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Police fatally shoot armed 16-year-old after Bunnings carpark stabbing

A 16-year-old boy has been shot dead by police after he stabbed a man in the carpark of a Bunnings Warehouse on Saturday night. WA Police were called to the hardware store in south Perth, which was closed at the time of the incident, after they received a call from the teen saying he was going to commit acts of violence. A second emergency call was then made a short time later after the teenager stabbed a man in the carpark, in what appears to be a random attack. Police Commissioner Col Blanch said when they arrived on the scene, they found a 16-year-old armed with a large kitchen knife. Commissioner Blanch said the boy lunged at officers with the knife and was shot, and died a short time later in hospital. The man who was stabbed, who is in his 30s, is recovering in hospital and is believed to be in a serious but stable condition. The police commissioner and WA Premier Roger Cook held a press conference on Sunday morning and described the incident as "extremely confronting". They said the boy was "running around a car park, armed with a knife" when police arrived. "They [WA police] exited their vehicle and were confronted with a male alone with a large kitchen knife," Commissioner Blanch said. "Two officers drew their tasers and one of the officers drew his firearm. They challenged the male to put down the knife, which he did not." Mr Cook said there were indications the boy had been radicalised online, saying at the press conference, "I want to reassure the community at this stage it appears that he acted solely and alone." "Members of the WA Muslim community, who were concerned by his behaviour, contacted police prior to the incident and I thank them for their help." It was also said the boy's family was cooperating with police. Commissioner Blanch said the incident was not being labelled as a terrorist attack at this stage. "It certainly has the hallmarks of one [but] the reason why I would declare it as a terrorist act going forward — it's about timing," Commissioner Blanch said. "That's something that we can work towards as we find out more information from the motivations behind this." Image credits: ABC / Shutterstock

Legal

Grieving families targeted in callous gravesite robberies

Four families in Victoria have been left devastated after the gravesites of their loved ones have been callously burgled. Maurice D'Alberti was visiting the grave of his son Adam at the Fawkner Memorial Park in North Melbourne when he noticed sentimental items had been taken. Adam passed away six years ago after a battle with cancer, and his father was visiting his son's resting place on what would've been his 10th birthday when he made the discovery that toy cars, along with an engraved ribbon and a photo of Adam were gone. "As a parent that's lost a child, we hang on to things, that they've touched, and things that they've loved," D'Alberti told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/families-targeted-in-series-of-gravesite-robberies/39898523-e8cb-41c8-a5d5-2feb044492ba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. "You can't get any lower. He's already been robbed of his life and now he's been robbed of his possessions." At least three other graves had also been ransacked, with the families feeling "great distress" over the stolen items. Jake Maurici noticed that precious items had been taken from his father Vince's grave, and wants to see better security installed in the memorial park. Jake was devastated to learn that the brazen thieves had taken off with a football scarf and pins from his dad's grave, given their sentimental value to both him and his father as diehard Carlton fans. "Things I get emotional about, going to the footy with my dad... we did it when I was younger," he said. "Having stuff that was with him is what I remember him by." "I think the security needs to be improved...my mother comes here late at night," Maurici said. The families are calling on the culprits to do the right thing and return the stolen items. Image credits: Nine News

Legal

10 dumb hiding spots burglars always find

Under the mattress Burglars will make a beeline to the room with the most valuables. “The good stop is always going to be in the master bedroom,” says Chris McGoey, CPP, CSP, CAM, president of <a href="http://www.crimedoctor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McGoey Security Consulting.</a> “That’s where you have your clothes, your jewellery, your extra cash, your prescriptions – anything of value.” Hiding things under the mattress is one of the oldest tricks in the book, so a thief will likely check there for hidden treasures, he says. Bedroom closet A thief might rummage through your entire closet – pockets and all – looking for cash or other valuables. If you do decide to store valuables in your closet, leave them in a box purposely mislabelled with a boring name (think: “uni textbooks 1980” or “baby clothes”) to keep sticky fingers out, suggests McGoey. Dresser drawers While burglars are in your bedroom, a jewellery box on top of the dresser is a hot commodity. Even if you don’t store your jewellery in plain sight, a thief will probably hunt around in dresser drawers for a shoebox or other unique box that could be filled with watches, jewels, and other valuables, says Robert Siciliano, CSP, security analyst with <a href="https://www.hotspotshield.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hotspot Shield</a>. Instead of putting your high-value belongings in an obvious box, ball them up in a sock, he suggests. Pick a pair with a bright pattern that will stand out to you but won’t look fishy to a crook. Portable safe You probably want to keep your precious items locked away, but it won’t do much good if the safe isn’t attached to the floor or a wall. “If it’s closed and locked, it implies there are things of value in there,” says McGoey. “If it’s small and portable, they’ll take the whole thing.” On the other hand, burglars are generally trying to get in and out as quickly as possible. They won’t bother using a stethoscope to crack the combination, so a heavy safe they can’t lift is your best bet, he says. Medicine cabinet Robbers want to make quick cash off your belongings, so they’ll be sure to browse your medicine cabinet for prescription pills they can sell. The pills might not be a concern because you can get a refill easily, but be careful what you store nearby. “You want to avoid putting anything of significant value around medication of any kind,” says Siciliano. For instance, using an old pill container as a hiding spot for jewels could actually make them a target. Freezer If you’ve thought of the freezer as a sneaky hiding spot, chances are a robber has, too. A burglar won’t rummage through your entire stack of frozen peas and fish sticks, but if you leave your treasures in something out-of-place, such as a sock, the thief will be onto you. “If you’re going to put something in the freezer, you want to put it in with something that looks legit, like wrapping it in a bag that used to have blueberries in it,” says Siciliano. Use the same rule of thumb if hiding anything in a pantry. Just give a loved one a heads up so that if anything happens, your valuables won’t be trashed with the rest of your food. Office drawers Think twice before stashing important papers like birth certificates or passports in your office drawers. “People want to be convenient. They have a file labelled,” says McGoey. Unfortunately, that also means you’re leading burglars straight to everything they need to steal your identity. Use a locked drawer to keep sensitive data safe, recommends Siciliano. Vase An empty vase could act as a hiding place for valuables, but swindlers are onto your tricks. They’ll likely tip the vase over or even break it, hoping to find goods inside. “Have something additional in it, like flowers, that would obscure somebody looking in it,” he says. They’ll also be less likely to empty your vase if it means dropping flowers all over the floor. Liquor cabinet A liquor cabinet might not seem like an obvious spot for thieves to hunt for valuables, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. “It’s a target for kids looking for [alcohol],” says Siciliano. You might not be devastated if your whiskey goes missing, but you don’t want to lose an heirloom along with it. Suitcase Your luggage might seem like a waste of valuable storage space when you’re not travelling, but don’t keep anything irreplaceable inside. “Suitcases are common things people use as a safe even though it’s not a safe,” says McGoey. Criminals will open a suitcase up if they find one in your closet, he says. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/home-tips/10-hiding-spots-burglars-always-look-first" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

