Swiss Alps plane crash leaves 20 passengers and crew dead

A vintage Swiss military plane, saved by a national fundraising campaign, has crashed into a mountain in the Alps, killing 20 people onboard.

 

Chief executive of the airline, Kurt Waldmeier says it was the worst day in the 36-year history of JU-Air. We have all suffered a very great loss.

 

Authorities were informed of the crash 50 minutes after the aircraft had taken off from Locarno’s Magadino airfield with five helicopters were deployed in a search and rescue mission.

Far-right rally in Portland

Right wing Patriot Prayer held a rally in Portland, Oregon culminated in a police charge on counter-protestors with batons drawn and use of stun grenades and rounds containing pepper spray.

 

Counter protestors including labour and community groups, followed at a distance through neighbouring streets with the charge happened on Southwest Columbia Street after claims protestors were throwing missiles at their lines.

 

Plans for new Brisbane riverwalk lodged

Plans have been lodged with Brisbane City Council for a floating pedestrian and cyclist riverwalk that would link the existing City Reach boardwalk to the City Botanic Garden’s Banya Way.

 

The project would be funded as part of the council’s $100 million Better Bikeways for Brisbane program.

 

Council will now assess the application including a permit seeking approval for tidal and building work on a Queensland heritage place.

Calls for better investigation into police misconduct and corruption

Justice advocates are preparing to launch an independent group to highlight the lack of oversight of police misconduct in the wake of the recent reporting of Queensland Police shredding a victim’s rape statement.

 

The group was started by justice advocate Renee Eaves with other advocates including Narelle Dawson-Wells, an experienced clinical psychologist and the wife of former Queensland attorney general Dean wells.

 

Sydney Light Rail based on ‘Unrealistic expectations’

The New South Wales government hyped up the Sydney light rail project before technical difficulties were fully known a report says.

 

Screenshots of a 2016 review by Transport for NSW experts, entitled lessons for rail, and released by Labor leader Luke Foley’s office, shows changes to the design of the $2.1bn project triggered delays and hefty costs.

 

The report warned the project would be blamed or delayed when it failed to meet “unrealistic expectations”.

 

Drought affected Farmers to receive relief

Farmers who have been affected by drought will receive up to $12,000 in cash payments.

 

The initiative has been supported by the National Farmers Federation, NFF President Fiona Simson says it’s vital we help farmers and families dealing with the stress and pressures drought brings.

 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a $190 million relief package which will also boost mental health services, with couples being able to access $12,000 and singles receiving $7,200.

 

Helicopter crash in Siberia kills 18

A helicopter carrying oil workers and three crew members crashed into another aircraft in the Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia, killing 18 people.

 

The incident occurred when the Russian-made Mi-8 aircraft knocked into the cargo of an adjacent helicopter as both were completing take-off.

 

A commission has been set up to investigate the crash with both helicopters’ black boxes sent to Moscow.

Bangladesh student road safety protests turn violent

Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina is urging students to go home as police fired teargas on the eighth day of protests over road safety.

 

Tens of thousands of students took to the capital after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus however protests took a violent turn with more than 100 people injured after police fired rubber bullets.  

 

High schools were shut on Thursday as officials promised students their demands for road safety reforms would be considered.

Broadway show Book of Mormon coming to Brisbane

Highly acclaimed Broadway show Book of Mormon is coming to QPAC on March 16 next year for a limited season.

The story of two young Mormon missionaries won nine Tony awards and set a record for the highest grossing on-sale of any musical theatre production in Sydney’s history, selling 45 thousand tickets by the end of first-day sales.

Tickets for the musical go on sale Tuesday with ticket waitlist already open.