helping to reunite families after 300 children were separated from their parents in the wake of the eruption. Credit: Tom Peyre-Costa/Norwegian Refugee Council via Storyful

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The world ‘can’t ignore’ Belarus plane diversion: Alan Jones

Sky News host Alan Jones says the world “can’t ignore” the recent plane diversion in Belarus in which it seems Belarusian and/or Russian agents were involved in the operation to arrest a critic of the Belarusian President. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been in power for 27 years, and Western Governments “believe that he rigged the last election,” according to Mr Jones. “Last Sunday… Roman Protasevich at 26 years of age was on a Ryanair flight, flying to Lithuania with his 23-year-old girlfriend,” he said. “The Ryanair plane – which is an Irish ultra-low-cost airline whose headquarters are Dublin - was intercepted by a Belarus military jet and escorted to Minsk. “Belarus sent the fighter jet to escort the Ryanair flight, claiming there was a bomb threat.” When the plane’s passengers disembarked in Minsk, Mr Protasevich and his girlfriend were arrested by police. “Belarusian authorities have argued the decision to land was made independently by the Ryanair pilot. But transcripts which have been independently verified indicate that Belarus said several times that the plane should land in Minsk,” Mr Jones said. “The family of these two people believed that one or both will be placed on a terrorism list, facing the death penalty. Meanwhile, Belarusian authorities have released a video of Protasevich that appears to have been recorded under duress; in it, he is ‘confessing’ to crimes. “But the opposition leader in Belarus has argued that the 26-year-old was being tortured.” According to Mr Jones, it seems “the story is simple”. “Belarusian and/or Russian agents were involved in the operation to arrest Protasevich,” he said. “A terrorist act again trading on profound American weakness.”

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Flashes of Lightning Illuminate Cloudy Night Sky in Kansas

Flashes of lightning illuminated a cloudy night sky over Atwood, Kansas, on May 26 as forecasters issued tornado warnings for parts of the state. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Herndon, 15 miles northeast of Atwood. A flash flood warning was also issued to the north. Further isolated thunderstorms were expected to be possible on May 27, forecasters said. Credit: Greg Waldmann via Storyful

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Australia Post will ‘unequivocally commit’ to delivering perishable goods past June 30

Australia Post will continue to transport perishable goods through it's postal network and will cooperate with state governments to ensure food safety regulations are met, according to Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie. The remarks come after Australia Post had initially imposed a ban on all perishable goods by June 30, a ban they later deferred pending business consultation. "Australia Post will be trucking perishable goods," Ms McKenzie said. "They're actually going to work with state governments because its food safety regulations that's their purvey - to get a harmonised system across the board. "They gave us that unequivocal commitment a couple of weeks ago in the inquiry."

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‘Decrepit’ Joe Biden ‘sucking up’ to George Floyd family

Sky News host Alan Jones says the “decrepit” Joe Biden is “sucking up” to the family of George Floyd as legislation to increase police accountability is considered. The family of Mr Floyd is calling for the new legislation to be named after him, and has met with President Biden in the White House to discuss the matter. “Here now, apparently, is the family of this criminal wanting federal laws to protect people of colour,” Mr Jones said. “And the sycophantic left-wing media seem to be in bed with this nonsense. “Yep, blame the police, not the criminal.”

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Japan medic warns of ‘Olympic’ COVID strain

The head of a Japanese doctors' union warned on Thursday that holding the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, with tens of thousands of people from around the world, could lead to the emergence of an "Olympic" strain of the coronavirus.

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‘We draw closer to North Korea’ with Victoria’s ‘latest rubbish’: Alan Jones

Sky News host Alan Jones says “we draw closer to North Korea” everyday as Greater Melbourne is set to be plunged into a “totalitarian” lockdown. The city will go into a seven-day circuit breaker lockdown from midnight after the cluster in the northern suburbs grew to 26. “What have we learnt in 15 months?” Mr Jones said. “We’ve been led by the nose only to realise the sheer incompetence of government with almost everything associated with this coronavirus. “Why are we where we are? Simple, a total failure of government.” According to Mr Jones, if lockdowns are the best politicians can do to handle a couple of dozen coronavirus cases in light of everything which is known, then “we need different politicians”. “We are a civilised society, so we must control our anger,” he said. “But can I say to the people of Victoria, there are millions like me just shaking their heads.”

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Judge ‘falls for alarmism’ as teens’ coal mine injunction bid fails

If global warming is all about “the science” then why do activists get children to “push their wild claims,” says Sky News host Andrew Bolt. It comes after eight children, “backed by an activist nun, global warming campaigners, and a lawyer” went to federal court to try and stop a new coal mine from being built in New South Wales. “The judge, a former Labor candidate, did not grant their injunction against the mine, but he did fall for their alarmism,” Mr Bolt said. Justice Mordy Bromberg said the evidence demonstrates that “by reason of the extension project’s effect on increased CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere and the consequential increase in global surface temperatures, each of the children is exposed to a risk of death or other personal injury”. Mr Bolt spoke with NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham about the issue. “Wouldn’t you think the judge might point out the duty of care government has to stop youth unemployment, to provide jobs in the mining sector, and the mining sector supports manufacturing and indeed the entire Australian economy one way or another,” Mr Latham said. “The judge said he’s worried about their health, well I can tell you long-term unemployment and welfare dependency is not real fun, and it’s not very healthy. “So that balances out the wokeness of the judge’s ruling.”

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Italian minister calls cable car tragedy ‘deep wound’

Italy's Infrastructure Minister Enrico Giovannini on Thursday (May 27) called a cable car accident which left 14 people dead a 'deep wound' to the country.

