STITCHED UP: Blind weightlifting champ portrayed as 'drunk' by the ABC

CHAMPION weightlifter Malek Chamoun who is legally blind and walks with a cane has slammed the ABC for portraying him as a binge drinker during a Four Corners' 'Punch Drunk' special. VISION: ABC TV/ Four Corners

Blind weightlifter Malek Chamoun, pictured here in an ABC Four Corners special on drunken violence. Picture: ABC Source: Supplied

• Blind weightlifter shown as drunk by ABC TV 
• Malek Chamoun featured in Four Corners footage
• "It's disgraceful. He is a great kid." 

A CHAMPION weightlifter who is legally blind has slammed the ABC for portraying him as a binge drinker.

Malek Chamoun, 24, was walking with a cane and guided by a friend during a rare night out in the city when he was caught on camera.

The footage later appeared in "Punch Drunk," a Four Corners episode exploring "crisis levels" of binge drinking and serious assaults in Australia through the eyes of police and paramedics that went to air on Monday night.

"Check me out on 4 Corners, the episode about alchahol & violonce in the city. (I pop up at 10:38) Pfftt i wasn't drunk, i'm blind...," Chamoun posted on his Facebook.

"I was even holding my cane, but the idiots cut it off in the vid. The media has to watch out, this could impact my reputation with my weightlifting carreer," he wrote.

Footage of Chamoun stumbling appears following a quote from NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas about the impact of alcohol-related violence on emergency services.

"An enormous amount of effort and anguish is expended on people who have simply got themselves in such a drunken state that emergency services have to become involved to look after them or patch up the mess that they leave," Mr Kaldas said.

"It's disgraceful. I can vouch that the kid is a great kid, a fantastic athlete and a great son. They should have shown the cane so people would have known," he said. Source: Supplied

In a statement today Four Corners said: "Having been made aware of his concerns, Four Corners has now spoken to Malek Chamoun.

"The program has said they are sorry he was portrayed in this light, but explained the footage was filmed in a public place.

"While the program did not suggest all those featured were drunk, it was shown in the context of people out and having a good time. Four Corners has agreed to remove the footage of Chamoun from the online version of the program, and any televised repeats."

"No one at Four Corners knew that the man filmed was blind. If we did, we would not have used this shot."

Chamoun was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease at age seven and declared legally blind at 15.

Despite this, he competes fulltime in the sport and narrowly missed selection for the London 2012 Olympics.

He is coached by father George, also a former national champ, in their Sydney home on the official weightlifting platform used in the Sydney 2000 games.

Weightlifting NSW Honorary CEO Luke Borreggine said he has known Chamoun since he was a "puppy" and it was a shame footage of the "totally innocent" athlete had been used in the wrong context.

"It's disgraceful. I can vouch that the kid is a great kid, a fantastic athlete and a great son. They should have shown the cane so people would have known," he said.

Malek, 24, is legally blind. Pic: Gregg Porteous Source: Supplied

Viewers expressed their disapproval on Four Corners' Facebook page.

Dean Vasil: "Malek Chamoun is shown in this video at 10:38 seconds, this is a program about being drunk and highly intoxicated in public.. all of us who know malek.. He is visually blind and was being helped down the stairs by his caring cousin.. You people at abc film whoever you want and stick a title of whatever you want on people to help portray the stupidity of your program.. Regardless of people's circumstances.. This poor kid has been made to look like he was HIGHLY intoxicated.. When in reality he was being helped down the stairs because he can not see.. He has been portrayed as a drunk on live television and he didn't even know he was being filmed.. Well done abc, GREAT WORK!!"

Will Vasil: "That's not nice they just showed someone in this video that was not drunk, I thought it was about drunk people not a BLIND man walking down the stairs being helped by his cousin (10:38). I think the video man himself was intoxicated, he couldn't tell the difference between a blind man holding his cane or a drunk loser."

03.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ashlee and Sophia: They said whaaaat?

My Kitchen Rules Ashlee and Sophia execute a cracking main dish which really impresses the judges.

Best friends Ashlee and Sophia have to put their money where their mouth is as they step into the kitchen, as seen on Seven.

Ashlee and Sophia put to the test in the MKR kitchen. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

WHILE some viewers have been enamoured by their inane banter, others have described it more as a waste of their "ear space".

But love them or hate them, Ashlee and Sophia have been responsible for some of the best one-liners in My Kitchen Rules history.

Perhaps that's because Sophia delivers each one syllable by syllable, pro-noun-cing ev-er-y sin-gle word pain-full-y slow-ly, so that they're impossible to miss - or perhaps it's just because they're exactly the opposite of whatever a "buzz kill" is?

Either way, you can't deny that the NSW duo 'give good quote'.

So here, we pay "homage" to the villainous gatecrashers, because babes, when it comes to the crunch, all you can do is laugh.

Top 12 Ashlee and Sophia quotes:

1.  "In a dog fight, there's usually a pack of bitches coming at the strongest dog, and at the moment it's Ashlee and I." - Sophia reveals the pair's confidence early on.
    
2. "She could put fish to sleep... she's just a buzz kill" - Sophia on fellow contestant Lisa.
    
3. "It was like eating a slug ... even a child would hate it" - describing Lisa and Stefano's semifreddo they served up for dessert.
    
4. "Their one looks like a piñata threw up" - Sophia on the décor of Lisa and Stefano's instant restaurant, Carnavale 2.0.
    
5. "He's a man-baby" - Ashlee's first impression of Stefano.
    
6. "The first thing I'm thinking is 'vom' ... My dogs eat better than this" - the girls on Dan and Steph's Duck Sausage entrée and Pork Knuckle main.
    
7. "If we get a good score tonight I'm going to get my local council to name a park after me" - Sophia while preparing for her guests last night.
    
8. "If I burn my face then I'll NEVER get a boyfriend" - Sophia while wielding a monster blowtorch around. 
    
9. "OK, let's have a quick prayer: We pray for a good instant restaurant, let's pray for no time delays, and let's pray for good hair and make-up. Ok, love you biatch".
    
10. "We're just gonna go work on your entrees, so we're gonna bounce" - after seating their guests at their own instant restaurant.
     
11. "What about an umbrella on a banana split? You don't see anybody eating the umbrella, do you?" - The hilarious logic behind serving an inedible flower with their lime crème brûlée.
     
12. "Omg babes, BABES! Babes its not gonna be tender, babes, BABES what do you want me to do, babe?" 

Did we miss any priceless one-liners? Add them below. 

@Ali_Stephenson_

@lottiewillis

03.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

10 mind-boggling Wall Street interview questions

How many tennis balls are there in New South Wales was a question an investment banking candidate was asked. Picture: File Source: news.com.au

• Investment bankers subjected to bizarre interview questions
• Makes you think creatively, show personality
• See 10 mind-boggling questions below
• Follow sarah_ocarroll on Twitter

IF you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and trapped in a blender, how would you get out?

Could you weigh an elephant without using a scale, guess the number of tennis balls there are in New South Wales, or bricks on residential buildings in Shanghai?

If so, you may have what it takes to be an investment banker.

These are some of interview questions potential investment bankers are asked - they are tough, very tough, and some even border on the ridiculous.

But there's method to the madness.

According to investment banking recruiter Jason Hutchins from Anton Murray Consulting investment banks are looking to determine three things about candidates:

1.    Are you smart enough
2.    Can you handle the work

3.    Do they like you

He said that while interviewers will of course focus on candidates technical ability, commercial awareness and previous experience they will also gauge their response to one or two more obscure questions.

"For example an associate interviewing with UBS was recently asked how many tennis balls there were in New South Wales," said Mr Hutchins.

"Whilst you can't be expected to know the exact figure, interviewers want to see what approach you'll take to answering the question, and what steps you'd take to reach this number."

A similar question asked in an interview with British bank Rothschild was: Why do you think only a small portion of the population makes over $200k per year?

"Not only does this test your economic understanding and thought process but could be an opportunity to gauge political views and dare I say it, any exaggerated self-opinions," he said.

"Whilst these may seem a little left field, they are in fact vital to understanding how you'll consider the different variances involved in complex valuations," he said.

Then of course there are the banking interviews questions that sound simply ridiculous.

US giant Goldman Sachs asked the question: If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and trapped in a blender, how would you get out?

"Bankers like these types of questions, as it makes you think creatively and shows them your personality, will you just be dismissive to the question or use it as a chance to show you're not just a number cruncher and have the sense of humour and quick thinking to fit in to the team," said Mr Hutchins.

Here are 10 mind-boggling questions investment bankers have been asked:

1.    If you had five red balls that contained four red balls and those red balls contained the original five red balls, then how many sets of sets of balls would I take to have a double set of red balls of varying sizes inside each next largest red ball?
2.    How many tennis balls are there in New South Wales
3.    Why do you think only a small portion of the population makes over $200k per year?
4.    If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and trapped in a blender, how would you get out?
5.    You have 2 buckets. One full of white marbles and the other full of black marbles. How do you allocate the marbles into buckets in a way that maximizes your probability of picking 2 white ones when you pick 1 marble from each bucket?
6.    Explain to me what has happened in this country during the last 10 years.
7.    How many bricks are there in Shanghai? Consider only residential buildings
8.    How do you weigh an elephant without using a scale?
9.    Using a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how weird you are?
10.    And finally: You are given two eggs. You have access to a 100-story building. Eggs can be very hard or very fragile means it may break if dropped from the first floor or may not even break if dropped from 100th floor. Both eggs are identical. You need to figure out the highest floor of a 100-story building an egg can be dropped without breaking. The question is how many drops you need to make. You are allowed to break 2 eggs in the process.