Armed masked men target Melbourne teen

A teenager in Melbourne has been targeted by two masked men with machetes after arranging to meet up with them online to sell a bike he had posted on social media. The 16-year-old boy allegedly agreed to meet a man at a park in the suburb of Springvale South on August 8th to sell the bike. The boy then got out of his dad's ute to make the sale, as two men wearing black hoods and armed with a large machete approached the vehicle and tried to steal the bike. The two men were scared away after the boy's father got out of the car to approach them, leaving them empty handed. Luckily, no one was injured during the attack. Police have released video footage of the incident as they try to track down the masked males. The assailants are believed to be in their teens, approximately 170cm tall and were wearing full face coverings and non-distinctive clothing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at <a href="http://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/">www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.</a> Image credits: Victoria Police

Legal

Thief asks woman out on date after robbing her at gunpoint

A US woman has gone through the harrowing experience of being robbed at gunpoint, but it was what happened after the fact that was almost as eerie. Amber Beraun was checking the mail one night at her Indianapolis home in May when she was approached by a man with a gun. The gunman was later identified as Damien Boyce. Speaking to WRTV, Beraun said she was confronted by Boyce, who attempted to enter her home. She refused and gave him all the cash she had handy, which came to $100. Before he made his escape, Boyce asked Beraun a very unexpected, and quite frankly bizarre question - to add him on Facebook. The thief also noted he was planning to pay her back. Beraun responded, telling him she “believed” him and that “times just get rough”. Boyce proceeded to ask the woman to “come chill”. He was later arrested by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and charged over a separate armed robbery on June 12, where two people got shot and one was hit in the head with a brick. He was also charged with his robbery of Beraun. Beraun said her local neighbourhood has been affected by the terrifying incident. "It makes me a little on edge knowing that people walk up and down the street, looking for places to commit crimes," she said. "It makes it a little different when you hear noises at night." Beraun insisted she "never" thought something like this would happen to her. "He took away my sense of safety from my home." Image credit: ABC America

Legal

Nick Kyrgios opens up about alleged Tesla theft

Nick Kyrgios has revealed how he has been impacted by the suspected theft of his Tesla after a man allegedly forced his mother to hand over the keys at gunpoint. The Aussie tennis star worked with police to track the bright green car after it was allegedly stolen on May 1. ACT Police said a 32-year-old Canberra man <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/nick-kyrgios-mother-held-at-gunpoint-during-alleged-car-theft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened Kyrgios’ mother</a> Noralia with a gun and demanded she hand over the keys to her son’s $191,000 Tesla. Mr Kygrios is said to have tracked his car via the Tesla app where he was able to impose a speed limit, allowing police to locate and follow the vehicle. The tennis great broke his silence on Instagram about the ordeal. “Last couple days has been rough...haven’t slept much and battling a little,” he said. “Appreciative of all the support.” ACT police raided a property in Canberra’s south on May 2 as a part of their investigation. They found a shotgun that was thought to be the firearm used in the robbery as well as two others, a pistol and a .177 air rifle. Police also seized a rented BMW that was overdue for return, commercial-grade fireworks and “substances suspected of being illicit drugs”. Court documents viewed by NCA NewsWire revealed more details about the incident. Ms Kyrgios told police interviewers she was worried that the man would return and “blow a hole in the door”. The man faced the ACT Magistrates Court on May 2 and was charged with aggravated robbery, failing to stop a motor vehicle for police, driving while suspended, driving a motor vehicle without consent and obstructing/resisting public officials. Image credit: Instagram