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River in India’s Jharkhand State Swollen by Cyclone Yaas Rain

Cyclone Yaas was downgraded to a deep depression by May 27, but was still expected to bring heavy rain through the day to eastern parts of India, the India Meteorological Department said. The storm made landfall in Odisha on Wednesday, with winds of up to 85 km/h (53 mph). Four people were reported to have died, and 2.1 million were evacuated. The India Meteorological Department issued a rainfall warning for parts Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Sikkim on Thursday, as the storm moved north and weakened. Video livestreamed by Amit Khandelwal shows the Kharkai River flowing high and fast in Jamshedpur. Credit: Amit Khandelwal via Storyful

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ABC’s Norman Swan backflips on COVID-19: ‘Biden has ordered an investigation so it must be true’

Sky News host Rowan Dean says the ABC’s Dr Norman Swan performed a “beautifully executed pirouette” this week deserving of a “gold medal” – changing his mind about the possibility coronavirus could have started in a Wuhan lab. In May 2020, Dr Swan said “there really is very little evidence” the coronavirus started in a lab in Wuhan, China. “It’s on the outer bounds of possibility, but really so unlikely that you could … say definitely that it's not the case,” he said. Dr Swan swapped stance this week. “There is indications that virologists in the Wuhan Institute got sick in November with an illness, so there are increasing signs that the Institute of Virology may well be the source,” Dr Swan said. Host Rita Panahi said his “change of heart” about the origin of COVID-19 came down to the change of administration in the US. “Before it was Donald Trump pushing this theory, which meant it must be false, but now Joe Biden has ordered an investigation, so it must be true,” she said. “It just shows Swan, like almost everyone else at ABC, regards anything conservative governments do with suspicion.” This week President Biden issued a directive giving intelligence agencies 90 days to uncover the origins of the coronavirus.

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UEFA fans descend on Portugal for Champions League final

The UEFA Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester City is set take place under extraordinary circumstances. British fans travelling to Portugal will be placed under heightened supervision and monitoring to minimise the chances of COVID-19 transmission. In the biggest mass departure from the UK since the pandemic started, 12,000 ticketholders and others are in Porto ready for the biggest club match in world football. The match was originally slated to be in Istanbul but was moved to Portugal because it is on the UK government’s travel green list. There are concerns about an outbreak as infections from the Indian COVID-19 variant are surging in Britain and many fans are in Porto but the mayor is not concerned about an outbreak.

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‘Plenty of Democrats’ are ‘very worried’ about Biden’s $6 trillion budget

US President Joe Biden will struggle to get his $6 trillion budget through the Senate since “plenty of Democrats” are “very worried” about tax increases it may require, according to American Principals Project Director of Policy Jon Schweppe. “It’s going to be very difficult because as you may know the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats which means the Democrats have very little margin for error,” he said. “Plenty of Democrats in the Senate have already expressed concerns about some of the tax increases that might be necessary for this, they’re very worried about it. “We’ll see, the Biden administration is looking for a huge deal here, no one’s quite sure what’s going to happen yet”.

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Bombshell study’s wild Covid theory

An explosive new study claims Covid-19 was created by Wuhan scientists who then covered their tracks by “retro-engineering” versions of the virus to make it appear it evolved organically from animals.

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More Tier 1 exposure sites listed for Melbourne outbreaks

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley says there have been five new locally acquired cases of the virus in the state with vaccination and testing has been at its highest ever level three days in a row. “Currently there are 45 active cases of coronavirus in Victoria in total, yesterday we recorded five new locally acquired cases, four at the City of Whittlesea end of the outbreak and further one linked to the Port Melbourne workplace outbreak,” he said. Mr Foley said the City of Whittlesea outbreak was directly linked to an asymptomatic man who went to work while he was infectious. The man visited several grocery stores in the northern and eastern suburbs on the 18th and 19th of May, another grocery store, and a car wash. Mr Foley encouraged Victorians to check exposure site websites.

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NSW breaks vaccination record

NSW has broken another daily coronavirus vaccination record with more than 14,000 jabs administered in a single 24-hour period.

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Calls for State of Origin to be moved to Townsville

There are reports the State of Origin season opener - which is scheduled to take place at the MCG in Melbourne - could be played in North Queensland because of Victoria’s COVID outbreak and lockdown. While nothing has been announced, the Queensland Rugby League has reportedly booked out The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville on June 9 which is the same night as the State of Origin opening game.

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Liberal Party Council meets for last time ahead of next election

The Liberal Party is gathering in Canberra for its annual Federal Council which will be its last before the next federal election. As a result, no controversial motions have been put forward and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and SA Premier Steven Marshall have both heaped praise on Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his leadership during the pandemic. The policy motions which have been passed include the abolition of student union fees, a strategic oil reserve to ensure there is 90 days’ worth of supply in the country, the cancellation of the belt and road agreement and a streamlining of the mining approval processes. However, the policies which are passed by the council will not necessarily become legislation, but are a reflection of what is believed by the grassroots.

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Belarus leader visits Russia amid EU tensions

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has met his strongest ally Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence in the Black Sea. Belarus is becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of Europe after a commercial passenger flight from Greece to Lithuania was diverted and a journalist on board was arrested. Belarus is facing further criticism after the death of a political prisoner one month after he was sentenced to five years in jail.

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Joe Biden praises America’s vaccination rate

U.S. President Joe Biden has delivered a message of hope and optimism ahead of the country's Memorial Day weekend. Speaking in Northern Virginia he touted America's progress in the fight against COVID-19 as vaccination rates increase. More than 50 per cent of American adults are fully protected against coronavirus and President Biden has just over a month to fulfil a plan to vaccinate 70 per cent of the population.

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Biden to propose a $6 trillion budget

United States President Biden is expected to release a $6 trillion budget proposal but Republicans are concerned about the pledge issuing a warning over inflation. The budget is said to incorporate the $2 trillion infrastructure proposal, the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan and details the president’s $1.5 trillion request from the Pentagon and domestic agencies. The budget will push federal spending to its highest sustained level since World War II and the deficit is likely to hit $1.8 trillion next year despite tax hikes.

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US intelligence report into UFOs to be released next month

Political analyst Professor Joe Siracusa says the report from United States intelligence about UFOs is due to be released in June. “We’ve got these pictures coming in and we find out there was a specifically designated unit in the Pentagon looking at these kinds of things and a senator from Florida has decided that maybe there should be a report,” he told Sky News. “There’s going to be a report next month with indications of what we’re looking at and there hundreds, probably thousands, of photos.”

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McLachlan blasts reports of ‘fresh’ claims

Australian Actor Craig McLachlan has lashed out at the ABC and Nine Newspapers for airing what he describes as false and “deceptive” claims that “fresh” sexual harassment and bullying accusations against him had emerged.

