Senin, 05 Agustus 2019

Assisted dying: Australian cancer patient first to use new law - BBC News

An Australian woman with terminal cancer has become the first person to end their life under new assisted dying laws, a charity says.

Kerry Robertson, 61, died at a nursing home in the state of Victoria in July.

She was granted permission to use the controversial legislation - which exists only in Victoria but is being considered in other states - after a 26-day approval process.

Her family said she was able to have "the empowered death that she wanted".

Ms Robertson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and it later spread to her bones, lungs, brain and liver.

She decided to stop chemotherapy and radiation treatment in March after the side effects and pain became "intolerable", her family said.

Victoria's legislation, which came into effect in June, allows terminally ill patients who meet certain requirements the right to access lethal drugs.

"We were beside her, David Bowie playing in the background, surrounded by love, with final words spoken, simple and dignified," said her daughter, Nicole Robertson, in a statement released by charity Go Gentle Australia.

"To me that is the greatest part: the knowledge that we did everything we could to make her happy in life and comfortable in death."

Who is eligible?

The state's law has 68 safeguards and is designed for people who are in severe pain.

It requires the person to make three requests to end their life to specially trained doctors. The person must be aged at least 18 and have less than six months to live.

The bill was passed in 2017 after more than 100 hours of parliamentary debate that deeply divided state lawmakers.

Ms Robertson's family said she had applied to utilise the legislation on the day it came into effect in June.

Western Australia and Queensland are considering similar laws.

In 1995, Australia's Northern Territory introduced the world's first voluntary euthanasia law, but it was overturned by federal authorities in Canberra eight months later. The federal government does not have the same power over states.

Laws allowing terminally ill patients to legally end their lives with a doctor's supervision have been passed in countries including Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49230903

2019-08-05 07:44:16Z
CBMiMWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hdXN0cmFsaWEtNDkyMzA5MDPSATVodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3MvYW1wL3dvcmxkLWF1c3RyYWxpYS00OTIzMDkwMw

Assisted dying: Australian cancer patient first to use new law - BBC News

An Australian woman with terminal cancer has become the first person to end their life under new assisted dying laws, a charity says.

Kerry Robertson, 61, died at a nursing home in the state of Victoria in July.

She was granted permission to use the controversial legislation - which exists only in Victoria but is being considered in other states - after a 26-day approval process.

Her family said she was able to have "the empowered death that she wanted".

Ms Robertson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and it later spread to her bones, lungs, brain and liver.

She decided to stop chemotherapy and radiation treatment in March after the side effects and pain became "intolerable", her family said.

Victoria's legislation, which came into effect in June, allows terminally ill patients who meet certain requirements the right to access lethal drugs.

"We were beside her, David Bowie playing in the background, surrounded by love, with final words spoken, simple and dignified," said her daughter, Nicole Robertson, in a statement released by charity Go Gentle Australia.

"To me that is the greatest part: the knowledge that we did everything we could to make her happy in life and comfortable in death."

Who is eligible?

The state's law has 68 safeguards and is designed for people who are in severe pain.

It requires the person to make three requests to end their life to specially trained doctors. The person must be aged at least 18 and have less than six months to live.

The bill was passed in 2017 after more than 100 hours of parliamentary debate that deeply divided state lawmakers.

Ms Robertson's family said she had applied to utilise the legislation on the day it came into effect in June.

Western Australia and Queensland are considering similar laws.

In 1995, Australia's Northern Territory introduced the world's first voluntary euthanasia law, but it was overturned by federal authorities in Canberra eight months later. The federal government does not have the same power over states.

Laws allowing terminally ill patients to legally end their lives with a doctor's supervision have been passed in countries including Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49230903

2019-08-05 03:09:40Z
CBMiMWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hdXN0cmFsaWEtNDkyMzA5MDPSATVodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3MvYW1wL3dvcmxkLWF1c3RyYWxpYS00OTIzMDkwMw

Assisted dying: Australian cancer patient first to use new law - BBC News

An Australian woman with terminal cancer has become the first person to end their life under new assisted dying laws, a charity says.