Have you been asked a crazy interview question? Tell us below or @sarah_ocarroll on Twitter

03.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Red Alert as Rusty batters WA coast

Dramatic video footage emerges from WA as tropical cyclone Rusty nears landfall on the Pilbara coast.

TROPICAL Cyclone Rusty is now battering WA's Pilbara coast after being upgraded to a category four storm.

A red alert has been issued for people in Pilbara region towns between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland.

These residents are being told to go to shelter immediately.

Dramatic video footage is emerging from Western Australia as tropical cyclone Rusty approaches the Pilbara coast.

The slow-moving monster storm was still over the sea this morning but the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says it's likely to cross the northwest corner of WA later in the day.

Conditions at Port Hedland are likely to get worse during the day. Picture: AAP

Rusty is expected to track south, weakening as it moves over land.

"Wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour have already been experienced in Port Hedland and conditions there are likely to get slowly worse during the day," the bureau said.

Dramatic footage of some of the winds is being posted on social media sites.

Gallery: Cyclone Rusty - as you see it.

Jordan Cantelo of severeweatherphotography.com.au posted a short video of winds battering Port Hedland, where many people have already evacuated their homes.

Tropical Cyclone Rusty has been upgraded to a category four with the storm battering WA's Pilbara coast.

His footage shows trees being bent over in the wind and roof tarpaulins flapping in gusts of up to 120km/h.

Another user, Swanss05, shot a short video while driving along the coast.

Rain can be heard pummelling the car's roof as the wind bends palm trees at 45-degree angles.

Meanwhile, WA residents have taken to Twitter to describe what's happening to them.

"Cyclone Rusty, it'd be really great if you didn't kill me, also...stop making my roof make scary noises," one user wrote.

Port Hedland is being battered by high winds as Cyclone Rusty approaches. Picture: AAP

Another added: "Cyclone Rusty please brake or better go to hell."

The slow-travelling cyclone barely moved overnight but wind gusts have strengthened to 230km/h near its centre.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the cyclone will begin moving south today.

Port Hedland has already had wind gusts up 120km/h, with conditions set to worsen throughout the day, the bureau says.

Destructive wind gusts of more than 165km/h are predicted in the area as the cyclone approaches the coast.

At 5am (WST) on Wednesday, the storm was believed to be 130km north-northeast of Port Hedland and 290km northeast of Karratha.

People in communities between Wallal and Pardoo, extending inland to Marble Bar, are on yellow alert, with a warning to take action and prepare to shelter.

Rusty's massive size and slow movement is set to unleash torrential rain and cause major flooding in the De Grey catchment and significant flooding in the Fortescue catchment and Pilbara coastal streams.

The deputy mayor of Port Hedland shire, George Daccache, a resident of 40 years, expects the cyclone to be one of the worst the town has seen.

"This one's a bit of a beauty," Mr Daccache said.

"It's going to be a pain waiting for two to three days for this to come and go.

Port Hedland councillor Bill Dziombak says there's been persistent rain in the area, and he expects it will become more intense.

"This is a very long, drawn-out slow nightmare," Mr Dziombak said early this morning.

"Over the last 48 hours we've had gradually increasing gales, gusty winds and heavy, heavy rain."

The rain had softened vegetation, raising fears of falling trees and damage to infrastructure, Mr Dziombak said.

Rising tides could also cause storm surges and flooding.

Mr Daccache said most of the town's residents were at home or in shelters waiting for the cyclone to hit.

"It's in Mother Nature's hands now, nothing we can do about it," Mr Daccache said.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT CYCLONES

• Tropical cyclones form over the ocean in the area around the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The water must be warm, at least 26C.
• Once cyclones arrive over land, their strength weakens. This is due to the lack of moisture and heat compared to the ocean over which it was formed.
• In Australia, cyclone season is between November and April but they can still occur right up until May.
• Cyclones range in strength between categories one and five. Category one cyclones generally have winds no stronger than 125km/h. Category five cyclones have winds of 280km/h and above.
• Cyclone names are taken from a list of 104. The next one after Rusty will be called Sandra.

Sources: Federal Attorney General's department.

Even for those used to living in WA's 'cyclone alley', Rusty is becoming a storm they will long remember.

03.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

RED ALERT: Rusty a Category Three with 195km/h winds

WESTERN Australia's Pilbara coast is on red alert as category three Cyclone Rusty intensifies, packing winds of nearly 200km/h and threatening to wreak havoc.

Residents between Pardoo and Whim Creek on WA's North West coast, including Port Hedland, are bracing for the worst as the destructive tropical cyclone bears down on the remote Pilbara communities.

Emergency services telling people in low-lying areas of Port Hedland to relocate immediately as the large, slow-moving storm, upgraded to a category three system last night, closes in.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the system to intensify to a Category 4 system in the next 24 hours before the eye of the storm crosses the coast tomorrow.

NASA's Terra satellite has taken images from space of Rusty as it approaches the coast, with satellite data reporting the storm developing an eye 20 nautical miles wide.

At 2pm today, Cyclone Rusty was 135km north-northeast of Port Hedland and 290km northeast of Karratha and
moving south-southwest at 5km/h towards the coast.

However because of the size of the storm, gales are already occurring between the Sandfire Roadhouse and Whim Creek, while destructive winds extend from Port Hedland to Wallal.

Catch up with Channel 9's Sally Ayhan for local weather and a sneak peek into what to expect over the next 24 hours.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns very destructive winds with gusts of more than 165km/h are likely to develop on the coast between Whim Creek and Pardoo tomorrow as Rusty approaches the coast.

Bedout Island, north-east of Hedland, has received a maximum gust of 126km/h today.

PILBARA BATTENS DOWN

While Port Hedland and South Hedland residents have been urged to leave their homes immediately, the shire's deputy mayor, George Daccache, is bunkering down in his security screen-clad home.

A Port Hedland resident of 40 years, Mr Daccache has seen his fair share of wet season wild weather, but expects this cyclone will be one of the worst the town has ever seen.

"If something hits you at 150km/h, you're going to feel it," he said.

RED ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category three storm with 195km/h winds at its centre and is bearing down on the Pilbara coast. Picture: Geoff Pritchard

"This one's a bit of a beauty.''

With residents heeding warnings to stay safe, the streets are empty, as are supermarket shelves after a rush to prepare for Rusty's arrival.

"It's going to be a pain waiting for two to three days for this to come and go,'' Mr Daccache said.

"We've just to hang in there hour by hour, and batten down the hatches.''

Mr Daccache said he was most concerned about an expected storm tide, which threatens to inundate the lower-lying western part of the town.

Many homes had lost power, but most residents were staying at emergency shelters.

MONSTER: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category three storm with 195km/h winds at its centre.

EMERGENCY MEASURES

The Andrew McLaughlin Community Centre in Keesing Street in Port Hedland has been opened for people who are forced from their homes.

In Port Hedland, shops were being sandbagged as water and tinned food flew off the shelves.

Bottleshops were reporting big queues as locals prepared for Rusty's arrival. Port Hedland's airport was shut at 9pm yesterday, with all commercial flights cancelled.

The port has also shut down for at least the rest of the week.

Mining giant Rio Tinto said it had prepared for the storm by closing the Port Walcott port at Cape Lambert and was finishing up ship-loading at its Dampier ports.

RED ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category three storm with 195km/h winds at its centre and is bearing down on the Pilbara coast.

Virgin cancelled flights from Perth to Broome today, and local businesses reported people were dashing to buy water and tinned food as the storm approached.

FLOOD WARNINGS

The BOM says TC Rusty's slow movement is likely to result in rainfall that is heavier than that associated with a typical tropical cyclone. 

Widespread very heavy rainfall tonight and tomorrow is likely to lead to major flooding in the De Grey catchment, while flooding is also likely in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams.

TC Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement is also likely to lead to a dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre nears the coast, which could include damaging waves and dangerous coastal inundation.

WIDESPREAD DOWNPOURS

RED ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category three storm with 195km/h winds at its centre and is bearing down on the Pilbara coast. Picture: Geoff Pritchard

Pardoo Roadhouse, about 140km east of Port Hedland, has recorded a massive 200mm in 24 hours to 9am today and has also been buffeted by strong winds.

Bidyadanga, north-east of Broome, had 137mm to 9am this morning and stations throughout the Kimberley have recorded in excess of 200mm in recent days.

Pardoo Roadhouse manager Ian Badger told ABC radio it had been raining steadlily since yesterday. He said there had already been minor flooding and about six trees had been blown down.

"Everything is pretty wet, the whole yard is covered with water, it is like a lake everywhere. There is a little bit of water coming in (the roadhouse) and half a dozen trees have already come down,'' he said.