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Air Force Rehearses at Jones Beach for Memorial Day Weekend Show

The US Air Force Thunderbirds squadron rehearsed for a Memorial Day weekend show on Friday, May 28, at New York’s Jones Beach State Park. The show could possibly be delayed or canceled due to rain in the forecast, according to local news reports. Rainfall was reported in Long Island on Friday afternoon, and some areas were expected to receive more than three inches of rain over the holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Credit: @ndlssmrs via Storyful

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cleared of renovation wrongdoing

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been cleared of wrongdoing over the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat. He has however been told it was unwise to allow renovations to go ahead without full knowledge of who would cover the cost. The revamp is said to have cost an estimated £200,000 or approximately $370,000 AUD and work began when Mr Johnson was hospitalised with COVID-19. The work was initially paid for by the Conservative Party and Tory donor Lord David Brownlow although eventually it was covered by Mr Johnson himself.

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Heavy Rain and Wind Lash Central Texas Amid Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

Heavy rain and intense winds lashed parts of central Texas, amid severe thunderstorm warnings on Friday, May 28. Footage uploaded Perry Jefferies shows strong rain and wind battering a home in the city of Gatesville. The National Weather Service issued severe storm warnings for the area, cautioning residents of possible hail and wind gusts of up to 65mph. Credit: @perryjefferies / peripheryart.com via Storyful

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It is ‘not by accident’ states can avoid lockdowns: Berejiklian

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says it is “not by accident” states can avoid lockdowns and come back stronger, in a speech made to the Liberal Council in Canberra. “We have had unfortunately one lockdown in New South Wales about a year ago but we used that time to build up our systems, we quadrupled our health capacity, we made sure our contact tracers were well resourced,” she said. Ms Berejiklian said the approach of New South Wales was one of the “whole of government” and this strategy allowed health experts to be able to focus on the spread of the virus and how to contain it. “It’s not by accident you can weather these storms, you do need efficient systems in place and we use the time well when we’re imposing those burdens on our citizens.”

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Media announcements won’t help famers experiencing ‘worst mouse plague in decades’

Concrete action and not more media announcements are needed from the state government to deal with the estimated one billion mice plaguing NSW, according to Frontier Services National Director Jannine Jackson. The Berejiklian government has committed $50 million to helping small businesses and residents by providing access to free mouse bait and workshops and funding to help researchers develop new mouse control technologies. “We’re really happy that the government is noticing that there is a plague but there is no way to access it [the support package],” Ms Jackson said. “We’re basically been told that it will be at least July before there’s any detail … behind that announcement. “At the moment we need more than just announcements, we need action. “This has been going on for way, way too long. “Media announcements are not going to help farmers and people on the ground that are facing the worst plague in decades”.

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Powerful Waves Lash Coastline of Lake Erie in Ohio

Strong winds propelled powerful waves onto Lake Erie’s Ohio shoreline on May 28, as the National Weather Service (NWS) warned of hazardous beach conditions. Footage captured by Twitter user @rmrmmm, who said they took it in Lorain, shows large waves rolling onto the shoreline. The NWS issued a gale warning for most of Lake Erie’s US coastline on Friday, along with a beach hazard statement for the entire shoreline. A wind advisory was also put into effect for the lakeshore counties of northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania until Saturday at 10am, with wind gusts potentially reaching up to 55 mph. Credit: @rmrmmm via Storyful

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Video proves Melbourne doesn’t get it

An “infuriating” video showing a crowd dancing inside a packed Melbourne bar just minutes before a statewide lockdown has caused major upset.

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11-Year-Old Faces Felony Charges for Starting Brush Fire in Rimrock, Arizona

An 11-year-old boy is facing felony charges after intentionally starting a brush fire on May 22 at a defunct golf course in Rimrock, Arizona, causing more than $30,000 worth of damage. Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies completed an investigation that revealed the fire near Beaver Creek Golf Course destroyed two uninhabited structures and reached within 20 feet of a house. According to witnesses, three boys were seen playing with aerosol cans and a lighter before the fire started, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials determined one of the boys was responsible for setting the fire while the other two attempted to stop him and tried to put the fire out. Copper Canyon Fire and US Forest Service Fire crews responded and were able to contain the fire despite high wind gusts in the region. The juvenile is facing three felony charges — arson of a structure, criminal damage, and endangerment — as well as one misdemeanor for reckless burning, officials said. “We are well into wildfire season and as we head into the holiday weekend, we want everyone to understand just how quickly brush fires can start and how dangerous they can be to the community,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a caption. Credit: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office via Storyful

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TCL launches new affordable smartphones

Tech Guide Editor Stephen Fenech says the television brand TCL has released a series of affordable smartphones which incorporate their NXTVISION display technology. “What that offers is amazing colour accuracy, HDR, so what you’re looking at on the screen looks superior,” he said. “For something that you look at all day, having a screen of this quality, it really helps”. Mr Fenech told Sky News while the display features are “fantastic” the phones are also well designed, have long battery life and include triple and quad camera systems despite costing under $500. “We’re seeing at this level, the features that were maybe two or three years ago considered flagship features are now available at this mid-level," he said. “So customers are really the winner here”.

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Victoria confirms five new local COVID cases

Victoria has reported five new cases of COVID-19 as contact tracers try to track down close contacts of a person who was working out in the community while infectious. The person was working at a food distribution centre while infected with coronavirus although they had no symptoms at the time, but it has been confirmed they were infectious on May 18 and 19. As a result, there have been at least 20 new high-risk exposure sites added across suburbs including Mill Park, Dandenong, Epping and Reservoir. The five new cases bring the total cluster to 35 with up to 15,000 close contacts in isolation across the state.

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Google Maps expands to cover Sydney metro trains

Tech Guide Editor Stephen Fenech told Sky News Google Maps has extended its services to offer “Street View” style maps of Sydney’s metro train network. “They used Sydney as the test bed,” he said. “I’d say in the coming months you’ll see this for train stations around Australia. “They had to map all the train stations, entrances, exits, platforms, in the same way they did with Street View. “I’m sure a lot of you have seen that ability to look down streets … now you can do the same thing in a train station”. Mr Fenech said it would be a “really handy” feature to make planning trips and navigating complex train stations easier - particularly for people in wheelchairs, parents with prams, or travellers with luggage.

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Police highlight DC security issues

Current and former police officers are sounding the alarm about dangerously lax security in the United States Capitol. They say the January 6 riot highlighted major lapses which still have not been properly addressed. Tensions between police officers and lawmakers have also been strained since the attack, especially after Georgia representative Andrew Clyde said the insurrection looked like a “normal tourist visit”. More than 70 officers have quit since January 6 and more resignations are expected soon, with thinning ranks leaving those who remain unable to take days off.

