frankkmartin25-blog

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Trailblazing Erin Phillips wins AFLW best and fairest

Trailblazing Erin Phillips wins AFLW best and fairest

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US researchers develop rapid blood test for tuberculosis which could save millions of lives

US researchers say they have developed a fast blood test for tuberculosis (TB) that could speed-up diagnosis and treatment of the serious and sometimes fatal bacterial infection.

One of the oldest known diseases, TB has killed an estimated billion people over the past two centuries.

A bacterial infection that attacks the lungs and can cause coughing, fever, night sweats and weight loss, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide today.

Some 10.4 million people were struck down with TB in 2015, and 1.8 million died from the disease, according to the World Health Organization.

However, diagnosing TB remains complicated.

"In the current frontlines of TB testing, coughed-up sputum, blood culture tests, invasive lung and lymph biopsies, or spinal taps are the only way to diagnose TB," said Tony Hu of Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, who led the effort to develop the new test.

"The results can give false negatives, and these tests are further constrained because they can take days to weeks to get the results."

The new test "outperforms all others currently on the market" and can be completed in hours, researchers said in a statement.

It is also the first to measure the severity of active TB infections by looking at two proteins in the blood - called CFP-10 and ESAT-6 - that TB bacteria release only during active infections.

Its accuracy was about 92 percent, regardless of whether or not patients were also infected with HIV, which can require more complicated testing for TB.

The test is not yet available to the public and its cost has not yet been determined.

A report describing the test was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed US journal.

The report comes just a day after it was revealed that at least ten people in New South Wales reportedly became infected with a strain of drug-resistant TB, after a doctor misdiagnosed a student with asthma in October last year.

READ MORE: Ten people suffer 'indications' of tuberculosis after Sydney student misdiagnosed

It was only on the student's third visit and a subsequent X-ray, that a 6cm hole was found on his lung. He was rushed to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on October 21 where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

By that time, the student had become highly contagious and infected up to ten people.

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Cyclone Debbie: Giant waves caused by storm surge

Monster waves caused by the Tropical Cyclone Debbie storm surge are being recorded off the North Queensland coast.

Monitoring buoys off Mackay have been recording waves up to 8m in height since late yesterday afternoon and they are set to continue until this afternoon.

Queensland Government figures show that waves of this height have happened only three times before.

"Waves this big are quite rare. They haven't happened for at least a couple of years," said Weatherzone forecaster Brett Dutschke.

The unusually high waves are a feature of the storm surge projected to cross the coast between Ayr and St Lawrence later this morning.

Storm surges are caused by strong onshore winds and/or reduced atmospheric pressure. Typically they result in tides two to five metres higher than the normal tide level.

Wave height is determined by a number of factors: cyclone intensity, speed and the angle it crosses the coast; the shape of the sea floor; and topography. Authorities are warning the high sea level will lead to damaging waves and flooding of some low-lying areas near the shoreline.

But the waves are expected to drop in height from this afternoon.

"By late this morning or early afternoon we will see a drop off in the wave height," said Mr Dutschke.

"Once the storm crosses landfall we will see a pretty significant drop in the height of the waves."

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Man smoking on Melbourne train seriously injured after running from police

A man has been seriously injured and remains in hospital after being hit by a train at Preston Railway Station in Melbourne's northern suburbs last night.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, was allegedly seen by protective services officers smoking in a carriage about 9.30pm and the train was held until he got off to speak with the officers.

The man attempted to run from the officers as the train began to depart and escaped after a wrestle with police but hit the side of the departing train.

He suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

An investigation has been launched.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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In pictures: Destructive winds as Cyclone Debbie snaps trees and cuts power

In pictures: Destructive winds as Cyclone Debbie snaps trees and cuts power

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Paul McCartney making album with Adele producer

Paul McCartney has revealed that he is working on a new album with the producer best known for Adele's blockbuster hit "Hello."

The Beatles legend said in a radio interview that he was "in the middle" of the new album, his first since 2013.