"It is not going to be good, this one.'' 

CYCLONE WARNING DETAILS

RED ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category three storm with 195km/h winds at its centre and is bearing down on the Pilbara coast. Picture: Geoff Pritchard

A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Bidyadanga to Mardie, and adjacent inland areas of the Pilbara, including Marble Bar, Nullagine and Millstream.
A Cyclone WATCH is current for adjacent inland areas of the Pilbara including Tom Price, Newman and Telfer.

At 2pm WST Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty, Category 3 was estimated to be:
- 135 kilometres north northeast of Port Hedland and
- 290 kilometres northeast of Karratha and
- moving south southwest at 5 kilometres per hour towards the coast.

DFES State Emergency Service advises of the following community alerts:
RED ALERT: People in or near communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland need to go to shelter immediately.
YELLOW ALERT: People in communities between Wallal and Pardoo, need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.
BLUE ALERT: People in communities between Bidyadanga and Wallal and between Whim Creek and Mardie, including Karratha and extending to adjacent inland areas including Marble Bar, Nullagine and Millstream, need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.
NOTE: The State Emergency Service advises that Marble Bar is expected to go to Yellow Alert at 1800 WST.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty at 2pm WST:
Centre located near...... 19.2 degrees South 119.1 degrees East
Location accuracy........ within 35 kilometres
Recent movement.......... towards the south southwest at 5 kilometres per hour
Wind gusts near centre... 195 kilometres per hour and INTENSIFYING
Severity category........ 3
Central pressure......... 957 hectoPascals

SECOND STORM BREWS

Meanwhile, a second potential cyclone was developing to the southeast of the Cocos Islands this morning. It will be named Sandra if it becomes a cyclone, however it is unlikely to affect the Cocos Islands.

Channel 9's Sally Ayhan on what Perth can expect from Cyclone Rusty

More than 830mm of rain has been dumped on the Cocos Islands in the past three days - eclipsing the amount that fell in metropolitan Perth in 2012 by more than 200mm.

The massive tropical cyclone has also dumped huge rainfall on parts of the Kimberley and Cocos Island, which has received more than 800mm of rain in three days - including 416mm in the past 24 hours.

Cyclone Rusty is moving slowly southwards as it threatens to blast the Pilbara coast as it gathers strength.

Cocos Islands has received 830mm of rain in three days, thanks to the combination of Cyclone Rusty and a monsoonal trough.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Several schools will remain closed for the rest of the week, including:

• Hedland Senior High School
• Port Hedland Primary School
• Port Hedland School of the Air
• Cassia Primary School
• Cassia Education Support Centre
• Baler Primary School
• South Hedland Primary School
• Pilbara Behaviour Centre.
 
Three other schools have also been closed due to the risk of flooding:
• Yandeyarra Remote Community School (in the Shire of Port Hedland)
• Marble Bar Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara)
• Nullagine Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara).

03.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Why Oscars darling may 'save lives'

Jennifer Lawrence dazzled critics with her role opposite Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell drama, Silver Linings Playbook. Source: AP

• Jennifer Lawrence speaks out on mental illness 
• Oscar winner wants to "get rid of stigma" 
• BeyondBlue: Lawrence's comments "will save lives" 

JENNIFER Lawrence's comments about mental illness at the Academy Awards "will save lives", one of Australia's top advocates has said.

Lawrence, the new darling of the film industry after she won the Best Actress gong at the Oscars, said she was on a campaign to change the public perception of mental illness after accepting her award.

She was recognised for her role in the David O. Russell drama, Silver Linings Playbook, about two troubled people who find connection and stability with one another.

She used her moment in front of the cameras to address the issue with authority.

"I don't think we're going to stop until we get rid of the stigma for mental illness," she said. "I know [director] David O. Russell won't, and I hope that this helps.

"It's just so bizarre how in this world if you have asthma, you take asthma medication. If you have diabetes, you take diabetes medication.

"But as soon as you have to take medicine for your mind, it's such a stigma behind it."

BeyondBlue CEO Kate Carnell says Lawrence's comments were incredibly poignant, with one in four Australians still believing that people with serious mental illnesses should simply "suck it up".

"It's just fantastic that somebody as high-profile as Jennifer is, at a time when she's winning an Oscar, takes time to address mental health," she told news.com.au.

"It will help, it will save lives.

"Stigma is still a very real problem. It's something that's incredibly detrimental to people who have depression and anxiety and can lead to suicide."

Lawrence isn't the first famous face to address serious issues and help drag them into the public discourse.

Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Di were two of the greatest campaigners of AIDS awareness in the 1980s. Likewise, Bob Geldof gave a spotlight to third-world poverty through Live Aid in that decade.

Despite his recent drug confessions, Lance Armstrong's LiveStrong foundation managed to give cancer a global fundraising platform, and a strong brand to drive it.

And Matt Damon has toiled to bring Africa's sanitation and water supply crisis into the mainstream view.

Sometimes it takes a glamorous public figure like Lawrence to give a traditionally unglamorous issue like mental health its time in the sun.

"We'd like more people in high places, or people who have influence, to talk about the issue of mental health," Ms Carnell added.

"It helps that Jennifer made the point that mental illness is just the same as physical illness."

Lifeline agrees it is "definitely positive" to have a celebrity talk to the issue of mental illness.

"We have always leveraged off people with high profiles. If it's done in a constructive way, like in this case, it's definitely a positive," Lifeline spokesman John Mendel said.

"Our view is that it's very healthy to have a conversation around mental illness and suicide because that's the best way to overcome the stigma and taboo.

"It serves as a bit of a gateway for people to seek help for themselves, or to encourage others to seek help."

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide contact Lifeline 13 11 14, beyondblue 1300 22 46 36, or Salvo Care Line 1300 36 36 22.

Read more about mental illness with news.com.au's Lifeline series here.

Follow @christoforpaine on Twitter

03.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Waiting for a mate' goes viral

Viral footage from Channel 7's Highway Patrol of Clinton telling Victoria Police he's 'waiting for a mate'

Senior Constable Ash Bowden speaks with Clinton in the Channel 7 program Highway Patrol. Source: Herald Sun

FOOTAGE of a man at the wheel of a crashed car telling a Victorian policeman he was "just waiting for a mate" has gone viral.

The footage, from Channel 7's Highway Patrol, has amassed more than 250,000 YouTube views and its own Facebook page with more than 45,000 likes after it was uploaded in recent days.

The video shows Senior Constable Ash Bowden responding to reports of a car doing burnouts in Carrum Downs, 34km southeast of Melbourne's CBD.

Do you know this man? Contact our news desk on (03) 9292 1226

What seems like a routine hunt for hoon drivers takes a turn for the bizarre, when he finds a car crashed on a curb and the driver, named in the video as Clinton, sitting inside.

When asked what happened, Clinton nonchalantly explains: "I'm just waiting for a mate."

Seemingly unaware of the extensive damage to his car, Clinton continues the charade and repeats the "waiting for a mate" line four times over the next few minutes.

The exchange starts:

Sen-Constable Bowden: How did you get down here?

Clinton: Does it matter?

Sen-Constable Bowden: Yeah, it kind of does mate, because you've just been involved in an accident.

Clinton: No I haven't.

Sen-Constable Bowden: Yes you have.

Clinton: Have I?

Sen-Constable Bowden: Yeah.

Clinton: What kind of accident?

Sen-Constable Bowden: One with a curb mate. Your whole car's smashed up.

Sen-Constable Bowden shows the patience of a kindergarten teacher when saying he wants to conduct a breath test, with this exchange:

Clinton: I'll do this for you.

Sen-Constable Bowden: Yep, that'd be great.

Clinton: I trust you.

Sen-Constable Bowden: Yep.

The quarrelsome Clinton continues to give the policeman a headache when asked to go to the police station, insisting that a higher authority was required to rein in his drink-driving.

Clinton: I'm not sure that you're a federal officer of the law.

Sen-Constable Bowden: I'm not a federal officer.

Clinton: Aren't ya? Well, I'll move on then.

Sen-Constable Bowden: I'm a Victoria Police officer mate.

Clinton: Well that's not good enough.

Clinton eventually agrees to go to the police station, but not before testing the officer's saint-like demeanour with one last argument, this time over linguistics.

Sen-Constable Bowden: I need you to make a definitive decision.

Clinton: Definitive - can you define that?

According to the TV show, Clinton was fined $600, sentenced to four months' community service and disqualified from driving for three years.

The footage, believed to have first aired in Australia several years ago but recently re-run in New Zealand, has sparked a fast growing internet meme.

03.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Argo takes best picture at the Oscars

Ben Affleck accepts the Best Picture award for Argo onstage along with members of the cast and crew during the Oscars. Picture: AP Source: AP

BEN Affleck's Argo, a film about a fake movie, has earned a very real prize: best picture at the Academy Awards.

It's the first best picture winner not to be nominated for best director since 1989's Driving Miss Daisy.

From the White House,First Lady Michelle Obama joined Jack Nicholson to help present the final prize.

''There are eight great films that have every right, as much a right to be up here as we do,'' Affleck said of the other best-picture nominees.