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Vaccines are ‘game changers’ for Victoria

Victorian Health Professor Ben Cowie has spruiked the efficacy of both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines as he warns getting vaccinated is Victoria’s only way out of the health crisis. “These vaccines are game changers,” he told the media. “Both the AstraZeneca and the Pfizer vaccine are highly effective at preventing serious illness, preventing hospitalisation and preventing death. “The real world data coming out of Europe shows us that these are our way out of this situation and they will protect our health system and protect the lives of Victorians as we do so.” Probed on the number of Victorians needed to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, Professor Cowie said the concept was “a complicated one”. “This relates not just to the amount of vaccines we’re delivering, it also comes back to how the difference emerging variants of concern of coronavirus interplay with the vaccine based immunity,” he said. “So I can’t give you a figure and I think anyone who did would be challenging the realms of our understanding at this point in time.”

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Syrians Celebrate as President Bashar al-Assad is Re-elected in Landslide Victory

Celebrations erupted in the Syrian city of Aleppo early on May 28 after President Bashar al-Assad won a fourth term in office with 95.1% of the vote. Footage uploaded by the state-owned Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows large crowds gathered on the streets waving Syrian flags and holding placards of Assad. Head of parliament Hammouda Sabbagh announced the results at a news conference on Thursday, saying voter turnout was at around 78%. Earlier in the week, Syria’s presidential election was denounced by US and European leaders as neither “free nor fair”. Credit: Syrian Arab News Agency via Storyful

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Five main locations of concern connected to Victorian outbreak

There are five locations of particular concern related to Victoria’s COVID outbreak, according to Department of Health and Human Services Testing Commander Secretary Jeroen Weimar. "So we now seeing the significant risk in particular at those social venues, the bars and clubs, the exposure list there, and we are very keen to ensure that people who have been to those places at those times come forward very quickly," he said. Mr Weimar said there were more than 120 exposures sites across the state but the five of particular concern include: The Sporting Globe in Mordialloc, between 6:15pm and 9:45pm on May 23 - where it is believed one positive case caught the virus. The Three Monkeys in Prahran on the night of May 22 between 9:10 pm and 11:00pm as well as 12:30am and 2:00am. The Somewhere Bar in Prahran, again on the night of May 22, between 10:30pm and 1:00am. The Palace Hotel in South Melbourne between 5:45pm and 6:45pm on May 21. The Local in Port Melbourne, again on May 21, between 1:30 pm and 3:30pm.

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Sutton’s stark coronavirus warning

Chief health officer Brett Sutton has warned Victorians that four new cases recorded on Friday is “not necessarily” a good sign.

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Virus alert for 40,500 Sydney residents

Health authorities have issued an urgent warning for tens of thousands of Sydney residents, after fragments of Covid-19 were found in a sewerage network.

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Victorian leader’s virus request

Victoria’s acting premier has asked for Australian Defence Force members to help with the latest coronavirus outbreak in the state.

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Victoria appeals to PM for additional ADF support

The Victorian government has appealed to the Commonwealth for additional ADF support as the state enters its first day of lockdown. “I want to welcome the PM’s comment that the Commonwealth will be working hand in glove with Victorian authorities, “ Acting Premier James Merlino told the media on Friday. “I want to thank him for that and to that end there is some additional assistance that we require and I’ve contacted the PM this morning; we’ll be putting a formal request through for additional ADF staff. “So the request will be for around 160 ADF staff for at least the next fortnight to assist our authorised officers in door knocking … positive cases … primary close contacts.” Victoria recorded four new coronavirus infections overnight out of 47,462 tests - taking the state's caseload to 30.

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Twisted Minds Podcast: Teaser

Twisted Minds is a podcast that takes audiences inside the world of forensic psychology and the dark motivations behind some of Australia's worst crimes. Coming Soon.

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Moment worker threatened with knife

Victoria Police have released frightening CCTV footage of a man involved in armed robbery in Port Melbourne.

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NSW Labor leader set to resign

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay is expected to step down as early as today.

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Business owners ‘pay the price’ of lockdown

Restaurant owner Luke Stepsys says businesses owners are the ones who will “pay the price” of the Victoria’s fourth lockdown and they need to be compensated. “Us business owners, we have substantial overheads to cover and we can’t afford to have businesses closed an we keep paying bills with zero income,” he said. Mr Stepsys said if the current lockdown extends beyond seven days his businesses will have been closed for over 200 days across the four state lockdowns. “All of these businesses need to be compensated … immediately for the losses that they will suffer by the failure of the Victorian government to protect the state," he said. “How do we pay our staff? How do they put food on the table this week?” Mr Stepsys told Sky News it took the state government took nearly four weeks to provide businesses with a “measly sum” of $3,000 following the last lockdown. “I’m just a small to medium size mum and dad business and the last five-day lockdown cost me $150,000, so what is $3,000 meant to compensate?" he said. “It’s integral that I survive so I can provide employment for nearly 100 local Victorians”.

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Probe launched into fatal California mass shooting

An investigation has been launched into a fatal mass shooting at a Californian railyard on Wednesday. Nine Valley Transportation Authority workers have been confirmed dead after a shooting carried out by co-worker Sam Cassidy, who also died at the scene. Authorities reported Cassidy was holding two guns and fired at least 39 times during the attack. They also found potential bomb-making materials in his work locker.

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Biden presented with $928b infrastructure counteroffer

Republicans have presented United States President Joe Biden with a $928 billion counteroffer to his proposed sweeping infrastructure program. The offer comes as Republicans remain deeply divided with the White House over the president's proposed $1.7 trillion infrastructure spend. Republicans suggested repurposing COVID funding to pay for the infrastructure program instead of taxing corporations. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki rejected the idea, however, saying “we think there are better ways to pay for it, and we think people should have a full understanding of what that is proposing.”

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WSJ Opinion: Was the Coronavirus ‘Lab Leak’ Origin Correct?

Evidence that the coronavirus may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology catches up to Fauci and other Wuhan Covid deniers, despite suspicious facts that have been apparent from the start. Image: Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

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Virus alert for Bunnings, Hungry Jack’s

The number of sites exposed to coronavirus across Victoria has surged into triple figures as the state went into its fourth major lockdown in 12 months overnight.

