Monthly Archives: January 2015

In a historic state judgment, Robyn Greeuw of Bunbury, Western Australia, was ordered by a magistrate to pay damages to the amount of A$12,500 after a December 2012 Facebook post was deemed to be defamatory.

The monetary sum will compensate Ms Greeuw’s estranged husband, Miro Dabrowski, after the social media update accused him of nearly two decades of “domestic violence and abuse”.

The exact wording of the post was: “Separated from Miro Dabrowski after 18 years of suffering domestic violence and abuse. Now fighting the system to keep my children safe”. Ms Greeuw, who legally represented herself, stated in court that she was not responsible for the post, as she reported that she is not technologically savvy enough.

She conceded that she entered an incomplete statement like that which appeared on Facebook, but did not upload it—the defendant proposed that the screenshot that was used as evidence was the work of a computer hacker.

However, as part of her defence, Ms Greeuw also refuted the claim of defamation, referring to legislation that permits the publication of such content if it is substantiated. She then proceeded to provide a basis for the Facebook post before the court, with the abuse allegedly beginning after her marriage to Mr Dabrowski in 1992. Although police served the husband with an interim violence restraining order when the relationship ended in 2012, Dabrowski denied the claims of abuse and violence.

Western Australian District Court Judge Michael Bowden announced that he had found inconsistencies and issues with the cases presented by both parties, but ultimately believed that Ms Greeuw was “not a credible witness”, and that the post led to “personal distress, humiliation and hurt and harm to his reputation”. Ms Greeuw had presented evidence of a single 2010 incident to back up her abuse claims.

While a New South Wales former student was ordered to pay $105,000 in damages to a teacher in March 2014 for defamation on social media, this was the first time that such a ruling was handed down in Western Australia.

source:christiantoday.com.au

Bodies of the victims are being flown back to Surabaya after being recovered from the Java Sea

Bad weather was the biggest factor in the crash of AirAsia flight QZ8501, the Indonesian weather agency believes.

The BMKG agency said initial analysis suggested icy conditions in the air had caused the engine to stall.

The Airbus A320 vanished with 162 people aboard en route from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore last Sunday.

The discovery of four large objects believed to be plane debris has raised hopes of finding the fuselage, where most bodies are believed to be trapped.

Just 30 bodies had been recovered from the Java Sea as of Saturday morning.

The plane’s black boxes, its flight data and cockpit voice recorders, have yet to be located.

BMKG found conditions at the time of the plane’s disappearance suggested it had probably flown into a storm.

“From our data it looks like the last location of the plane had very bad weather and it was the biggest factor behind the crash,” said Edvin Aldrian, head of research at BMKG.

“These icy conditions can stall the engines of the plane and freeze and damage the planes machinery.”

Officials have said the plane was travelling at 32,000ft when the pilot’s last communication was a request to climb to 38,000ft to avoid bad weather.

Meiji Thejakusuma is one of the few victims to have been positively identified

The mother of victim Hendra Gunawan Syawal prayed by her son’s coffin in Surabaya

The search teams have recovered 30 bodies from the Java Sea despite tough weather conditions

Victims in body bags were hoisted aboard a warship

Russian search teams arrived aboard a Beriev Be-200 amphibious aircraft

 

Search chief Bambang Soelistyo said four large objects as well as oil slicks had been detected by sonar.

The biggest object is 18m (59ft) long and 5.4m wide, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency, adding he believed the objects were parts of the plane. Another object is said to be 10m long.

Mr Soelistyo said an ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) was being lowered into the water to get an actual picture of the objects, which were at a depth of 30m.

But he warned that waves up to five metres high were hampering the search effort.

Captain John Noble, a marine salvage consultant, told the BBC the fact the wreckage was 30m down would help search teams.

“It is very dive-able,” he told the News Channel. “It is easy to get equipment down there.”

A flotilla of ships, including two from the US navy, are converging on the site where the objects were located and preparing to put divers into the water.

