Lulu the dog flunked out of CIA bomb-sniffer school because she just didn’t care. Lulu was adopted by her handler & now enjoys her days playing with his kids & a new friend, & sniffing out rabbits & squirrels in the backyard. @jadechinesemassage

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Three dead in skydiving accident at Mission Beach, south of Cairns

Two men and a woman die in a skydiving accident at Mission Beach, south of Cairns.

Located halfway between Cairns and Townsville, Mission Beach attracts backpackers making their way down the Queensland Coast, and multiple companies offer skydiving in the area.

MORE: Three dead in skydiving accident at Mission Beach, south of Cairns – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Brisbane Catholic girls’ school rocked by sex abuse allegations

A Catholic girls’ school in Brisbane has received a formal complaint about the alleged sexual abuse of a student by a former staff member 40 years ago.

Mount St Michael’s College in Ashgrove principal, Sharon Volp, sent an email to current and former students on Monday confirming it had received a “formal complaint” about a former staff member between 1976-1978.

Ms Volp says she found “the abuse of children distressing and abhorrent” and the matter had been referred to police.

She reassured the school community the “most stringent protocols” were in place to protect students.

Ms Volp urged anyone with concerns or issues about similar “inappropriate behaviour” by someone who currently or previously worked at the school to contact her and police.

Operated by Mary Aikenhead Ministries, the school provides education for girls from grade seven to 12.

A spokesman for the school confirmed it had received the formal complaint.

Source: Brisbane Catholic girls’ school rocked by sex abuse allegations | SBS News

Trump is a smaller, shallower figure than most Shakespearean heroes—or villains, for that matter

This is not Shakespearean drama: the penalty for characters who stand up to the king is too small for that.

AS A rule, it is not ideal for a presidential administration to remind onlookers of a feuding, villain-haunted Shakespearean tragedy. Yet that was a widely shared reaction when the first full meeting of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, on June 12th, began with an extended flattery contest.

Vice-President Mike Pence set the tone, confiding that serving a president “who’s keeping his word to the American people” is “the greatest privilege of my life”. As Mr Trump clenched his jaw, nodded and threw in an occasional “good job” of encouragement, his cabinet secretaries—who include former governors, retired four-star generals and more than one billionaire—mostly followed suit. They variously reported that his presidency has “thrilled” crime-fighters, excited the world with its “international flair” and inspired “love” in Mississippi. “My hat is off to you!” swooned the energy secretary, Rick Perry, who in 2015 called Mr Trump a “cancer on conservatism”.

For as long as cameras whirred this surge of praise rolled round the room like a bureaucrats’ Mexican wave, peaking with a testimonial from Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff. Unabashed by speculation that he is to be sacked, Mr Priebus declared: “We thank you for the opportunity and the blessing to serve your agenda.” The verdict of a Twitter-user from Toronto, “This is actually the start of ‘King Lear’,” went viral, pinging around the political internet…

…Trump basked in congratulations, then hailed himself as the most “active” and productive president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, it was understandable if some recalled Shakespeare’s tragedies. For those works often explore how sycophancy clouds the judgment of great men, especially when pride prevents them from seeing that they are being gulled. As he divides his kingdom between three daughters, Lear confuses flowery words with love. It is fawning that lures Julius Caesar to a fatal ambush in the Capitol, as a conspirator predicts: “But when I tell [Caesar] he hates flatterers,/He says he does, being then most flatterèd.”

Source: Donald Trump’s need for flattery is trashing reputations

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ tops box office, projected to take in $76.6 million over 4 day holiday weekend

Pirates of the Caribbean’ tops box office, projected to take in $76.6 million over four-day holiday weekend. https://t.co/PIxJvUNLwR http://pic.twitter.com/eP7o2duaqJ

— ABC News (@ABC) May 29, 2017

It was smooth sailing to the top spot at the box office for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” but the waters were choppier for the Dwayne Johnson comedy “Baywatch.”

Studio estimates on Sunday say the fifth installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise commandeered $62.2 million in its first three days in theaters.

The Johnny Depp-starrer is projected to take in $76.6 million over the four-day holiday weekend.

'Pirates of the Caribbean' tops box office, projected to take in $76.6 million over four-day holiday weekend.… http://twitter.com/i/web/status/8…—
ABC News (@ABC) May 29, 2017

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Chaos in Sydney after motorcyclist dies on M4 + two police officers are injured…

A motorcyclist has been killed on the M4 in Sydney’s west at Granville following a collision with two trucks (pictured).The male driver died at the scene and the two truck drivers were uninjured.

Moments later a police van and a car crashed nearby at the intersection of the M4 and James Ruse Drive.

Two police officers and the car’s driver were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Citybound traffic banked up nearly eight kilometres as a result of the two crashes.

The eastbound lane is now open on the M4 following the fatal crash, according to authorities

Traffic is still heavy but is expected to start to ease now all lanes open again.

It comes almost a month after a female motorcyclist also lost her life on Sydney’s M4 after a fatal collision with a truck.

The woman died at the scene and the truck driver was uninjured…

Source: Traffic chaos in west Sydney after motorcyclist dies on M4 | Daily Mail Online

El Nino?: Australia could have its warmest and driest winter in years

This winter could be the warmest in years, with an Indian summer stretching on as far as July, forecasters have said.

With an El Nino brewing over the Pacific Ocean, the east and south of Australia could be in for a particularly dry and hot winter, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

With the west of Australia also set for a balmy few months, there is a slim chance that this could be a record-breaking winter.

An El Nino could form in the east of the Pacific and forecasters say this is likely to lead to drier and warmer conditions in eastern Australia.

Senior meteorologist Paul Gregory told Daily Mail Australia this means temperatures are likely to be a few degrees higher than usual, potentially topping 17C in Sydney.

‘What happens in the eastern seaboard largely affects the east and central Australia, but it’s possible we’ll have dry conditions in western Australia too.’

While most of us will enjoy the warmer weather, El Ninos can cause issues for farmers.

‘It can be harder for the farmers,’ Mr Gregory said. ‘It can bring an abrupt end to winter and you can get a very warm spring, which is what happened in 2015 and it can affect crops.’

Despite the warmer weather, there will still be the occasional cold snap too.

Canberra and southern New South Wales are predicted to record subzero temperatures in May, June and July, although this is not unusual.

The BOM added that it was too early to know if there would be enough snow for a decent ski season, but said there would definitely be some cold nights across south east Australia.

The forecast comes back on a particularly cold spell for south east Australia caused by an Antarctic blast.

Source: Weather: Australia could have its warmest winter in years | Daily Mail Online