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Victorian businesses await support package announcement

Small Business Australia is estimating Victoria’s lockdown will cost the economy $1 billion with businesses looking for further relief from the state government. Acting Premier James Merlino on Thursday flagged assistance was on the way, with reports a package could be announced today. Although the latest lockdown will mark Victoria’s fourth, it is the first without the JobKeeper subsidy program. Under the lockdown, hospitality businesses have moved to takeaway only while retail has moved to click and collect. Coles and Woolworths have limited toilet paper to two packs per person after supermarkets across the state started seeing panic buying. A demonstration was also held last night in Melbourne’s CBD, protesting the lockdown.

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Cast of ‘Friends’ reunite in reunion special episode

The highly anticipated Friends Reunion has given fans a look into one of the most downloaded television shows in the world 17 years after the much loved series ended. Rather than reprise their roles, the star actors reminisced about their times filming the show. Friends was TV’s number one comedy for six straight seasons, averaging about 25 million viewers a week. The show has been watched more than 100 billion times.

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Nat fires up over sluggish vaccine rollout

The federal Health Minister has said Australia’s coronavirus vaccination program is an “extraordinary achievement” even though only a fraction of the population has had their jabs.

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Tamworth Music Festival brought to Sydney

The Tamworth Music Festival is coming to Sydney this weekend - bringing the best of the country to the city to encourage travel to the regions after it was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Singer and songwriter Amber Lawrence told Sky News, “Tamworth is such an iconic event for music lovers anywhere but now it’s coming to the city of Sydney and I think it’s just going to be a great showcase of what country music is and also what it isn’t". “I think people have got in their minds what country music is but it’s so diverse and there’s everything from your story tellers and your songwriters to really kind of contemporary pop style country. “I’m actually from Sydney so I think it’s fantastic that we’re giving Sydney a shot at seeing if they can match the hospitality of beautiful Tamworth. “I just think there’s so many secret country music lovers out there. This is your chance, get out, come to the city and enjoy it”. The line-up for the festival will include artists such as Amber Lawrence, Travis Collins, Adam Harvey, Luke O’Shea and Andrew Farriss from INXS.

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Queensland tightens border control as Victoria enters lockdown

Queenslanders will see an increased police presence on the roads this morning around state borders to ensure all travellers are complying with COVID-19 restrictions. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday flagged border security would be strengthened as Victoria entered its fourth lockdown. Only returning Queensland residents will be allowed to enter from Victoria – unless they have an exemption – but will have to undergo 14 days mandatory hotel quarantine. All travellers entering the state will also be required to fill out a border declaration form. Meanwhile, the Sunshine State has put its hand up to host the first State of Origin match if it is unable to go ahead as planned in Melbourne on June 9. If Queensland wins the bid, the game could be held in Townsville at the brand new Country Bank Stadium.

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Five words that could derail Australia

It’s the new phrase echoing through the suburbs of Australia and between work colleagues.

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Aged inoculation program ‘one of our most important achievements as a nation’

Health Minister Greg Hunt has praised the nation’s aged care vaccination effort – saying by the end of the day 100 per cent of Victorian aged care facilities are expected to have been jabbed. He told Sky News nearly 99 per cent of all aged care facilities across the nation will also have been vaccinated. “That is an extraordinary national achievement and its protecting our most vulnerable,” the health minister said. “We had to start somewhere, we have to finish somewhere but what we’re seeing is that that process is coming to completion and I think that that’s been one of our most important endeavours and achievements as a nation.”

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Tasmanian Devils Born in the Wild on Australian Mainland for First Time in 3,000 Years

Tasmanian devil joeys have been born in the wild on Australia’s mainland for the first time in more than 3,000 years, according to a local conservation group. This footage, uploaded by Australian conservation charity Aussie Ark, shows the seven joeys in their mothers’ pouch, who were born on the 400 acre Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Tomalla, New South Wales. According to Aussie Ark, Tasmanian devils became extinct on mainland Australia as they were outcompeted by dingoes. The dingoes never made it to the island state of Tasmania, where the devils continued to thrive. Aussie Ark says its team has been “working tirelessly for the better part of 10 years to return Devils to the wild of mainland Australia with the hope that they would establish a sustainable population.” Credit: Aussie Ark via Storyful

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Victoria expands vaccine eligibility to over 40 amid week-long lockdown

Victorians over the age of 40 will now be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine at state-run sites as the state is plunged into a snap week-long lockdown to curb its growing cluster. Acting Premier James Merlino said health authorities had agreed to expand the scope of Victoria’s vaccination sites to include those between the age of 40 and 49 years old. It comes as the Melbourne suburb cluster grew to 26 in the past 24-hours, while health authorities identified 10,000 close and primary contacts to existing cases. Mr Merlino said he strongly encouraged eligible Victorians to get vaccinated, and listed vaccinations as one of the five circumstances in which Victorians could leave home. “The only way through this pandemic is everyone getting vaccinated as quickly as you are eligible,” he said.

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WSJ Opinion: The Pelosi January 6 Commission Fiasco

Wonder Land: The Pelosi-Schumer Jan. 6 Commission won’t do anything about America’s time bomb of political violence. Images: Getty Images Composite: Mark Kelly

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Victorian tracers identify over 10,000 COVID contacts in Victoria

Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino has announced over 10,000 people will be required to quarantine, test or isolate amid Victoria’s latest outbreak. It comes as the state’s coronavirus cluster grew to 26 cases overnight following 40,411 tests and a fast-rising list of exposure sites. Locations of concern include the MCG, Marvel Stadium, an RMIT building and businesses in regional towns such as Bendigo. Mr Merlino said contact tracing teams had rapidly identified and locked down the first, second and third ring within 24 hours. “They have never done that before. That's the fastest our contact tracers have ever moved within a 24-hour period, identifying and locking down first, second, and third rings of cases,” he said. “But despite working as fast as this, and my thanks to all of our contact tracers, this variant is moving faster still.” A seven day circuit breaker lockdown has been announced by the Andrews government to give the state time to get on top of the escalating cases.