Legal

Nick Kyrgios' mother held at gunpoint during alleged car theft

Nick Kyrgios' mother, Norlaila Kyrgios, has allegedly been held at gunpoint by a man who then stole the tennis star’s bright green Tesla in Canberra. The tennis star, his manager, Daniel Horsfall, and Ms Kyrgios were all at home when she heard a knock at the door. In a statement to the ACT Police, Ms Kyrgios said that she unlocked and partially opened the front door before she saw a long-barrel gun pointed at her. A man wearing all-black clothing and a face mask, demanded she hand over the keys to her son’s luxurious car and asked her to show him how to drive it, but she didn’t know how to since it wasn’t her vehicle. The man then got into the car, and Ms Kyrgios used this as an opportunity to “run back inside and scream for help”, before Kyrgios called triple zero. Speaking to police after the incident, Ms Kyrgios was "visibly shaken and frightened" and told them that "she was so fearful that he was going to return to the house and 'blow a hole in the door'". Kyrgios was allegedly able to track his car and impose a speed limit remotely via an app, which allowed police to follow it. After about 15 minutes police had managed to track the vehicle down to a street in the suburb of Watson. They then "approached the Tesla, drew their issued firearm and aimed it towards the defendant” who then sped away, and led them to engage in a “short pursuit”, police revealed. The pursuit eventually ended when police sealed off a street in Ainslie. Police said that the alleged car thief initially refused to get out but was arrested shortly after. The 32-year-old faced the ACT Magistrates Court where he was charged with aggravated robbery, driving a stolen motor vehicle, driving while suspended, and failing to stop for police. He was denied bail. Images: Instagram

News

Senior bank robber’s unexpectedly polite note

A 78-year-old woman has caused some commotion with her bizarre Missouri bank heist. Bonnie Gooch, who already has two bank robbery convictions to her name, has collected a brand new charge - one count of stealing, or attempting to steal, from a financial institution - for her actions at the Goppert Financial Bank in Pleasant Hill. However, it’s the note that Bonnie had for the bank’s teller that has drawn the most attention around the world, with the senior bank robber allegedly stating that she “didn’t mean to scare” anyone. As The Kansas City Star reported, Bonnie supposedly entered the establishment just after 3pm, ‘disguised’ by her facemask and sunglasses. After approaching the counter, she is said to have handed over a note that demanded “13,000 small bills”, and another that read “thank you sorry I didn’t mean to scare you”. Prosecutors in Cass County said surveillance video from inside of the bank showed Bonnie banging on the counter and demanding that the teller hurry up. Bonnie made her getaway from there, but was ultimately caught by law enforcement officers, who reported that her car smelled of alcohol, and had money spread across its floor. Despite this, she is not facing any alcohol related charges. Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright described the incident as “just sad’, and noted that Bonnie - as far as they were aware - had not been diagnosed with any notable ailments. “When officers first approached her, they were kind of confused ... it’s a little old lady who steps out,” he explained. “We weren’t sure initially that we had the right person.” He also noted that in his three decades as a police officer, he had never encountered a robbery suspect of a similar age to Bonnie. But it wasn’t Bonnie’s first rodeo, with Bonnie having been convicted for her actions in California in 1977, and again in another Kansas City suburb in 2020. Her probation for the latter only ended in November 2021. At the time of her 2020 theft, court documents cited by Fox 4 note that Bonnie’s son explained she had left the house “angry” and had declared that she was “going to rob a bank”. She is now being held on a $25,000 USD (~$37,500 AUD) bond at a Cass County detention centre for her 2023 crime. And as Police Chief Tommy Wright also revealed to Fox 4, he and his team were evaluating whether or not Bonnie would require further services as her case progressed through the criminal justice system. Images: Facebook

Legal

How to receive criticism with grace and open arms

Tom Cronin is a meditation teacher, life coach and writer. He is the founder of The Stillness Project, a global movement that aims to help people on their journey towards calmness and fulfilment. Put your hand up if you like to receive criticism. Of course you kept your hand down. No one likes to be criticised. To the point where we often hold ourselves back from doing many great things in fear of being criticised. I saw a quote this week by Aristotle: “There is only one way to avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” Criticism can cut to the core of our ego. It challenges all the false beliefs that we’ve had about ourselves. We tend to measure ourselves by the perspectives of others and when that perspective becomes negative, then OUCH! It hurts. I’ll let you in on a secret, which is not so secret now. I’m a recovering perfectionist, recovering in that I’ve been in ‘perfectionist rehab’ trying to wean myself off being a perfectionist. One thing about perfectionists is that we love to be perfect…. and what does criticism from others say about our perfectness? That it doesn’t exist! Our illusion becomes shattered and it’s brutally painful. It was for this reason that I held back from writing, speaking, and teaching. I mean what if someone faulted what I did? Heaven forbid! But the compulsion became stronger and it was a tussle between what was the natural flow forward and my ego holding me back in fear. The block was in my ego, so that’s what I had to work on… dissolving that pesky little thing (only it wasn’t little, it was gargantuan!) Through my meditation practice I was able to slowly dissolve the big E and allow my clear fearless expression to shine through. (Mind you it’s not totally dissolved, there is still some there) Sure, I get criticised. It’s going to happen. But now I see criticism as something very constructive. It’s up to you; it can be destructive or constructive. I find it useful market research that helps me refine what I do and become better at it. In fact, only the other day I asked my children to critique me as a parent. I sat them both down and said to them (true story): “Hey kids, so I have never been trained as parent and this is my first time at it. So I may be doing things wrong or things that you don’t like. I’m still learning. I want you to let me know how you’d like me to change as a parent and what you think I could do better?” To which they replied along the lines of: “Nah, we think you’re doing a great job Dad, you don’t need to change anything.” It was a nice to hear but I was seriously looking for some constructive criticism to help me become better at parenting. I used to really struggle receiving criticism, it was a painful experience. But not I welcome it with gratitude. It teaches me to evolve and adapt. But coming back to Mr. Aristotle, and his quote. What would you prefer? Not being criticised and playing the small safe, game or growing, expanding and inspiring others while you expose yourself to potential criticism? You think Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Jesus, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela were never criticised? The choice is yours and you have greatness within you to share with the world. So what are you waiting for? Share with us how you would like to share your gifts with the world in the comments below. Written by Tom Cronin. First appeared on <a href="http://stillnessproject.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Stillness Project</a>.

