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Entertainment

Kids orphaned as parents fall to death from Bronx apartment

Kids orphaned as parents fall to death from Bronx apartment

Investigators are probing whether there was a struggle before an Albanian actor and his wife plunged to their deaths from their apartment in New York over the weekend, a police source said.

Florind Belliu, 35, an actor and aspiring filmmaker originally from Albania, and his wife Ornela Shehi, 28, were found in the rear courtyard of 2199 Cruger Avenue in the Bronx at around 9.15am on Saturday, cops and police sources said.

“There were signs in the apartment that indicated it wasn’t all Kumbaya, like they didn’t just decide to leave their kids behind and jump,” the source told the new york post.

The source wouldn’t provide any more details on the alleged “signs”.

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A suicide note was not left behind, according to the source.

Authorities are waiting for autopsy results to determine whether Mr Shehi suffered any injuries not indicative of a fall, the source said.

By late Tuesday morning, the city’s Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office had not made a determination on either Mr Shehi or Ms Belliu’s death.

“Both are pending while the ME awaits additional investigative information,” a spokeswoman said, adding that the signs could include “further testing of remains or investigatory material from the scene”.

Mr Shehi was caught on video plunging from the building’s sixth floor first and hitting the alleyway, with Ms Belliu landing seconds later, sources told the post a day after the couple’s deaths.

The couple moved into the building with their two young children about four months ago, and authorities never received reports of domestic violence related to the couple, according to police sources.

Neighbors told the post on Saturday that the pair were a “quiet couple” who “kept to themselves,” and were often seen taking walks – but also that Mr Belliu had been seen visibly angry Friday.

“I’ve seen them always buying things for the house, like every day together, with two kids together, we didn’t recognize there was something wrong,” said Shadie Perkaj, the wife of the building’s super.

She said Saturday was Mr Belliu’s birthday.

Mr Belliu’s pal Elona Caslli mourned her lost friend on Facebook.

“A multiple tragedy for which there is no word of consolation. God give strength to your children and parents,” Ms Caslli wrote in Albanian.

Ms Belliu was a graduate of the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania, and performed on TV and in the theater before moving to the US, EuroNews Albania reported.

As of two years ago, he was working on two books and a movie script he hoped to pitch to Netflix, the report said.

Police sources said he may have been recently working as a livery driver to help make ends meet.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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Entertainment

Teenage Head’s Gord Lewis ‘murdered by son’

Teenage Head's Gord Lewis 'murdered by son'

Canadian rock guitarist Gord Lewis was found dead in his home on Sunday after he was allegedly murdered by his own son.

The rocker’s 41-year-old son, Jonathan Lewis, was arrested and charged with a second-degree murder as the Hamilton Police Department in Ontario continues to investigate the case, according to local reports.

The co-founding member of punk rock band Teenage Head was discovered by cops over the weekend. Cops described the incident as “isolated,” the Hamilton Spectator reported.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Hamilton Detective Sara Beck said police are not looking for any additional suspects, the New York Post reported.

Beck said the 65-year-old victim sustained “injuries consistent with foul play.”

“We are continuing to seek out witnesses and reviewing video in the area,” she added.

Although “a positive identification has not been made of the deceased due to the level of decomposition,” police said they know the identity of the deceased.

Gord’s death was confirmed by the band on Monday, who shared a touching post on Instagram.

“We are heartbroken and still trying to process the loss of our friend, bandmate and brother Gord Lewis,” the band’s surviving members Steve Marshall, drummer Gene Champagne, and Dave Desroches wrote.

“Our hearts are with his family and all that knew and loved him. Gordon was a force and an inspiration to many. You were taken from us far too soon.”

Lewis co-founded the punk rock band Teenage Head in 1975 alongside founding vocalist and drummer Frankie Venom and singer Dave Desroches, and the band went on to perform all over the country before finding global fame.

Some of Teenage Head’s most known songs include “Let’s Shake” and “Some Kinda Fun.”