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Victoria plunged into seven-day lockdown from midnight

Victorians are being plunged into a seven-day lockdown as the Andrews government takes drastic measures to stop the spread of the latest coronavirus outbreak. From midnight tonight a state-wide circuit breaker lockdown will be imposed until June 3. Acting Premier James Merlino announced this morning more than 10,000 primary and secondary contacts had been identified. “If we can ease those restrictions earlier we will but this is a seven-day circuit breaker lockdown,” he said. Under the lockdown, residents will have five reasons to leave home including essential shopping, a two-hour exercise period, giving compassionate care and for medical reasons. Mr Merlino confirmed a new fifth reason to leave home is to get vaccinated. State residents will also be required to wear masks in every setting except for their homes. Victorians will only be allowed to accept intimate partners into their homes, however, people living alone can form a bubble with another single-person household. Public gatherings have also been suspended, although approved professional sports events will go ahead without spectators. Restaurants, cafes and pubs will be open for takeaway only and essential workers and workplaces – such as supermarkets – will be allowed to continue operating. Schools will also be moving to remote learning – except for vulnerable children. Victoria recorded 11 new local cases overnight, taking the state’s total case load to 26.

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Holgate inquiry provides ‘strong basis’ for financial sustainability of Australia Post

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie says the Senate inquiry into the departure of former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate “provides a strong basis for the future financial sustainability of Australia Post”. “Particularly [for] the 2,500 licensees right across rural and regional Australia who really loved the way the former CEO Christine Holgate managed the business, included them in decision making and really did some great deals to underpin their financial sustainability going forward,” she said. Ms Holgate exited Australia Post last year after it was revealed four executives had been awarded Cartier watches with a total worth of $20,000 but she has since been cleared of misusing taxpayer funds. "I back the fact that we’ve got a Commonwealth-owned entity in Australia Post that has an obligation to the community to deliver letters," Ms McKenzie said. “One of the recommendations I was very strong on making was that shouldn’t be the only thing that Australia Post has to do in terms of fulfilling its community service obligations”. Ms McKenzie told Sky News Australia Post should also have an obligation to have a parcel service due the explosion of ecommerce which has taken place during COVID. She also said Australia Post should “build on Holgate’s legacy” where she ensured people in regional communities where the banks had left town could still get the banking done at the post office.

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Review into SA quarantine finds air leak sparked Victorian outbreak

A review into South Australia’s quarantine breach which has been linked to Victoria’s latest outbreak found an air leak between rooms was responsible for the leak. Adelaide's Playford medi-hotel was at the centre of the latest breach where it was reported the Indian strain of COVID-19 was transmitted between rooms through the air. SA Chief Medical Officer Nicola Spurrier said, “it is possible that you could still have aerosol and opening the door could have brought that person who was not infected in contact”. The review recommended food and rubbish be collected in bulk to keep door-opening at a minimum and when open the guests wear face masks and eye protection.

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Why Qantas has banned Jacqui Lambie

WARNING: Offensive language

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Regional Victoria braces for lockdown

Bendigo Mayor Jennifer Alden says she is confident the local community will respond positively if another lockdown is imposed on Victoria as it has proven to be effective in the past. The state is on the edge of its fourth lockdown after recording 11 new local cases overnight – taking Victoria’s total case load to 26. “We do know that we’ve done this before and we can do it again and I think maybe that the knowledge of what we have done in the past has worked will stand people in good stead and give them confidence that whatever the news will be today that that will actually get us to a safer position as quickly as possible,” Ms Alden told Sky News. “That’s the intent of these types of decisions.” She conceded, however, lockdowns are a “huge challenge” for the community and local businesses. “Certain sectors will feel it more acutely.”

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5 reasons Victorians can leave home

Victoria has been plunged into its fourth lockdown in 12 months, with the government announcing on Thursday Victorians will need to abide by strict stage-three restrictions.

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Damaging Winds Destroy Trees in Central Pennsylvania

Most of central Pennsylvania was under a severe thunderstorm watch on Wednesday, May 26, as damaging wind gusts downed trees in State College, footage shows. The storms were expected to spread into southeast Pennsylvania throughout Wednesday, possibly bringing quarter-sized hail and lightning to the region, the National Weather Service said. Credit: @illadelph_by_allin1 via Storyful

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Intense Winds Sweep Across Botetourt County, Virginia

A strong storm brought hail and winds of up to 35 mph across western Virginia on Wednesday, May 26. This video filmed by Ella Monaghan shows wind gusts and heavy rain outside her bedroom window in Botetourt County. Thunderstorms were expected to continue into Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Credit: Ella Monaghan via Storyful

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Egypt pledges $500 million to Gaza reconstruction

Egypt has pledged $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza. The announcement was made following a plea from United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken for greater regional cooperation to avoid a return to the "harrowing violence of recent weeks” which left 260 people dead. The commitment comes after a day after the US declared it would send $75 million in assistance to the Palestinians in an effort to shore-up a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. However, a top Hamas leader warned the city could see “a big religious war and widespread chaos” if Israel does not stop attempting to occupy the area.

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Very Hungry Caterpillar author dies

The author of the famous children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has died aged 91.

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More than 150 feared drowned in Nigeria boat accident

More than 150 people are missing and feared drowned in northwest Nigeria after an overloaded boat ferrying passengers to a market sank in the Niger River.

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Victoria to receive extra 130,000 doses amid concerns for aged care

Victoria will receive an additional 130,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine amid fears the latest outbreak could result in a significant number of deaths in aged care facilities. Under the scheme, the federal government will send 40,000 doses to the state this week with a further 15,000 to be distributed each week for the following six weeks. Aged care will be prioritised with 29 facilities yet to receive a single dose of the vaccine. It comes after close to 16,000 jabs were administered yesterday in what was a daily record for the state.

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Funnel Cloud Twists Across Field During Tornado-Warned Storm in Hays, Kansas

A tornado watch was issued for parts of Kansas on Wednesday, May 26, as severe storms released large hail and strong winds across the region. Footage filmed by meteorologist Chris Nestman, who said it was taken southwest of Hays, shows what he described as a tornado twisting over a field. The National Weather Service warned of possible tornadoes, localized flooding, wind gusts reaching 75 mph, and up to four inches of hail in western Kansas into early Thursday morning. Credit: Chris Nestman via Storyful

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Thunderstorms Pound Kansas With Heavy Rain and Hail

Heavy rain and hail fell in Kansas on the afternoon of May 26, as severe thunderstorms threatened the central US. Footage shared by Nathan Jay Weis captured tornado sirens echoing in Hays, Kansas, on Wednesday. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of lightning, hail, and gusty winds in the area. Credit: Nathan Jay Weis via Storyful

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Giant Tortoise Thought Extinct for 112 Years Rediscovered in Galápagos Islands