Mind

"You don't do that to a hearse": Thieves blasted over despicable act

A funeral home has been the subject of an unusual robbery after thieves stripped the wheels of a hearse - and its owner has a message to share with those responsible. Arriving at work on Sunday at Te Awahou Funeral Services in Foxton, New Zealand, owner Jayden Moore discovered that one of his hearses was missing its two rear wheels. "In between Saturday and Sunday, we had boy racers out past the funeral home doing skids – obviously we don't know if it was them, but putting two and two together we can imagine they've needed wheels for their car,” he said. The hearse had been sitting out, ready to be used for a service that morning, with Mr Moore telling the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/thieves-steal-wheels-from-hearse-at-foxtons-te-awahou-funeral-home/52LRSJUVM4GLPSVRE7D5ABRBSM/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald </a>that he had to run around to find an alternative. "We came into work to do a service for a family and we've had to run around and find a new [hearse] - we have two but they're set up for different reasons,” he told the outlet. In a message for the thieves, Mr Moore urged them to consider the implications of their actions. "You've not ripped me off, you've ripped these loved ones off," he said. Mr Moore told the Herald that his staff and the local community had been left fuming at the theft. "Everyone is a bit p***ed off, you don't do that to a hearse – these a***holes don't know or don't care that it's tapu (‘sacred’ and prohibited) to touch anything to do with funeral services – they've got some bad karma coming their way." He added that the community had been incredibly supportive and his business and “fully backed up” the funeral home. “The community has been right behind us especially our local – fully backing the whole 'what a***holes would do that' kind of mentality,” he said. Mr Moore isn’t aware of any cameras that could have captured the theft and has urged anyone in the community who saw anything or who has information to come forward. “If anyone has any information, please get in touch with us,” he said. Image: NZ Herald

Legal

Antibiotic resistance: an arms race going on millions of years

In 2012, a team of microbial scientists, curious about the origins of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, decided to take samples from the walls of a deep, ancient underground cave system beneath the modern US state of New Mexico. The maze-like complex of <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0034953" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0034953">Lechuguilla cave</a> stretches for more than 200 kilometres, and much of it is sealed from aboveground by an impermeable rock layer known as the Yates Formation. So, it was the perfect place to hunt for microbes unsullied by the modern world. What they found was both startling and spooky: the microbiome of the cave samples contained bacteria that were resistant to at least 14 different antibiotics currently on the market, even though they had been isolated for more than four million years. Given that antibiotics were first used clinically after Alexander Fleming cultured Penicillium moulds in 1928, antibiotic resistance is generally thought of as a distinctly modern problem – and there’s no doubt our use and abuse of these wonder-molecules have created a huge and growing issue. A <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2821%2902724-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent study</a> reported in The Lancet suggests more than 1.2 million people died in 2019 as a direct result of antimicrobial resistance. By some estimates, the death toll could reach 10 million per year by 2050 if nothing is done (by contrast, about eight million people die from cancer each year). The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> identifies resistance as one of the biggest threats to global health. Tony Velkov, an Associate Professor in biochemistry and pharmacology at the University of Melbourne, says not enough attention is being paid to finding answers from nature; more specifically, the organisms that make their own, naturally occurring antibiotics in a dynamic environment. “Lessons from nature, I call them,” Velkov says. The majority of antibiotic medicines used clinically today are derived from natural antibiotics produced by microbes in soil and which attack rival microbes, as part of a miniature war over precious resources. Indeed, Fleming’s discovery of the Penicillium mould’s antibacterial qualities was entirely by accident, says Velkov. “He was growing a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus, and he decided to go on a long weekend and left the plate on the bench,” he says. “He came back about a week later and he found this mould growing in one corner of the plate, and he found the bacteria that he’d been growing were scared of this mould, and they were all dying or keeping away from it.” Fleming’s famously understated remark upon discovering this strange antibacterial interloper was: “That’s funny”. Velkov is particularly fascinated by the function of antibiotics in nature, as part of epic microbial conflicts taking place at every moment. A big part of his work is looking at a pugnacious little soil microbe called Paenibacillus polymyxa, which is able to kill gram-negative bacteria that enter its territory by producing polymyxins, a particularly aggressive type of antibiotic. “Polymyxin is used in hospitals when you’re really, really sick, because it’s pretty toxic,” he says. For that reason, it’s often a medicine of last resort, which means it hasn’t had as many opportunities as other more common antibiotics, to trigger the evolution of antibiotic resistance traits in pathogens. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p187842-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.61 init" action="/health/medicine/antibiotic-resistance-millions-years/#wpcf7-f6-p187842-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/" aria-invalid="false" /> </form> </div> </div> Nonetheless, polymyxin-resistance genes <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31122100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">have been identified</a> in bacteria across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America and Oceania. If the power of polymyxins is usurped by these resistant pathogens, it could spell disaster for people suffering from drug-resistant bacterial infections. So, Velkov is trying to learn how to create new polymyxins, by mimicking soil-based battles. “I get the bacterium that makes that [polymyxin], and then I challenge it,” Velkov says. “I grow it opposite the bugs it hates, and they fight each other.” If it sounds a bit like a pathogenic boxing match, Velkov says that’s much like what he observes. “They actually have a bit of a battle,” he says. “You’ll see the one that makes the antibiotic starts growing towards the bacteria to push it out of the territory [the petri dish with nutrients on it], and then it secretes the polymyxins to kill it. “But the bug, the human pathogen, often fights back secreting stuff to kill the antibiotic-producing microbes.” How does all this lab-based micro-fighting translate to the real-world problem of resistance? According to Velkov, in medicine, humans mostly focus on producing one type of antibiotic at a time. But in the “wild”, he says, microbes can often produce a whole bunch of subtly different substances in the fight. “In the petri dish, when these guys are fighting each other, they make really different ones,” he says. “Ones we haven’t seen or discovered, they respond in ways we haven’t looked at.” In his research lab, Velkov says he’s discovered a number of new polymyxins, including one that’s in clinical development. So, by staging these kinds of epic battles in miniature in the laboratory, can we stave off antibiotic resistance altogether? According to Velkov, probably not. But we can optimise our participation in the evolutionary arms race. “You’re never going to make it go away,” he says. “This has been going on for millions of years.” But the hope is that by learning from how these microbes behave in nature, we can at least try to keep pace.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=187842&title=Antibiotic+resistance%3A+an+arms+race+going+on+millions+of+years" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/medicine/antibiotic-resistance-millions-years/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/amalyah-hart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amalyah Hart</a>. Amalyah Hart is a science journalist based in Melbourne. She has a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Oxford and an MA in Journalism from the University of Melbourne. Image: Getty Images </div>