McCartney said he was collaborating with Greg Kurstin, the American producer who co-wrote "Hello," the piano ballad that helped make Adele's latest album "25" a massive commercial success.

Kurstin has also worked extensively with the Australian pop singer Sia and with alternative rock icon Beck.

"My only worry is people are going to go, 'Oh, there's Paul going with the flavor of the month,'" McCartney said in the weekend interview on BBC Radio 6 Music.

"I suppose you always think the worst of it. But he's a great guy," McCartney said, describing himself as "beavering away, doing what I love to do."

The 74-year-old said he was not thinking much about how he will be remembered after a year in which fellow rock greats including David Bowie and Prince died.

But McCartney said fellow Beatle John Lennon, who was murdered in 1980, had once asked him for reassurance of his legacy after he died.

"It was funny, you know -- you wouldn't think John would even have a remote bit of insecurity about it.

"But I think people do. You think, what are they going to say? Are they going to take your worst reviews... or take your best stuff?

"Luckily it won't matter because I won't be here."

McCartney also mourned Chuck Berry, the pioneering rock 'n' roll star from the 1950s who died on March 18 at age 90.

"We copied a lot from his guitar style. He was just a huge influence," McCartney said.

"His lyrics to me are like American poetry. They just capture that sort of high school stuff, and the rock 'n' roll, and the cars," he said.

The classic Beatles song "Come Together" took lyrical and musical inspiration from Berry's "You Can't Catch Me," leading to a dispute with Berry's record label.

sct/acb

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One hundred kilogram gold coin stolen from Berlin museum

Thieves stole a gold coin with a face value of $1 million and weighing 100 kilograms from Berlin's Bode Museum on Monday.

According to German media, the stolen coin is the "Big Maple Leaf", a commemorative piece issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007.

The coin, 53 cm across and three cm thick, features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Bode Museum gave the face value of the coin at $1 million, though the market price of 100 kg of gold is around $4 million.

German police said on Twitter that the robbers likely used a ladder found at a nearby rail track to break into the museum at around 11:30pm AEDT (3.30am local time).

Suburban rail traffic was interrupted as investigators combed the area for clues.

The Bode Museum, located on the German capital's UNESCO-listed Museum Island, houses one of the world's biggest coin collections.

The holding includes 102,000 coins from ancient Greece and about 50,000 Roman coins.

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Man charged after alleged carjacking spree across Sydney

A man has been charged over a series of alleged carjackings and fiery crashes across Sydney yesterday afternoon.

Police said the 30-year-old man was picked up by a ride-sharing service on Archibald Avenue, Waterloo, just after 12.10pm.

He allegedly began acting erratically, causing the 32-year-old driver to get out of the sedan Canterbury Road.

The passenger then allegedly moved into the driver's seat and drove the car to King Georges Road.

Minutes later, the vehicle was involved in a three-car collision near Roselands Drive, police said.

The man then continued driving to Moorefields Drive, where he allegedly crashed into another car about 12.15pm.

Both cars were filmed erupting into flames, with plumes of black smoke seen billowing from the scene.

The man then allegedly unsuccessfully attempted to steal the car of a 73-year-old woman, and then forced a 4WD driver to take him to Sydney Airport.

He was arrested at the domestic terminal and taken to St George Hospital with cuts and bruises.

Police have charged the man with six offences, including negligent driving and driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period.

He was refused bail and will appear in Sutherland Local Court tomorrow. 

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Pauline Hanson ends Senate strike with backflip on penalty rates

Pauline Hanson has backflipped on weekend penalty rates, ruling out One Nation support for a pay cut to retail and hospitality workers.

The senator had previously backed the Fair Work Commission decision to cut Sunday penalty rates for some workers, insisting it would help small businesses.

But she's changed her mind after listening to voters, she said.

"People have been contacting my office - I've been listening to the people, listening to my electorate," she told 2GB on Monday.

"We have to support the workers out there and I will not support the penalty rates being cut. That's off the table."

