An Australian tourist has made international headlines and was labeled a “barbarian” after he was arrested for riding through a UNESCO world heritage site in Italy.
The male tourist, aged 33, was charged with “unauthorized access” by police after he drove a moped for almost two kilometers through the ancient ruins of Pompeii in the country’s south.
Italian police allege the Aussie man rode through the world-famous archaeological park via a service gate following the entry of cars from construction companies.
An Australian tourist was captured on CCTV scooting through Pompeii. Supplied Credit: NCA NewsWire
Security and guards apprehended the man before any damage was done to the 2000 year old site following a series of CCTV footage.
“The route taken is a dirt road outside the ancient city walls, used by site vehicles for excavation works,” the park said in a statement.
“It is safe, restored, and not accessible to the public. So there was no danger for either visitors or for the archaeological heritage at any point.”
The man claimed he was unaware he drove through the ancient site – which was destroyed in 79AD following a volcanic eruption.
The UNESCO world heritage site does not allow tourist vehicles to drive through.
No parts of the ancient city were accessed or damaged by the tourist, however Italian media has slammed the man, labeling him as a “barbarian”.
Port Hedland has officially snatched the crown from Kalgoorlie-Boulder, being voted in as WA’s Sh**test Town.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder has won the past three years, however Port Hedland won the dubious award for a single point this year, taking their debut title for the WA division.
In a brutal statement from the Sh**test Town of Australia organisers, the Port Hedland is described as a “derelict minerals discharge hole”, painting images of a mate in a sandpit after a big night, spitting out whatever comes.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.
“The iron anus owes its name to its turd-brown eyesore of a port… and its inhabitants’ inability to spell,” the statement read.
“Cattle and sheep farming was once a major industry for the town, but this ended when the animals all withered to a crisp. The only fauna able to survive Port Deadland’s intense heat are creatures like red-necked stints, red-necked avocets and red-necked people.”
The locals call their home the sunniest place in Australia — a great feat — however they sadly forgot to coat the surroundings in Banana Boat.
This has resulted in the landscape being deep-fried and sun-dried to a dusty brown colour, not unlike the inside of a plumbing pipe.
The engineers were focused on other things that day because the road layout is reminiscent of a circular maze; going in circles but never really arriving anywhere.
And when cyclone season hits, the spectacular drainage system clogs in record time, allowing roads to flood superbly and locking everyone inside.
Port Hedland port Credit: james lauritz/supplied by Port Hedland Port Au
Currently the town is best known as an iron-ore hub and a spawning point for FIFO workers.
“Popular pastimes include racing wheelbarrows, smashing people’s solar panels and being hospitalized with a respiratory infection caused by iron ore dust,” STOA added.
Later this year Port Hedland will represent WA for a chance to win the national trophy.
In third place for WA came Fitzroy Crossing, followed by Armadale, Rockingham and Geraldton.
Qantas has responded to an announcement that more than 700 aircraft engineers from Qantas and Jetstar are planning to stop work for “one-minute” in August.
The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers’ Association(ALAEA) federal secretary Steve Purvinas told members in a meeting on Wednesday the majority had voted in favor of industrial action.
Airline engineers are asking their employer for a 12 per cent pay rise to make up for stagnant wages the last four years.
The union’s first action will be a one-minute stoppage across all airlines sometime in late August.
Qantas engineering executive manager Scott McConnell has said the airline is “disappointed” in the union’s decision to strike and is putting contingency plans in place to deal with disruptions.
Airline engineers from Qantas and Jetstar will stop work for one-minute in August. NCA NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
“It’s extremely disappointing the union has taken this step towards industrial action,” Mr McConnell said.
“The union has repeatedly said that any industrial action won’t impact customers’ travel plans and, while we hope they stick to their word, we’re also putting in place contingency plans in case they don’t.
“The entire aviation sector is still recovering from the impact of Covid, and the threat of industrial action is the last thing travelers need.”
“The first action will be a token one,” Mr Purvinas told members.
“A one-minute stoppage of course is not going to harm any airline and also demonstrates our willingness to negotiate in good faith and not try and harm the airline.”
Airports across the country have reported massive queues, flight cancellations and missing luggage. NCA NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
Mr Purvinas said the token stoppage aimed to give the airlines an opportunity to come to the table.