Kerry Robertson, 61, died at a nursing home in the state of Victoria in July.

She was granted permission to use the controversial legislation - which exists only in Victoria but is being considered in other states - after a 26-day approval process.

Her family said she was able to have "the empowered death that she wanted".

Ms Robertson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and it later spread to her bones, lungs, brain and liver.

She decided to stop chemotherapy and radiation treatment in March after the side effects and pain became "intolerable", her family said.

Victoria's legislation, which came into effect in June, allows terminally ill patients who meet certain requirements the right to access lethal drugs.

"We were beside her, David Bowie playing in the background, surrounded by love, with final words spoken, simple and dignified," said her daughter, Nicole Robertson, in a statement released by charity Go Gentle Australia.

"To me that is the greatest part: the knowledge that we did everything we could to make her happy in life and comfortable in death."

Who is eligible?

The state's law has 68 safeguards and is designed for people who are in severe pain.

It requires the person to make three requests to end their life to specially trained doctors. The person must be aged at least 18 and have less than six months to live.

The bill was passed in 2017 after more than 100 hours of parliamentary debate that deeply divided state lawmakers.

Ms Robertson's family said she had applied to utilise the legislation on the day it came into effect in June.

Western Australia and Queensland are considering similar laws.

In 1995, Australia's Northern Territory introduced the world's first voluntary euthanasia law, but it was overturned by federal authorities in Canberra eight months later. The federal government does not have the same power over states.

Laws allowing terminally ill patients to legally end their lives with a doctor's supervision have been passed in countries including Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49230903

2019-08-05 02:39:30Z
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Jumat, 02 Agustus 2019

4 Australian Podcasts for Your Commute - The New York Times

Letter 118

4 Australian Podcasts for Your Commute

CreditKeith Negley

Isabella Kwai

By

Aug 2, 2019

The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This week’s issue is written by Isabella Kwai, a reporter with the Australia bureau.

______

I’ll admit it: I’m an anxious driver. When I’m on those seemingly never-ending stretches of road that connect towns to cities and cities to suburbs, a soothing voice goes a long way to quell the worries. So when I’m driving alone, whether to report or to play, podcasts are the perfect way to wile away the hours until the next pit stop.

There are more than a few podcasts out there these days, which led one of my colleagues to wonder if we’ve reached peak podcast. But the podcast will always have a special place in my heart and commute, and recently I’ve been making an effort to explore more Australian ones. Thanks to our readers who sent in recommendations. Here are four we rate, for whatever mood you’re in.

Did I miss your favorite? Write to me at nytaustralia@nytimes.com and let me know, or drop into our NYT Australia Facebook group.

If you’re into true crime try …

“Wrong Skin”

On the face of it, “Wrong Skin” is about an unsolved death and a missing persons case in the Kimberley, a stunning region in Australia’s northwestern corner. But it’s also a look into a forbidden relationship and the cultural values of Aboriginal Australians in a less populated part of the country. Richard Baker, an investigative reporter with The Age, goes back to the wet season of 1994, when Richard Milgin and Julie Buck, two young lovers, disappeared from the community of Looma. Only Ms. Buck’s body was found, months later.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are warned that the podcast contains names, images and audio of people who have passed away.

Where to start: Episode 1: Richard and Julie

If you’re a news junkie try …

If you’re enjoying the New York Times podcast “The Daily,” “7am,” which follows a similar format but for Australian news of the day, is a perfect complement. Created by Schwartz Media, which publishes The Monthly and The Saturday Paper, the show is hosted by Elizabeth Kulas, an Australian journalist who talks to some of the country’s leading reporters to explain the day’s news from Australia and around the world. I’d recommend this one for your morning commute.

Where to start: Anywhere!

