Outrage over Schumacher’s million-dollar photos

The first pictures of stricken F1 legend Michael Schumacher have been smuggled out of his home by a money-grubbing photographer.

Until now, no snaps or video footage of the seven-time world champion have emerged since his tragic skiing accident in 2013, The Sun reports.

RTL reports the pictures, which were secretly taken, show Schumacher lying in bed at his home in Geneva, Switzerland.

The ghoulish photographs have reportedly been offered to a European media outlet for close to $1 million.

German prosecutors insist the pictures violate the former Ferrari ace’s “personal range of life” and have been investigating the incident.

The first pictures of stricken F1 legend Michael Schumacher have been smuggled out of his home by a money-grubbing photographer.Source:Getty Images

Three hurt in Islamic State shooting

Three people were injured by gunfire at an Islamic centre in central Zurich on Monday, according to police.

Local media is reporting the incident occurred in a Muslim prayer hall near the city’s railway station.

“I can only confirm that there was a shooting,” a spokeswoman for Zurich police told AFP, adding a statement would be released later.

Swiss media said the three wounded people, all adults, were found in the street where the prayer hall is located.

The suspected assailant had fled the scene and police sealed off the area, local media said, adding that police had sealed off the area.

It is understood that authorities have launched a manhunt.

The 20 Minuten newspaper said a suspect was on the run after the incident near the main train station in Switzerland’s financial capital.

Three people were injured by gunfire at an Islamic centre in central Zurich on Monday.Source:AFP

Blogger’s d*ck pic revenge prompts shutdown

Ahhhh d*ck pics. One of the many terrible trends of the 21st century that need to die a miserable, miserable death.

When blogger and PR agent Wanja Lange kept receiving unwanted photos from various men, she finally got fed up and decided to take revenge.

So she shared the content of her inbox with her 35,600 followers on Instagram, posting blackened out pictures of the explicit shots they sent her.

Lange told the Sun Online: “I felt violated and disrespected. It’s a violation of my personal space.

“It’s an act that is no different from other sexual harassment or assault and I believe that it gives the abuser the same kind of “kick”.

“It wasn’t even a question for me where I should share it or not. Anyone who sends me an unsolicited d*ck pic these days will be exposed.”

Unfortunately, Instagram wasn’t too thrilled with her move and shut down her whole account in response.

Some said Lange should have reported him, rather than “publicly shame” him, but the blogger claims she made numerous attempts to do so to no avail.

Lange has since had her account reinstated, but hopes the incident puts anyone off posting unsolicited nude photos to her inbox.

She said: “As a woman you learn to dodge unwanted advances from a young age on and even become kind of numb to it.

“Society acts as if men were animals who have no control over themselves, their actions and erections.”

Lange hopes men will now think twice before sending her unsolicited nude shots.Source:Instagram

Seven CEO’s alleged affair with presenter

Channel 7 boss Tim Worner has expressed his “deepest regret and shame” over his affair with former staffer Amber Harrison, as new allegations emerge of him having affairs with four other workmates.

Ms Harrison named the women — including a high-profile actress and a presenter — in a complaint against Seven to the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Herald Sun reports.

Seven’s market value plummeted by $98 million yesterday in the wake of the sex scandal, in which Ms Harrison revealed explicit texts she alleges were sent during an affair with the network’s chief executive.

Seven West Media is standing by Mr Worner in response to the allegations, which it says contain “wideranging inaccuracies and false statements”.

— Liz Burke and Charlotte Willis

Read the full story here.

Chief Executive Officer of Seven West Media Tim Worner has admitted to an affair after being exposed by a former employee.Source:News Corp Australia

Government hopes no Australians hurt in Berlin

The federal government is hoping no Australian travellers were hurt when a truck ploughed into a crowded market in Berlin.

“It is not a very happy morning with these terrible events in Berlin,” Treasurer Scott Morrison told Nine Network. “We are thinking of those families in Berlin and hope that no Australians are affected.”

Some nine people died and up to 50 were injured when the truck careered into a Christmas market in what German authorities are describing as a deliberate “attack”.

Mr Morrison said the attack was a horrible reminder, especially at Christmas which is supposed to be full of joy, of the evil that’s out there in the world.

“I think it’s an important thing to do as we go into this Christmas break to count our blessings,” he told reporters.

“This is a wonderful country and we thank God for it.”

China rejects ‘stolen drone’ claim

China has rejected US President-elect Donald Trump’s claim that it had “stolen” an American research drone, as state media said his diplomatic inexperience could spark a confrontation between the two nations.

Beijing’s seizure of the marine probe in international waters in the South China Sea raised already-heightened tensions between the world’s two largest military powers.

On Sunday, after Beijing and Washington announced the drone would be returned, Trump tweeted: “We should tell China that we don’t want the drone they stole back. - let them keep it!”

