We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.
1. Over 700 killed in crush at Saudi’s Hajj pilgrimage.
An unthinkable tragedy – as more than 700 Muslim pilgrims have been killed after a stampede broke out at the mass Hajj pilgrimage near the Saudi city of Mecca as Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha.
The stampede occurred at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city as more than two million performed this year’s pilgrimage.
It remained unclear what had sparked the pushing by large numbers at Mina that developed into the stampede.
Street 204 is one of the two main arteries leading through the camp at Mina to Jamarat, where pilgrims ritually stone the devil by hurling pebbles at three large pillars.
The deadly stampede comes less than two weeks after more than 100 people were killed when a crane collapsed onto one of Islam’s holiest shrines in Mecca.
2. Baby found abandoned in a Brisbane street.
A 14-month old baby has been found dumped in a Brisbane street.
The little girl was found in a pram on the side of the road by children who were playing in Sittella St, at Inala.
One of the children alerted their own mother, Amy Whiteman who told Channel 7 that the little girl was quite dirty but okay.
“She was okay when I gave her a little bit of water. She just wanted to hold me and snuggle.”
Police located the girl’s mother at a nearby set of shops suffering a “medical condition.”
Child protection agencies have been notified and the baby’s mother has been charged with endangering a child through exposure.
When police arrived at the scene they found the handbag of the baby’s mother, who allegedly dumped the baby on the street where the children were playing.
3. Minister for Women backs calls to ban Chris Brown.
Michaelia Cash, the Minister for Women has backed a call to ban singer Chris Brown from touring the country.
Speaking alongside the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull at yesterday’s domestic violence reforms announcement said the Immigration Department was considering a ban on the controversial singer “very, very seriously”.
Last week, the NZ Immigration Department announced he would be ineligible for a visa to that country as a result of his prior assault charges and history of domestic violence.
“I am clearly not going to pre-empt a decision by the minister, however, I can assure you what my strong recommendation would be,” she said. “People need to understand that if you are going to commit domestic violence and then you want to travel around the world there are going to be countries that say to you, ‘You cannot come in because you are not of the character we expect in Australia’.”
“This is a Government that’s not afraid to say ‘no’.
In February boxer Floyd Mayweather was denied a visa to enter Australia due to his domestic violence history.
Cash said the Mayweather’s visa denial was an example that the government was not “afraid to say no”.
“I don’t believe we are afraid to exercise that discretion,” she said.
4. Details emerge on the mother and baby who died in a Sydney murder suicide.
Fairfax Media have reported that the relationship between Sydney mother Phuong Cao and her husband, Quyet Nguyen had broken down several months prior to her death, and that she and her baby, Sienna had been living elsewhere.
Mrs Cao had returned to her husband’s home where her and her 17-month old daughter were found dead earlier this week.
It was reported that on at least once previous occasion Mrs Cao had attempted to self-harm.
Family friend Tim Pham told Fairfax Media Mrs Cao went “down a track of no return”.
“She was trapped. She had nowhere to go.”
If you need help please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
5. Missing man’s body believed to be found in South Australia.
Police in South Australia say they believe the body of a man found in wheelie bin is missing man Daniel Hind.
Mr Hind, 29, was last seen four weeks ago at the Whitehorse Inn Hotel in Bolivar on August 28 – about two kilometres away from where the body was found.
“Our gravest concerns were realised today when somebody found the body of a person who we strongly believe to be Daniel,” Detective Superintendent Des Bray said.
The disappearance of Mr Hind has been linked to the disappearance of Adelaide mum, Jodi Meyers.
Ms Meyers was last seen leaving a house at Burdett, east of Adelaide, on the evening of August 26.
Police have said her partner was a “person of interest” in their investigation.
Police have asked anyone who could help their investigation to ring 1800 333 000.
6. Pregnant women don’t need to eat for two.
Research out of the University of NSW has revealed that pregnant women do not need to increase their energy intake during pregnancy. The study is now prompting heath experts to call for a re-think of the dietary guidelines for pregnancy.