“We do want to give some time for resolution of these matters before we have to do anything that may even be close to disrupting the public,” he said.
The strikes come at a difficult time for Australia’s national flag carrier, as the aviation industry struggles with staff shortages that have led to flight cancellations, delays and missing luggage.
If the stoppage does not motivate negotiations, the union plans to notify the airline of more work stoppages.
During these stoppages, the union has offered to provide “alternative labor provisions” to the airline.
ALAEA federal secretary Steve Purvinas says the stoppage isn’t designed to ‘harm’ travellers. Ray Strange Credit: News Corp Australia
“We want to assure the public that we won’t be harming their services,” Mr Purvinas said.
“Our target is the airlines who are not negotiating in good faith.”
ALAEA members voted against using overtime bans to avoid “exacerbating” already challenging conditions in the industry.
A Qantas spokesman told the NCA NewsWire in July that the 12 per cent pay rise was something the airline “simply can’t afford”.
They said Qantas had a policy of 2 per cent annual increases for all employees across the Group.
The airline has a history of not holding back when it comes to dealing with union industrial action.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce infamously grounded the airline during a dispute with the ALAEA and two other unions back in 2011, leaving 200,000 passengers stranded without notice.
Police have charged a man over the terrifying rape of a woman as she was out on her morning jog in Broome.
The woman, aged in her 40s, was running on a track alongside Gubinge Road, between Jigal Drive and Sayonara Road, when she was approached by a man walking in the opposite direction on Friday.
Police allege that as the pair crossed paths, the man grabbed the victim and sexually assaulted her.
The woman fought him off and screamed for help. Several members of the community came to her aid from her, and police say the alleged rapist threatened those who had come to help.
“There was no physical altercation, but the man made verbal threats to the members of the public who tried to intervene before he ran away,” Det-Sen. Sgt Brian Beck said last week.
Police have charged a man over the terrifying rape of a woman as she was out on her morning jog in Broome. Credit: Broome Advertiser/Jane Murphy
Police on Sunday revealed Broome Detectives had executed a search warrant at a hotel at Cable Beach on Saturday and arrested a 52-year-old man — who is from Midland — who was staying there.
The accused has been charged with three counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent.
He is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday.
A man forced his way into three homes in the South Kalgoorlie-Boulder area early on Monday morning and sexually assaulted a woman at each house, police have revealed.
Police on Monday said between 1am and 3.30am a male offender forced entry into three homes before sexually assaulting the female occupant, and attempted to gain entry into a fourth home.
Superintendent Steve Thompson said as a result of police inquiries they arrested a 31-year-old man shortly before 7am on Monday.
The man was in custody and assisting police with the investigation.
It wasn’t a matter of an open door, there was force used.
“Our thoughts are with the victims of these incidents, which would have been a significant and traumatic event, and they’ve been provided with a medical and support that is appropriate,” Supt Thompson said.
Supt Thompson said the victims were aged between 30 and 70, with two of the women the only occupants of the houses at the time of the attacks but there was another occupant present during the incident in the third home.
He said entry was forced to the premises at these locations.
“It wasn’t a matter of an open door, there was force used,” he said.
Supt Thompson said Kalgoorlie detectives had launched a major investigation and were supported by resources from Kalgoorlie Police Station, the District Forensic Office and the Intelligence Office.
“We’ve asked some members from our Crime Scene Unit, and also members from the Sexual Assault Squad to come in and assist with the investigation. It’s obviously a large investigation we have a number of crime scenes that need to be processed, so we’ve asked for additional support,” Supt Thompson said.
He said it was still early in the investigation, and he could not provide details on any charges that may or may not be laid.
“We all come together, when it’s significant crimes such as this, we throw all available resources and we use all our capabilities. And it’s very pleasing for me that within a matter of hours we were able to make an arrest,” Supt Thompson said.
“We’re fortunate to live in this State that incidents such as this . . . are very rare. And when they do occur, they are our highest priority and we throw all our resources at the investigation.”
Supt Thompson urged anyone with information regarding the offenses that occurred or noticed any suspicious behavior between 1am and 3.30am to contact Kalgoorlie Detectives, or Crime Stoppers online or at 1300 333 000.
