Extreme fire danger for WA

SEVERE and extreme fire warnings have been issued for a number of regions in WA including Perth and Mandurah for Sunday.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued severe to extreme fire danger ratings as well as a catastrophic fire danger forecast for Gascoyne Inland, Inland Central West - South, Mortlock, Ninghan and Avon.

There is an extreme fire danger forecast for the Great Southern, Inland Central West - North, Lower West Inland and Jilbadgie.

Severe Fire Danger is forecast for the WA Goldfields, South Interior, Lower West Coast and Stirling Inland.

The Department of Fires and Emergency Services (DEFS) says people need to stay alert and watch for signs of fire, especially smoke and flames.

Much of western Australia has been baking in heat wave conditions with Perth recording a top temperature on Saturday afternoon of 43.3C

The BoM forecast for Sunday is for another very hot and sunny morning with a top temperature for Perth of 41C, with 25 km/h winds increasing to 45km/h before a southwesterly change.

More than 60 firefighters and a number of helicopters spent Saturday battling a fire that burned through about 30 hectares in the Perth's west.

The fire which was contained but not controlled was moving northwest through Jolimont towards the University of Western Australia (UWA) Research Park and producing lots of smoke, the DFES warned on Saturday night.

In the areas subject to Sunday's catastrophe fire warning, it says the conditions are "the worst conditions for a bush or grass fire", adding that if a fire takes hold "it will be extremely difficult to control and will take significant firefighting resources and cooler conditions to bring it under control".

The department is warning people put their survival first and leave the night before or early in the day.

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Police find 14 stolen cars on property

POLICE have charged a 40-year-old man after locating suspected stolen property, including 14 cars, at Kingston today.

A search of an Ariel Ave address revealed a large amount of property including cars, car parts and drugs.

Police have charged the man with possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of motor vehicles, receiving tainted property, possession of utensils that had been used and possession of property having been suspected of being used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.

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Residents evacuated in unit complex fire

A FIRE which resulted in the evacuation of 30 residents from a Kedron unit complex is believed to have started in an electrical storage room.

Emergency crews attended the fire on Gympie Rd and extinguished the fire a short time after.

Energex crews have cut power to the building to allow private electrical contractors to find the exact source of the fire.

Police said alternative accommodation was being found for the mostly elderly residents, who should be able to return tomorrow.
 

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Police dogs search for driver after crash

POLICE dogs are currently searching for the driver of a suspected stolen car which crashed into the back of a truck on the Gateway Motorway.

Police were called to the scene of the crash, opposite the Nudgee Beach southbound exit about 8.40pm.

It is believed the driver of the car was speeding at the time of the crash. The truck driver was not injured.

Dogs are being used to track the car driver and a possible passenger, who fled the scene.

Police said the incident could be linked to a number of hooning reports on Brisbane's south earlier this evening.

One lane is currently blocked to traffic.
 

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Police hunt teen after farmer threatened

A teenage boy is on the run after allegedly breaking into a farmhouse in NSW, police say. Source: AAP

A FARMER was threatened by a teen armed with a stolen firearm after a break-in on the NSW north coast.

Police say two teenagers forced entry into a farmhouse on Greens Lane at Swan Creek between 2pm and 5pm (AEDT) on Thursday and stole a firearm, two hunting knives and a quad bike before fleeing.

A short time later a farmer confronted the pair on another property, believing they were shooting at his cattle.

Police have been told one of the teenagers pointed the firearm at the farmer before attempting to flee on the quad bike.

They escaped on foot into bushland.

A search for the pair resumed at 7am on Friday after they were spotted on Coldstream Road at Tyndale.

Just after midday a 15-year-old boy was found by a police dog in a cane paddock at Tyndale and is now assisting police.

A search is continuing for the second teenager who was last seen crossing the Clarence River in a stolen boat.

It's believed he is in the Maclean/Yamba area.

He is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged in his mid to late teens and approximately 170cm tall, wearing blue shorts and a blue shirt.

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Families of injured Vic officers thankful

THE families of three police officers seriously injured in a Melbourne explosion say words can't express their gratitude for the bravery of strangers who came to their aid after the blast.