Senator Hanson has also confirmed she will support the federal government's proposed tax cuts for companies turning over up to $50 million when the legislation comes before the upper house this week.

"They are the people that actually employ people," she said.

Senator Hanson went on strike on Monday, refusing to vote on any legislation in the Senate over a sugar industry dispute in Queensland which she says should be resolved through a mandated code of conduct.

One Nation abstained from voting on legislation to beef up airport security on Monday night, allowing Labor, Greens and Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm to push through amendments which the government opposed.

Senator Hanson said developments in the sugar dispute on Monday afternoon meant she would end her strike and resume voting on legislation that comes before the parliament on Tuesday.

The first order of business in the Senate on Tuesday is the federal government's proposed changes to race-hate speech laws, which Senator Hanson supports.

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VIDEO: Adelaide City Council to vote on Chinatown facelift

Tap the play button to watch the report. 

For the latest news from 9NEWS Adelaide, visit our South Australia live feed.

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Schoolgirl pleads with government to reunite her with refugee dad on Manus

A schoolgirl has been to Canberra fighting to have her father released from Manus Island, where he has lived for three and a half years. 

Zaharah (not her real name) is a Rohingya refugee from Myanmar and her father Nayser has spent the last three and half years in limbo at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea.

Her family was split up when they were forced to board separate asylum-seeker boats from Indonesia bound for Australia in 2013.

Only 11 people could fit in the van which took them to the boat and her father was the 12th person, so the driver said he couldn't get in, Zaharah said.

The year 12 student has been in Canberra on Monday and Tuesday to urge federal MPs to lobby Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to use his ministerial discretion to allow her father, who has refugee status, to come to Australia.

Both Labor and the coalition governments have maintained no refugees will be settled in Australia if they arrived by boat after July 19, 2013.

Zaharah's father arrived after this deadline, unlike the rest of the family.

Zaharah loves life in Australia, enjoys studying maths at school and wants to study pharmacy at university.

But her heart aches for her dad, who used to help her with her homework.

"I miss his smile, I miss his voice, I miss his walk," she told AAP.

"We would always eat dinner together as a family - we rarely missed one for as long as I can remember. Now, dinner time is hard."

Her toddler niece was born in Australia and has never met her grandfather.

"He talks to her on the phone and tells her he wants to hug her," Zaharah said.

While her father might be eligible to resettle in America under the upcoming US resettlement deal, Zaharah says it's unclear whether her family would be able to go too.

They are already rebuilding their lives in Australia and don't want to start all over again.

The 1.3 million Rohingya population is effectively stateless because they have no citizenship status in Myanmar.

Violence against Rohingyas at the hands of extremist Buddhists and the military has led to greater unrest in the past five years.

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Australian woman dies in luxury Bali villa after vodka binge: police

Bali police are investigating the death of an Australian woman at a luxury seaside villa in Bali, saying they suspect she had consumed more than a whole bottle of vodka.

The victim has been identified as 38-year-old Cairns mum, Summa Jean Simmonds, the Sun Herald reports.

Ms Simmonds and two other women, one believed to be her sister, were drinking at Peppers at the popular tourist town of Seminyak on Sunday evening.

During the course of the night, the mother-of-five consumed a "whole bottle of vodka" - or around 21 drinks - before having six more shots later in the evening, according to police.

Later that night, when Ms Simmonds went to her villa to get money so she and the women could go out, she began vomiting, Badung Police Precinct Chief, Budi Setiawan said.

"The victim fainted, was unconscious, and her pulse became weak. The victim's face and lips turned blue," he added.

Her friends initially gave her CPR but after there was no change, they called the hotel's reception for a doctor.

The doctor arrived just after midnight to find her lying on the pool deck. She was pronounced dead just minutes later, Superintendent Budi said.

He said they suspect that she died from drinking too much alcohol.

A family friend of Ms Simmonds told the Herald Sun she was not a heavy drinker and believe she suffered a reaction of some kind.