The rocker’s death isn’t the first in the group, as Venom died in 2008 after losing his battle to throat cancer.

This article was originally published by the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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Sports

Australian women’s cricket captain Meg Lanning takes indefinite leave

An Australian female cricket looks toward her right as she answers a question at a media conference.

Australian women’s cricket captain Meg Lanning will take a period of indefinite leave, effective immediately.

Cricket Australia (CA) said Lanning made the decision for “personal reasons”, with no timeline set for her return.

“After a busy couple of years, I’ve made the decision to take a step back to enable me to spend time focusing on myself,” Lanning said in a CA statement.

“I’m grateful for the support of CA and my teammates and ask that my privacy is respected during this time.”

The announcement of Lanning’s decision comes only days after she led Australia to victory at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

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Entertainment

Everybody’s Oma is a raw, emotional and ultimately uplifting film

Everybody's Oma is a raw, emotional and ultimately uplifting film

Ever wondered what kind of lockdowns we would’ve had if covid had hit 30, 20 or even 10 years ago?

As bruising and wrought the whole experience was – and in some ways, continues to be – one of the upsides of covid, if we can take a glass-half-full approach for a moment, is that it unleashed a torrent of creativity online.

When we couldn’t bond in person, many tried to connect virtually in imaginative ways.

For the van Genderan family, from NSW’s Central Coast, a lockdown video featuring a makeshift supermarket in their family home to simulate a weekly shopping trip for Oma, their dementia-afflicted matriarch, went viral around the world, clocking up more than 100 million views .

The video and the family’s social media channels became a way for them to share their journey with Oma’s dementia, and Everybody’s Oma is filmmaker Jason van Genderen’s tribute to his mother and the whole family’s love and resilience.

It’s also a tribute to anyone who has a loved one with dementia, dealing with the heartbreak of watching them lose themselves as the symptoms take a firmer and firmer hold.

Shot purely on iPhones, Everybody’s Oma is at times an unflinching look at the day-to-day challenges of not just taking care of one person, but also the enormous emotional, physical and social toll taking care of Oma at home exacts takes on everyone else.

At its most moving moments, it’s not the footage of Oma that really hits, but the piece-to-camera confessions from Jason and his wife Megan. The camera – and the eventual audience – becomes a therapist or a priest, an outlet for them to express what they’re afraid to say out loud.

One specific admission from Jason is the kind of thing you would never allow yourself to think, let alone confront. There’s a lot of bravery in including it in the documentary and the fact Jason did speaks to his attempt to authenticity.

Taken out of context, the words are monstrous, but only someone incapable of empathy would judge him for how he felt. He was a man and a son exhausted and beaten down by the insidiousness of dementia.

There’s a lot of rawness in Everybody’s Oma and the iPhone footage helps to establish that intimate connection between the family and the audience. While the shots are crisp, it’s the nimbleness and largely unplanned nature of the sequences that makes you feel as if you’re part of it.

While it may seem as if all the harrowing realism of Everybody’s Oma makes this film a hard watch, it’s actually not.

There is a beating heart to this story, and it’s powered by love. That love is evident in every furrowed brow, every frustrated sight and every exasperated question of what’s next.

Everybody’s Oma is ultimately a stirring and uplifting feature because every difficult moment is testament to what humans are capable of in the name of love.

Rating: 3.5/5

Everybody’s Oma is in cinemas from Thursday, August 11

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Business

Qantas increases interval between domestic and international from 60 to 90 minutes to reduce baggage mishandling

Qantas increases interval between domestic and international from 60 to 90 minutes to reduce baggage mishandling

Qantas has announced a major change impacting passengers catching a domestic flight before jetting off overseas.

The national carrier has been looking at ways to deny issues around staff shortages which has seen the rate of mishandled bags almost doubled to nine in 1000, up from five in 1000 pre-COVID, The Australian reported.