Sergeant Tony Scully, First Constable Emma Quick and Constable Varli Blake had been called to a Middle Park flat on Saturday night after reports a man was threatening self harm.

As firefighters and police entered the flat via the balcony, a gas bottle exploded.

The brother of Const Quick, Matthew Quick, praised the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and paramedics for saving the lives of the police.

But he said the families were also overwhelmed by the bravery of neighbours and passers by who helped the officers in the chaotic moments after the blast.

"The stories we've heard about what people have done to help them out, that's what really sits us back in our chairs," Mr Quick said. "Our gratitude, words aren't enough to express what that is.

"Through a horrible, horrible tragedy ... we've all seen the best of people and the best of human nature."

The three police members, along with two firefighters since released from hospital, were injured in the blast.

Police say they are getting closer to finding the cause of the explosion.

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay told reporters on Friday he was hopeful that Victoria Police would be able to make an announcement on how the explosion occurred in coming days.

"Things are starting to develop in relation to what might have happened," Mr Lay said.

"I'd be hopeful that perhaps today or tomorrow there will be a bit more clarity around what was the ignition source."

Police have not spoken to the occupant of the flat, who remains under police guard at The Alfred hospital.

A recovery fund has been set up by the policing community to help ease the financial burden on the officers during a recovery expected to take years.

Victoria Police and the Police Association donated $10,000 each to the fund while BankVic has also made a "sizable contribution".

Mr Quick thanked both the police force and wider community for rallying around the injured officers.

"Humbling is the word that came to mind when we heard that was being set up," he said.

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Young man's death suspicious: police

Police have discovered a man's body on a dirt road in central Queensland. Source: AAP

THE death of a young Rockhampton man whose body was found on a road in central Queensland is being treated as suspicious.

A driver saw the body while travelling down the Jambin-Dakenba Road near Biloela, south of Rockhampton, on Friday morning, police said.

Investigations into the death of the 18-year-old man continue.

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President and PM quit in CAfrican Republic

A TOP regional official has announced that the president and prime minister of Central African Republic are stepping down from power.

The announcement was made on Friday by Ahmat Allami, the secretary-general of the regional bloc of Central African states.

Rebel leader Michel Djotodia seized power in a March 2013 coup when thousands of his fighters stormed the capital. He was later installed as president while longtime opposition leader Nicolas Tiangaye became prime minister.

However, the country has tilted toward anarchy in the months that have followed and the violence has turned Muslim and Christian communities against each other.

A Christian militia attempted a coup in early December, unleashing days of bloodshed on the streets of the capital that left more than 1,000 people dead.

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Remaining Brothers in police sights

A Brothers for Life gang leader has been caught and arrested on Sydney's central coast. Source: AAP

POLICE have vowed to go after other members of violent western Sydney gang Brothers for Life after the arrest of three key members, including alleged leader Farhad Qaumi.

Fourteen members of the gang have been arrested since November and while police believe membership is shrinking by the day, they say their work is not yet done.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas said speculation the group was finished was premature but he was optimistic those who had caused the damage were in custody or "neutralised".

The gang, linked to murder and shootings, was further disrupted when police raided homes in Sydney and the NSW central coast on Wednesday, arresting Qaumi and two others.

"In many ways this is just the beginning," Mr Kaldas told reporters on Thursday.

"We pretty much know what has happened with just about all of the shootings that have occurred in the last 12 months."

Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace said gang members should hand themselves in to police before officers go to them.

"They know who you are," she said.

"I suggest you knock on our door before they knock on yours."

Mr Kaldas said on Thursday that police realised they needed to act quicker to curb the gang's violent activities after a shooting at Rose Bay on New Year's Day.

Qaumi, 31, was found at Bondi Beach with a bullet wound after being hit when a chartered luxury cruiser was peppered with shots at Rose Bay on January 1. He was treated at St Vincent's Hospital but discharged himself within hours.

Police allege Qaumi, also known as "the Afghan", is the head of the Brothers for Life Blacktown chapter, which has been at war with the original Bankstown chapter, with the infighting linked to shootings on Sydney's streets and a murder.

"It will be alleged he is a leader of a group and leader of a faction that has been involved in most of the shootings that have occurred in Sydney in the last three or four months," Mr Kaldas said.

