Indian power plant explosion in Uttar Pradesh kills 18, up to 100 injured

An explosion at an Indian coal-fired power plant has killed 18 people and injured up to 100 others in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Among those injured, 22 with severe burn injuries have been sent to the state capital Lucknow for treatment, while 15 are in another hospital within the district, Uttar Pradesh police said.

“Total number of casualties could go up once the blades of the boiler are cut,” the state’s police said, adding that 18 people have been confirmed dead by the district administration.

Source: Indian power plant explosion in Uttar Pradesh kills 18, up to 100 injured – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Indonesia fireworks factory explosion kills at least 47, dozens more injured

An explosion at a fireworks factory in an area west of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta kills 47 people, police say.

MORE: Indonesia fireworks factory explosion kills at least 47, dozens more injured – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Australian Workers Union attempts to stop examination of documents after AFP raids

The Australian Workers Union will today head to the Federal Court in an attempt to stop the documents obtained by Australian Federal Police in yesterday’s raids from being examined.

More: Australian Workers Union attempts to stop examination of documents after AFP raids – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Imagine if the High Court decides on the Citizenship Seven during Question Time

Chief Justice Susan Kiefel says the High Court won’t be rushed to rule on the Citizenship Seven, but imagine if it handed down a judgment during Parliament…

MORE: Imagine if the High Court decides on the Citizenship Seven during Question Time – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Pesticide residue detected in 75 per cent of honey sold worldwide

A study analysing honey products has found 75 per cent contain pesticide.

Swiss scientists tested 198 honey samples sourced from every continent except Antarctica for the presence of five neonicotinoid pesticides, which are commonly used in agriculture.

Honey from North America, Asia and Europe contained the highest levels of pesticides, they reported in the journal Science.

MORE: Pesticide residue detected in 75 per cent of honey sold worldwide – Science News – ABC News

N Korea: UN Security Council unanimously adopts new sanctions over nuclear test

The UN Security Council unanimously agrees to impose new sanctions on North Korea over its sixth and most powerful nuclear test…

MORE: North Korea: UN Security Council unanimously adopts new sanctions over nuclear test – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

N Korea fires missile over Japan; attack warnings sounded; launch an ‘unprecedented threat’

North Korea launches a missile which passes over Japan, the Japanese Government says.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised to “protect the lives” of his country’s people after North Korea fired a missile over northern Japan this morning.

Key points:

• Japanese military did not attempt to shoot missile down
• Missile lands in sea off northern island of Hokkaido
• US says launch does not pose threat to North America

The missile was launched from near North Korean capital Pyongyang and flew about 2,700 kilometres, reaching an altitude of about 550km.

It flew over Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido before breaking into three pieces and falling into the sea about 1,180 km to the east of Japan.

Air raid warnings sounded in northern Japan as the missile approached, with people being warned to take shelter in basements.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the missile launch posed an “unprecedented threat” and was a clear violation of United Nations resolutions.

“This ballistic missile launch appeared to fly over our territory,” the top government spokesman told reporters.

“It is an unprecedented, serious and grave threat to our nation.”

“We will make utmost efforts to firmly protect the lives of the people,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in brief remarks as he entered his office for emergency meetings.

The Japanese military did not attempt to shoot down the missile.

Source: North Korea fires missile over Japan; attack warnings sounded; launch an ‘unprecedented threat’ – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Jerry Lewis: Renowned actor, slapstick comedy legend dies in Las Vegas home at 91

Jerry Lewis, the comedic legend who teamed up with Dean Martin before starring in his own series of slapstick movies during the 1950s, has died of natural causes at the age of 91.

“Famed comedian, actor and legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis passed away peacefully today of natural causes at 91 at his home in Las Vegas with his family by his side,” a statement from the Lewis family said.

 

His spokeswoman, Candi Cazau, said he died about 9:30am local time on Sunday.

The son of vaudeville entertainers, Lewis became a star in the early 1950s as Dean Martin’s comic sidekick in nightclubs, on television and in 16 movies.

At their height, they set off the kind of fan hysteria that once surrounded Frank Sinatra and The Beatles.

Their decade-long partnership ended with a bitter split and Lewis went on to star in, and direct, a slew of hit films such as The Nutty Professor.

