ABC, Fairfax criticised by judge in Chau Chak Wing defamation case for using MP’s comments

A Federal Court judge has criticised the ABC and Fairfax for attempting to use comments made by a federal MP as proof allegations of bribery against Chau Chak Wing were true.The Chinese-Australian businessman and political donor is suing the two media organisations, as well as journalist Nick McKenzie, for defamation over a Four Corners program and accompanying online story published on June 5, 2017.

Mr Chau argues that among some of the imputations the story conveyed were that he bribed or was involved in a scheme to bribe the former president of the United Nations General Assembly, John Ashe.

The ABC and Fairfax wish to file a defence relying on, among other things, a May speech by the Federal MP Andrew Hastie in which he used parliamentary privilege to name Mr Chau as a co-conspirator in the Ashe matter.When that was raised in an interlocutory hearing on Wednesday, Justice Steven Rares said it was “extraordinary” that the media companies were “trying to use that as evidence of truth” and that is was an abuse of parliamentary privilege.”The fact that Mr Hastie wants to say something doesn’t prove anything,” he said.

Source: ABC, Fairfax criticised by judge in Chau Chak Wing defamation case for using MP’s comments – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Scarborough Beach twin towers plan given green light after revised design approved

A twin-tower development up to 43 storeys high will be built on Perth’s iconic Scarborough Beach after a revised plan was given the tick of approval.

The project, put forward by Chinese-backed developers 3 Oceans, will see two mixed-use residential and hotel accommodation towers of 43 and 33 storeys built on Scarborough Beach Road near the main beach.

The towers will be more than double the height of the existing tallest structure along the beach, the 18-storey Rendezvous Hotel.The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) initially rejected a proposed $400 million plan, which included two towers — one of 43 storeys and another of 35 storeys — over concerns it was a significant overdevelopment of the site.

Source: Scarborough Beach twin towers plan given green light after revised design approved – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

15-year-old crashes mum’s 4WD car through KFC on Walter Road West in Morley, #Perth

A car has ploughed through the wall of a KFC in Morley coming to rest in the middle of the restaurant.It’s believed the driver was a 15-year-old girl, who has been taken to Royal Perth Hospital with minor injuries. It’s thought she was behind the wheel of her parents car at the time.

The four wheel drive came crashing through the side of the fast-food outlet on Walter Road West just after 5.30pm this evening.

Source: No one injured as 15-year-old crashes mum’s car through KFC on Walter Road West in Morley | PerthNow

Fiery scenes in WA Parliament as women MPs reveal colleagues’ offensive behaviour

A fiery and emotional debate has erupted in the Western Australian Parliament about the treatment of female MPs in the wake of an incident last week when a senior minister was accused of “feigning a headbutt” towards Nationals leader Mia Davies.

Ms Davies referred the alleged behaviour of Water Minister Dave Kelly to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly last Thursday, claiming it “bordered on intimidatory”.But on Tuesday Speaker Peter Watson said he would not take the complaint any further and was satisfied Mr Kelly “did not move his head in the Member’s direction”.

Mr Kelly has repeatedly denied the allegation and has the support of the Premier Mark McGowan who said the allegations were “fabricated”. But the response sparked an emotional plea from Ms Davies, who urged her colleagues to refer the matter to a powerful committee for further investigation.”I’m happy to come to this place, I am happy to be criticised, I am happy to have members opposite pull our policy apart … we expect that,” she told the chamber.”But I expect that when one member of this place says they feel uncomfortable, that it is not mocked by those opposite.”‘Extraordinarily offensive’

Source: Fiery scenes in WA Parliament as women MPs reveal colleagues’ offensive behaviour – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

This is either a Giant Mop or a Komondor, a traditional Hungarian guard dog. 😳🙀 Via; @welcomet0nature

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Amsterdam Canal 😍😄 Via; @PicPublic

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Germany apartment explosion injures 25, destroys building

Twenty-five people were injured, four of them severely, in an explosion that destroyed an apartment building in the western German city of Wuppertal, according to police.

Police said the explosion rocked the several-story building shortly before midnight on Saturday (local time) with a large bang, scaring people in surrounding homes so much they ran out into the street in a panic.

The detonation was so severe it destroyed the building’s attic and the top three floors, the German news agency DPA reported.Fire then broke out in several different parts of the apartment building and firefighters had trouble dousing the flames as parts of the building kept collapsing.Firefighters were able to rescue four severely injured people from inside the building and transport them to hospital.Another 21 people were slightly injured and treated by emergency staff at the scene.

Source: Germany apartment explosion injures 25, destroys building – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)