Police are currently trying to get permission to perform an autopsy, and have taken samples of the drinks for testing.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were providing consular assistance to the woman's family.

With AAP

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Top Trump aide Kushner to face Russia investigation panel

Donald Trump's son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner will appear before a Senate panel investigating Russian interference in the US election, the White House said Monday.

Kushner, 36, was Trump's main intermediary with foreign governments during the 2016 election campaign and now plays that role in the White House.

He arranged meetings between Trump and leaders from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

But it is his contacts with Russian officials that are now coming under the microscope, amid explosive allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

US intelligence has concluded that Russia launched a broad-ranging campaign designed to help Trump win election.

"Throughout the campaign and transition, Jared Kushner served as the official primary point of contact with foreign governments and officials," a White House official said.

"Given this role, he has volunteered to speak with Chairman Burr's committee, but has not yet received confirmation," the official said, referring to Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina.

Burr chairs the Senate intelligence committee.

arb/acb

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Cyclone Debbie: Birds seek shelter from 190 km/h winds

Queensland's birds have been dubbed "the victims no one thinks about", and are urgently seeking shelter wherever they can from gales blowing up to 190 km/h.

Channel 9 presenter Luke Bradnam posted a video on Twitter last night after he spotted a tiny bird hiding between the shutters on his Townsville balcony.

Another Twitter user posted a video showing a rainbow Lorikeet struggling to cling to a tree as it was being battered by the strong winds.

Many people have taken to social media after seeing the videos, expressing concerns about the toll the storm will take on the 'victims no one thinks about".

Reporting from Townsville early this morning, Today presenter Lisa Wilkinson remarked there was "just about no birds left" in the surrounding trees as they tried to find shelter.

"They say the Animal Kingdom does have a sense of what mother nature has in store for us," Wilkinson said.

North Queensland Wildlife Care have confirmed they are expecting an influx of calls for injured wildlife after the cyclone passes through.

However, like residents, the state's birds still have a long day ahead. Authorities are warning that Debbie's wide and slow moving core is still expected to take many hours to pass.

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Former Perth schoolboy on trial in South Africa for axe murder of his wealthy family

Former Perth schoolboy on trial in South Africa for axe murder of his wealthy family

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Andrew Scipione starts final week as NSW police commissioner, successor still not confirmed

Andrew Scipione is entering his last week as NSW police commissioner and it's understood the final decision on his successor won't be confirmed by cabinet until Thursday leaving a short formal handover window.

Mr Scipione officially stands down from his role on April 2.

Eight contenders are vying for the position and it's understood the NSW government is favouring an insider for the top job with one of two assistant commissioners, Mick Fuller and Jeff Loy, best placed to take charge of the $3.5 billion organisation, The Australian reports.

The shortlist also reportedly includes Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn and former deputy Nick Kaldas, assistant commissioners Geoff McKechnie and Frank Mennilli, along with Deputy David Hudson and Australian Border Force chief Roman Quaedvlieg.

The new commissioner will have little opportunity to learn directly from his predecessor, unless Mr Scipione can be persuaded to act in an advisory capacity or delay his retirement for a second time.

Mr Scipione was due to retire on July 31, the 10th anniversary of his appointment, but announced in February that he was bringing the date forward.

He previously extended his contract for two years in April 2015, a decision then premier Mike Baird said would "facilitate the transition to a new commissioner".

Applicants are assessed by an independent panel of five before going to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Police Minister Troy Grant and cabinet.

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Serious traffic delays expected on highway south west of Brisbane following crash

A driver is fighting for his life after two vehicles crashed head-on south-west of Brisbane.

Serious traffic delays are expected to affect morning commuters following the crash on the Cunningham Highway at Warrill View this morning.

A tow-truck and a car crashed head-on around 1.10am on the highway near Charles Chauvel Drive.

The driver of the car suffered life-threatening injuries.

It's unclear whether the two males in the tow-truck were injured.

The Cunningham highway is closed in both directions with diversions in place.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area or delay travel.

Police have established a crime scene and are investigating.