A giant tortoise found on Fernandina Island in Ecuador’s Galápagos National Park in 2019 has been confirmed as a member of Chelonoidis phantasticus, a species thought to have gone extinct more than a century ago, officials announced on May 25. The adult female Fernandina Giant Tortoise was discovered on February 17, 2019, by members of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative, led by Galapagos Conservancy and the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD). More than two years later, on May 25, 2021, Ecuador’s Ministry of the Environment and Water announced that genetic testing at Yale University in the United States had confirmed similarities between the DNA of the living tortoise and that from a sample taken in 1906 from a male member of Chelonoidis phantasticus, the only other tortoise ever found on Fernandina Island. Galapagos Conservancy welcomed the news and said “urgent expeditions” would be launched to find her a mate and save the species “to avoid the same tragic fate as Lonesome George,” the last Pinta Giant Tortoise who died in 2012. “The Fernandina Island’s landscape is dominated by an active volcano that makes expeditions very challenging,” Galapagos Conservatory wrote. “If a male tortoise is located on the volcanic terrain, he will be united with the lone female at the Galapagos National Park’s Giant Tortoise Breeding Center in Santa Cruz. Scientists would then oversee breeding efforts, rear any young safely in captivity, and eventually return them to safe habitats on their native island of Fernandina,” they said. The giant tortoise population was decimated in the 19th century by “whalers and buccaneers,” Galapagos Conservatory wrote, “but there is hope,” they continued. “Park rangers have found signs (tracks and scat) of at least two other tortoises on Fernandina Volcano during the searches that resulted in the discovery of the lone female,” they said in their press release. Credit: Galápagos National Park via Storyful

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Australian public is nearing lockdown ‘breaking point’

Cornerstone Group Senior Director James Cullen says imposing another lockdown on Victoria in the wake of the latest coronavirus outbreak will have “federal implications” in terms of the quarantine and vaccine programs. Victoria is poised to enter its fourth lockdown as 11 new local cases were recorded overnight – taking the state's total case load to 26. Mr Cullen told Sky News he did not believe it was “feasible” for states to be jumping in and out of lockdown for another six to 12 months. “It really does escalate the pressure on the federal government over the next six or 12 months because there will be breaking point where I think the Australian public will [say] ‘enough is enough’,” he said. “We’re well over a year into this thing and we’re still doing these sorts of lockdowns.”

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Paul Murray ‘Our Town’ stops in Wagga Wagga tonight 9pm

The next stop on the popular Sky News Paul Murray Live Our Town regional tour will be Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, broadcasting live tonight from 9pm AEST on Sky News on Foxtel and regional free-to-air channel Sky News on WIN. From farming and local production, to the top tourist destinations in the region, Paul will be putting the heart of the Riverina Region on the national stage to showcase all that it has to offer, and why Wagga Wagga should be your next getaway destination. Together with principal partner Harvey Norman, Paul will be speaking with tourist operators, business owners and local heroes, as well as politicians and council members including Deputy Prime Minister and Federal MP for Riverina Michael McCormack and Wagga Wagga Mayor Councillor Greg Conkey. Sony Music artist Delta Goodrem will also join Paul to discuss her recent music release, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Dreams’ plus it’s accompanying book & upcoming tour, and will perform for viewers during the program including ‘All of My Friends’ from her new album and her classic hit ‘Not Me, Not I’. Paul Murray, Sky News anchor said: “I can’t wait to head down to Wagga Wagga and speak to the locals. The community spirit in Wagga has always been a thing to admire, but after the pandemic hardships, this collective strength has grown two-fold. It’s great to see this town getting back on its feet and I want to show the rest of Australia why Wagga Wagga is the place to be!” Now in its third season, Paul Murray Live Our Town has visited more than 16 regional towns across the country, including Batemans Bay, Darwin, Albury, Launceston, Mudgee, Tamworth, Goulburn, Cairns, Murray Bridge and many more. To be part of the Wagga Wagga Our Town audience please email ourtown@skynews.com.au.

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Victoria’s COVID cluster grows to 26 following 40,411 tests

A lockdown appears likely to be imposed on Victoria after the state’s COVID cluster grew to 26 cases overnight following 40,411 tests. The state government is in discussions to determine whether Victoria will be thrust into fourth lockdown but at this stage it is uncertain whether it would apply exclusively to Melbourne or the entire state. Health authorities have been concerned by the rapidly growing list of exposure site across the state which is approaching 80 and includes the MCG, Marvel Stadium, an RMIT building and businesses in regional towns such as Bendigo.

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‘Crazy’ wait times at Covid clinics

Wait times at Covid-19 testing clinics are blowing out to “crazy” three-hour delays as Victorians rush to get tested ahead of a possible lockdown decision later on Thursday.

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Vaccination is ‘the only light at the end of the tunnel’: Archbishop Makarios

The Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia is strongly urging everyone to receive the COVID-19 vaccine – warning it is the only way to rid the country of the pandemic. Speaking at a NSW government press conference, Archbishop Makarios said “I would like to encourage all the people, it does not matter if they are Greek or not, Christians or not, Muslims or whatever, please get vaccinated”. “Don’t hesitate, take the decision and act. “It’s not a matter that we have to protect our life or our health, we have to protect our society, we have to protect our country. “The only solution that we have to get rid of the pandemic, the only light that we have to see at the end of the tunnel is to get vaccinated.”

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State’s should reduce ‘traumatising’ impact of sexual assault litigation

Shadow Minister for Women Tanya Plibersek says states and territories should follow New South Wales’ lead in reducing the “retraumatising impact” of litigation for sexual assault victims. NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman announced on Tuesday the government would adopt all of the Law Reform Commission's recommendations regarding sexual consent. These recommendations include the ability for judges to exercise discretion in issuing directives to juries that remove stereotypes surrounding the nature of consent. Nevertheless, Ms Plibersek says that law reform must also be accompanied by changes in cultural attitudes towards relationships. “I think it’s very important that all states and territories are looking at laws like this but also how we reduce the retraumatising impact of going through courts for victims of sexual assault,” she told Sky News. “But law reform is only part of the answer, of course; we need to change our culture. “One of the things that really troubles me is the average age of first viewing pornography in Australia today is 10 years old … it’s unhealthy. “We need to be, as mothers and fathers, talking to girls and boys from a young age about what healthy, respectful relationships look like and modelling those relationships.”