Passengers connecting from Qantas domestic to international flights in Sydney and Melbourne will have their minimum transfer times extended from 60 minutes to 90 minutes from August 21 in a bid to avoid baggage issues.

The additional “buffer” is considered sufficient for the bags to be successfully transferred without being mishandled amid the current staffing shortage and sickness rates which are 50 per cent higher than normal.

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Customers with an existing booking where the transition between a domestic flight to an international service is less than 90 minutes will be transferred to an earlier domestic flight without charge.

Passengers who will have their flight changed under the new interval will be notified by the airline which said the “vast majority” of travelers would get a flight on the same day.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the measure was to help improve operational performance which had dipped due to the recent staff shortages.

“While there are lots of good reasons why, the simple fact is our operational performance hasn’t been up to the standard our customers are used to, or that we expect of ourselves,” Mr Joyce said.

“We are taking additional steps to get back to our best, which have been shaped by feedback from our frontline teams who are doing a phenomenal job under tough circumstances.

“Bringing our operations back to pre-COVID standard and maintaining our focus on safety is our absolute priority.”

The decision comes just days after it was reported Qantas asked senior executives and other office workers to fill in as baggage handlers amid the staff shortages.

The Australian reported on Monday that the national carrier had called on at least 100 managers and executives to opt into a short-term arrangement over the next three months.

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Sports

Wallabies forced into more changes for Argentina Test, Hunter Paisami injury, Quade Cooper, video

Wallabies forced into more changes for Argentina Test, Hunter Paisami injury, Quade Cooper, video

The Wallabies will be forced to go to the well again, with Hunter Paisami expected to be ruled out of their second Rugby Championship Test against Michael Cheika’s Los Pumas in San Juan.

It’s understood the center, who laid on the Wallabies’ bonus point win with a sublime run and offload in the final play of the game, has suffered a head knock.

His injury will see yet another backline reshuffle, with Lalakai Foketi expected to be named in the No.12 jersey. Irae Simone, who was a late call-up to the squad and will head to Clermont following the two-Test tour of Argentina, is firming for a remarkable return via the bench.

Foketi won’t be the only change either.

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The change at inside center could see the Wallabies opt for the experienced head of James O’Connor to fill the No.10 jersey following Quade Cooper’s devastating season ending injury.

Should Dave Rennie indeed turn to O’Connor, the Test shapes as a crunch one for the 32-year-old, who lost some backers following his poor second half against England in Brisbane last month. Never mind that he was under done and playing away from his preferred position and the lack of time in the saddle showed.

Part of the thinking could be that in Bledisloe III, 2020, Rennie was forced to select the uncapped duo of Noah Lolesio and Simone at 10 and 12 and their inexperience showed as the All Blacks smashed the Wallabies at the Olympic Stadium. Rolling out Lolesio, who is still growing as a player at 22, and Foketi, who will play his second Test, could leave them short of experience and leadership in the backline.

Wallabies bag late, late bonus point try | 00:43

Utility Reece Hodge, who stepped into the hot seat at No.10 early in the second half and was assured and kicked his goals, all but confirmed he wouldn’t start when he indicated on Wednesday that either O’Connor or Lolesio would start in the role.

“Rabs (O’Connor) has got his body in really good shape and he’s been training well the last month and really pushing for selection,” Hodge said.

“Whether it’s him or Noah who get the nod heading into this weekend, we’re confident that both of them are in great physical shape and both training really well, so whoever steers us around will have the full confidence of the squad.”

Meanwhile, Allan Alaalatoa’s (personal reasons) return to Australia has opened the door for Pone Fa’amausili to make his debut off the bench.

The Rebels tight-head prop has long been knocking on the door and been a part of the Wallabies’ squad since 2020.

But stuck behind Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou, who will start against Los Pumas, and plagued by injuries, the giant wrecking-ball, who was compared to the ‘Tongan Thor’ before the series by Rennie, he has been forced to bide his time and get himself into physical shape.