If you’re into pop culture try …

“Shameless”

Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrew are two Melbourne journalists who go deep on the ‘stupid stuff,’ with plenty of banter along the way. It’s a fun one for pop aficionados, its feels like chiming into a conversation between two very up-to-date friends. But as with all great pop culture discussion, “Shameless” taps into bigger themes that hide beneath and how a zeitgeist can change the way we think.

Where to start: Complicated celebrity comebacks

If you want a deep dive try …

“Wilosophy”

Who are you? What do you believe in? Do you live your life by a philosophy? Every week, the writer and comedian Wil Anderson spends an hour or so in the company of an interesting person with a simple objective: to uncover how that person lives their life. If you’re incessantly curious about the things that govern people’s decisions, this is a podcast for you. The answers are often intimate, funny and might just prompt some reflection.

Where to start: Andy Lee

______

Australia and New Zealand

Image

CreditWilliam West/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The Gambling Investigation Scrutinizing Xi Jinping’s High-Rolling Cousin: Australia is confronting a sprawling scandal involving Chinese money, high-stakes gambling, accusations of money laundering and special immigration favors for high-rollers — including a cousin of China’s top leader.
Chinese Nationalists Bring Threat of Violence to Australia Universities: A clash with Hong Kong supporters at a student protest in Queensland could be a dark omen of what’s to come.

Jacinda Ardern Is Tested by Construction on Land Held Sacred by Maori: An intensifying standoff between Maori groups and a construction company threatens to tarnish Ms. Ardern’s reputation on the world stage for her politics of kindness and tolerance.

The Best Movies and TV Shows New to Netflix Australia in August: Wanted to wait out the hype before seeing “A Star is Born?” Now’s your chance.

Review: Is Hannah Gadsby’s ‘Douglas’ Stand-Up? Theater? Yes, Please.: The New York Times reviews the star comedian’s new show and follow-up to “Nanette.”

Brett Whiteley Partied With Bob Dylan. Now His Life Is an Opera.: How do sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll fit into an opera? Read about the risky venture by Opera Australia that finished its run in Sydney this week.

_____

Around the Times

Image

CreditSusan Wright for The New York Times

When Trump Tweets, the Editor of ‘China’s Fox News’ Hits Back: Inside a bustling, 700-person newsroom in downtown Beijing, Hu Xijin leads a 24-hour propaganda machine. And he’s not afraid to taunt President Trump on Twitter.
Teenage Murder Suspects Vanish Into Canada’s Wilderness: Police are searching in bush, swamp and forest for two teenagers suspected of killing three people, including an Australian man. It is an optimal place to hide — and a difficult place to survive.

What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team: Surprising truths about why some work groups thrive and others falter, new research reveals.

Facebook Connected Her to a Tattooed Soldier in Iraq. Or So She Thought: Renee Holland sent her Facebook friend thousands of dollars. She became entwined in a global fraud that the social network and the United States military appear helpless to stop.

Hunting for the Real Pasta all’Amatriciana: Essentially, a page of pasta pornography, under the guise of a travel story. Do not click hungry.

______

… And Over to You

Last week, Tacey Rychter wrote about the late, beloved cookbook author Margaret Fulton, and the cultural impact she made on Australian cooking. She asked for your memories of home cooking in the 1960s and ’70s. Thanks to everyone who wrote in — there was a fascinating mix of horror and nostalgia in your responses. Here are a few choice ones:

“I recall my mother being partial to a most revolting dessert called “Jellywhip” — a mixture of jelly crystals and custard. It always seemed to be pineapple which made it even more revolting in both taste and color.”

— Jan Aminoff

“As a young adult I didn’t believe vegetables could taste nice. The worst cooking was for cabbage. It was boiled with vinegar and heavily salted for about an hour."

— James Moore

“Prior to The Margaret Fulton Cookbook, all our vegetables were cooked in a pressure cooker, which rendered them all gray in colour, texture and taste. For my brother and I, it was a bridge too far. But we were not allowed to leave the table until we’d eaten everything on our plates. So the contrast between the pre and post-Margaret Fulton eras could not have been more dramatic.”

