Woman Caught Selling Weapons at Garage Sale

A WARRNAMBOOL woman is facing charges for selling dangerous weapons at a garage sale in eastern Victoria.

The 42-year-old was caught selling knives, throwing stars, a samurai sword and a sling-shot on Saturday.

A tip-off from the public alerted police, who said the it was frightening for them to see weapons being sold without any control or regulation.

The woman could have handed in her weapons prior without penalty, under a recent weapons amnesty.

However because she was selling them to the public, she will face a string of offences in court.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-30/weapons-up-for-grabs-at-garage-sale/4340974

New Legislation to Stop Asylum Seekers Arriving by Boat

The Federal Government is trying to stop asylum seekers arriving by boat, by removing the entire mainland from Australia’s migration zone.

This will get rid of any legal advantage for asylum seekers reaching the mainland, over those who are taken to Christmas Island.

The legislation is expected to be introduced today, and is one of 25 recommendations on Asylum Seekers, that the Government are committed to introducing.

The move will discourage Asylum Seekers to ignore the current offshore processing arrangements in Nauru and ManusIsland.

All will be processed offshore regardless of the method of arrival, and will lower the risks associated with people smuggling by boat.

The Greens are fighting the legislation, saying it is discriminatory and hinders the right to seek asylum in Australia.

The idea is similar to one put forward during the Howard Government which never came to pass.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-30/legislation-shifts-goalposts-on-offshore-processing/4341310

Storm Hits US and Kills

The monster storm has crossed the American east coast, leaving death and destruction in its path.

The Wall Street Journal said at least five people were killed in New York from storm-related incidents.

At 11.16am New York’s Fire Department said a Queen’s man had been killed when a tree fell on in house.

The storm brought 140kph winds when it hit the shore at New Jersey.

More than 50 million people across 12 states are former Hurricane Sandy’s path, which is oone of the biggest storms in US history,

Most of Atlantic City is under water, as hundreds of thousands of people have had to flee their homes.

Lower Manhattan has also suffered widespread flooding.

ABC has a live blog for updates throughout the morning.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-30/superstorm-hits-us-live-coverage/4340852

Jill Meagher’s Alleged Killer in Hospital

The prisoner charged with Jill Meagher’s murder has been taken to hospital with self-inflicted wounds.

Prisons Victoria confirmed an inmate was taken to Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital early this morning, the extent of his wounds and condition is not known.

A spokesman would not identify the inmate’s name, but he is believed to be Adrian Ernet Bayley, 41, charged with the rape of murder of Ms Meagher.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-28/meagher27s-alleged-killer-in-hospital/4338184

Biggest Storm to Hit United States

Thousands of people are being told to evacuate areas of New York City, as Hurricane Sandy threatens to be the worst storm ever to hit the United States.

The storm is forecast to hit the heavily populated east coast in about 24 hours, after it merges with another storm front to result in battering winds, heavy flooding and snow fall.

Cities in Sandy’s target zones include New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and Boston.

New York City’s public transport will be shut down, schools closed, more than 3,000 flights have been cancelled and from North Carolina to Connecticut have declared a state of emergency.

Widespread power outages could last for days, and residents in the hurricane’s path have flocked to shopping centres for supplies.

The oncoming storm has also halted the election campaign.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-29/big-apple-faces-shutdown-as-sandy-approaches/4338248

Pakistani Schoolgirl Continues to Receive Threats from Taliban

The child activist who was shot my Taliban is still receiving ongoing threats against her.

The father of Malala Yousafzai says she will return to Pakistan after her recovery in England..

The 15-year-old was targeted by the Taliban for speaking out against Islamic extremists and girls education rights.

The Pakistani Interior minister said the government would protect her.

Meanwhile the identity of her shooter was revealed to be Attaullah, acting on orders of one of the Taliban’s most feared commanders.

Sources say he is in his 30s, and may have fled to Afghanistan.

It was revealed Attaullah has been detained by security forces in 2009 after a Pakistani military campaign cleansed the SwatValley of the Taliban.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-26/girl-shot-by-taliban-to-return-to-pakistan/4334808

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-18/pakistani-schoolgirl-shooter-identified/4321516

Orangutan Shot 100 Times Survives

An endangered orang-utan on Borneo island has survived after she was shot 100 times with an air rifle.

The female was was found on an oil palm plantation, with 37 pellets lodged in her head and 67 throughout her body.

Conservationist feared the orangutan wouldn’t survive, but they now believe she has cheated death.

Due to her hearing being affected coupled with the risk of her losing sight in both eyes, she may not be released back into the wild.

The injured ape is currently at a rehabilitation centre in the Borneo jungle.

Similar shootings have been part of a pest control mission, but the agency does not know who is responsible for this particular attack.

The species is facing extinction from poaching and destruction of their habitat in order to create oil plantations.

Experts say there are only 50,000 to 60,000 of the two orang-utan species left in the wild.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-25/borneo-orangutan-was-shot-over-100-times-with-airgun/4334490

Melbourne Woman Violently Murdered by Husband

A Melbourne woman was violently murdered by her husband, after taking a restraining an order out on him shortly before her death.

23-year-old Sargun Ragi’s body was pulled out of a burning building with multiple stab wounds.

Her violent husband, Avjit Singh had been convicted of abuse charges against his wife, he also died from the blaze.

Ms Ragi and Mr Singh had an arranged marriage, but after a year he became violent and controlling.

Court documents allege she was locked in their Melbourne unit without food or a phone for a week, and managed to escape when a landlord visited the flat.

Police were told if she would be beaten if she refused to have sex with him, and there were reports of serious sexual abuse.

Prior to her murder, Ragi said in court Mr Singh had pursued her relentlessly, he and his friend constantly rang her from blocked numbers and hacked into her Facebook account.

Six weeks before she was killed, Ms Ragi told police her husband had committed sexual assault, he was arrested and released on bail.

The case raises questions about the systematic flaws in the regulation of restraining orders designed to protect women from abuse.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-23/violent-death-prompts-restraining-order-rethink/4330016

Electricity Bills are Higher than they Should Be

Customers are paying excessive energy bills according to the head of a consumer watchdog, who said the electricity regulation system is failing.

The chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, says the system is not working, and is the reason for a 90 per cent hike in power prices over five years.

Mr Sims will be putting this case forward at an annual conference of the Energy Users Association.

He believes network companies have too much power in setting prices, and spending decisions had been made without fully considering if the benefit justifies the cost.

The ACCC says the Australian Energy Regulator has been unfairly blamed, which is placed under heavy rules and guidelines.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-24/accc-says-power-price-increases-excessive/4330834

Monster Energy Drink Questioned Over Teen’s Death

The family of 14-year-old US girl who died after drinking two cans of Monster, are suing the maker.

The girl had a pre-existing heart conditione, and her family are blaming the company for failing to warn about the dangers.

The company says the drink was not responsible.

The US Food and Drug Administration is investigating the case, with a medical director saying the drinks can affect people with heart conditions.

It was revealed that in 2012, the poisons helpline received 65 calls regarded concerns about energy drink consumption.

One third of these people needed to go into hospital for serious health issues such as cardiac palpitations.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-24/family-sues-drink-company-over-daughter27s-death/4330448