The potential of Fa’amausili is immense, but the weekend’s Test will be his moment of truth.

Elsewhere, Rennie could yet be swayed to return to Rory Arnold – one of Rennie’s international picks – and having been eased back into the squad following a minor injury, he could yet start.

The Test shapes as a significant one for the Wallabies.

Hunter Paisami is expected to be ruled out of their second Rugby Championship Test.
Hunter Paisami is expected to be ruled out of their second Rugby Championship Test.Source: Getty Images

If they pull off back to back wins it will leave them in great shape to give The Rugby Championship a real shake.

The rejigged format of the competition, which includes tours for the first time, will see the Wallabies have the luxury of playing three of the next four Tests on home soil, including consecutive matches against the world champion Springboks.

For the first time in years too, the All Blacks are vulnerable and down on confidence having lost three straight Tests. A fourth consecutive loss to the Springboks could force a coaching change, with Ian Foster on the chopping block.

Cheika’s Pumas will be out for revenge, however, noting their second half disaster, where they were penalized out of the game and smashed at the rolling maul, killed them.

With an inexperienced, lighter front-row to come off the bench for the Wallabies though, the Pumas have the chance to go after their opposition.

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Australia

Family lost in outback NSW drank from puddles to stay alive

Family lost in outback NSW drank from puddles to stay alive

A young family reported missing to police between Queensland and NSW on Monday have been found safe after two days of searching between three states.

Darian Aspinall, 27, her children Winter Bellamy, 2, and Koda Bellamy, 4, along with their grandmother Leah Gooding, 50, were traveling from the Noccundra Hotel in Queensland to a planned destination of Packsaddle in far west NSW on Sunday.

The children’s father Linny Bellamy told of his family’s actions to ensure they’d survive while stuck alone in the outback for two straight days.

He said they relied on roadside puddles for sustenance and used a mirror to attract the attention of a police search aircraft.

“I can’t believe they managed to stay as strong as they did,” Mr Bellamy said.

“They looked after each other and just tried to ration everything out.”

He said other than looking tired, his family seemed themselves.

The family had made plans to travel to Adelaide, where they were originally from, police were told.

Darian Apsinall went missing with her family in the NSW outback before being located by police helicopter on Tuesday. NSW Police
Camera IconDarian Apsinall went missing with her family in the NSW outback before being located by police helicopter on Tuesday. NSW Police Credit: News Corp Australia

But when the four never arrived at their planned location in NSW and were unable to be contacted, Barrier police were alerted and the investigation into their whereabouts began.

The family, who were traveling in a Hyundai Tucson, were found inside their vehicle, off track, about 4.15pm on Tuesday afternoon by helicopter.

The aircraft confirmed it was the missing family, and they were assessed by an on-board paramedic.

They were then flown to Tibooburra for further assessment and care.

“Could not feel more relief,” Mr Bellamy said in a Facebook post sharing the good news.

“My family has been found safe.”

Police officers involved extended their thanks to the community for their support and assistance.

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Sports

Roosters salary cap crisis, seven players earn half of cap, James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Angus Crichton

Roosters salary cap crisis, seven players earn half of cap, James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu, Angus Crichton

The Sydney Roosters are facing a salary cap crisis with reports $5.2 million of their salary cap is tied up in seven players with others set for contract upgrades in 2023.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield revealed the Roosters have seven players in the NRL’s 100 highest players, which could provide a problem when some rising stars gain contract upgrades in the off-season.

“We have come up with the 100 highest paid players in the competition and what it does show is the Roosters with their list are going to have some cap pressure,” Rothfield said on NRL 360.

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“In 2022 they have got Tedesco on $1.1m, Luke Keary on $850,000, Joseph Manu ($720k), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ($700k), Angus Crichton ($700k), Sio Siua Taukeiaho ($625k) and Victor Radley ( $510k) for a total of $5,205,000.