— Judy Charlton

Are you enjoying our Australia bureau dispatches?

Tell us what you think at NYTAustralia@nytimes.com.

Need help?

Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

Liking the Australia Letter? Sign up here or forward to a friend.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/02/world/australia/4-australian-podcasts.html

2019-08-02 05:19:17Z
CAIiEEV_LDGCP1xnENwmvwszwgkqFwgEKg8IACoHCAowjuuKAzCWrzww5oEY

Kamis, 01 Agustus 2019

Australian farmer says human orthopedic plate found in croc - Yahoo News

In this June 27, 2019, photo provided by John Lever an orthopedic plate is laid on a counter at Coowonga, Australia, after it was found inside a crocodile's stomach. Lever had been told the surgical device was from a person's body and had been contacted by relatives of missing people anxious for clues. (John Lever via AP)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian crocodile farmer who found an orthopedic plate inside a croc's stomach said Thursday that he had been told the surgical device was from a person's body and had been contacted by relatives of missing people anxious for clues.

Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever found the plate inside a 4.7-meter (15-foot-5-inch) croc called M.J. during an autopsy in June at his business near Rockhampton in Queensland state.

He initially wasn't sure if the unusual find had been part of an animal or human. But he said since making photos of the plate public, he had been told it was a type used in human surgery.

Lever estimated that M.J. was 50 to 70 years old when he died. M.J. could have eaten the bone that the plate had been attached to by six screws 50 years ago, he said.

All remnants of human tissue attached to the plate had been long digested before M.J. died several months after losing a fight with another croc.

Lever later said that Queensland police had told him they had opened a missing person investigation and asked him to bring the plate to the Rockhampton station on Friday.

A police spokesman told The AP he could not comment.

Lever is continuing to make inquiries in the hope of discovering what decade the type of plate was used and perhaps who it had belonged to.

"I wouldn't call it an investigation, we're making inquiries because we're fascinated by this whole thing," Lever said. "Obviously this crocodile has chomped on something and that plate has been left in its stomach complete with screws."

Lever bought M.J. from a farmer in Innisfail, 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), north of Rockhampton, six years ago. Sometime earlier, M.J. had been trapped in the wild. Crocodiles are protected in Australia and are only trapped if they are a threat to humans.

"We've had a couple of people get in touch with us about their relatives that have gone missing in the northern Queensland area and they're anxious to find out — there's been nothing heard of these people, they've just disappeared," Lever said. "We'll certainly keep these people informed of any new news that we can get."

The last fatal crocodile attack in Australia was in October when a woman was snatched while gathering mussels with her family in a waterhole in a remote part of the Northern Territory.

The last fatal attack in Queensland was a year earlier, when a 79-year-old dementia patient was killed after wandering from a nursing home at Port Douglas.

The crocodile population has exploded across the country's tropical north since the 1970s. Because saltwater crocodiles can live up to 70 years and grow throughout their lives — reaching up to 7 meters (23 feet) in length — the proportion of large crocodiles is also rising.

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https://www.yahoo.com/news/australian-farmer-says-human-orthopedic-045700002.html

2019-08-01 11:59:28Z
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Farmer finds human orthopedic plate in crocodile's stomach - Stuff.co.nz

An Australian farmer who found an orthopedic plate inside a crocodile's stomach said on Thursday he had been told the surgical device was from a human and had been contacted by relatives of missing persons anxious for clues.

Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever found the plate inside a 4.7-metre croc called MJ during an autopsy in June at his business near Rockhampton in Queensland state.

He initially wasn't sure if the unusual find had been part of an animal or human. But he said since making photos of the plate public, he had been told it was a type used in human surgery.

Lever estimated that MJ was between 50 and 70 years old when he died. MJ could have eaten the bone that the plate had been attached to by six screws 50 years ago, he said.