Qaumi and his brother, 29-year-old Mumtaz Ahmed Qaumi, a senior gang member, were charged with firearm and drug offences on Wednesday.

The elder brother was flanked by police as he appeared in Wyong Local Court on Thursday.

They were also charged with knowingly directing the criminal activities of a group.

The brothers did not apply for bail, which was formally refused.

Masieh Amiri, 27, who was also arrested in the Wednesday crackdown, was charged with drug and gun offences and did not apply for bail when he appeared in Parramatta Local Court.

Last November police arrested 11 alleged senior members of Brothers for Life members following a shooting in 2012 and another last year.

Among them was Mohammed Hamzy, the Bankstown faction leader and cousin of Brothers for Life founder Bassam Hamzy, 34.

Police say Brothers for Life initially started as a group loyal to Bassam Hamzy, who is serving a jail term for the 1998 murder of Kris Toumazis outside a Sydney night club.

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Minimum wage prevents working poor: Labor

Bill Shorten says deferring minimum wage increase could lead to the creation of working poor. Source: AAP

FEDERAL Labor leader Bill Shorten says he won't support the creation of a US-style working poor in Australia, after business groups called for any minimum wage increase to be deferred this year.

The Fair Work Commission sets minimum wage increases in Australia, with workers granted a rise of $15.80 a week last June.

Industry bodies such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Industry Group (AiGroup) say any 2014 increase should be minimised or deferred, because business has already been hit with higher penalty rates, apprentice wages and superannuation levies.

"With employment growth very slow for most of last year and not looking all that healthy as we head into 2014, we need to avoid adding to costs," AiGroup chief executive Innes Willox told Fairfax Media.

But Mr Shorten said 1.5 million Australians relied on the minimum wage, which was part of the strong safety net to prevent an underclass of working poor.

There was a process to set the minimum wage and all parties were welcome to put their position.

"Labor does not support a working poor as we see in the United States," he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

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Mystery Bali deaths haunt friends, family

Hundreds of mourners have attended a service for a Queensland mother and daughter who died in Bali. Source: AAP

SUNSHINE Coast mother and daughter Noelene and Yvana Bischoff played together and travelled together, but the mystery of how they died together in Bali lingers.

The pair died after becoming violently ill last weekend, less than 24 hours after checking in to a beachfront resort on the holiday island.

There has been speculation they ate toxic fish and although Indonesian authorities have agreed for autopsies to be done in Queensland, they also wanted to continue their investigations after 29 types of medication were found in the Bischoffs' hotel room.

Karangasem police chief detective Adnan Pandibu said on Thursday forensic examinations have been completed and their bodies would be returned to Queensland on Friday.

"Tomorrow is the plan," Det Pandibu told AAP when asked when they would be returned.

He said while the laboratory tests had been issued to police, they would not be released immediately.

The day before they died, the mother and daughter, aged 54 and 14, were seen seemingly fit and well at an elephant farm.

More than 400 mourners remembered them at a memorial service in Caloundra on Thursday, hearing that the two were inseparable from the start, when Noelene, a nurse, drove herself to hospital for Yvana's birth.

Yvana's words were heard at the service when a brief written assignment on her life was read by Noelene's cousin and principal of her Caloundra Christian College, Mark Hodges.

She talks about her love of animals and her passion to become a horse vet, but her relationship with her mother is what truly shaped her.

"My mum is my greatest hero, she made me who I am today," she wrote.

"She is amazing, simply amazing.

"She has been my biggest influence, she has taught me everything, how to talk - literally - and how to be a friend."

Their bond was demonstrated early on when, as a baby, Yvana would scream at everyone but her mother.

"She was a bit of a handful for the first couple of years and only accepted Noelene," brother-in-law Kevin Bowe said.

"She finally settled down and from there on they were the best of friends and it was a pleasure to be in their company."

Noelene was a nurse at Caloundra hospital, but avoided promotions to dedicate time to her daughter and her mother, Jean.

Colleague Linda King said that most of the staff knew Yvana, who'd call to say good morning or good night when her mother worked shifts.

Ms King said of Noelene: "She brought grace, composure and competence to the most hairy situations.