A Russian search team, including 22 deep water divers and a remotely operated submersible vessel, is expected to join the hunt for the black boxes after arriving in Pangkalan Bun on Saturday.

No permit to fly

It has emerged that AirAsia did not have official permission to fly the Surabaya-Singapore route on the day of the crash but was licensed on four other days of the week.

The Indonesian authorities suspended the company’s flights on this route pending an investigation. AirAsia said it would “fully co-operate”.

There were 137 adult passengers, 17 children and one infant, along with two pilots and five crew, on the plane – the majority Indonesian.

Four people have been identified so far: Hayati Lutfiah Hamid, Grayson Herbert Linaksita, Kevin Alexander Soetjipto and Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi.

AirAsia previously had an excellent safety record, with no fatal accidents involving its aircraft.

source:bbc.com

A firefighter battles flames in Kersbrook in the Adelaide Hills, where the worst fires were burning. Photo / News Ltd

Thousands of Australians fled their homes yesterday as wildfires raged across the nation’s south, with firefighters struggling to contain the blazes fanned by strong winds.

Six homes were destroyed by the fires in South Australia and Victoria states, officials said, although no serious injuries have been reported.

Dry conditions and temperatures nearing 40C were causing headaches for firefighters battling the blazes. Officials said it would be likely to take days before the fires were under control.

The worst of the fires was in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, where the flames had destroyed five homes and put hundreds of others at risk, state Country Fire Service spokesman Daniel Hamilton said.

At least seven firefighters were injured battling an out-of-control blaze at Sampson Flat in the state’s Mt Lofty Ranges.

Residents of 19 communities were asked to evacuate as a predicted shift in the winds yesterday afternoon prompted fears the flames could worsen.

The forecast was also for increased humidity, which could slow the fire’s progress, Hamilton said.

Up to 2000 firefighters were battling the blazes across the state from the ground and the air, with more than a dozen aircraft dumping water on to the flames.

Four firefighters suffered minor physical ailments, including dehydration and asthma, Hamilton said.

In neighbouring Victoria state, firefighters have controlled more than 300 fires since Friday, with only one still considered a danger.

One home was destroyed in the blaze in the western Victoria town of Moyston, state Country Fire Service spokesman Mario Xuereb said.

A shift in the weather late yesterday was expected to bring light rain, wind and lightning to the area, which could exacerbate the blaze.

The rain wouldn’t be enough to quell the flames, and the lightning could spark fresh fires, Xuereb said.

The Mt Lofty ranges scrub fire was yesterday travelling erratically and burning freely in all directions.

The Country Fire Service says lives are at risk in towns including Upper Hermitage, Chain of Ponds and the townships of Inglewood, Houghton, Cudlee Creek, Lower Hermitage, Forreston, Lobethal, Mount Torrens, Charleston, Williamstown, Woodside, Lenswood and Mt Pleasant.

“One of our appliances was caught by the fire and several people have injuries,” CFS spokesman Rob Sandford told ABC radio.

“We don’t know the full extent … [but] they are being treated and supported by SA Ambulance.”

Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton said the Sampson Flat fire had burned through about 10,000ha of scrub.

Lightning had sparked new fires, causing further headaches for firefighters already working in tough conditions.

Nettleton confirmed that six CFS volunteers had been injured fighting the blaze, most of them suffering smoke inhalation.

In South Australia, firefighters were “all working in very arduous conditions and doing very, very hard work,” Sandford said.

“They’re doing their absolute best in what are the worst of conditions imaginable for firefighting.

“We just want them all to come home safe, because this situation is very dynamic and we don’t want the tragedy of any of our firefighters being injured or worse.”

In 2009, wildfires killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2000 homes in Victoria.

source: nzherald.co.nz

Ο 17χρονος Jay Muscat, θύμα του καρχαρία

Καρχαρίας επιτέθηκε ξαφνικά προχθές και σκότωσε έναν 17χρονο στη Δυτική Αυστραλία.