Body

Daylight robbery: Men arrested for nicking a bridge

Eight men have been arrested in the Indian state of Bihar for stealing an iron bridge in broad daylight. When several men arrived in the village of Amiyavar with an excavator and gas torches, locals believed the government was finally removing an old metal bridge that had become more of a nuisance than useful. The men, including some from the state government’s irrigation department, arrived at 7am and worked until dusk for three days. They cut the iron with gas torches and loosened the ground with excavators before taking the metal away in a rented van. However, a local journalist told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61066473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a> that no one knew the men were actually stealing the metal, before depositing it at the warehouse of a local scrap dealer for a profit. “No-one suspected it was a heist,” Jitendra Singh, a journalist who lives “200 metres from the bridge”, told the outlet. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Unique theft in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bihar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bihar</a>, thieves became officers of the irrigation department and stole a 60 feet long iron bridge In Nasriganj, Rohtas, thieves posing as officers, with the help of local personnel, 1/2<a href="https://twitter.com/UtkarshSingh_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UtkarshSingh_</a> 📽️ <a href="https://t.co/jhnTbUSYDw">pic.twitter.com/jhnTbUSYDw</a> — Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) <a href="https://twitter.com/sirajnoorani/status/1512521001719894017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2022</a></blockquote> The operation was reportedly supervised by Arvind Kumar, who worked part-time at the irrigation department. He allegedly told anyone who asked that “the work had an official sanction”. Ashish Bharti, the senior police official leading the investigation, said Mr Kumar was one of the men arrested. “Irrigation department official Radhe Shyam Singh, the van owner and the owner of the scrapyard are also among those arrested. We are looking for at least four more people,” Mr Bharti said. “Even three days ago, the structure of the bridge was there but suddenly it disappeared and we informed local officials,” Amiyaway local Suresh Kumar told <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/thieves-make-away-with-500-tonne-iron-bridge-in-bihar/article65305774.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hindu</a>. Pawan Kumar, who lives in a neighbouring village, made the discovery that the operation wasn’t legitimate after he tried contacting Mr Singh and couldn’t reach him. “I tried calling irrigation department official Radhe Shyam Singh, but when he didn’t answer, I called a senior official to ask why they had not followed procedure - the authorities are expected to issue a tender and the work is given to the lowest bidder,” Mr Kumar told the BBC. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The remnants of the 500 tonne bridge that was stolen in Rohtas, Bihar. Pic via <a href="https://twitter.com/AmarnathTewary?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmarnathTewary</a> <a href="https://t.co/AaB3Ohc41x">pic.twitter.com/AaB3Ohc41x</a> — Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) <a href="https://twitter.com/nistula/status/1512713303797035011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2022</a></blockquote> The official told him he was unaware that the bridge had been taken down, prompting a complaint to be lodged with police. After conducting several raids, police have recovered 24.5 tonnes of iron scrap from the bridge, as well as the pick-up van and tools used to strip the bridge, per <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bihar-bridge-theft-case-water-resources-dept-official-seven-others-arrested/article65310750.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hindu</a>. The bridge in question was in a serious state of disrepair and had been out of use since the early 2000s, when a concrete bridge was built nearby. Journalist Jitendra Singh said the head of the village had sent a petition to authorities to remove the bridge since it had become a health hazard. He said bodies of cattle and even people would get stuck under the bridge after floating from upstream. “Over the years, all the wood used in the bridge had disintegrated and the iron had rusted. Thieves had stolen bits and pieces of the metal to put it to other use or sell it as scrap for a few rupees,” Shailendra Singh, who lives in the village, told the BBC. “But what happened last week was daylight robbery.” Metal is stolen in many parts of India, as well as the US, UK and parts of Europe. In India, manhole covers and water pipes are common targets, while signalling and power cables, overhead line equipment, and clips to hold train tracks in place in England have caused thousands of hours of delays each year. Image: Twitter