READ MORE:
* Fading Australian town must stop all the crocs to pull in tourists
* Chris Hemsworth isn't tempted to revive Crocodile Dundee
* Man charged over death of giant Australian crocodile
* Giant Australian croc's killer still at large, $5500 bounty unclaimed
* Tourists would be lured to Queensland to shoot crocodiles under new plan

All remnants of human tissue attached to the plate had been long digested before MJ died several months after losing a fight with another croc.

Lever is continuing to make inquiries in the hope of discovering what decade the type of plate was used and perhaps who it had belonged to.

Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever estimated that MJ was between 50 and 70 years old when he died. — KOORANA CROCODILE FARM/FACEBOOK
Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever estimated that MJ was between 50 and 70 years old when he died.

"I wouldn't call it an investigation, we're making inquiries because we're fascinated by this whole thing," Lever said. "Obviously this crocodile has chomped on something and that plate has been left in its stomach complete with screws."

Lever bought MJ from a farmer six years ago. Sometime earlier, MJ had been trapped in the wild. Crocodiles are protected in Australia and are only trapped if they are a threat to humans.

Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever found the human orthopedic plate inside a crocodile called MJ. — KOORANA CROCODILE FARM/FACEBOOK
Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever found the human orthopedic plate inside a crocodile called MJ.

"We've had a couple of people get in touch with us about their relatives that have gone missing in the northern Queensland area and they're anxious to find out - there's been nothing heard of these people, they've just disappeared," Lever said. "We'll certainly keep these people informed of any new news that we can get."

The last fatal crocodile attack in Australia was in 2017, when a 79-year-old dementia patient was killed after wandering from a nursing home at Port Douglas in Queensland.

Crocodile population has exploded across the country's tropical north since the 1970s. Because saltwater crocodiles can live up to 70 years and grow throughout their lives - reaching up to 7m in length - the proportion of large crocodiles is also rising.

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https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/114689519/farmer-finds-human-orthopedic-plate-in-crocodiles-stomach

2019-08-01 06:11:00Z
52780343391406

Australia's Two Leading Blockchain Advocate Groups Announce Merger - CoinDesk

Two groups seeking to promote blockchain technology in the Asia-Pacific have officially merged.

Announced July 22, the Australian Digital Currency Association (ADCA) and Blockchain Australia (BA) signed documentation that will see the two groups formally combine efforts under the BA logo and brand.

ADCA is the industry’s leading network for businesses seeking to implement blockchain solutions while BA is the industry body that represents domestic organizations participating in the crypto asset economy.

The announcement, as well as the unveiling of the group’s new logo, took place at the Annual APAC Blockchain Conference in Sydney.

Further, the news was presented by the assistant minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology, the Hon. Senator Jane Hume, demonstrating government support for the merger and future developments from the Australian blockchain community.

“I’m absolutely delighted to see that ADCA and BA have decided to merge, having a consistent and united voice advocating for the responsible adoption of blockchain technology,” Hume told attendees. “We need to recognize the potential for Australian blockchain businesses to tap into the demand that’s deriving from Asia’s growing middle class.”

The official merger was hosted by the Sydney Stock Exchange (SSX) and witnessed by directors and members from both organizations.

Nick Giurietto, CEO and managing director of BA, told CoinDesk:

“Bringing the two organizations together will allow the whole Australian blockchain community to speak more clearly and consistently to key stakeholders including governments and regulators and will strengthen the connections between all parts of the Australian blockchain ecosystem.”

“The merger of our two organizations creates a stronger and more united voice,” added Adam Poulton, director on the newly formed organization’s board.

Those involved in the new organization hope the merger will open pathways for greater opportunities and advancement in the APAC region.

Logo unveiling image via Annual APAC Blockchain Conference

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https://www.coindesk.com/australias-two-leading-blockchain-advocate-groups-announce-merger

2019-08-01 04:15:00Z
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