Mike Willesee, giant of current affairs, lays bare his life or death cancer battle

Mike Willesee isn’t a well man. At the age of 75, he is battling stage four cancer of the throat, and it’s painful to watch, as he slowly walks into Sydney’s Chris O’Brien Lifehouse treatment centre.

Minutes later, a therapist places a mask over his face in preparation for one of his daily doses of radiation therapy.

Would he like the music playing through his treatment?

“Yeah, leave the music on,” he replies, as incongruously, the sound of Frank Sinatra fills the room: “Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away… if you can use some exotic booze, there’s a bar in far Bombay…

http://ift.tt/2zuXFHD

Thousands demand Putin quit as birthday protests turn violent

Thousands demand Putin quit as birthday protests turn violent https://t.co/3vg67pgcDl

— SBS News (@SBSNews) October 7, 2017

Harvey Weinstein to be suspended during harassment inquiry

Harvey Weinstein to be suspended during harassment inquiry, person with direct knowledge of decision tells AP.

Harvey Weinstein to be suspended during harassment inquiry, person with direct knowledge of decision tells AP. https://t.co/u7mMxYkrhX

— The Associated Press (@AP) October 6, 2017

 

Church cancels ceremony after bride supports SAME-SEX yes ballot on Facebook. TYPICAL!

Same-sex marriage: Church reportedly cancels ceremony after bride-to-be supports yes ballot on Facebook https://t.co/Fox30NspRq

— SBS News (@SBSNews) September 15, 2017

#Perth man’s Bali housekeeper has ‘feet hacked off by enraged husband’

A PERTH man living in Bali has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his housekeeper after both her feet were allegedly hacked off with a machete by her husband…

MORE: Perth man’s Bali housekeeper has ‘feet hacked off by enraged husband’ | Perth Now

Hurricane #Katia strengthens on slow path to Mexican coast

 

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Hurricane Katia strengthened as it moved slowly towards the Mexican Gulf coast on Friday and was expected to pick up speed before approaching land early on Saturday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

By mid-morning, Katia was 160 miles (255 km) east of the port of Tampico, with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour (155 km per hour), making the storm a Category 2

Source: Hurricane Katia strengthens on slow path to Mexican coast

Hurricane Harvey: Widespread devastation Texas braces for severe flooding, killing one –

At least one person has died as the most powerful storm to hit Texas in more than 50 years dumped torrential rain, devastating communities and threatening widespread flooding across the US state and possibly in the city of Houston.

Key points:

• Harvey weakens to tropical storm, threatens widespread floods
• Hit Texas as category four hurricane, one person dead
• Utilities report 240,000 customers without power

Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to lash Texas for days, bringing as much as 102 centimetres of rain after battering the coast when it came ashore yesterday.

The storm has triggered tornadoes and flash floods, and left nearly a quarter of a million people without power.

The seaside town of Rockport, 48 kilometres north of the city of Corpus Christi, took a direct hit.

Harvey destroyed many homes and damaged many commercial buildings.

Source: Hurricane Harvey leaves ‘widespread devastation’ as Texas braces for severe flooding, killing one – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

EX PM Tony Abbott Passed Out Drunk During Important Parliamentary Vote. V/CLIP;

Global financial markets were collapsing, and Abbott was too pissed to vote.

Tony Abbott has admitted that he passed out, drunk, in Parliament House and was too intoxicated to vote on measures around Australia’s response to the global financial crisis in 2009.

Abbott admitted to the long-running rumour to ABC journalist Annabel Crabb, as part of her new TV series ‘The House’. In the episode to air on September 5, Abbott laughed as he recounted the story.

The Member for Warringah said he was with fellow Liberals Peter Costello and Kevin Andrews and “hung out rather a long time” in the members-only dining room of Parliament House.

“The night that the then-Rudd government was trying to bring in measures to deal with the GFC,” Abbott said.

“I think quite a few bottles of wine were consumed by the three of us.

“I think I famously slept through several divisions.”

Source: Tony Abbott Was Passed Out Drunk During Important Parliamentary Vote

Stunt driver dies on ‘Deadpool 2’ set; CLIP

A stunt driver died on the Canadian set of “Deadpool 2″ after attempting to do a stunt on a motorcycle, according to a tweet today from the Vancouver Police Department.

No other details about the accident were immediately available, including the identity of the driver.

Video shows Vancouver police at scene of stunt driver’s death on the Canadian set of 'Deadpool 2.' https://t.co/Z1bLjMmhBu http://pic.twitter.com/iD9DtUHUtu

— ABC News (@ABC) August 14, 2017

“We are deeply saddened by the accident that occurred on the set of ‘Deadpool 2’ this morning,” a spokesman for distributor 20th Century Fox told ABC News in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of our crew member during this difficult time.”