"She didn't live presuming she had time left over, she didn't, they didn't."

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Golden Globes showcase best of Hollywood

Critics have tipped American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave to do well at this year's Golden Globes Source: AAP

THE Oscars may still be almost two months away, but Hollywood is already in the grip of awards fever.

The Golden Globe Awards will be handed out, four days before the Oscar nominations are announced, in a week in which the focus of so much Hollywood effort will either be richly rewarded or shunned.

The ceremony will air in Australia on pay TV's Fox8 at noon (AEDT) on Monday.

Serious film types often dismiss the Globes as largely irrelevant to the inner workings of Hollywood, since the awards are chosen by a small and self-selected group of foreign film journalists, few of whom are credentialled to major media organisations.

But that hasn't stopped the awards show from becoming one of the best-known Hollywood events of the year, which succeeds in attracting all the major stars, and which is capable of giving winning movies a powerful boost with audiences.

Since 1956 the Globes have been honouring the best of television as well as film, unlike the Oscars, which focus only on movies.

In the past, the Golden Globes have had a haphazard record at predicting Oscar success. That is unlikely to change this year.

But with critics acclaiming this year's crop of movies one of the most award-worthy in recent memory, there's bound to be a significant overlap.

That augurs well for 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle, the two movies which came out on top of the nominations, earning seven nods apiece.

Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes split their choice in two - choosing separate pictures for best drama and best comedy or musical.

That means that Steve McQueen's haunting tale of a free black man kidnapped into slavery in pre-civil war America is the clear favourite to win the award for best drama, while David O. Russell's finely crafted caper about an FBI corruption sting operation is just as sure to win for best comedy or musical.

The odds are best reflected in a closely-watched poll of experts conducted by entertainment awards site GoldDerby.com. Of the 19 experts it asked, 18 predicted victory for American Hustle, with just a single dissenter going for the poignant tale Nebraska.

The other nominees are Her about a man who falls in love with his computer, Inside Llewyn Davis, a rom-com set in the folk music scene of 1960s New York, and The Wolf of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese's keenly observed critique of the excesses of the finance industry.

Similarly, 14 of GoldDerby's experts chose 12 Years a Slave as the best drama, with the other five going for Alfonso Cuaron's brilliantly-made space thriller Gravity. The other nominees are maritime thriller Captain Phillips, Formula 1 epic Rush, and Philomena, about a woman's quest to track down the baby she gave away for adoption.

If such equations take much of the suspense out of the show, there's still plenty of other reasons to tune in to the broadcast. Last year, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler earned some of the strongest raves for hosts of an awards show with their charming, down-to-earth and often hilarious stint as the co-hosts.

In contrast to other recent Oscar and Golden Globe hosts, they seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as many in the audience, and had no need to descend into vulgarities or character assassinations in an effort to induce laughter. Fey and Poehler are returning on Sunday night.

Film fans also will not want to miss the cavalcade of glamorous stars who will be strutting the red carpet, and enjoying the endless supply of fancy champagne and a gourmet dinner made with local California ingredients.

This year' faces will include Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet, who are up for best actress in a comedy or musical, as well as Amy Adams, Julie Delpy, Greta Gerwig, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Meryl Streep, who are competing for the best dramatic actress prize.

Among the men, Christian Bale, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar Isaac and Joaquin Phoenix are the nominees for the best actor in a comedy or musical, while Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey and Robert Redford are vying for the dramatic acting award. Redford has never been nominated for an acting Golden Globe, so now, at the age of 77, it may finally be his time to shine.

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Beware of fake monks asking for cash

CONMEN are fleecing cash from people in Sydney by masquerading as Buddhist monks seeking donations.

Acting NSW Fair Trading Commissioner John Tansey has issued a warning about the saffron robbed charlatans, and said while begging was legal "this is nevertheless clearly a scam".

"These people are taking advantage of the public's generosity and have no affiliations with the Buddhist community," he said in a statement.

Fairfax reports that up to six men have for the past month trawled popular areas like Circular Quay, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour, Surry Hills and Parramatta CBD looking for donations of up to $50.

Mr Tansey said several reports had been made to police but authorities haven't determined whether the monks are extracting cash under false pretences.

