1. Woman arrested after toddler killed in police pursuit in NSW
A 17-month old girl, who has been named as Tahlia Tauaifaga, was killed last night as she played in her backyard during a police pursuit in NSW.
Now the passenger who was in the car that allegedly struck the toddler has been arrested.
The 22-year-old woman, who has six warrants for her arrest, was allegedly found in possession of prohibited drugs when searched, according to Fairfax.
She has been charged with supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing a prohibited drug, Fairfax reports.
The male driver is still on the run.
2. Disneyland measles outbreak
Disneyland is dealing with an outbreak of measles, with public health officials in California and Utah confirming nine cases of the potentially deadly disease on Wednesday, NBC reports.
“We are working with the health department to provide any information and assistance we can,” said Dr. Pamela Hymel, the chief medical officer at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
The youngest patient to be infected is eight months old.
Measles, one of the leading causes of death for children around the world, begins with a fever, sore red eyes, and a rash which appears after three or four days. It usually lasts several weeks and can have serious side effects including pneumonia and encephalitis.
A vaccine for Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) exists and is highly effective.
While anti-vaccination advocates spread propaganda suggesting there are dangers associated with the vaccine, a recent study led by the University of Sydney established beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no link between autism and vaccines.
3. Charlie Hebdo shooting victim was a Muslim police officer
By ABC
One of the police officers killed during the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris was Ahmed Merabet, the son of Muslim immigrants from North Africa. The 42-year-old was shot dead while on patrol in the city’s 11th arrondissement, the neighbourhood where the magazine’s office was located.
Mr Merabet had been working for the French police for eight years, according to the French daily newspaper Le Figaro. Mr Merabet’s family have said they wish to bury him at Bobigny cemetery, a Muslim-only burial ground near Paris, Le Figaro said.
4. Man arrested for Melbourne woman’s death
By ABC
A man has been arrested over the death of a woman in Brunswick West, in Melbourne’s north. Police found the woman’s body inside a Waxman Parade unit about 1:30am. A 29-year-old man from Brunswick West was arrested at the scene and was questioned by members of the homicide squad.
Police believe the man and woman were known to each other.
5. Buddhist Monk scam – Victorians warned against donating money to fake charity.
By ABC
Victorians have been warned about a “shameless scam” involving people posing as Buddhist monks and approaching people asking for money in the name of charity. The state’s Minister for Consumer Affairs Jane Garrett said there had been dozens of complaints about the impostors over the past 18 months. “If they’ve asked you for money, they’re not a monk.”
If people were approached by someone asking for a donation, Ms Garrett said they should request to see some identification, ask what the work of the charity was and where the money was going.
6. Queensland could be hit by their first cyclone for 2015.
By ABC
The first cyclone of the season could develop off Queensland this weekend. One of two weak lows, one south of Papua New Guinea and the other over the Solomon Islands, could form into a cyclone this weekend or early next week. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said there was a moderate chance the lows could develop on Saturday, and a more than 50 per cent chance on Sunday.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the Local Disaster Management Group was prepared if the storms became a threat. “I believe we’re ready to go if literally the button is pushed,” she said.
7. Irishman Patrick Lyttle, allegedly knocked unconscious by brother in Kings Cross, comes out of coma
The Irish tourist allegedly knocked unconscious by his brother during an argument in Kings Cross last weekend has come out of a coma.
Barry Lyttle, 33, was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm after allegedly assaulting Patrick Lyttle, 31, on Saturday.
A spokesman for St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, David Faktor, said Patrick woke from the coma earlier today.
Mr Faktor said he was now in a stable condition but would remain in the Intensive Care Unit for a few more days.
Patrick had been travelling around Australia since June and had met his brother and their father Oliver in Sydney just four days before the incident.
Police alleged the pair had been drinking in Kings Cross about 3:00am (AEDT) on Saturday when they began to argue.
Barry allegedly hit Patrick in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the concrete.
In Central Local Court on Tuesday, Barry was granted bail on the condition he surrender his passport, provide a $2,000 surety and not approach his brother within 12 hours of consuming alcohol.
After the alleged assault, Patrick was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital with critical head injuries.
He underwent emergency surgery to remove part of his skull to release pressure on the brain.
Barry was not charged under NSW’s one punch laws, which mandate minimum sentences for alcohol-fuelled assaults, as he recorded a low blood-alcohol reading at the scene.
Police ruled out alcohol as the main factor in the assault and said the incident stemmed from a minor dispute.
Catch up on more of today’s headlines in this short video by the ABC:
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