“The cap in 2021 is only $9.4 million so there is a lot of under paid players there.

“The problem for the Roosters is next year they have got to chuck Brandon Smith into that and you have also got to throw Joseph Suaalii into that who is on $700,000 next year.

“The other issue is Sam Walker is off-contract next year and as you know there aren’t many great young halves around, so he is going to have to get some serious money.”

Paul Kent questioned how the Roosters can pay the other 23 players in their squad less than half of what their seven highest paid stars earn.

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James Tedesco is one of seven Roosters stars in the top 100 highest paid NRL players.Source: Getty Images

“How do you get 23 more players in on $4.2 million?” Kent asked.

“That is a lot of money in seven players.”

Braith Anasta asked Rothfield if he believes the Roosters will have to let some of their big earners go to build a successful team for 2023.

“Are you saying that the Roosters are in some salary cap pressure and they are going to find it hard to keep everyone next year?” Anasta asked.

Rothfield spoke to Roosters boss Nick Politis about the state of the Roosters salary cap heading into 2023.

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PK: ‘The fact is players get injured!’ | 02:24

“Angus Crichton is not on that list and his contract hasn’t been registered yet for 2023, so if you put Angus Crichton in you are going up to nearly $6 million,” Rothfield said.

“I spoke to Nick Politis today and his position on the salary cap is this. Boyd Cordner was medically retired which took $720,000 out of their salary cap.

“There were some minor players they let go in Sam Verills, Ronald Volkman, Lachlan Lam, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Daniel Suluka-Fifita went to Souths.

“So they have probably lost $1.5 million with those players including Taukeiaho.

“I still think it is going to be a squeeze, without setting alarm bells for their players or fans I think there are a few that are going to have to be tapped.”

Do Panthers deserve ‘arrogant’ tag? | 03:03

However, Brent Read revealed the salary cap is set to rise by $1.5 million at least for 2023 and beyond.

“We should say the cap hasn’t been set for next year and it will go up,” Read said.

“There is a big meeting on Thursday between the NRL and the club CEO’s about the salary cap.

“I think it will go up to at least $12 million next year.”

However, Anasta believes as it stands it looks like some players will have to take pay cuts to keep the team together.

“In looking at that they can’t really be in the market for anyone,” Anasta said.

“They are unlikely to be looking for new players and a few players may have to take pay cuts if they want to stay there it would seem by the numbers.”

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Categories
Business

Amazon: Tech giant’s next big move in Australia

Amazon: Tech giant's next big move in Australia

Multinational tech company Amazon has announced a major change to its delivery services in an effort to ramp up subscription numbers.

The brand has launched free next-day delivery on hundreds of thousands of products for Sydney and Melbourne Prime members, with no minimum delivery spend needed.

The move, which was announced on Wednesday, means consumers placing their orders at midnight will receive them on their doorsteps the next day.

The shift follows the opening of Amazon’s 200,000sq m robotic fulfillment center at Kemps Creek in western Sydney that cost the company mor than $500m.

The tech giant claims the center can house more than 20 million products, including household items and gifts.

Amazon Australia country manager Janet Menzies said the faster delivery speeds were a direct result of building fulfillment centers and delivery stations close to where customers lived and worked.

“Our ability to offer customers faster delivery speeds is a direct result of our continued investment and expansion of our operations in Australia. Building fulfillment centers and delivery stations close to where our customers live and work means packages travel shorter distances, accelerating shipping speeds,” she said.

“We know that Australian customers are always looking for value through great prices and fast delivery, so we’re thrilled to be able to make Prime even more convenient with free one-day delivery.”

Australian consumers are increasingly turning to Amazon for popular tech items, with the company more than doubling its operations in 2022 since the launch of their robotic center in 2017.

Over the coming months, the company aims to expand product selection and delivery areas eligible for its free one-day delivery.