Legal

Two US cops fired after abandoning a robbery to play Pokemon Go

Two US police officers have been fired after they went off to chase virtual Pokemon creatures instead of responding to a robbery. Eric Mitchell and Louis Lozano were cruising the streets searching for Pokemon in the augmented reality smartphone game, and abandoned their jobs in the process. An in-car recording revealed that the pair heard the call for help during a robbery at a Los Angeles department store, and decided to drive away. “Officer Mitchell alerted Lozano that ‘Snorlax’ ‘just popped up’,” legal documents show. “For approximately the next 20 minutes, the (recording) captured petitioners discussing Pokemon as they drove to different locations where the virtual creatures apparently appeared on their mobile phones.” The officers caught the virtual Snorlax before turning their attention to a much harder creature to conquer. “Holy crap, man. This thing is fighting the crap out of me,” Mitchell said of the Pokemon, according to the documents, which were published last week. Both officers were charged with multiple counts of misconduct, and admitted to failing to respond to the robbery, but denied they had been playing Pokemon Go. The smartphone game took the world by storm in 2016, with users searching for fantastical creatures using the real world through their smartphone screens. Despite challenging the court’s ruling and upholding the notion they were not playing the game at the time of the robbery, both men were charged and fired from their jobs with the Los Angeles Police Department. Image credits: Getty Images

Technology

The most sought-after items on every burglar’s hit list

Jewellery When you hear the word burglar, you’re probably already envisioning a masked man with a burlap sack full of jewels in hand. As it happens, this archetype arose because jewellery is extremely easy to resell illegally. Security Awareness Expert Robert Siciliano says that it doesn’t even matter if your bling is authentic: “Burglars aren’t generally sifting through what’s real or fake until they get back to their evil lair,” he says. “They try to quickly get in and get out. But once they do, they can generally differentiate, and if they can’t, the pawnshop where they go can make the determination.” Your AI assistants “Your electronics are another prime target,” says home security expert Christina Mullen. “When it comes to electronics and appliances, the burglar is going to take the most accessible items. They do not want to spend more time trying to take an appliance that is mounted on the wall, hard to reach or hidden items.” Mullen says that burglars tend to like small yet expensive devices such as AI Assistants, like Alexa-enabled devices and Google Homes. Cash Maybe switching to credit or debit cards is the right idea – burglars love to sift through your drawers and purses for cold, hard cash. Unlike traceable debit and credit cards, once it’s gone, cash can’t be cancelled or found again. In addition, cash loss can be hard to prove to insurers, especially when excessive amounts are stolen. Prescription drugs Although the most popular items burglars are looking to steal are cash, jewellery and electronics, prescription drugs have become valuable, says investigator Patricia Vercillo. “If not for personal use, the burglar won’t have a hard time selling them on the street, which can make for a dangerous situation.” She recommends that homeowners dispose of old, leftover or expired medications so that they do not become a victim of this kind of theft. Unmounted TVs and other electronics Your child’s new Switch? Your PS4? These cutting-edge gaming consoles are sleek, powerful, and most of all, extremely portable. These two items – which could fit cosily in a briefcase – are high-cost and low-density, making them the perfect steal for any home invader. Thieves also love to steal TVs, but only unmounted ones. “Remember, convenience is key,” says Mullen. “If your TV is mounted on the wall and bolted in, it’s no longer an easy target and is less likely to get stolen.” Power tools Mullen notes that some of the least expected items might go missing in a robbery. “You wouldn’t expect the power tools in your shed to be a target, but they’re decently valued and easily re-sold…even kitchen appliances can fall victim to the burglar’s sweep of your house.” To prevent this theft, smart homeowners should check that they’ve locked their outdoor sheds and aren’t leaving their cars – which often contain garage door-opening remotes – unlocked overnight. Personal information Your burglar might just be someone you know. In more than half of all offences, the perpetrator is someone that homeowners know or trust. “What they steal may have more to do with their disdain of the homeowners,” says Leonard Sipes. “I know of a case where a laptop was stolen just to pry into the lives of the occupant.” According to Sipes, the homeowner’s dogs were also present at the scene of the crime, but the thief simply fed the dogs because they recognised him. Your safe isn't safe Safes and strongboxes aren’t guaranteed to protect your valuables, especially if they’re light, small or not installed in a wall. “Keep a small safe under your bed? They’ll probably check, and they just might carry the whole thing with them,” says Mullen. If you’re looking into buying a safe, remember that some new electronic safes can be hacked, and old-fashioned safes can be cracked open with enough force – finding a better hiding place might be the key. Scrap metal According to Dr Ben Stickle, scrap metal is a valuable material to home intruders. Since metals such as copper are valuable and can be easily resold, Dr Stickle says that scrap metal thieves target “air conditioners, hot water heaters, electrical cables, plumbing materials, and more.” Burglars will target homes under construction, but they don’t always stop there. “Be careful who you let work on your home,” says Stickle. “Many metal thieves had current or past experience as roofers, plumbers, electricians…and would often return after seeing items of metal that were valuable.” Kitchen appliances Do you love your NutriBullet? Your electric mixer? Your slow cooker or your Soda Stream? Well, so do thieves. These items can be re-sold and will easily fit into a duffel bag. “Even kitchen appliances can fall victim to the burglar’s sweep of your house,” says Mullen. Some thieves have even been known to steal refrigerators and stoves because of their expensive market prices, but it’s far harder to make a stealthy get-away with a stainless-steel fridge. Your old iPod Nervous thieves aren’t picky, and whatever’s visible is fair game. “[Thieves] won’t spend their time looking for specific items that are in-vogue – you’d be surprised at some of the low-profile items that get stolen, like corded headphones or even an iPod,” Mullen says. Most thieves are just trying to be speedy, but we like to think that some are into vintage tech, or just left their earphones at home. Written by Dani Walpole. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/the-most-sought-after-items-on-every-burglars-hit-list" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Money & Banking

Prince Harry will not be allowed to wear his military uniform at armed forces gala