Michelle Obama presents the Oscar for Best Picture.

In share-the-wealth mode, Oscar voters spread Oscar honors among a range of films, with Argo winning three trophies but Life of Pi leading with four.

Hugh Jackman has missed out on the best actor Oscar to Daniel Day-Lewis.

Day-Lewis joined a select group of recipients with his third Oscar, taking the best-actor trophy for his monumental performance as Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War saga Lincoln.

John Goodman, left, Alan Arkin, center, and actor-director Ben Affleck in a scene from "Argo." Picture: AP

Bookmakers had Jackman, for his performance in Les Miserables, as the second favourite for Academy Award.

The other best actor nominees were Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Denzel Washington (Flight) and Joaquin Phoenix (The Master).

Naomi Watts failed to do the impossible and win the best actress Oscar.

The Australian was a long-shot with bookmakers for her role as a tsunami survivor in The Impossible, and that proved to be correct, with Jennifer Lawrence, for Silver Linings Playbook, taking the gold statuette.

It is the second time Watts has come up empty-handed at the Academy Awards, missing out at the 2004 ceremony when she was nominated for 21 Grams.

The other best actress nominees at the 85th Academy Awards were Emmanuelle Riva (Amour), Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty).

Daniel Day-Lewis accepts the award for best actor in a leading role for "Lincoln". Picture: AP

Les Miserables' Anne Hathaway has lived up to the hype and won the best supporting actress Oscar ahead of Australian veteran Jacki Weaver.

Weaver was nominated for Silver Linings Playbook, her second nomination in two years after her Hollywood breakthrough performance in Australian crime drama Animal Kingdom.

Adding to the Aussie Oscar woes, Hobbit nominees visual effects wizard Dave Clayton and make-up-hairstylist Rick Findlater also missed out.

Meryl Streep, left, presents the award for best actor in a leading role to Daniel Day-Lewis for "Lincoln". Picture: AP

Ang Lee pulled off a huge upset as best director for Life of Pi.

Christoph Waltz won his second supporting-actor Oscar for a Tarantino film, this time as a genteel bounty hunter in the slave-revenge saga Django Unchained.

Tarantino also won his second Oscar, for original screenplay for Django.

Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence takes a fall in her stride on her way to receiving her Oscar and manages a joke while keeping her dignity.

Ang Lee pulled off a major upset, won best director for the shipwreck story Life of Pi, taking the prize over Steven Spielberg, who had been favored for Lincoln.

Lawrence took a fall on her way to the stage, tripping on the steps.

''You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell,'' Lawrence joked as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

At 22, Lawrence is the second-youngest woman to win best actress, behind Marlee Matlin, who was 21 when she won for Children of a Lesser God.

Lawrence also is the third-youngest best-actress contender ever, earning her first nomination at age 20 two years ago for her breakout role in Winter's Bone, the film that took her from virtual unknown to one of Hollywood's most-versatile and sought-after performers.

With a monumental performance as Abraham Lincoln, Day-Lewis became the only performer to win three best-actor Oscars, adding to the honors he earned for My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood.

Jennifer Lawrence accepts the award for best actress in a leading role for "Silver Linings Playbook" during the Oscars. Picture: AP

He's just the sixth actor to earn three or more Oscars, tied with Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman and Walter Brennan with three each, and just behind Katharine Hepburn, who won four.

Hathaway, whose perkiness helped carry her and the listless Franco through an ill-starred stint as Oscar hosts two years ago, is the third performer in a musical to win supporting actress during the genre's resurgence in the last decade.

''It came true,'' said Hathaway, who joins 2002 supporting-actress winner Catherine Zeta-Jones for Chicago and 2006 recipient Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls.

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, from the cast of "Les Miserables," perform during the Oscars. Picture: AP

Hathaway had warm thanks for Les Miz co-star Hugh Jackman, with whom she once sang a duet at the Oscars when he was the show's host.

Hathaway's Oscar came for her role as noble but fallen Fantine in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway smash that was based on Victor Hugo's epic novel of revolution, romance and redemption in 19th century France.

Life of Pi also won for Mychael Danna's multicultural musical score that blends Indian and Western instruments and influences, plus cinematography and visual effects.

Host Seth MacFarlane sings 'We saw your boobs' at the Oscars. Courtesy Nine. Watch the Oscars Special on Nine 9.30 pm AEST

''I really want to thank you for believing this story and sharing this incredible journey with me,'' Lee said to all who worked on the film, a surprise blockbuster about a youth trapped on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.

A veteran performer in Germany and his native Austria, Waltz had been a virtual unknown in Hollywood when Tarantino cast him as a gleefully evil Nazi in 2009's Inglourious Basterds, which won him his first Oscar.

''I have to cast the right people to make those characters come alive,'' said Tarantino, who won previously for Pulp Fiction.

Seth MacFarlane has lived up to his risky reputation as Oscars host. Watch the Oscars Special on Nine 9.30 pm AEST

''And boy, this time, did I do it. Thank you so much, guys.''

Waltz has since done a handful of other Hollywood movies, but it's Tarantino who has given him his two choicest roles. Backstage, Waltz had a simple explanation for why the collaboration works.

''Quentin writes poetry, and I like poetry,'' Waltz said.

Oscar host Seth MacFarlane opened with a mildly edgy monologue that offered the usual polite jabs at the academy, the stars and the industry.

He took a poke at academy voters over the snub of Ben Affleck, who missed out on a directing nomination for best-picture favorite Argo, a thriller about the CIA's plot to rescue six Americans during the Iranian hostage crisis.

''The story was so top secret that the film's director is unknown to the academy,'' MacFarlane said.

Host Seth MacFarlane speaks onstage during the Oscars. Picture: AP

''They know they screwed up. Ben, it's not your fault.''

Argo also claimed the Oscar for adapted screenplay for Chris Terrio, who worked with Affleck to create a liberally embellished story based on an article about the rescue and part of CIA operative Tony Mendez's memoir.

Terrio dedicated the award to Mendez, saying ''33 years ago, Tony, using nothing but his creativity and his intelligence, Tony got six people out of a bad situation.''

The foreign-language prize went to Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke's old-age love story Amour, which had been a major surprise with five nominations, including picture, director and original screenplay for Haneke and best actress for Emmanuelle Riva, who turned 86 on Oscar night and would be the oldest acting winner ever.

The top prize winner at last year's Cannes Film Festival, Amour follows the agonizing story of an elderly man (Jean-Louis Trintignant) tending his wife (Riva) as she declines from age and illness.

Haneke thanked his own wife for supporting him in his work for 30 years.

''You are the center of my life,'' Haneke said.

The Scottish adventure Brave, from Disney's Pixar Animation unit, was named best animated feature.

Pixar films have won seven of the 12 Oscars since the category was added.

''I just happen to be wearing the kilt,'' said Brave co-director Mark Andrews, who took the stage in his trademark Scottish garment.

The upbeat musical portrait Searching for Sugar Man took the documentary feature prize.

The film follows the quest of two South African fans to discover the fate of acclaimed but obscure singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, who dropped out of sight after two albums in the 1970s and was rumored to have died a bitter death.

''Thanks to one of the greatest singers ever, Rodriguez,'' said Sugar Man director Malik Bendjelloul.

There was a rare tie in one category, with the Osama bin Laden thriller Zero Dark Thirty' and the James Bond tale Skyfall each winning for sound editing.

William Shatner made a guest appearance as his Star Trek character Capt. James Kirk, appearing on a giant screen above the stage during MacFarlane's monologue, saying he came back in time to stop the host from ruining the Oscars.

''Your jokes are tasteless and inappropriate, and everyone ends up hating you,'' said Shatner, who revealed a headline supposedly from the next day's newspaper that read, ''Seth MacFarlane worst Oscar host ever.''

The performance-heavy Oscars also included an opening number featuring Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum, who did a classy dance while MacFarlane crooned The Way You Look Tonight.

Daniel Radcliffe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt then joined MacFarlane for an elegant musical rendition of High Hopes.

Halle Berry introduced a tribute to the Bond franchise, in which she has co-starred, as the British super-spy celebrated his 50th anniversary on the big-screen last year with the latest adventure Skyfall.

Shirley Bassey sang her theme song to the 1960s Bond tale Goldfinger.

Later, pop star Adele performed her theme tune from Skyfall, which won the best-song Oscar.

Barbra Streisand injected some musical sentiment into the show's segment memorializing Hollywood figures who died in the past year as she sang The Way We Were, the Oscar-winning song she did in the film of the same name.

A salute to the resurgence of movie musicals in the last decade included Oscar winners Zeta-Jones singing All That Jazz from Chicago and Hudson doing And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going from Dreamgirls.

Hathaway and Jackman joined cast mates of best-picture contender Les Miserables to sing songs from their musical.

Academy officials said all performances were sung live.

Fans had pondered how far MacFarlane the impudent creator of Family Guy, might push the normally prim and proper Oscars.

MacFarlane was generally polite and respectful, showcasing his charm, wit and vocal gifts.

MacFarlane did press his luck a bit on an Abraham Lincoln joke, noting that Raymond Massey preceded Lincoln star Daniel Day-Lewis as an Oscar nominee for 1940's Abe Lincoln in Illinois.

