news

Sunday's news in under 5 minutes.

 

22-year old gunman goes on shooting rampage in Southern California.

A 22-year old gunman has gone on a shooting rampage in Southern California, that has left more than seven people (including the shooter) dead, and up to seven others injured.

The shooting occurred over a 10-minute period, with the first call to emergency services occurring at 9:27 pm.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, has said the shooting was a “mass murder situation,” with two separate shoot-outs occurring during altercations with police.

For all the details, including the alleged shooters retribution video, and a victim’s family statement, read this post here.

Tony Abbott urges job seekers to stop being picky.

Tony Abbott has told reporters in Adelaide today that “people have no right to hold out for the job of their dreams while they are on unemployment benefits”.

His response is in regards to proposed measures in the Budget, forcing thousands of unemployed individuals under 30 to work for the dole and wait 6 months before accessing certain welfare payments.

Iranian actress apologises for kiss at Cannes.

Leila Hatami has apologised for a kiss on the cheek she gave to the president of the Cannes Film Festival.

The kiss outraged authorities in the Islamic republic, as their generally accepted interpretation of Sharia Law outlines a woman must not engage in physical contact with a man outside her family.

In a letter to the Iranian state news agency Hatami has written: “I am so sorry for hurting the feelings of some people.”

“Although I am embarrassed to give these explanations, I had no choice but to go into details for those who could not understand the inevitable situation that I was stuck in,” she said.

Shortage of neonatal cots in Victorian hospitals.

An influx of high-risk pregnancies and births has left Victoria’s four leading neonatal intensive-care units fast running out of cots.

The Age has revealed leaked documents that show that as of last Wednesday, Melbourne’s four specialist intensive-care units were together caring for 204 babies, despite the system’s maximum capacity of 195 neonatal and special-care nursery cots.

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Doctors and nurses are struggling to meet the current demand, forcing many high-risk patients to be flown interstate. It has also been reported that hospital chief executives have previously been told by the government not to move patients elsewhere as it is too “politically sensitive” an issue during an election year.

Australian snorkeler dies in Fiji.

A 36-year-old Australian man has died while snorkelling at popular Fijian resort, The Outrigger.

“The person in question was snorkelling late in the evening and did not return to his accommodation,” the general manager of The Outrigger confirmed.

Police began searching for the body late Saturday night, and it was found early today morning about one kilometre south of the resort.

The resort has issued a warning to other travellers stating, “We request that guests refrain from entering the ocean after dark”.

5000 single parents ask politicians to reconsider cuts to sole parent payments.

A new national campaign by The Parenthood is calling for political leaders to block the bills that would be financially damaging to sole parents.

In the video three sole parents deliver the message to political leaders, asking: “Christine Milne, Bill Shorten, Clive Palmer- vote no to this bill”.

Executive Director of The Parenthood Fiona Sugden said: “More than 90 per cent of sole parents are women. These changes will hurt some of the most vulnerable women in our society. And it is simply wrong,” she said.

Australian parents that want to see these bills blocked can sign The Parenthood’s petition at www.theparenthood.org.au

Australia’s new Bachelor announced.

Blake Garvey, 31, has been announced as Australia’s next Bachelor. He’ll be following in the footsteps of Tim Robards who found love with Anna Heinrich last season.

Garvey is a half-African American basketballer, and is a professional auctioneer in his hometown of Perth.

He puts his current bachelor status down to “bad timing and circumstance” and promises he does not have “a type”.