Prince Harry will not wear his military uniform when he appears at the Salute to Freedom gala on Wednesday, despite serving in the military for 10 years. The Duke of Sussex, whose service included two tours in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2012, is set to appear at the gala in New York to award five war heroes with medals. However, he will not be allowed to wear his military uniform, because he has been stripped of his honorary titles. Harry lost his titles after he and wife Meghan Markle resigned as senior royals in March 2020. It is understood that Harry wanted to retain his honorary positions, including the title of Captain General of the Royal Marines, but was not able to do so. It is thought that Princess Anne will be the next royal to hold that title, making her the first woman to do so. The 37-year-old second son of Princess Diana was appointed to the position of Captain General of the Royal Marines in 2017. Prior to his appointment, the position had been held by his grandfather, Prince Phiilip, for 64 years. As a result of losing his titles, Harry will wear plain clothes when he presents awards at the gala, which is to be held aboard a warship in New York on Wednesday November 10. Despite this, he will be allowed to pin his four medals to his suit for the occasion. The Salute to Freedom gala is being held to honour "those who have served in the US forces, defending America." Award recipients are those who have "demonstrated courage and perseverance in the face of great danger or personal struggle." The event will be held at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, and other attendees include Jon Bon Jovi, who will be receiving the 2021 Intrepid Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. The Foundation works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through affordable shelter and housing, including providing permanent supportive housing for veterans. Bon Jovi and Harry have crossed paths before, when Bon Jovi recorded ‘Unbroken’ as a single for Harry’s Invictus Games Foundation last year. Image: Geoff Pugh - WPA Pool/Getty Images

News

"I’m not upset": Leila Abdallah speaks out after home invasion

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> The Abdallah family have tried to move on after losing three children in one accident, but the blows keep coming after they were robbed of several sentimental items by thieves on Wednesday. Danny and Leila Abdallah's family home was robbed by a masked intruder around 11:45 am just a year after their three children, Antony, 13, Angelina, 12 and nine-year-old Sienna as well as their 11-year-old niece Veronique were killed by an out-of-control driver in Oatlands last year. Leila, 36, said that she had been busy looking at photos of her children when she noticed someone leaving with a big black bag through the unlocked front door. “He took a lot of personal items (but) it’s not about the items, these items are sentimental to us,” she said to media yesterday. “With every item, we have memories of our kids. He took a watch but it’s not about the watch, this watch reminds me of me and Angelina walking together to the store to buy this watch.” “I was in shock, I just walked outside … people are looking at us thinking ‘you guys have been through enough this year.” Home security tapes show the moment the man fleed the scene in a stolen white Audi, with a man waiting in the car to escape quickly. Cumberland Police Area Commander Detective Superintendent Darryl Jobson said that the crime was "absolutely disgusting" given the "incredible ordeal" but has said that the crime did not appear to be targeted. “I appeal to the conscience of the people responsible for the crime to hand themselves in to the police and to return the property of those victims,” he said. “It is abhorrent to enter anyone’s home whilst people are there. It is a breach of people’s privacy.” Despite the robbery, Leila said that she's "not going to lose sleep over it". “I’m not going to lose sleep over it, at the end of the day life keeps going and there’s more to life than that,” she explained. “Life is challenging, life is full of challenges, and I definitely forgive him, I’m not upset … what matters most in life are my kids. “Family is more important than anything.” </div> </div> </div>

Caring

Thief breaks into home of family who lost three kids in crash tragedy

A family who lost their three children in a horror car crash in February of 2020 have been robbed by a masked intruder in broad daylight. Leila Abdallah lost Anthony, Angelina and Sienna, who all died when a drunk and drugged driver ran them over in Oatlands. Now, she and her husband Danny have been hit with another blow after reports claim the mother was at her home in Telopea when a masked intruder broke inside at around 11:45 am on Wednesday. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840982/abdallah-family-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/65f5855130d5435598d0854cad34b8dc" /> Ms Abdallah was standing in the kitchen looking at photos of her children when she saw the perpetrator near the front door. He was holding a bag and other belongings but quickly fled when she confronted him. CCTV caught the man wearing black track pants and a dark blue hoodie. He was recorded running away from the house and hopping into a white Audi S3 Sedan. The man, who had an accomplice driver, had taken jewellery, handbags and other possessions from the upstairs bedrooms. Ms Abdallah told reporters that while the material value of the possessions was not important, some of the stolen items had sentimental value linked to her children. “He took a watch, but it’s not about the watch. This watch reminds me of me and Angelina walking to the store to buy this watch. So it’s a bit sentimental for us, and invading our privacy,” she said. “God’s watching him, God knows who he is,” Ms Abdallah went on to say, calling on the man to listen to his conscience. Ms Abdallah says the man may have taken an iPhone that belonged to her late son Anthony. The robber is believed to possibly have been inside for 10 minutes ransacking the bedrooms. Police are calling on the man and the driver of the Audi to turn themselves in, saying the Abdallahs have had to face horror after horror since losing their three children and their cousin Veronique Sakr. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840981/abdallah-family-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9a9e3b0d303f47a0bc936f30e2000660" /> “In the last 12 months, the victims of the Telopea incident have endured an incredible ordeal,” Detective Superintendent Darryl Jobson, Cumberland area police commander said on Thursday. “And I appeal to the conscience of the people responsible for this crime to hand themselves in to the police, and I also appeal to them to return the property of those victims.” The intruder is described as being Caucasian, skinny, about 183 centimetres tall, aged in his 20s and with light hair. The Audi’s registration plates read as EGJ-56M, and is thought to have been stolen from North Rocks earlier this week.