Σύμφωνα με την Αστυνομία πρόκειται για τον 17χρονο, Jay Muscat, που ψάρευε με το ψαροντούφεκο στην ακτή Cheynes Beach της Δυτικής Αυστραλίας, που βρίσκεται 470 χιλιόμετρα νότια του Περθ.

Ο νεαρός μαζί με έναν ακόμα φίλο του ψάρευαν κοντά στην ακτή όταν ξαφνικά δέχτηκαν την επίθεση ενός λευκού καρχαρία μήκους 5 μέτρων.

Όλα έγιναν τόσο ξαφνικά που το θύμα δεν πρόλαβε να αντιδράσει. Αμέσως μετά την επίθεση στο θύμα, ο καρχαρίας επιτέθηκε στον φίλο του, ο οποίος όμως κατάφερε να τον χτυπήσει κοντά στο στόμα με το ψαροντούφεκο και ο καρχαρίας άρχισε να απομακρύνεται.

Αμέσως μετά τη θανατηφόρα επίθεση ο νεαρός μεταφέρθηκε στην παραλία όπου και εξέπνευσε μετά από λίγη ώρα.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

Άνδρες του στρατού της Ινδονησίας μεταφέρουν τις σορούς των θυμάτων της τραγικής πτήσης. Φώτο:AAP via AP/Firdia Lisnawati

Η κακοκαιρία δυσκολεύει τις έρευνες για την πτήση QZ8501 της AirAsia που χάθηκε βόρεια της Ιάβας. Μέχρι στιγμής έχουν ανασυρθεί 30 σοροί, αλλά όχι τα μαύρα κουτιά που αναμένεται να δώσουν απαντήσεις για την πτώση του αεροσκάφους. Πληροφορίες αναφέρουν ότι κάποιοι από τους επιβάτες φορούσαν ζώνη ασφαλείας.

Από τις 30 σορούς, οι 21 ανασύρθηκαν την Παρασκευή, οι περισσότερες από ένα πλοίο του αμερικάνικου Πολεμικού Ναυτικού. Τέσσερα άτομα έχουν ταυτοποιηθεί μέχρι στιγμής, ανάμεσά τους και ένα αγόρι έντεκα ετών.

Η έρευνα για το αεροσκάφος καλύπτει μία επιφάνεια 1.575 ναυτικών μιλίων στα νότια της θάλασσας της Ιάβας, ενώ οι έρευνες επικεντρώνονται στον βυθό.

Το αεροσκάφος της AirAsia με 162 επιβαίνοντες έπεσε την Παρασκευή, ενώ εκτελούσε την πτήση από τη Σουραμπάγια της Ινδονησίας στην Σιγκαπούρη.

Τμήματα του αεροσκάφους έχουν βρεθεί, όχι όμως και το κυρίως σώμα του αεροσκάφους, ενώ εκτιμάται ότι οι περισσότερες από τις σορούς ενδέχεται να βρίσκονται ακόμα μέσα.

Η κακοκαιρία που πλήττει την περιοχή αναμένεται να συνεχιστεί μέχρι την Κυριακή προκαλώντας προβλήματα. Στην περιοχή πνέουν ισχυροί άνεμοι και τα κύματα φτάνουν τα τέσσερα μέτρα. Το γεγονός αυτό, έχει ως αποτέλεσμα να απομακρύνονται οι σοροί.

Μετά τις προσευχές της Παρασκευής, περισσότερα από 200 άτομα συγκεντρώθηκαν σε τζαμί στη Σουραμπάγια για να τιμήσουν τη μνήμη των θυμάτων.

Όσες ενδείξεις υπάρχουν μέχρι τώρα καθιστούν, προς το παρόν, πιθανότερο το ενδεχόμενο πως το αεροπλάνο έπεσε επειδή έχασε στήριξη όταν προσπάθησε να πάρει απότομα ύψος.