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‘Climate vandalism’: Outrage at new tax

Victoria has become the first state in Australia to tax electric vehicle drivers after the legislation passed through parliament on Tuesday night.

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Labor frontbencher warns of ‘electoral cliff’

Labor frontbencher Meryl Swanson has told her party she is worried the opposition faces an “electoral cliff” because of its inability to connect with voters.

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Critical’ 24 hours as Melbourne’s COVID cluster grows

Victoria’s Covid-19 cluster has surged overnight, with health authorities confirming six new infections since yesterday.

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An ‘awful lot’ of Victorians will be booking in vaccinations after new outbreak

Liberal Senator Jane Hume says she expects there will be an “awful lot of people” in Victoria booking their COVID vaccinations today following the latest outbreak.

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Mice plague sets family home on fire

A family living in rural NSW who thought the worst of the mice plague was over have been dealt a devastating blow after the vermin saw their house reduced to rubble.

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Worrying revelation about virus cases

Three people aged over 50 at the centre of a Melbourne cluster are yet to get their Covid-19 jab despite being eligible to receive the vaccine.

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Events held across US to mark the anniversary of George Floyd’s death

Members of George Floyd’s family are meeting with President Joe Biden to drum up support for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which they view as his legacy on the one-year anniversary of his death. Events being held across the country include marches, singing and poetry recitations. People have also observed nine minutes and 29 seconds of silence to mark the length of time former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck, killing him.

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Dark Storm Clouds Roll Over West Bengal’s Halisahar Ahead of Cyclone Yaas Landfall

Dark storm clouds rolled across Halisahar, West Bengal, on Tuesday, May 25, bringing strong winds and rain ahead of Cyclone Yaas’s expected landfall. More than one million people had evacuated from India’s east coast as of the early hours of Wednesday, according to news reports. On Tuesday, two people were electrocuted and at least 80 houses were damaged in the Hooghly and North 24 Parganas districts due to extreme weather, according to The Times of India. Multiple airports were closed due to expected bad weather in the region. This video shared by Kolkata resident Niladri Talukder shows ominous clouds moving over Halisahar as the cyclone nears Paradip. The India Meteorological Department forecast the cyclone to cross between Dhamra and Balasore on Odisha’s coast around noon on Wednesday, with wind speeds of 130 to 140 kmph (approximately 81 to 87 mph). Credit: Niladri Talukder via Storyful

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Protesters March Through Manhattan on George Floyd Anniversary

Protesters marched through the streets of Manhattan on the evening of May 25, marking one year since the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. The marchers joined other commemorations of Floyd’s death across the country. Footage taken on Tuesday night shows demonstrators walking through the street near Union Square, and farther north, in front of Penn Station. On Tuesday evening, the New York City Police Department reported street closures in Manhattan due to demonstrations. Credit: @datainput via Storyful

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Victorian contact tracing teams working ‘extraordinarily hard’ to contain outbreak

Victoria Health Minister Martin Foley has thanked the state’s contact tracing teams for working “extraordinarily hard” to chase down lines of inquiry and build the lists of contacts following the last outbreak. “As of last night, the department had identified 301 primary close contacts and with negative tests available so far for 80 of those with more coming in today," he said. Mr Foley said three tier one venues of particular concern were attended by a positive case in Prahran and South Yarra on Saturday May 22 and early Sunday morning. The times of concern for the Three Monkeys on Chapel Street are between 9:10pm and 11pm on Saturday May 22 as well as 12:30am and 2:30am on Sunday May 23. The Somewhere Bar on Chapel Street, between 10:30pm and 1:00am May 22-23 and the Circus Bar on Commercial Road, South Yarra between 1:30am and 4:15am on May 23 are also tier one exposure sites. Anyone who attended the venues during the listed times is required to have a COVID test and isolate for 14 days.

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‘Can’t rule out further action’: Victorian cases rise

Victorians have been warned about future Covid restrictions after the state posted six new local infections.

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Victoria avoids lockdown as cluster grows to 15

Victoria has avoided another lockdown but the Acting Premier James Merlino has warned he cannot rule out further action after the cluster grew to 15 cases overnight. “The Department was notified of six new cases overnight, which brings the total number of cases linked to this outbreak to 15,” Mr Merlino said. “The 15th case we have just been notified of, and if that will be included in tomorrow's number. As we know, the first four cases are spread across three households, but within the same family unit. “I cannot rule out taking some further action, but we will update people as soon as we know. It is fair to say that the next 24 hours ago to be particularly critical. “So the message this morning is that it is good that everyone is linked this stage, but we are concerned about the number, and also about the kind of exposure sites, and the next 24 hours are going to be critical if we're going to have to make any further changes beyond the changes that announced yesterday.” There are 23 active cases in Victoria.

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Argentina Receives Sputnik and AstraZeneca Vaccines Amid Record Cases

Two flights carrying 843,600 AstraZeneca vaccines and some 609,965 doses of the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine arrived in Buenos Aires on May 24 amid a nationwide lockdown and record coronavirus cases. Facing new infections that have topped 30,000 per day, the Argentine government put restrictions in place over the weekend, which are scheduled to last until the end of May. “We are living the worst moment since the pandemic began,” President Alberto Fernandez said ahead of the new measures, which will impose a curfew on most Argentines, and close non-essential businesses and schools. This footage, taken on May 24 at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, shows the arrival and offloading of two flights carrying a cargo of vaccines. According to the Argentine Ministry of Health, a LATAM CARGO flight brought 843,600 AstraZeneca doses, while an Aerolineas Argentinas flight from Russia carried 609,965 doses of the first component in the Sputnik V vaccine. Credit: Casa Rosada via Storyful

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Biden, Putin meeting to cover ‘whole raft of issues’

Sky News US contributor Michael Ware says there will be a whole raft of important things that come up when Presidents Biden and Putin meet next month in Switzerland. “There’s an entire laundry list of issues that will be on the agenda,” Mr Ware told Sky News. “From climate change to Russian military build up to Ukraine to the cyber-attacks on the US infrastructure to the imprisonment of the Russian opposition leader. “So there’s a whole raft of things that are going to come up.” The Geneva visit is scheduled for June 16 which comes after the US president's visit to the United Kingdom for the G7 Summit. Mr Biden has criticised the Russian president since taking office and labelled the country "the biggest threat" to US security. His administration also condemned Moscow for the arrest and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The meeting will be the first between the nations' leaders since 2018 when President Putin met former president Donald Trump.

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