A police spokeswoman told AAP officers had spoken to the imposters several times but no offence had taken place because the men didn't claim to be monks or lie that they were collecting on behalf of a charity.

"Police would like to hear from anyone who believes they have handed money over to these people," she said.

Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils president Kim Hollow told Fairfax Buddhist monks wouldn't ask for cash.

"In no way do we condone ordained people, a monk or nun, wandering the streets collecting money," he said.

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Young woman groped by elderly man

A YOUNG woman has allegedly been indecently assaulted by an elderly man during a train trip from Sydney.

An 81-year-old man began chatting with the 22-year-old while they travelled from Sydney's central station to Campsie on Tuesday morning.

But he then touched her inappropriately and tried to kiss her several times, police say.

The woman moved away and left the train before reporting the alleged indecent assault to police.

The man turned himself into police on Wednesday afternoon and charged with indecent assault.

Bail was granted with strict conditions and he's due before Burwood Local Court in February.

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Young woman groped by elderly man

A YOUNG woman has allegedly been indecently assaulted by an elderly man during a train trip from Sydney.

An 81-year-old man began chatting with the 22-year-old while they travelled from Sydney's central station to Campsie on Tuesday morning.

But he then touched her inappropriately and tried to kiss her several times, police say.

The woman moved away and left the train before reporting the alleged indecent assault to police.

The man turned himself into police on Wednesday afternoon and charged with indecent assault.

Bail was granted with strict conditions and he's due before Burwood Local Court in February.

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Beware of fake monks asking for cash

CONMEN are fleecing cash from people in Sydney by masquerading as Buddhist monks seeking donations.

Acting NSW Fair Trading Commissioner John Tansey has issued a warning about the saffron robbed charlatans, and said while begging was legal "this is nevertheless clearly a scam".

"These people are taking advantage of the public's generosity and have no affiliations with the Buddhist community," he said in a statement.

Fairfax reports that up to six men have for the past month trawled popular areas like Circular Quay, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour, Surry Hills and Parramatta CBD looking for donations of up to $50.

Mr Tansey said several reports had been made to police but authorities haven't determined whether the monks are extracting cash under false pretences.

A police spokeswoman told AAP officers had spoken to the imposters several times but no offence had taken place because the men didn't claim to be monks or lie that they were collecting on behalf of a charity.

"Police would like to hear from anyone who believes they have handed money over to these people," she said.

Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils president Kim Hollow told Fairfax Buddhist monks wouldn't ask for cash.

"In no way do we condone ordained people, a monk or nun, wandering the streets collecting money," he said.

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Climate change may slug leaping sea snails

The effects of climate change could alter sea snails abilities to evade predators researchers say. Source: AAP

THE effects of climate change could hinder sea snails' extraordinary ability to leap away from predators on one foot, Queensland researchers have found.

The study shows conch snails, found in sandy areas off coral reefs, find it difficult to make the quick decision to jump out of reach of prey when exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide.

Lead researcher Dr Sue-Ann Watson of James Cook University says the chemical disrupts the snail's neurotransmitter receptor, causing it to have a delayed response.

The snail either stops jumping or takes longer to jump when exposed to the levels of carbon dioxide projected for the end of this century, the marine biologist says.

This leaves the three to four centimetre snail more vulnerable to the poisonous dart of its slow-moving nemesis, the cone shell.

"Snails normally move slowly and crawl around on their one big foot," Dr Watson told AAP.

"But this snail uses its foot in a very special way as it has a strong foot and uses it to push up rapidly on the sand."

The conch snail normally jumps backwards and can leap the equivalent of its body height.

Dr Watson says the broader effects on the ocean's ecosystem could be quite profound.

"Altered behaviours between predators and prey have the potential to disrupt ocean food webs," she said.

Study co-author Professor Goran Nilsson, from the University of Oslo, says results of the study suggest carbon dioxide emissions directly alter the behaviour of many marine animals, including seafood.

The study appears in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

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HK movie mogul Run Run Shaw dies at 107

Hong Kong movie producer Run Run Shaw has died at the age of 107, a TVB statement says. Source: AAP

PIONEERING Hong Kong movie producer Run Run Shaw has died at the age of 107.