Στην περιοχή που πετούσε επικρατούσε κακοκαιρία και, στην τελευταία επικοινωνία με το πιλοτήριο, ο πιλότος είχε ζητήσει άδεια να ανέβει σε μεγαλύτερο ύψος για να αποφύγει σύννεφα στη πορεία του.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

Οι πυρκαγιές που ξέσπασαν στις νότιες πολιτείες της Αυστραλίας συνεχίζουν και σήμερα το καταστροφικό τους έργο ενώ οι αρχές εξέδωσαν πριν από λίγο ανακοίνωση για εκκένωση κάποιων οικισμών που αναμένεται να πληγούν από την πύρινη λαίλαπα.
Μέχρι στιγμής ο θλιβερός απολογισμός των πυρκαγιών αφορά μόνο υλικές ζημιές.

Τουλάχιστον πέντε σπίτια καταστράφηκαν ολοσχεερώς στη Ν. Αυστραλία από την πυρκαγιά που μαίνεται στα βορειοανατολικά της Αδελαϊδας και η οποία σύμφωνα με τις αρχές κατευθύνεται όλο και πιο κοντά στην πρωτεύουσα της πολιτείας. Ανεπιβεβαίωτες πληροφορίες ανέφεραν επίσης ότι ένα άτομο αγνοείται, πληροφορία που η αστυνομία ούτε αρνείται, ούτε επιβεβαιώνει.

Στην Βικτώρια ένα σπίτι κάηκε στο Moyston ενώ οι αρχές καλούν τους κατοίκους της ευρύτερης περιοχής γύρω από την πόλη του Ararat να εκκενώσουν άμεσα τα σπίτια τους και να βρουν καταφύγιο στο κέντρο φιλοξενίας πυροπλήκτων που βρίσκεται στην περιοχή Lake Bolac.
Εκατοντάδες άνδρες της Πυροσβεστικής και αεροσκάφη επιχειρούν να θέσουν σε έλεγχο το πύρινο μέτωπο που έχει ξεσπάσει και στις δύο πολιτείες αλλά οι υψηλές θερμοκρασίες που αναμένεται σήμερα να ξεπεράσουν τους 40 βαθμούς και στις δύο πολιτείες σε συνδυασμό με τους σφοδρούς ανέμους που πνέουν, δυσχεραίνουν το έργο των μονάδων πυρόσβεσης.

Στη Ν. Αυστραλία εκτιμάται ότι η πυρκαγιά που μαίνεται στο ότρος Mount Lofty Ranges κατευθύνεται στην πόλη Kersbrook, γεγονός που οδήγησε τις αρχές να ζητήσουν εσπευσμένα από τους κατοίκους της πόλης να εκκενώσουν τα σπίτια τους.

Η μεγάλη πυρκαγιά που μαίνεται στην περιοχή Adelaide Hills κοντά στην Αδελαϊδα κατευθύνεται προς τα εξωτερικά προάστια της πόλης Golden Grove, Upper Hermitage, Break Neck Hill και One Tree Hill ενώ ο καπνός απ’ αυτήν την πυρκαγιά έχει σκεπάσει και τον ουρανό της πρωτεύουσας.

Στην Βικτώρια η υπηρεσία CFA ανακοίνωσε ότι η πυρκαγιά που μαίνεται κοντά στο Ararat απειλεί τους οικισμούς Cathcart, Denicull Creek, Langi Logan, Maroona, Moyston, Rocky Point και Willaura North. Η πυρκαγιά καλύπτει αυτή  τη στιγμή πάνω από 5,000 εκτάρια δασώσους και γεωργικής γης και στην προσπάθεια να τεθεί υπό έλεγχο συνδράμουν 11 αεροσκάφη και πάνω από 80 πυροσβεστικά οχήματα.