He once summed up his career by saying he had “great success being a total idiot”, and said the key was maintaining a certain child-like quality.

Source: Jerry Lewis: Renowned actor, slapstick comedy legend dies in Las Vegas home at age 91 – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Falling tree kills 13, injures dozens more at Catholic festival on Portuguese Island of Madeira

An oak tree topples into a crowd of worshippers during Madeira’s biggest annual Roman Catholic festival killing 13 and injuring a further 49.

The accident happened during Madeira’s biggest annual Roman Catholic festival, which draws big crowds to celebrate the island’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Mount.

Worshippers were struck by the falling tree near a shrine in a park in the hills above Madeira’s capital Funchal as they prepared for a procession.

Pedro Ramos, health secretary of the local government of Madeira, said 10 people had died on the spot and a further three when they arrived in hospital.

He said some of the injured were foreign tourists, including from Germany and France.

Source: Falling tree kills 13, injures dozens more at Catholic festival on Portuguese Island of Madeira – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Donald Trump fires Anthony Scaramucci after 10 days as communications director

Donald Trump has fired Anthony Scaramucci from his job as communications director after just 10 days, in what the US President described as “a great day at the White House”.

Key points:

• Scaramucci became communications director on July 21, the same day Sean Spicer announced his resignation
• He told Fox News his appointment marked the beginning of “an era of a new good feeling”
• White House said he was leaving to give new chief of staff a “clean slate”

Hoping to turn the page on a tumultuous opening chapter to his presidency, Mr Trump had earlier insisted there was “no chaos” in his White House as he swore in retired Marine general John Kelly as his second chief of staff.

Not long after, Mr Scaramucci, who shocked many with his profane outburst last week against then-chief of staff Reince Priebus, was gone.

In the words of the White House announcement, Mr Scaramucci was leaving because he “felt it was best to give chief of staff John Kelly a clean slate and the ability to build his own team”.

The two-sentence release concluded: “We wish him all the best.”

Hours after the news broke, Mr Trump tweeted it was “a great day at the White House”.

Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the news, saying Mr Scaramucci “does not have a role at this time in the Trump administration”.

The Fight House

“The Mooch” won’t be quickly forgotten — he threw plenty of punches during his short tenure, writes Conor Duffy.

“The President certainly felt Anthony’s comments [about Mr Priebus] were inappropriate for a person in that position,” she said.

Source: Donald Trump fires Anthony Scaramucci after 10 days as communications director – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Solo sailor Lisa Blair arrives in Albany after historic Antarctic circumnavigation

Scores of supporters have welcomed Queensland sailor Lisa Blair back into Australia, capping off her 184-day journey around Antarctica.

Blair, 32, set off from Albany in Western Australia in January and is set to be named the first woman to circumnavigate Antarctica solo.

Blair was expected to reach Albany’s Princess Royal Harbour early on Tuesday afternoon, but strong winds kept her from making landfall earlier.

Hundreds of people lined vantage points along the coast to cheer her in, however it was dark by the time she docked her yacht just before 8:00pm (WST).

Despite often experiencing turbulent seas, Blair said her ambition remained intact.

“Every bit of pain, every sail change and all the bitter cold — it was definitely worth it,” she said…

Source: Solo sailor Lisa Blair arrives in Albany after historic Antarctic circumnavigation – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

#F1 Hamilton cut Vettel’s title lead to one point. Well Done Dan Ric 5th after starting 19

Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for the fourth year in a row on Sunday while a penultimate-lap puncture slashed Sebastian Vettel’s championship lead to a single point.

The Briton’s drive from pole to flag on an overcast afternoon was lonely, uneventful and dominant — in complete contrast to his Ferrari rival’s afternoon — with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas finishing 14 seconds behind to secure the one-two.

“The support has been incredible this weekend. I am so proud I could do this for you all,” said Hamilton, who threw himself into the fans for some crowd-surfing after the podium celebrations.

“The team were faultless this weekend, Valtteri did an incredible job as well so it

‘s the perfect weekend for us.”

Far behind in his wake, as Hamilton cruised to a 57th career win and soaked up the applause from an army of flag-waving fans, came sudden drama.