Read related topics:amazon

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Business

Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric car first drive

Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric car first drive

Like a stone worn smooth by the sand and sea, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is shaped by its environment.

Promising to exceed the claimed range of any sub-$100,000 electric car, the Ioniq’s distinctive silhouette helps it slide through the air with minimal resistance – and onto shortlists for electric car customers.

The arching silhouette of its roofline helps the Ioniq claim aerodynamic efficiency that is not only the best in its class, but among the best of any car on sale. Only the lowest-drag version of Mercedes’ EQS electric car can claim to be slipperier.

Drag coefficient data is rarely the subject of bar-room bragging.

But people will boast about an electric car with more than 600 kilometers of range, particularly one that does not rely on an enormous battery to do so.

The Ioniq 6 offers the same 77.4kWh battery and choice of rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive electric propulsion as the hatchback-shaped Ioniq 5.

While the boxy Ioniq 5 offers 481 kilometers of range, Hyundai expects the aerodynamic Ioniq 6 to claim 610 kilometers of range using the same test format.

It also expects the new car to be a sell-out success in Australia when it arrives next year.

While we don’t know exactly how much the car will cost, it’s likely to be a similar proposition to the Ioniq 5. That car is offered locally in relatively limited numbers priced from $69,900 plus on-road costs, suggesting the Ioniq 6 should start from less than $80,000 on the road. Range-topping versions will be closer to $90,000 drive-away.

We sampled the Ioniq 6 in camouflaged pre-production form at Hyundai’s Namyang proving ground in Seoul.

The banana-shaped roof is no less arresting in the metal, particularly when surrounded by conventional-shaped hatchbacks and SUVs at the Korean giant’s proving ground.

It’s much more familiar on the inside, where Hyundai’s design team has stayed in safer territory.

Though crude prototype plastics make it impossible to assess the quality of its interior, time in the back seat reveals that its slightly shorter wheelbase and dramatically swept roof result in less rear passenger room than the Ioniq 5.

Twin 12-inch screens curve across the dashboard in front of you, a familiar and effective if less-than-revolutionary combination for Hyundai fans. The brand took a note from Tesla’s book by keeping physical buttons to a minimum but dedicated climate controls are a victory for common sense.

Powered by twin electric motors with 239kW and 605Nm of combined power, the all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6 feels like it can match a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds.

Effortlessly brisk and near-silent when accelerating, the Ioniq 6 has no problem getting its power to the ground.

Special Pirelli tires developed for the new model trade ultimate cornering grip for reduced rolling resistance necessary to maximize its long-range potential.

We didn’t have the opportunity to assess the car’s cornering characteristics but a short drive on public roads showed that the Ioniq 5 is a refined machine, with a quiet motor, smoothly managed energy harvesting and well-controlled road noise.

We can’t say whether that slippery body reduces wind roar – low-speed running in a canvas-clad prototype isn’t the right test environment – ​​but can confirm the digital mirrors work well, even if your eyes need an extra moment to re -focus.

Accurate steering and well-modulated brakes work in its favour, and we suspect slightly tauter suspension than the comfort-focused Ioniq 5 delivers improved cornering control.

A full verdict will have to wait until we’ve had a chance to assess the car on local roads but early indications are that the Ioniq 6 backs up its intriguing looks with clever technology, giving electric car customers an impressive new option.

HYUNDAI IONIQ 6

PRICE About $90,000 drive away

ENGINE Twin electric, 239kW and 605Nm

RANGE About 600 kilometers

0-100km/h 5.1 seconds

FAST CHARGERS

Hyundai has built a high-performance Ioniq 6 pitched at enthusiasts. Powered by the same 430kW/740Nm motors found in Kia’s EV6 GT, the machine promises three-second 0-100km/h sprints, along with sideways fun made possible by clever torque vectoring. The Ioniq 5 is first in line to receive Hyundai’s go-fast “N” treatment, but we wouldn’t’ be surprised to see the sedan get special attention, too.

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