Added star Ryan Reynolds: “We’re heartbroken, shocked and devastated… but recognize nothing can come close to the grief and inexplicable pain her family and loved ones must feel in this moment. My heart pours out to them — along with each and every person she touched in this world.”

“Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds confirmed in late-June that “Deadpool 2,” which co-stars Josh Brolin, had begun production. Reynolds last week thanked the police department and people of Vancouver “for putting up with road closures and traffic delays” as a result of filming.

Source: Stunt driver dies on ‘Deadpool 2’ set – ABC News

Commonwealth Bank chief to step down

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ian Narev will retire by the end of June next year after Australia’s largest bank was accused of breaching money-laundering and terrorism-financing laws.

‘In discussions with Ian, we have … agreed it is important for the business that we deal with the speculation and questions about his tenure,’ chairman Catherine Livingstone said in a statement to the ASX.

Mr Narev has led CBA to a series of record annual profits since taking charge in 2011 but has been under pressure since Australia’s financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC accused CBA of breaching money laundering and terrorism financing laws.

He already has had his short-term bonus for the 2017 financial year slashed and taken a 55 per cent pay cut as a result of the scandal,

CBA’s annual report, released on Monday, shows that Mr Narev received total remuneration of $5.5 million in the 12 months to June 30, down from $12.3 million a year earlier following allegations the bank breached money-laundering and terrorism-financing laws.

Source: Commonwealth Bank chief to step down

Recycled sewage to flow from #Perth taps

PERTH households could soon be drinking recycled sewage after health regulators gave Water Corporation the all-clear to start production at a landmark aquifer “recharge” plant.

The utility confirmed it had approval from the Health Department to begin “injecting” treated wastewater into Perth’s northern aquifers from a 14 billion litres a year recycling project.

The approval last Friday came almost a year after it was expected.

Under the recycling scheme, treated sewage from the Beenyup wastewater treatment plant will be processed before being pumped into the Gnangara aquifer system.

The water is left in the ground to undergo natural treatment before being used to boost the Water Corp’s yearly groundwater take, which accounts for about half of Perth’s drinking supplies.

With dwindling run-off into Perth’s dams, which are at only 34 per cent capacity, the Water Corp wants aquifer recharging to provide up to one-fifth of the city’s drinking water by 2060.

Water Corp spokeswoman Clare Lugar said the approval would allow the utility to finish the commissioning of the project’s first stage. All that would remain was an operating licence from the environment regulator.

“The approval was granted on the basis that water produced by the plant meets Australian guidelines for drinking water quality,” Ms Lugar said.

“This approval allows us to finish the commissioning of the recharge bores. A licence to operate the plant is pending from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and is expected in the coming weeks.”

Source: Recycled sewage to flow from Perth taps | Perth Now

Security fears at Australian airports lead to delays

AN aviation security expert has issued a chilling warning to Australian passengers who are already reeling from news a terror cell was allegedly planning to blow up a plane in Sydney.

Roger Henning, CEO of Homeland Security Asia Pacific, told Radio National on Monday the alleged plot security agencies uncovered in recent days would likely have been stopped if the terrorists were using a metal kitchen object as part of their deadly plan.

He said a metal detector would probably have foiled that plan — but there were other methods possible.

“There are other ways of blowing up aeroplanes and they’re certainly not covered by anything the Australian government or agencies have done to date.

“It would not show up any plastic explosives inside any metal object, what would show up is the metal object and that should trigger a response to have it examined manually, and removed.”

The Daily Telegraph reported two would-be father and son terror teams linked by marriage are allegedly behind a plot to blow up an international flight out of Sydney using a homemade bomb disguised as a kitchen mincer. The Federal Government is holding the four men without charge under tough anti-terror legislation. Investigators have a week to build their case against the men.

New security measures have been introduced at major Australian airports in response to the alleged plot leading to major delays today.

Mr Henning said it was “ridiculous” for politicians to insist that scanning was the key when “plastic explosives bypass all metal detectors, all scanners at every airport. There is no scanners that can pick up plastic explosives”.

It was the same situation with gas, he said.

“There is nothing to really stop a gas attack, the same risk applies at Parliament House in Canberra where these two things can bypass the scanning…”

The Australian has been told the detained men were allegedly constructing a “non-traditional’’ device, one that would kill the occupants of the targeted plane with poisonous gas.

News Corp understands the plane was going to be an international flight to the Middle East, possibly Dubai, that was leaving from Sydney.

Source: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane airport delays: ‘Crazy lines’ fray nerves

North Korea: Late-night launch was an intercontinental ballistic missile, US officials say

North Korea has fired what is believed to be another intercontinental ballistic missile, which may have landed in the sea off Japan.

The launch marked the second time this month North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has demonstrated a theoretical capability of striking a portion of US territory.