No cause of death was given in a statement from Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), which Shaw helped found in 1967.

Shaw was one of the most influential figures in Asia's entertainment industry.

His Shaw Brothers Studios churned out nearly 1000 movies as it popularised the kung fu genre that influenced Quentin Tarantino and other Hollywood directors.

Shaw's movie studio, once among the world's largest, helped launch the careers of powerhouses including director John Woo.

His television empire helped actors including Chow Yun-fat rise to fame.

He also produced a handful of US films, including the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner.

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Man dead, three injured after crash

A YOUNG man has died and three others were injured when a station wagon and a truck collided in southern Queensland.

The 24-year-old passenger died when the station wagon was hit by a truck as it turned right across the New England Highway into a property at Glen Aplin, near Stanthorpe, on Tuesday afternoon, police say.

Two other men in the car, 26 and 29, have been taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The 25-year-old driver was taken to Stanthorpe Hospital.

No one in the truck was hurt.

Specialist police are investigating.

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Global disasters kill more, cost less

THE German insurance company Munich Re says about 20,000 people died in natural disasters last year, about twice as many as in 2012.

Most of the deaths resulted from Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines, Vietnam and China in November with a loss of almost 6100 lives.

This was followed by floods in India that killed about 5500 people in June.

Munich Re's annual disasters report released on Tuesday found the economic cost of natural catastrophes was lower last year.

About 880 events cost about $US125 billion ($A139.86 billion), with insured losses of $US31 billion.

This compares with costs of $US173 billion and insured losses of $US65 billion in 2012.

The costliest natural disasters were summer hailstorms in Germany, floods in Central Europe, and storms and tornadoes in the United States.

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Pre-marital sex immoral, says Indian judge

A New Delhi judge has labelled pre-marital sex "immoral" and against every religion. Source: AAP

A NEW Delhi judge says pre-marital sex is "immoral" and against the "tenets of every religion".

Judge Virender Bhat made the remarks while acquitting a man accused of rape, ruling that sex between two adults on the promise of marriage did not amount to rape, the Hindustan Times reported on Monday.

The complaint was filed by a woman who alleged wrongdoing by a 29-year-old man working at a multinational firm with whom she had sex after he promised to marry her.

The judge said a "grown-up, educated and office-going woman" who has sex on the assurance of marriage "does so at her own peril".

"She must understand the consequences of her act and must know that there is no guarantee that the boy would fulfil his promise," the ruling said.

"She must understand that she is engaging in an act which not only is immoral but also against the tenets of every religion. No religion in the world allows pre-marital sex."

Pre-marital sex has been traditionally disapproved of in the largely conservative and religious Indian society.

Last year, a court in New Delhi said live-in relationships were immoral and an "infamous Western cultural product".

In 2010, the Supreme Court dismissed 22 criminal cases against Tamil actress Khushboo who spoke in support of the right of women to have pre-marital sex.

The court also backed the right of unmarried couples to live together.

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Salvos see decrease in unwanted dumping

AFTER years of disposing of dirty syringes, dead animals and, in one case, finding children living at a donation site, the Salvation Army has welcomed a decrease in unwanted "donations" in NSW.

It's estimated that in NSW alone more than 7000 tonnes of unusable donations were cleaned up by the charity in 2013.

That's a 10 per cent decrease compared with 2012.

Neville Barrett, general manager of The Salvos' Eastern Territories Stores, told AAP a number of measures contributed to the "very significant decrease" in unusable donations.

"We have been running campaigns actively, our signage has improved at all of our sites and we're very vigilant and diligent that those sites that are problem areas have CCTV footage," he said.

Mr Barrett also said the decision almost a decade ago to remove more than a hundred charity donation bins in NSW, leaving just 16, had helped.

"We found all sorts of household refuge ... soiled linen and bags of prawn shells," he said.

"At one site we found two children staying in our bins," he said.

Nationally, The Salvation Army spends $6 million removing unwanted donations, 75 per cent of which is dumping fees.

The NSW Environmental Protection Authority waived $1.38 million of the charity's waste fees last year and a small number of local councils allow the army to dump free of charge.

Mr Barrett asked the public to continue their restraint when donating in 2014 and thanked the thousands of donors who donated quality goods over the Christmas period.