''I would argue that the actor who really got inside Lincoln's head was John Wilkes Booth,'' MacFarlane wisecracked, earning some groans from the crowd.

''A hundred and 50 years later, and it's still too soon?''

 THE WINNERS

Best Picture - Argo

Best Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln

Best Actress - Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook

Achievement in Directing - Ang Lee for Life of Pi

Original Screenplay - Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained

Adapted Screenplay - Chris Terrio for Argo

Original Song - Skyfall by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth for Skyfall

Original Score - Pi's Lullaby by Mychael Danna for Life of Pi

Production Design - Lincoln

Film Editing - William Goldenberg for Argo

Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Anna Hathaway for Les Miserables

Sound Editing - Zero Dark Thirty and SkyFall

Sound Mixing  - Les Miserables

Foreign Language Film -  Michael Haneke for Amour

Best Documentary Feature - Searching for Sugar Man

Documentary Short Subject - Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine for Innocents

Best Live Action Short Film - Shawn Christensen for Curfew

Make-Up and Hairstyling - Les Miserables

Costume Design - Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina

Cinematography - Claudio Miranda for Life of Pi

Visual Effects - Life of Pi

Animated Short Film - John Connors for Paperman

Animated Feature - Brave

Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained

03.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fan 'critical' after horror smash

A massive crash at a NASCAR warm-up event at Daytona injures 15 spectators.

Kyle Larson (32) goes airborne into the catch fence in a multi-car crash including Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88), Parker Kligerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona. Source: AP

A multi-car smash on the final corner of a race at Daytona resulted in fans getting injured by flying debris

AN airborne race car smashed into a fence, injuring spectators, during a horrific multi-car smash in the final moments of a NASCAR race in the US.

The frightening, fiery crash that sent Kyle Larson's car airborne and debris spinning into the stands injured dozens of race fans at the NASCAR stock car Nationwide Series season-opener at Daytona.

Joie Chitwood, president of Daytona International Speedway, said 14 injured fans had been transported from the circuit for treatment at local hospitals and 14 more were treated at the track's medical facility.

Pictures: Horror NASCAR crash

He said he could not confirm reports that at least two people were seriously hurt and that one was taken immediately for surgery.

"It's not appropriate for me to comment on that,'' Chitwood said in a press conference held at the circuit some three hours after the wreck.

Various media reports put the number of injured at more than 30, with ESPN reporting that one adult had life-threatening head trauma and a 14-year-old was in critical but not life-threatening condition in hospital.

The wreck, which occurred almost as Tony Stewart was taking the chequered flag for victory, began when race leader Regan Smith turned sideways and a dozen cars bunched behind him.

"My fault,'' admitted Smith. "I threw a block.''

Kyle Larson (32) is airborne after a multi-car crash, including Parker Kligerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona. Source: AP

Larson, a Japanese-American driver who was making his first start in NASCAR's second-tier series, was launched into the catch-fencing.

"I was getting pushed from behind, and by the time my spotter said, 'Lift,'' it was too late,'' said Larson, who was able to climb out of what remained of his vehicle.

"I had some flames come in the cockpit. I was all right and could get out of the car quickly. It was definitely a big hit.''

Larson's car tore a hole in the fence separating the track from the stands. His engine sheared off with at least one tire and other debris flying into the grandstand.

"I looked in the mirror and that's the worst image I've ever seen in a race in my life,'' Stewart said.

Kyle Larson's car is on fire as he slides down the track with Regan Smith after being involved in a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Source: AP

A fan who identified himself as "Tyler Andersen'' sent amateur video to ESPN and spoke with the sports network about the scary scene.

"I saw a tire about 10 feet from me, just a row above me with a man under it and people yelling for help,'' he said in a telephone interview.

"Our prayers and thoughts are with everybody they are working on,'' NASCAR President Mike Helton said of those being treated by medical personnel.

None of the drivers involved in the crash was injured, but driver Michael Annett was brought to hospital with chest bruising after hitting a safety barrier in an earlier crash in the race.

"We've always known since racing started this is a dangerous sport,'' a subdued Stewart said. "As much as we want to celebrate, I'm more concerned about the fans and the drivers right now.''

Kyle Larson climbs out of his car after being involved in a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Source: AP

Chitwood said speedway and NASCAR officials responded appropriately and according to their safety protocols, with emergency personnel in place and able to begin work promptly.

Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's senior vice president for racing operations, said the entire incident would be reviewed to see what, if any, changes could be made to improve safety.

Until then he declined to speculate on what went wrong or right.

"We need to take the time to really study it and see what we can improve on,'' O'Donnell said.

The race came on the eve of the season-opening event in NASCAR's top-flight Sprint Cup series, the Daytona 500.

Medical personnel assist fans sitting close to the wall following an incident at the finish of a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Source: Getty Images

Both O'Donnell and Chitwood said they expected Sunday's race to start on schedule.

"We expect to go racing tomorrow with no changes,'' Chitwood said.

Danica Patrick will start the Daytona 500 from pole position after becoming the first woman to top qualifying for a NASCAR race.

Patrick had also picked up a ride for Saturday's race, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports. She suffered engine failure early on and wasn't involved in the late-race chaos.

Pictures: Horror NASCAR crash

A multi-car smash on the final corner of a race at Daytona resulted in fans getting injured by flying debris

03.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pistorius's brother on death charge

Aimee, Carl and Henke Pistorius have taken the same seats each day during the dramatic and emotional bail hearing for Oscar Pistorius, charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. AFP Source: AFP

THE brother of accused murderer Oscar Pistorius is himself facing a charge of culpable homicide, it has been revealed.

Carl Pistorius was charged over the death of a woman who died when her motorbike collided with his car outside Johannesburg in 2010, his lawyer Kenny Oldwage told the eNews Africa television channel.

The elder brother of athlete Oscar Pistorius was supposed to have gone on trial for culpable homicide on Thursday - the day before the Olympian got bail, according to South African media reports.

Oscar Pistorius, who has been charged with the Valentine's Day shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was granted bail on Friday.

Carl Pistorius's trial was pushed back a month, but the specific date is not known.

Carl Pistorius and lawyer Kenny Oldwage pictured outside Brooklyn police station, where Oscar Pistorius was being held, last week.

The latest development comes just days after Hilton Botha, the lead detective investigating the Oscar Pistorius murder case, was dropped after it emerged he was facing seven attempted murder charges over a shooting incident in 2011.

Along with his sister Aimee and father Henke, Carl Pistorius has been a strong source of comfort and support to his Paralympian brother, attending last week's bail hearings.

Carl Pistorius's Twitter account was taken down this weekend after a hacker sent a tweet thanking everyone for supporting the families of Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp.

"Carl did not tweet this afternoon, out of respect to Oscar and Reeva," family spokesman Janine Hills said in a statement. "We are busy cancelling all the social media sites for both Oscar's brother and his sister."

03.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cheerleader Ashlee's amazing trick

Ashlee Arnau, a cheerleader at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS, provided the highlight of the night with an incredible, acrobatic, half-court shot. Courtesy YouTube/NathanEpstein

• "I don't really practice at all," said Ashlee
• Incredible front-flip half court basketball shot
• Latest basketball news

LET'S see Andrew Bogut do this.

Ashlee Arnau, a cheerleader at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, made an incredible front-flip half-court shot at halftime of the school's men's basketball game that became an instant Internet sensation.

The ball was placed on the floor at midcourt. Arnau approached it with a running start, did a front-flip, grabbing the ball while she was upside down, and then launching it toward the basket while her legs swung forward.

"I really don't practice at all," Arnau told the AP in a phone interview.

Cheerleader Ashlee Arnau' said she did not even practice the front-flip half court shot. Picture: YouTube

The 21-year-old junior also plays soccer and runs track for William Carey, which competes in NAIA. She said the front-flip shot was a takeoff on the front-flip throw-in that soccer players do.

She said she has been trying the shot during halftime of home basketball games all season, but this was the first time she made it on her home floor. She said she once made the shot while attending a junior college tournament game, but that one bounced in.

"I didn't count it because I wanted it to go nothing-but-net," she said. "Tonight, I was really blessed it happened."

Cheerleader Ashlee Arnau's amazing front-flip half court basket. Picture: YouTube

She said she usually tries it about four or five times during the halftime show. She nailed it on her fifth attempt Thursday night -- during the last home game of the season.

"Everyone was going crazy," said Arnau, a junior from Hattiesburg who said she is studying to be a nurse. "They were cheering my name."

A Canadian student got his tuition paid for when the University's basketball coach sunk a trick shot.

An ogling teenager at a basketball game found a new form of candy, eye candy in the form of a gorgeous cheerleader.

03.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Body of boy sucked into drain found

A boy has died after he was sucked into a golf course drainpipe on NSW mid north coast

THE body of a 17-year-old boy who went missing after being sucked into a large drainpipe at a golf course on the state's Mid North coast overnight has been found.

A friend searching in reeds about 40 metres from the drain exit located the body of Luke O'Neill at 7am.

