Bodies of Noelene and Yvana arrive home
The bodies of the Australian mother and daughter who died in Bali last week have been brought home to Brisbane. Noelene Bischoff and her 14-year-old daughter, Yvana, died last Saturday at the start of their two-week holiday. Their cause of death is currently unknown, although no foul play is suspected. Autopsies on the bodies are set to begin immediately at the request of the Queensland State Coroner.
Man charged after attempted indecent assault on 5-year-old boy in toilet block
A 70-year-old man has been charged after allegedly attempting to indecently assault a 5-year-old boy in Sydney’s north on Friday. The boy’s mother was reportedly waiting outside the Manly toilet block when the incident occurred. Police are still looking for the man who assaulted two girls, aged two and six, in a public toilet in Sydney’s west on Thursday.
Australia shamed in OECD environmental audit
Australia is second only to Estonia in its carbon emissions production, a new report from the OECD has found. The report found that Australia was the world’s second-worst polluter in terms of greenhouse gas intensity per unit of GDP, in an audit of 34 advanced economies. The report also found that 24% of Australia’s mammal species, and nearly one in ten of Australia’s bird species, are considered to be threatened.
Clive Palmer plans to visit Christmas Island
Federal MP Clive Palmer has written to the federal government seeking approval to visit Australia’s immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island. Palmer is especially interested in observing the living conditions for asylum seeker children.
In a statement released on Friday, Palmer said: “I have always believed that keeping children behind bars was wrong, but the birth of my daughter Lucy last month has renewed by commitment to these kids.” The Palmer United Party’s immigration policy supports local processing facilities at Australian airports.
Tonga hit by worst cyclone in 50 years
The Pacific Island nation of Tonga has been hit by 200km/h winds in its worst storm in over 50 years. Tropical Cycle Ian made landfall at around 7am this morning. Many people have been forced to leave their homes, with a state of emergency declared in the region.
Madrid celebrates ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ Day
Commuters in Madrid have celebrated their second annual ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ Day. The tradition, which began in New York back in 2002, has garnered a large number of Spanish followers. Watch the video below:
Top Comments
What's with the no pants subway ride? Is it in protest or support of something? Why are they doing it?
Good on you UN. Maybe take a drive up the road from Estonia to Murmansk and do an environmental study on the dozens of abandoned, leaking Russian nuclear submarines that are slowly rusting their way to an exposed core.
Australia has some of the strictest environmental laws and penalties in the world. The UN perhaps failed to note that per head of population we have locked up more of our land and resources to UN treaties than any other country in the world?
I'm a little over the UN crticising us on everything all the time. Gay rights? Why not get up the 12 nations where homosexuality equates to a court imposed death sentence? Women's rights? Maybe go address the issue of 80 million women who have had their clitoris removed for their future partners preference?
Good comment Sherro and so true.
No disrespect intended, the issue you raise are very real issues. But just because other countries do worse doesn't mean we shouldn't try to better. Australia is behaving shamefully at the moment on many issues and I, as an Australian, am pleased that the world stage is starting to call us to account on it.
Yet the fact remains - we are the second worst polluter per person in the world. Why so defensive - doesn't that make you ever so slightly ashamed? Especially given our government doesn't give a damn and is not committed to doing anything useful about it. Stopping the boats is the most important thing they have to offer us. What an aimless, regressive agenda. Fingers crossed this government is short lived for the sake of the good, caring people of Australia.