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Vic bushfire contained

FIREFIGHTERS have contained a bushfire that threatened lives and property near a popular holiday spot in central Victoria.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) said they battled two fires in Lyal that were heading in a north-easterly direction towards Lake Eppalock on Monday afternoon.

At one stage, the CFA warned holiday makers that it was too late to leave and they needed to take shelter.

Fire fighters battled the blazes with 40 fire trucks and three aircraft. They contained it by about 6pm when the fire warning was downgraded and residents were told they were no longer under threat.

CFA state duty officer Brett Boatman said that despite mild weather conditions in the area, a strong wind was driving the fire.

"That's been the issue, a wind-driven fire in grasslands - they can still move along pretty quickly even on benign days," Mr Boatman said. He said the cause of the fires was unknown and under investigation.

About 150 firefighters will continue working on the fire overnight.

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Storms pose problems for Stradbroke firies

FIREFIGHTERS battling a blaze on North Stradbroke Island hope that a cool change will help their efforts, but thunderstorms may force them to retreat.

The change is expected to arrive late on Monday and bring rain and possibly thunderstorms.

Firefighters are working to strengthen containment lines in case the blaze flares up.

Fire planning officer Phil Wilson says thunderstorms may make it difficult for fire crews to do their job.

"It will depend on the severity of the storm but we may have to withdraw crews from the fire line as the storm conditions can cause ... difficult situations," he told AAP.

However, fire crews are praying for rain.

"Rain will always help, even if it's just a light sprinkling of rain, very light showers will slow down the fire," he said.

Mr Wilson says firefighters are strengthening containment lines before the expected change to prevent the fire from jumping to the north side of East Coast Road, a main thoroughfare.

"It would then be able to move towards Amity Point and into Flinders Beach," he said.

The fire has been burning for eight days, and prompted the evacuation of about 900 campers on New Year's Day.

Difficult conditions over the weekend spread the fire, which came close to homes in Myora on Saturday night.

A community meeting was held on Monday morning to give residents up-to-date information on the blaze.

Back-burning has created a large smoke hazard affecting North Stradbroke and adjacent Moreton Bay islands as well as the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

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US icebreaker sent to help trapped vessels

An American icebreaker will attempt to free two ships stuck in ice in Antarctica. Source: AAP

AN American icebreaker will try to free two ships trapped by thick Antarctic ice.

The US Coast Guard's Polar Star accepted a request from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to help the Russian ship Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been marooned since Christmas Eve.

It will also aid the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long, which was involved in a dramatic helicopter rescue of the Shokalskiy's 52 passengers last Thursday before also becoming beset by ice.

AMSA on Sunday confirmed the Polar Star, which was on its way from Seattle for an Antarctic mission, had diverted course and was on its way to help.

It will take about seven days for the icebreaker, with a crew of 140 people, to reach Commonwealth Bay after collecting supplies from Sydney on Sunday.

The AMSA spokeswoman said the Polar Star had greater capabilities than the Russian and Chinese vessels.

"It can break ice over six metres thick, while those vessels can break one-metre ice," she told AAP on Sunday.

"The idea is to break them out, but they will make a decision once they arrive on scene on the best way to do this."

AMSA will be in regular contact with the US Coast Guard and the captain of the Polar Star during its journey to Antarctica.

Twenty-two crew remain on board the Shokalskiy, which sparked a rescue mission after a blizzard pushed sea ice around the ship and froze it in place on December 24.

The scientists, journalists and tourists on board the research ship were airlifted to safety last week, via the Xue Long's helicopter.

Those passengers are now on board Aurora Australis on their way to Australia's Antarctic base at Casey Station, and then Tasmania.

The Aurora was forced to suspend its resupply of the Australian base to rush to the aid of the Shokalskiy, but it is not yet known what impact the incident will have on scientific program.

China has vowed "all-out efforts" to assist the Xue Long, which is surrounded by ice of up to four metres thick and is 21 kilometres from open water, according to state news agency Xinhua which has reporters on board.

"If the ship is stranded for a very long time, which is very rare indeed, then we'll have to evacuate the people on board and leave the vessel there," Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration director Qu Tanzhou said.