The 17-year-old O'Neill from Bonny Hills went missing about 5.30pm yesterday when a group of teenage boys were in waist-deep flood water collecting golf balls at a golf course on Kendall Road, Kew.

Gold Coast beaches cop another pounding

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Police have been told the 17 year old was suddenly pulled into a large drainpipe by the force of the water.

When two of his friends, aged 15 and 16, were trying to find him at the drainpipe entrance the 16-year-old was also sucked into the pipe.

He travelled underwater for the length of the 100 metre pipe and emerged into a dam at the other end where he was able to exit the water.

The two boys were taken by ambulance to Port Macquarie Base Hospital in a distraught state. The 16-year-old was admitted for observations with water on his lungs.

Emergency services were contacted and police from the Mid North Coast Local Area Command were joined by NSW Fire and Rescue, ambulance officers and SES officers in their search. 

More than 3850 people are isolated on the north coast, with thousands evacuated, and the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has received more than 1570 calls for assistance.

Torrential rain, gales and dangerous surf has battered the region for the second time in just a month with moderate to major flooding in river systems stretching from Lismore to Port Macquarie. No major towns have been cut off, but the SES holds concerns for the town of Bellingen.

There has been widespread falls of between 100mm and 200mm in some parts of the coast with rain as heavy as 360mm at Dorrigo on the Bellinger River just inland of Coffs Harbour in a 36 hour period.

Overnight the SES had to perform 15 flood rescues, most of which they say could have been avoided.

"Many of these rescues relate to deliberate entry into floodwater and the NSW SES urges people not to drive, ride or walk through floodwater,'' it said in a statement.

Flood warnings have been issued for areas around 17 NSW rivers, with major flood warnings in place for the Clarence River and the Bellinger River, where the river peaked at 9m at 5am this morning..

Further south near Kempsey the town of Smithtown (population 650) and its surrounding area received messages from the State Emergency Services this morning to evacuate as floodwater continued to rise in the Macleay River after up to 210mm of rain had fallen in the past 27 hours to 6am this morning.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) the river is expected to reach 6.6m at Kempsey around 6pm today causing major flooding.

There is a major flood warming for the Hastings River where the river peaked at 11m at 7am this morning - higher than the 1978 flood.

The Pacific Highway is closed near Macksville and at South Grafton.

A severe weather warning remains in place for the mid-north coast, Hunter, Illawarra, Sydney and parts of the central tablelands.
Heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding is predicted for those areas throughout today.

Sydney will experience winds of about 50 to 65 km per hour this evening.

"Along the coast winds are quite strong,'' a Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) spokesman told AAP today. "There's also some quite large seas and swell so the surf is quite dangerous and rough.''

"It's generally pretty wild and woolly out there.''

The SES has received about 70 calls from the Sydney metropolitan area but says there hasn't been too much damage around the city.
Cronulla's Wanda Surf Club did lose part of its roof in the wild weather today.

The BOM says the low pressure system should move south tomorrow morning, easing weather conditions around Sydney.

03.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Bad boys' admit Stilnox use

Olympic Swimmers Eamon Sullivan and James Magnussen talk about taking stilnox ahead of the London Olympics.

Olympic swimmer Jade Neilsen has accused three men's relay team members of inappropriate behavior.

Swimming Australia head coach Leigh Nugent says he wasn't aware of any use of Stilnox by swimmers during the London Olympics, after an independent review of the incidents is revealed.

Swimmers on the block... Olympian Jade Neilsen (left) has lifted the lid on the antics of the men's 4x100m relay team. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Australian swimmers in men's 4x100 freestyle relay team ahead of the London Games (L-R) Eamon Sullivan, James Roberts, James Magnussen and Matt Targett. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

UPSET: Jade Neilsen has told her side of the story. Source: The Courier-Mail

• OUT OF LINE? Have your say in the comments field below
• ROLLING COVERAGE: Live updates throughout the day

AUSTRALIAN swimming stars have admitted to using Stilnox on a wild bonding night in the lead up to the London Olympics.

In a statement on behalf of the team read by Australian Swimmers' Association general manager Daniel Kowalski, members of the 4 x 100m relay team admitted to the use of Stilnox at a team camp in Manchester ahead of the Games.

The statement was prepared by Tommaso D'Orsogna, Cameron McEvoy, James Magnussen, James Roberts, Matt Targett and Eamon Sullivan.

Swimming Australia's Daniel Kowalski reads a statement prepared by James Magnussen and his teammates admitting to using stilnox.

"As proud members of the Australian Swim team, we acknowledge that by our actions in continuing a recent tradition on the men's team we have let ourselves down and the people who have supported us," it said.

The statement said the team members saw a movie, had dinner and returned to the hotel.

'We're sorry' - read the full statement in here

It was there where they each took Stilnox pill.

They admitted to childish pranks, including knocking on teammate's doors and prank called them.

World 100m champion James Magnussen and Eamon Sullivan insisted taking Stilnox had no effect "at all" on their swim performances in London.

Magnussen said the prescription drug was taken "to bond with these guys".

"In hindsight it was a ridiculous choice and ridiculous method...but I don't feel it affected my performance," Magnussen said.

Roberts later said he had never taken the drug and did not do so then.

"I didn't take Stilnox that night," Roberts said.

They deny there was nothing untoward or threatening towards any other teammate.

They say they were all in bed at 10:30pm.

Leigh Nugent is to face integrity panel over reaction to door knocking incident while James Roberts did not participate in taking stilnox.

Earlier, Olympic swimmer Jade Neilsen spoke out about Australian Swimming's night of shame, accusing three members of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay team of "inappropriate behaviour" towards her and a female roommate.

Neilsen and her roommate at the team staging camp in Manchester were awoken by late night phone calls, door knocking and disruptive behaviour by James Magnussen, James Roberts and Cameron McEvoy.

"I will confirm that they were being inappropriate and it was towards (name withheld) and I," Neilsen said.

"I won't specifically say (what happened). It has sort of already come out pretty much what they've done.

"All I can say is their behaviour was completely inappropriate, it was so inappropriate it was not funny. That is all I can really say about that."

The trio, along with their relay squad members Matt Targett, Eamon Sullivan and Tommaso D'Orsogna, are under investigation from Swimming Australia for alleged misuse of the prescription drug Stilnox during a wild bonding night.

Swimmers to be named and shamed

Former Olympic swimmer Matt Welsh, who comepeted at the Sydney 2000 Games and then at Athens four years later, said this type of behaviour was not the norm.

"I was in a number of relays and we did try to do a few things by ourselves but never at the expense of, you know, I guess trying to separate us, segregate us, from the main team," he told 3AW this morning.

"It was always about trying to sort of do stuff within there.

"I think that's really one of the risks that unfortunately they took and it's happened as they, you know, felt that they were, I don't know, for one reason or another bigger or better than the team and putting other members down or at least affecting their preparation and I think that's really disappointing as well.

"It never should have happened.

"You know arguably, something should have happened straight away. There should have been some sort of disciplined immediately rather than just ignoring us."

Weapons of Mass Dysfunction gallery

Welsh disagreed that the swimmers responsible should be banned from future teams.

"I don't think so, I think that might be a bit much but something had to change and, you know, this wasn't just everything was fine and then this happened," he said.

"It's sort of a culture that unfortunately has been slowly evolving over a number of years and each step probably hasn't felt like it's been needed to be addressed but now all of a sudden the boat's floating in the completely wrong direction.

Welsh said the coaches of the team need to take responsibility.

"They take the kudos when the swimmers do well," he said.

"I think they need to take, sort of, a bit of a hit when the swimmers do poorly as well because, you can really only set the culture and if it's not set properly then unfortunately these sort of thing happen."

It is understood the trouble in Manchester began after midnight with door knocking and phone calls to the females' rooms.

When Neilsen answered the door, Magnussen barged through with McEvoy behind him, with the duo wearing nothing but jeans.

One of the men then tried to lay on the bed of Neilsen's roommate, who ordered him away.

Magnussen in Stilnox probe

Both women have told their coaches they felt frightened by the behaviour of the men, as they were stumbling and acting "strangely", and both men were promptly kicked out of the room.

Later, in the early hours of the morning, two men returned and started banging on the door - Roberts, wearing nothing but his underwear, and McEvoy. They were not allowed to enter the room.

The women told their coaches the next morning who reported the incident to Australian head coach Leigh Nugent, who did not take any action.

Nugent admitted for the first time on Wednesday that he had been made aware of the Manchester incident.

Swimmers didn't want it enough

Nugent said he dismissed it as "childish behaviour" and claimed the identity of the culprits was never revealed to him.

Neilsen and her roommate wanted the issue dealt with privately within the team, but were upset when the men were not disciplined.

They never wanted the issue to become public and are upset that the entire swim team's name was dragged through the mud.

"It should have been handled in Manchester or as soon as we got into the village, but it just wasn't and unfortunately the boys have paid the price for that," she said.

"Well, the whole team has paid the price for that, not just the boys."

03.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Child gangs terrorise city

Evidence of street racing from hoons around Townsville. (Pic: Megan Brayley) Source: Supplied

Evidence of street racing from hoons around Townsville. (Pic: Megan Brayley) Source: Supplied

ROAMING gangs of teens and children as young as 12 have turned a regional city into a war zone and authorities say they are powerless to deal with the problem.