News

Schoolgirl's chilling message on Zoom call during home invasion

An 11-year-old schoolgirl has scribbled a desperate message on a bathroom wall during a terrifying home invasion. The girl was cowering in the bathroom of her family home in San Francisco as intruders ransacked the home. She was learning remotely at the time as many schools in the state remain closed due to the pandemic. She issued a silent plea for help, writing three words on the wall in pencil in hopes others on the Zoom call would see the message. "Help ... [her name]... robbers!!" she wrote. The girl's cousin, who owns the home, told ABC7 he returned home to find his belongings strewn all over the place as the thieves used pillow cases to carry stolen items from the house. Images broadcast on local TV showed the damage done to a door of the home as the intruders smashed their way in. Despite the ordeal being terrifying for the little girl, she was physically unharmed. The family, who wished to remain anonymous, are of Asian heritage. The incident comes at a time when violence against Asian-Americans has been front and centre in the United States.

Legal

"Where are the cats?" Woman bound in bizarre attack at dog's home

A woman is dealing with a bizarre attack from Monday night after a masked, armed robber in military clothes, held her at gunpoint. The robber demanded to know where her cats were while he tied her up and threatened her life, in Cranbourne West. The woman, who is a lost dog’s home employee, was approached by the offender in the car park of the Thompsons Road home in Cranbourne West, Victoria about 11.30 pm on Monday when he pointed a gun at her. He asked where the cats were after walking her into the animal welfare property and tying her up. He quickly left the room and didn’t return. The woman was able to free herself and phoned for help. Thankfully, she was not injured during the strange and traumatising incident. Police have been unable to locate the man, who was reportedly dressed in military style clothes and was wearing a mask. Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Legal

Woman shot as armed pro-Trump protestors storm US Capitol

A woman was shot on Thursday morning after hundreds of MAGA supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington DC. The Donald Trump supporters made one final bid to overthrow democracy as the president carries out his final days in office. A number of protestors not only swarmed the streets but managed to breach into the US capitol building, breaking through barriers and withstanding tear gas as well as an armed standoff. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A person on a stretcher just wheeled out with what appears to be a serious injury. <a href="https://t.co/wucrpusBzE">pic.twitter.com/wucrpusBzE</a> — Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeDelMoro/status/1346910181075021828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote> Reports said that one woman was in “critical condition” after being shot in the chest, and that resuscitation efforts were underway. It has been suggested that an officer was the one who fired the shot, however the circumstances surrounding the situation are yet to be determined. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGERY <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> BREAKING: Trump supporters have breached the Capitol building, tearing down 4 layers of security fencing and are attempting to occupy the building — fighting federal police who are overrun This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Thousands, police can’t stop them <a href="https://t.co/VVdTUwV5YN">pic.twitter.com/VVdTUwV5YN</a> — ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1346881968819105792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote> House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy confirmed the shooting in an interview with Fox News, saying, "I'm with Capital police, I heard on the radio: 'Shots fired.'" "I have been in this Capitol for more than 10 years and I've never seen anything like this," McCarthy added. Media commentators were audibly shaken up as they likened the “attempted coup” to that of a “third world country” or “civil war”. “This is just Bedlam … this is Trump’s rebellion,” one said, adding the situation was “very, very tense” and “out of control”. Trump, who lost the popular and electoral college vote in the 2020 presidential elections, has continued to dispute the results without evidence. As of Thursday morning, the only message the US president has made is a tweet urging Americans to “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!”

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Police fatally shoot armed 16-year-old after Bunnings carpark stabbing

Grieving families targeted in callous gravesite robberies

10 dumb hiding spots burglars always find

Armed masked men target Melbourne teen

Thief asks woman out on date after robbing her at gunpoint

Nick Kyrgios opens up about alleged Tesla theft

Nick Kyrgios' mother held at gunpoint during alleged car theft

Senior bank robber’s unexpectedly polite note

How to receive criticism with grace and open arms

"You don't do that to a hearse": Thieves blasted over despicable act

Antibiotic resistance: an arms race going on millions of years

Daylight robbery: Men arrested for nicking a bridge

Two US cops fired after abandoning a robbery to play Pokemon Go

The most sought-after items on every burglar’s hit list

Prince Harry will not be allowed to wear his military uniform at armed forces gala

"I’m not upset": Leila Abdallah speaks out after home invasion

Thief breaks into home of family who lost three kids in crash tragedy

Schoolgirl's chilling message on Zoom call during home invasion

"Where are the cats?" Woman bound in bizarre attack at dog's home

Woman shot as armed pro-Trump protestors storm US Capitol

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Police fatally shoot armed 16-year-old after Bunnings carpark stabbing

Grieving families targeted in callous gravesite robberies

10 dumb hiding spots burglars always find

Armed masked men target Melbourne teen

Thief asks woman out on date after robbing her at gunpoint

Nick Kyrgios opens up about alleged Tesla theft

Nick Kyrgios' mother held at gunpoint during alleged car theft

Senior bank robber’s unexpectedly polite note

How to receive criticism with grace and open arms

"You don't do that to a hearse": Thieves blasted over despicable act

Antibiotic resistance: an arms race going on millions of years

Daylight robbery: Men arrested for nicking a bridge

Two US cops fired after abandoning a robbery to play Pokemon Go

The most sought-after items on every burglar’s hit list

Prince Harry will not be allowed to wear his military uniform at armed forces gala

"I’m not upset": Leila Abdallah speaks out after home invasion

Thief breaks into home of family who lost three kids in crash tragedy

Schoolgirl's chilling message on Zoom call during home invasion

"Where are the cats?" Woman bound in bizarre attack at dog's home

Woman shot as armed pro-Trump protestors storm US Capitol

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