Researchers found that metabolic changes in pregnant women allows them to conserve more energy and extract more calories from food so they can lay down the fat stores needed for a healthy pregnancy without the need for eating more.
Also, changes in gut bacteria in pregnant women and resistance to insulin and leptin allow them to extract more energy from food.
The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology says that women who increase their energy intake during pregnancy may put on too much weight, putting them at risk of pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia.
Mums-to-be should speak to their own medical professionals before making any dietary changes.
7. Calls to start schools at 11am.
A peak parents group has called for high schools to implement later starting times to benefit students who are simply too sleepy and not performing at their peak in the morning.
The South Australian Association of State School Organisations has highlighted the work of Oxford and Harvard university researchers, who recommend start times of 10am or later for Year 10s and 11am for Year 12s and university students.
Adolescents and young adults are often chronically short of sleep because their internal body clocks dictate their need to wake later than younger children and older adults.
The South Australian Association of State School Organisations director David Knuckey told The Advertiser it was time to consider it.
While it may sound abstract to many who grew up in the 20th-century 9-5 world, it would be irresponsible to ignore science just because it doesn’t fit in with the established timetable,” he said.
“If we can improve health (and) attendance and raise basic skill levels by changing school hours, why wouldn’t we consider it?”
Several schools already have later starting times once or twice a week – with Glenunga International High in Adelaide having a 10am start time each Wednesday.
Glenunga principal Wendy Johnson said slightly shorter lunch and recess times ensured mandatory teaching time was maintained.
“We find by doing it on one day it actually sustains the kids for the whole week,” she said.
“They are so different on Wednesday, it’s lovely to see. They are relaxed because they have had a sleep-in.”
8. Toddler stabbed on bus by needle containing heroin.
The Irish girl, Alysha Zambra was sitting at the back of the bus with her mother when she came contact with the needle, reports The Irish Mirror. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance where she is now awaiting the results of an HIV test.
“No parent should ever have to go through this,” Stacie told The Irish Mirror “This country is ruined by heroin. You pay your money to go on the bus and you shouldn’t be expected to scan for filthy needles. It just makes me sick.
9. Girl breaks through security to hand Pope a note in US.
Just hours before he was due to deliver an address to Congress in the US a five-year old girl has broken through the barricades to deliver a note to the Pontiff.
The girl, Sofía Cruz was beckoned over by the Pope after she broke through the security lines, a security guard lifted her up where she hugged the Pontiff and handed him a letter. She was a part of a group who had traveled from LA to Washington to hand the Pope a letter about the 5 million children in the U.S. whose immigrant parents could be deported.
According to the Associated Press she wrote in her letter: “I believe I have the right to live with my parents. I have the right to be happy. My dad works very hard in a factory galvanizing pieces of metal. All immigrants just like my dad feed this country. They deserve to live with dignity. They deserve to live with respect.”
10. How much can a koala bear?
The koala, dubbed Bear “Bear Grills” by the driver who hit him, was “very good, very healthy, very cranky” said Wildlife carer Anne Bigham, who monitors the Fauna Rescue of South Australia hotline.
The driver of the car, Loren Davis, told the ABC that she hit the koala while travelling a 100km/h on the South Eastern freeway, about 10km from her home in Mount Barker.
“I drove home, feeling upset that I’d killed a koala,” she said. “Once I got home and pulled into the garage I turned on the light to see the damage.
“I turned around, saw a koala and just screamed.”
The cranky marsupial was perched atop some gym gear in her garage.
After a vet check up and a bright new yellow tag he will be released back into his natural area sometime today.
Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au
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Top Comments
galvanising and dignity....mmm big words for a 5 year old. Nothing like a cute little pawn!!
I've had 4 kids and I never needed to "eat for two". If anything I felt worried as I was always so sick and you can't fit much in at a time anyway. I've always seen it as an excuse when people say they're eating for two. But when breastfeeding, I can admit I was always hungry! Still don't feel I was eating for two though.