Townsville residents say they are living in terror of children and teens who spend their nights racing stolen cars, breaking into properties, and committing assault.

Earlier this month a 14-year-old was hospitalised in a critical condition after the stolen car he was travelling in crashed into a power pole. The 16-year-old unlicensed driver and a 13-year-old passenger reportedly ran from the scene and left him for dead.

A Townsville Dog Squad officer and his police dog are lucky to be alive after hoons attempted to run them down in a stolen vehicle. And last week, a stolen ute was clocked racing the streets at speeds of 235km/h.

Townsville police Inspector Ian Haughton said police were especially concerned about the dangerous speeds that were being detected.

"That vehicle (doing 235km/h in an 80km/h zone) is not going to stop. The driver has a death wish," Insp Haughton said. "That is tragedy waiting to happen."

Townsville City Council's Healthy City Safe City chairman Gary Eddiehausen, a former police officer, said police were dealing with same faces, names and families.

"The kids need to be accountable. Parents have a responsibility and need to be held accountable," he said.

"The people in Townsville are sick to death of this and I fear it is only a matter of time before an innocent person is killed."

But one concerned Townsville resident, who did not want to be named, said there was not much the parents could do.

"They come from wealthy homes with good parents, they're going astray," the resident told news.com.au.

"Two years ago, my house was broken into; they came in with golf clubs, they took an Xbox, some games and cigarettes.

"There's no repercussions for their actions, they're not scared to do it again. Some of the parents have tried to control their kids but they just run away. I'm worried someone is going to take the law into their own hands."

Member for Thuringowa Sam Cox (R) and Member for Townsville John Hathaway (L) are joined by Police Minister Jack Dempsey last July to launch a Crime Action Plan to tackle crime head on and reduce crime rates. Source: Supplied

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill said the north-eastern coastal community was "fed up and waiting for the state to deal with this".

"Whatever we are doing isn't working," she said. "We don't have the capacity within the council to provide too much support. It's a law and order issue that falls on the shoulders of state representatives and police."

Ms Hill has pointed the blame at the Queensland Government for not looking into the matter as promised.

"This is a state issue, a number of commitments were made during the state election, obviously the issue hasn't gone away," she said.

"I want to give the opportunity for the state members to keep their commitments to see what they'll do. I think that's only fair, but the patience within the community is running out.

"We run our own security patrols for our parks, we have CCTV, but ultimately this has nothing to do with that. This has everything to do with stolen cars and high speed chases."

Six-year-old Kyla Tuohy joins in the protest at a rally at the local Children's Court to show their outrage against weak sentences for juvenile offenders earlier this month. (Pic: Zak Simmonds) Source: Supplied

Queensland MP Sam Cox - the Member for Thuringowa, a suburb and commercial hub of western Townsville - is calling for a "top to bottom" review of the youth justice system.

Tougher penalties, a review of police pursuit powers, the introduction of penalties for juveniles who breach bail conditions and the naming of repeat offenders are among the ideas being considered, with Townsville residents expected to play a key role in the review.

Mr Cox described the latest outbreak of youth crime as "outrageous" and has the backing of Mundingburra MP and Local Government Minister David Crisafulli for his youth justice shake-up.

"I met with (Townsville police) Inspector Ian Haughton who filled me in on what has been going on … and I have no words," Mr Cox said.

"To hear about young kids in stolen cars doing 235km/h in an 80km/h zone, hoons trying to run down a police officer.

"We need a full review of the youth justice system, the penalties, if the police need more powers and support to pursue these people doing dangerous speeds."

Townsville Crime alerts members conducted a rally at the local Children's Court during the lunch break to show their outrage against weak sentences for juvenile offenders earlier this month. (Pic: Zak Simmonds) Source: Supplied

State MP Crisafulli said there was "no denying action was needed" to address the youth crime problem in Townsville.

"We can dance around it all we like but there is an issue and the sad part is that it is always the same small percentage of protected species that are doing the damage," he said.

"Just because they are young doesn't mean they can't rip an innocent person's life to shreds."

State Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has confirmed he will visit Townsville next week to discuss the concerns of the local community.

"I am well aware of the issues facing the region and will travel to Townsville next Wednesday, February 27, to meet with local members and their constituents to discuss their concerns," he said in a statement.

"As part of its second six month action plan, January – June 2013, the Government has made a commitment to get tough on youth crime and commence a formal review of the Youth Justice Act 1992.

Given the current situation, Townsville residents will play a key role in this review.

Torhild Parkinson of Townsville Crime Alerts, a Facebook community forum that held a rally outside Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday, said the time for action is now.

"We don't have the time to sit around while they do a review," she said. "Residents have had enough. If they want to make changes just do it."

Torhild Parkinson runs the Townsville Crime Alert. (Pic: Fiona Harding) Source: Supplied

Anyone with information that can help police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Are you a concerned member of the Tpwnsville community or do you have your own story to tell? Contact Matt Young via Twitter @the_mattyoung
 

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Telstra sacks hundreds of Sensis staff

Telstra is cutting 648 jobs from its Sensis division which runs Yellow Pages, White Pages and Trading Post.

Telstra will shed hundreds of jobs in Melbourne and Sydney. Picture: Bob Finlayson Source: The Australian

TELSTRA has sacked 648 employees - one in five staff - at its struggling Sensis business, amid fears some of the call centre jobs will be shipped offshore.

Sensis produces the Yellow Pages, White Pages and the Trading Post.

The communications giant is cutting staff in Melbourne and Sydney, in the latest Australian jobs blow.

Community and Public Sector Union national president Michael Tull said the job losses were deeply distressing.

"Sensis staff have been crushed by the scale of these cuts for a company that is part of Telstra which earlier this month posted record half year profits of $1.6 billion," he said.

"The numbers are substantial job cuts.

"They are call centre staff, back of office staff, design work for the ads and printing work."

Mr Tull said that there had been rumours of changes for weeks, but the scale of the job cuts had shocked him.

The company is blaming the rise of online searches for the decline in its print publications, that have landed on doorsteps for decades.

Staff had meetings with managers at 10am today to discuss their future.

The head managers will meet with unions at 3pm today, in a summit that was called after unions heard rumblings about the cuts.

CPSU spokeswoman Teresa Davison said the union would reserve the right to take the cuts to Fair Work Australia if Telstra acted unfairly.

"We're talking to members at the moment and we will be meeting with Sensis at 3pm," she said.

"We have been calling for weeks to discuss this; they were claiming they had not made a decision as recently as Tuesday."

Ms Davison said Telstra was making a short-sighted call.

"Like all large businesses they look at their massive profits dropping," she said.

"If a $1 billion profit drops to $900 million their response is to sack staff, even though they are still making a huge profit."

The Sensis business includes Yellow Pages, White Pages and the Trading Post.

The traditional print advertising publications have been struggling with competition from online advertising.

Sensis Australia managing director John Allan said the business model was unsustainable.

"Until now we have been operating with an outdated print-based model - this is no longer sustainable for us," he said in a statement.

"Already, more than 60 per cent of our customers now are advertising online and in mobile apps, while our White and Yellow Pages digital services received 18.4m visits in January 2013.

"We need to simplify our operation and invest in areas that make us more efficient, and meet our customers' growing demand for online and mobile services."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the job cuts were "dreadful news".

Stephen.drill@news.com.au

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Pistorius cop faces shooting charges

Investigating officer Hilton Botha, who is in charge of the Oscar Pistorius murder case, faces charges over an alleged shooting incident. Source: AFP

THE lead investigating officer has reportedly been taken off Oscar Pistorius's murder case after it was revealed he is facing seven attempted murder charges.

South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority said that given the charges against the detective, he "cannot continue".

Botha reportedly opened fire on a bunch of terrified passengers in a mini-bus in a drunken shooting incident with three other officers in 2011.

His shock removal from the case comes as Pistorius arrived at court for the third day of his bail hearing after being charged last week with shooting dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Botha, who drew ridicule yesterday for his bungling testimony during Pistorius's bail hearing, has denied he and the other officers were drinking.

He told Eyewitness News shortly after news of the charges broke that he and the two officers were investigating a case and tried to pull the taxi mini-bus over.

When the driver refused to stop, they shot at the wheels, he said. 

Botha said he was convinced the attempted murder case against him had been withdrawn and only found out it had been reinstated when another officer told him, Eyewitness News reports.

Police spokesman Nevile Malila told Eyewitness News: "There was a decision to taken by the DPP's office to charge the members, each one of them with seven counts of attempted murder. That was the number of people that were in the taxi"

South African journalists and overseas correspondents are providing up-to-the-minute coverage of the Pistorius murder case from both inside and outside the courtroom via Twitter.

Earlier today, Malila said Botha was a seasoned detective and there were no plans to take him off the murder case. But it was revealed a short time that he has been dumped from the case.

The prosecution case against Pistorius began to unravel yesterday with revelations of a series of police blunders and investigating officer Botha's admission that authorities have no evidence challenging the double-amputee Olympian's claim he killed his girlfriend accidentally.