Σύμφωνα με την υπηρεσία CFA 46 συνολικά πυρκαγιές μαίνονται στην Βικτώρια από χθες ενώ  συνολικά οι πυρκαγιές που εκδηλώθηκαν ξεπέρασαν τις 300.
Παρά το γεγονός ότι αναμένεται το βράδυ, μείωση της θερμοκρασίας και εκδήλωση βροχοπτώσεων και στις δύο πολιτείες, η πιθανότητα αυτή η αλλαγή να συνοδεύεται από κεραυνούς ανησυχεί ιδιαίτερα τις αρχές καθώς εκφράζονται φόβοι ότι αυτοί μπορεί να προκαλέσουν και άλλες πυρκαγιές.
Όπως είναι αναμενόμενο και σήμερα όπως και χθες και στις δύο πολιτείες απαγορεύεται το άναμμα φωτιάς.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

If the thunderstorm hits the state from the south-west to the east as expected, the consequences might be catastrophic

Three hundred twenty seven accounted fires have started across Victoria since 12 am yesterday, including another 46 overnight.

“It has been a very, very difficult couple of days, yet it could have been so much worse,” Premier Daniel Andrews said earlier today this morning congratulating emergency crews for their prompt response, battling successfully 300 fires in extremely hot and difficult conditions.

“It is important to recognise our emergency services have risen to that challenge.”

“Whilst it has been a very challenging 30-odd hours and the next 12-24 will be difficult as well, we have come through well to this point,” Mr Andrews warned Victorians.

“Let common sense drive what you do, heed the warnings … and do nothing that might contribute to a fire starting.”

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley, also warned residents in Victoria’s centre and west territories to remain vigilant for “uncontrollable, unpredictable and very fast” fires this afternoon, stressing the risk in the heat and wind struck regions between Warrnambool, Horsham, Bendigo and Geelong.

According to the Commissioner, the consequences if the thunderstorm hits the state from the south-west to the east as expected, might be catastrophic.

“In Victoria, we have seen more property lost, we have seen more loss of life after the wind change,” Mr Lapsley said.

“So needs to be understood and it needs to be taken very seriously.”

Mr Lapsley said only the 5000ha Moyston blaze near Ararat in Victoria’s west remained in the major fire category, with crews on high alert and a Watch and Act warning in place, while families are still advised to leave the area. The cause of the blaze is believed to be a scare gun, used by farmers to keep away birds.

The strong northerly winds are keeping fire-fighters on high alert, for fear that the fire could break containment lines.Two fire-fighters needed emergency medical attention for dehydration and heat stress while a 50 year old woman was treated for smoke inhalation.

A teenage boy was arrested earlier this day at the scene, after allegedly lighting a grass-fire in Meadow Heights in Melbourne’s north, about 8.40pm. The minor was charged with recklessly causing a bushfire, and lighting a fire during a fire danger period and on a total fire ban day. He was also charged with reckless conduct endangering life and reckless conduct endangering serious injury, and was bailed to appear at a children’s court.

Another suspicious grass-fire in Police Paddocks Reserve in Endeavour Hills, took place round 10.30 pm, burning though the grasslands.

Firefighters this morning stopped the spread of a grass-fire in Plumpton, in Melbourne’s outer-west but 83 fire crews and 11 aircraft are still battling the 5000ha Moyston grass-fire. Meanwhile, over 200 fire-fighters and seven aircraft from NSW’s Rural Fire Service have been deployed to Bendigo.

Another grass-fire blaze is moving toward houses and factories in Hastings, on the Mornington Peninsula, pushed south by the wind, towards Reid Pde from Autumn Court. Metro has suspended the Stony Point line because of the fire. Severe thunderstorms are expected to lash the region tormenting the fire-fighters who continue to battle a 4712ha blaze at Moyston, west of Ararat.

According to the CFA, here is a high risk that extreme weather conditions today could cause fire activity to increase and possible over run containment lines.
“Warnings levels may rise and fall as conditions change throughout the day.”

The weather bureau warns for severe thunderstorms shaking Victorians in the South West, Wimmera and parts of Central, Mallee, Northen Country and North Central districts following the sweltering over 40 degrees temperatures.

“Residents should prepare for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding.”

Victorians in Horsham, Stawell, Hamilton, Ballarat, Maryborough and Castlemaine should be extra careful.

source:neoskosmos.com