Vettel, who had battled on worn tyres but looked like securing the final podium position until the blowout, finished seventh after an emergency pit stop with a shower of sparks from the wheel rim.

“There was no sign of that happening,” said Vettel over the team radio. “There were vibrations but I had it for 20 laps and it didn’t get massively worse. The tyres didn’t look great but they never look great.”

The German’s Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who had been second before also being hit with a late puncture that sent Bottas and Vettel ahead of him, took third.

Source: Formula One: Lewis Hamilton wins British GP to cut Sebastian Vettel’s title lead to one point – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Sydney Swans too much for Melbourne Demons to handle: AFL round 15 scores, stats and commentary

Sydney has finished over the top of Melbourne in a comprehensive 35-point victory at the MCG that propels the Swans into the top eight.

Friday’s 11.19 (85) to 7.8 (50) win was their seventh from their past eight games and puts them into seventh spot on the ladder.

The victory was sparked by an inspired four-goal performance by Lance Franklin, while Tom Papley kicked two majors.

It ended up a surprisingly comfortable win for Sydney after a tight and fiery start that saw the Demons kick 4.0 to Sydney’s 1.8 in the first term.

The sparks flew early after Tom Bugg took the mantle of primary Melbourne antagonist from Clayton Oliver, who started the night on the bench after his controversial week.

Bugg was nearly ripped apart by the Swans after he socked defender Callum Mills in the first quarter…

MORE: Sydney Swans too much for Melbourne Demons to handle: AFL round 15 scores, stats and commentary – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Brussels Central Station: Soldiers shoot suspected bomber dead after reports of explosion

Belgian troops have shot dead a suspected suicide bomber after reports of an explosion at Brussels Central Station.

Officials said no-one was injured in the explosion and the situation was “under control” after people were evacuated.

“There was an explosion around a person,” a police spokesman said.

“That person was neutralised by the soldiers that were on the scene.

Prosecutor’s spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch said medics were unable to attend to him for several hours out of fear he could be carrying explosives, but officials confirmed his death once a bomb squad had finished its work.

Belgian federal prosecutors said the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack.

“At about 8:30pm there was an explosion in the Central Station, relatively small in size,” federal prosecutors spokesman Eric Van der Sypt said.

Prosecutor’s spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch said medics were unable to attend to him for several hours out of fear he could be carrying explosives, but officials confirmed his death once a bomb squad had finished its work.

Belgian federal prosecutors said the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack.

Source: Brussels Central Station: Soldiers shoot suspected bomber dead after reports of explosion – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

James Comey + Donald Trump: Ex FBI director: President fired him to undermine Russia probe

J

Former FBI director James Comey has accused US President Donald Trump of firing him to try to undermine the bureau’s investigation into possible collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign team and Russia.

Key points:

• Mr Comey says he took notes of meetings because he feared Mr Trump may later lie
• Former intelligence chief says White House defamed him and FBI
• Mr Trump’s lawyer disputes key parts of Mr Comey’s testimony

Mr Comey also told senators in the most eagerly anticipated US congressional hearing in years that the Trump administration had told lies and defamed him and the FBI after the President dismissed him on May 9.

After Mr Comey’s firing, Mr Trump’s administration said the bureau was in disarray and that the workforce had lost confidence in its leader.

“Those were lies, plain and simple,” Mr Comey said.

investigations into possible collusion between the President’s team and Russia.

Source: James Comey and Donald Trump: Former FBI director says President fired him to undermine Russia probe – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Australian sovereignty under threat from influence of China’s Communist Party

The defence and intelligence community believes that attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to exert its influence in Australia pose a direct threat to our nation’s liberties and its sovereignty.

Key points:

• A joint Four Corners-Fairfax investigation reveals Beijing is active in Australia across an array of fronts
• The former Defence secretary and ASIO’s chief have both voiced concerns about foreign interference in Australia
• The interference campaign is especially active on university campuses and in the Chinese-language media in Australia

That fear has been confirmed by a five-month-long Four Corners-Fairfax investigation which shows Beijing is active across a vast array of fronts — from directing Chinese student associations, threatening Australian-based Chinese dissidents, seeking to influence academic inquiry, co-opting community groups and controlling most Chinese-language media…

Source: Australian sovereignty under threat from influence of China’s Communist Party – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)