Detective Botha's often confused testimony left prosecutors rubbing their heads in frustration as he misjudged distances and said testosterone - banned for professional athletes in some cases - was found at the scene, only to be later contradicted by the prosecutor's office.

The second day of what was supposed to be a mere bail hearing almost resembled a full-blown trial for the 26-year-old runner, with his lawyer, Barry Roux, tearing into Botha's testimony step by step during cross examination.

Police, Botha acknowledged, left a 9 mm slug from the barrage that killed Reeva Steenkamp inside a toilet and lost track of illegal ammunition found inside the house.

Investigating officer Hilton Botha - who is himself facing attempted murder charges - sits inside the court witness box during Oscar Pistorius's bail hearing. Source: AP

And the detective himself walked through the crime scene without wearing protective shoe covers, potentially contaminating the area.

Authorities, Roux asserted, were selectively taking "every piece of evidence to try to extract the most possibly negative connotation and present it to the court.''

The case has riveted South Africa - and the world - with journalists and the curious crowding into the brick-walled courtroom where Pistorius, dubbed the Blade Runner for his prosthetic legs, faces a charge of premeditated murder in the Valentine's Day slaying.

Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and shot her out of fear, while prosecutors say he planned the killing and attacked her as she cowered behind a locked bathroom door.

Yesterday's hearing seemed to start out well for the prosecution, with Botha offering new details of the shooting that appeared to call into question Pistorius's account of the moments leading up to the 29-year-old model's death.

Ballistic evidence, he said, showed the bullets that killed her had been fired from a height, supporting the prosecution's assertion that Pistorius was wearing prosthetic legs when he took aim at the bathroom door. The athlete has maintained he was standing only on his stumps, and felt vulnerable and frightened as he opened fire from a low position.

Projecting a diagram of the bedroom and the bathroom, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said it showed Pistorius had to walk past his bed to get to the bathroom and could not have done so without seeing that Steenkamp was not asleep there.

"There's no other way of getting there,'' Nel said in disputing Pistorius's claim that he had no idea Steenkamp was no longer in bed when he pumped four bullets into the bathroom door, striking her with three.

Botha backed the prosecutor up, saying the holster for Pistorius' 9 mm pistol was found under the left side of the bed, where Steenkamp slept, and it would have been impossible for Pistorius to get the gun without checking to see if she was there.

"I believe that he knew that Reeva was in the bathroom and he shot four shots through the door,'' the detective said.

Botha described how bullets struck Steenkamp in the head and shattered her right arm and hip, eliciting sobs from Pistorius, who held his head in hands.

However, when asked if Steenkamp's body showed "any pattern of defensive wounds'' or bruising from an assault, Botha said "no.'' He again responded "no'' when asked if investigators found anything inconsistent with Pistorius' version of events, though he later said nothing contradicted the police version either.

Testimony began with the prosecutor telling the court that before the shooting, a neighbor heard "non-stop'' shouting between 2am. and 3am at Pistorius's upscale home in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria.

However, Botha later said under cross-examination that the witness was in a house 550 metres away, possibly out of earshot. He cut that estimate in half when questioned again by the prosecutor, as confusion reigned for much of his testimony.

At one point, Botha told the court that police found syringes and two boxes of testosterone in Pistorius' bedroom - testimony the prosecution later withdrew, saying it was too early to identify the substance, which was still being tested.

"It is not certain (what it is) until the forensics'' are completed, Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecution Agency, told The Associated Press. It's not clear if it was "a legal or an illegal medication for now.''

The defense also disputed the claim. "It is an herbal remedy,'' Roux said. "It is not ... a banned substance.''

Still, Botha offered potentially damaging details about Pistorius's past, saying the athlete was once involved in an accidental shooting at a restaurant in Johannesburg and asked someone else "to take the rap.''

South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius has enjoyed a better day in court, after a police detective testified that there was nothing 'inconsistent' with the athlete's story.

The runner also threatened men on two separate occasions, Botha said, allegedly telling one he'd "break his legs.''

The detective said police found two iPhones in Pistorius's bathroom and two BlackBerrys in his bedroom, and none had been used to phone for help. Guards at the gated community did call the athlete, Botha said, and all he said was: "I'm all right,'' as he wept uncontrollably.

Roux later suggested that a fifth phone, not collected by the police, was used by Pistorius to call for help.

The question now is whether Botha's troubled testimony will be enough to convince Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair to keep Pistorius in prison until trial.

While Pistorius faces the harshest bail requirements under South African law, the magistrate has said he would consider loosening them based on testimony in the hearing.

More to come

with wires

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14 injured, 3 missing in Kansas blast

A huge fire has injured 14 people after a car crashed into a gas main in Kansas, USA. Courtesy: Fox News.

THREE people are missing and at least 14 people were injured when a gas line exploded and ignited a massive, block-engulfing blaze in an upscale Kansas City shopping district, a city official said, adding that it is believed that an accident involving a utility contractor may have caused the blast.

Firefighters have contained the fire ignited by a huge gas explosion on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning Australia time) which ''critically injured'' bystanders.

About 100 firefighters fought the fire before it was put out, fire chief Paul Berardi said.

When the first fire trucks arrived the popular restaurant JJ's, located in the Country Club Plaza, was fully involved with a few people inside, he said.

A car crashed into a gas main sparking the massive blaze in the upscale Kansas City shopping district. Picture: AP/KCTV

Officials at three hospitals indicated at least 14 people were hospitalised, including three in critical condition and three in serious condition.

James Garrett, a spokesman for the Kansas City Fire Department, said three people were unaccounted for on Tuesday night.

Kansas City Manager Troy Schulte said officials don't yet know if anyone was killed in the explosion, which destroyed a restaurant, JJ's.

Authorities also are still trying to determine the full cause of the blast.

Firefighters battle a massive fire at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. Picture: AP/KCTV

Mr Schulte said they do know there was a gas leak followed by an explosion.

Missouri Gas Energy said: "Early indications are that a contractor doing underground work struck a natural gas line, but the investigation continues."

Earlier, authorities said the explosion may have stemmed from an accident involving a utility contractor.

Police spokeswoman Rhonda Flores said it appeared that a car crashed into a gas main near JJ's just after 6pm.

The large fire in down-town Kansas City where a car is believed to have struck a gas line. Picture: KSHB.com

The area was also undergoing construction work.

A JJ's worker said the restaurant was being renovated at the time.

The restaurant is reported to have been "levelled".

Flores said an initial call for three ambulances had been increased to 10.

The large fire in down-town Kansas City where a car is believed to have struck a gas line. Picture: KSHB.com

Flores said the car crash appeared to have been accidental.

KMBC 9's Micheal Mahoney spoke to someone who said he was a regular at the restaurant and said firefighters and representatives from Missouri Gas Energy were checking for the source of a gas odor before the explosion.

A small group of customers who were in the restaurant were advised to leave.

He said five to 10 employees stayed behind after the customers left, but it wasn't clear if they were still inside at the time of the explosion.

Video showed dozens of firefighters and other emergency responders battling the massive blaze that appeared to have engulfed an entire block, with flames burning through the roofs.

Footage showed flames shooting out of the Country Club Plaza.

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The large fire in down-town Kansas City where a car is believed to have struck a gas line. Picture: KSHB.com

Black smoke swirled in the air and debris littered surrounding streets.

The smell of gas was very strong near the area long after the suspected explosion.

Witnesses described smelling gas before they heard the explosion and saw debris being flung up to 50m into the air.

"I actually sped up to get out of this area because it made me nervous about what the smell was and what would happen," she said.

The large fire in down-town Kansas City where a car is believed to have struck a gas line. Picture: KSHB.com

The University of Kansas Hospital was treating five people injured in the blast, said spokesman Bob Hallinan.

He said one person was in critical condition, two were in serious condition and two others were expected to be released.

He said all the injuries were traumatic, such as broken bones, rather than burns or smoke inhalation.

Kerry O'Connor, a spokeswoman for St Luke's Hospital, which is near the scene of the fire, said several patients were sent to the hospital.

She said they haven't been assessed yet but ''they appear to be critical at this time.''

Extra staff have been called up.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James urged people on Twitter to stay away from the area so firefighters can do their work.

Firefighters warned of further explosions.

While the surrounding fires have reportedly been contained, the ruptured gas main continues to burn.

J.J.'s Restaurant has issued the following statement on its Facebook page: "Please keep our friends and families in your hearts and prayers. At this time we are still trying to assess the situation and make sure our coworkers and customers are safe."

Jim Ligon, a bartender who has worked at JJ's restaurant for five years, wasn't working at the time but said he started getting texts and calls from co-workers minutes after the explosion.

He said the incident happened during the peak of weekday happy hour, when there is typically anywhere from 15 to 45 people in the bar area as well as three to five tables of diners at the restaurant.

''JJ's has a small staff, a family feel,'' said Ligon, 45, of Kansas City, Missouri.

''You see the same 100 people all the time - a bar and restaurant for regulars. We're just really hoping we come out of it.''

The shopping area was established in 1922 by J.C. Nichols.

Based on the architecture of Seville, Spain, it includes retail, restaurants, apartments and offices.

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