The missile was launched on a heightened trajectory that limited the distance it travelled, but data collected by the US showed it was theoretically capable of traveling at least 5,500 kilometres on a normal trajectory.

That is the minimum distance to be classified by the US as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

US President Donald Trump has said he would not allow North Korea to obtain an ICBM that could deliver a nuclear warhead.

“We assess that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile, as had been expected,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.

He said the missile was estimated to have travelled about 1,000 kilometres before landing in the Sea of Japan, while the North American Aerospace Defense Command determined the missile did not pose a threat to North America.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that officials were analysing the launch and that he had called a meeting of the National Security Council.

Source: North Korea: Late-night launch was an intercontinental ballistic missile, US officials say – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Mark Philippoussis’ Father, Nikolaos, Arrested By Police On Molestation Charges

The 68-year-old allegedly molested minors who took tennis lessons from him.

The father of Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis has been arrested by police in the U.S. for “multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts with two minor victims”.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has alleged that Nikolaos Philippoussis, who works as a personal tennis coach in Northern San Diego County, molested two young pupils who took lessons from him.

Source: Mark Philippoussis’ Father, Nikolaos, Arrested By Police On Molestation Charges

Special Counsel Investigating Possible Money Laundering by Paul Manafort

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating possible money laundering by Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s  former campaign manager, as part of his criminal investigation into what U.S. intelligence agencies say was a Kremlin-backed campaign to meddle in the 2016 presidential election, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The inquiry into the issue by Mr. Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and his team began several weeks ago, this person said. A spokesman for Mr. Manafort, Jason Maloni, declined to comment, as did a spokesman for Mr. Mueller.

Mr. Mueller’s investigation is focusing on Russian meddling as well as whether any members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow. Mr. Trump has denied any collusion and described investigations into the issue a “witch hunt.” Russia has denied meddling.

The Senate and House intelligence committees also are probing possible money laundering by Mr. Manafort, according to people with knowledge of those investigations.

The Senate committee also has received reports from the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which tracks illicit money flows, to learn if any of Mr. Trump’s businesses may have financial ties to Russian interests, these people said. Mr. Trump has said he has no such ties.

Mr. Manafort, a Republican political consultant, spent years working for a pro-Russia party in Ukraine. He served as Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign manager for roughly three months in 2016 before resigning.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. also are investigating Mr. Manafort’s real-estate transactions, The Wall Street Journal has reported, with both offices examining his dealings for possible money-laundering and fraud. Messrs. Schneiderman and Vance are Democrats.

Mr. Manafort has spent and borrowed tens of millions of dollars in connection with properties in the U.S. over the past decade, including a Brooklyn, N.Y., townhouse and California properties being developed by his son-in-law, the Journal has reported.

Through his spokesman, Mr. Manafort has said his “personal investments in real estate are all ordinary business transactions.”

In April, before Mr. Mueller’s appointment as special counsel, the Justice Department requested Mr. Manafort’s banking records as part of the Russia probe that is now being led by Mr. Mueller, the Journal reported.

And earlier this month, the Journal reported that the Manhattan district attorney’s office had subpoenaed records relating to up to $16 million in loans that a bank run by Steve Calk, a former campaign economic adviser to Mr. Trump, made to Mr. Manafort.

Source: Special Counsel Investigating Possible Money Laundering by Paul Manafort – WSJ

#Perth Man dies after Yanchep Crash. Ute rolled several times

A MAN has died after a car rolled several times in Yanchep overnight.

Major Crash officers are investigating the crash, which happened about 8.55pm.

Officers understand a white, early 1997 model Holden Commodore ute was travelling south on Two Rocks Road near Zamia Rise when it left the road and rolled several times through a park, coming to rest at the entrance road to Club Capricorn.

The 51-year-old male driver died at the scene.

Any witnesses who may have seen the vehicle driving in the Yanchep area prior to or at the time of the crash to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a report online at http://ift.tt/1JsYACI

A MAN has died after a car rolled several times in Yanchep overnight.

Source: Man, 51, dies after Yanchep car crash | Perth Now

Champs Elysees attack: Car carrying explosives rams police van in Paris, causing fiery blast

A man has died after ramming a car carrying weapons and explosives into a police van as it drove down Paris’ Champs Elysees, officials say.

Key points:

• Sources say the man was known for links to extremism
• No police officers or passers-by were hurt
• Interior Minister says incident shows threat level in France remains high

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said the man was killed after an attack on a police convoy.

Two police officials said a handgun was found on the driver, who they said was badly burned after the vehicle exploded.

They identified the man as a 31-year-old from the Paris suburb of Argenteuil who had an “S” file, meaning he was flagged for links to extremism.

Mr Collomb said the man’s car was carrying weapons and explosives that could have caused a blast.

Source: Champs Elysees attack: Car carrying explosives rams police van in Paris, causing fiery blast – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)