Chris Turney, leader of the Shokalskiy's expedition to retrace the steps of Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson, defended the mission on Sunday.

"The science on the expedition was supported by a number of major research institutions including NOAA (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the University of Wisconsin and a host of others," he said.

Turney said there was a long history of both governmental and private vessels going to the assistance of others in the Antarctic.

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Girl, 5, mauled by family pet in NSW

A DARWIN kindergartener has been mauled by a pet dog while holidaying in Sydney.

The five-year-old girl's left cheek was severely wounded when she was bitten by a large mixed-breed dog on Sunday morning.

Police were told the girl had been visiting relatives in Rydalmere, in Sydney's west, for the past two weeks and was playing in the backyard with family when she was attacked.

She was treated by paramedics before being taken to the Children's Hospital at Westmead.

The dog owners voluntarily surrendered the animal to Parramatta City Council rangers and investigations into whether it is a banned breed continue.

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Family of latest alleged hit victim speaks

THE brother of a teenager allegedly punched outside a Sydney McDonald's says that in the moments after his brother went down, he thought he'd been killed for talking to a girl.

Alexander McEwen, 19, and his brother Lance McEwen-Henderson, 21, were standing on a one-metre-tall retaining wall at the fast food restaurant car park in Penrith when they were allegedly approached by a man about 1.30am (AEDT) on Saturday.

Police allege the man punched both brothers, knocking the younger McEwen over the wall where he struck his head and lost consciousness.

The teen was rushed to Nepean Hospital, where he is being treated for a fractured skull and damage to his spine.

His brother Lance suffered facial injuries, including a cut lip, and has told the Seven Network the attack came after a young woman in the car park posed for a photograph with Alexander.

He said it was his brother's first big night out since arriving from Auckland, New Zealand.

"I was just freaking out because you never like to see your younger brother on the ground," Lance told Seven.

"I thought he was dead, to be honest.

"Some guy was holding his head up and I was just screaming, 'Call the ambulance, call the ambulance'."

The alleged attacker, Corey Beard, 21, appeared at Parramatta court on Sunday where he was granted conditional bail.

Beard was charged with offences including recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm to the teenager as well as assaulting his brother.

He was also charged with possessing steroids after police allegedly found 13 vials of the drug during a search of his home on Saturday.

During the bail application, Sergeant Belinda Laughton told the court the alleged assault had been captured on CCTV and there was a strong prosecution case.

But the Legal Aid lawyer representing Beard said he had told police he had acted in self-defence.

The court heard that an argument appeared to have broken out between the men after Beard and an unknown man approached women who were with the brothers.

Magistrate Anthony Marsden said it was not evident from the facts tendered to the court as to whether alcohol was involved.

He said it appeared Beard was walking from the nearby Peach Tree Hotel when he came across the brothers at the fast food restaurant.

It was another "regrettable" incident "involving violence between young men", he said.

Beard was granted conditional jail to appear at a later date.

The McEwens' father Rodney said the family in New Zealand had heard about Sydney's recent spate of high-profile one-punch attacks.

"We'd seen the publicity about king-hits in Australia, in the Cross," he told Seven.

"The drinking culture is out of control."

On New Year's Eve, 18-year-old Daniel Christie was taken to St Vincent's Hospital after being punched in the face at Kings Cross.

Mr Christie was attacked close to the spot where teenager Thomas Kelly was fatally punched last year on a night out with friends.

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Vic paddle boarders rescued

EIGHT paddle boarders swept out to sea in wild weather have been rescued from a bay southwest of Melbourne.

They were swept into Corio Bay from North Shore, Geelong, when a severe weather front hit the area just after 3.15pm (AEDT) on Sunday.

The paddle boarders, aged between 40 and 60, were found by helicopter in the water near Point Wilson, with one clinging to a channel marker.

The group was rescued by Coast Guard.

Two of the paddle boarders were treated at the scene for mild hypothermia.

Gusts of up to 50 knots and waves over two metres were recorded, police said.

Water Police Leading Senior Constable Felicity Bell said police were relieved the paddle boarders were found safe.

"This rescue should act as a warning to all about how quickly conditions can change out on the water," Leading Sen Const Bell said.

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