Trump’s accusation that China had stolen the drone was “not accurate”, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

“Imagine that you found something on the street - you would need to first check and verify it before handing it back to someone else,” she told a regular press conference.

Hua said the two sides “are in smooth communication through military channels, and we believe the incident will be properly handled”. She gave no further details.

China has rejected US President-elect Donald Trump’s claim that it had “stolen” an American research drone.Source:AP

Man blows up ATM at Adelaide shopping centre

A man has blown up an ATM at an Adelaide shopping centre in the middle of the night.

Smoke was seen coming from the Newton Shopping Centre about 3.15am on Tuesday, after a man on a scooter or small motorcycle smashed glass to enter the mall and blew up the Bendigo Bank ATM, police say.

The suspect, who was wearing a full face helmet, may have obtained cash from the machine before fleeing but it is not yet known how much.

— AAP

Australia avoids rating downgrade

Australia managed to avoid a feared downgrade of its coveted AAA credit rating yesterday.

The country’s resources-driven economy has enjoyed more than 20 years of growth but it is now transitioning out of an unprecedented mining investment boom, and the going has been bumpy with revenues under pressure.

In a mid-year fiscal update, the government revised down the nation’s cash deficit of $37.1 billion in 2016-17 — as announced in the May budget — to $36.5 million.

But it forecast widening deficits in the next three years before a return to surplus.

“The government’s plan to restore the budget to balance remains on track,” Treasurer Scott Morrison said in a statement.

The government is sticking to its ambition of returning the budget to surplus in 2020-21 despite softer growth forecasts.Source:AAP

Teen’s body found in NSW river

The body of a drowned teenager has been found following a five-hour search in waters on the outskirts of Dubbo.

Police and ambulance officers were called to Bunglegumbi Road just before 3pm yesterday after receiving word a 16-year-old swimmer had submerged under the water and failed to resurface.

Police said the body of the teenage boy was found at about 8.15pm.

It’s understood friends and family were involved in the search for the boy.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

— AAP

The body of a drowned teenager was found in Macquarie River, Dubbo, following a five-hour search.Source:News Corp Australia

Truck drives through Berlin Christmas market

A large truck has ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in Germany’s capital, local media has reported.

At least nine people are dead, with reports of multiple injuries.

Police have confirmed the deaths and the toll is expected to rise. Many people have been left injured following the attack, which police suspect may have been motivated by terror.

The truck ploughed into the Berlin market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church in the city’s west on Monday evening.

We’ll have rolling updates on this here.

Codeine products to require script

Painkillers containing codeine will require a script from 2018.

The Australian reports the Therapeutic Goods Administration is likely to press ahead with its plan to upschedule codeine products.

Painkillers such as Nurofen Plus and Panadeine are currently available over the counter at pharmacies.

The TGA will likely announce its decision before Christmas.

Painkillers containing codeine, like Nurofen Plus, will require a script from 2018.Source:AAP

PM to sign submarine agreement

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is set to sign an inter-governmental agreement with France’s defence minister for Australia’s $50 billion submarine building project.

Jean-Yves Le Drian and Mr Turnbull are expected to meet in Adelaide today to complete the formal paperwork.

Mr Le Drian had talks yesterday with his ministerial counterpart Marise Payne. The pair were keen to emphasise security of information would be a top priority for both countries, following the leak of data from French shipbuilder DCNS.

The 12 new submarines DCNS is designing will be constructed in Adelaide, with the first set to enter service in the early 2030s.

Work is set to start in Adelaide in 2022. DCNS estimates the project will sustain 2900 jobs, including 600 in the supply chain.

Malcolm Turnbull is set to sign a $50 billion submarine building agreement.Source:AAP

Electors cast vote to finalise presidency

President-elect Donald Trump is poised to seal his victory, despite the fierce attempts of opposition groups to persuade Electoral College voters to snub him.

Mr Trump is likely to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

The electoral college process — usually just a formality — takes on fresh significance this year amid allegations of Russian influence in the election and Hillary Clinton’s large lead in the popular vote.

Protesters are rallying at state capitols around America against Mr Trump’s expected victory, but whether it’s to any avail is yet to be seen.

Mr Trump has addressed the protests, tweeting: “If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned called terrible names!”

Protesters hold signs outside the Georgia capitol building as electors cast their vote.Source:AP

Russian ambassador shot dead in Turkey

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov has been shot in a gun attack while visiting an art exhibition opening in the capital Ankara, television reports said.

Karlov was several minutes into a speech when gunman Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, 22, a police officer from the Ankara police special forces department, shouted “Allahu Akbar” and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer who was present.

A video showed Altıntaş shouting: “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!”

As screams rang out, he could then be seen pacing about and shouting as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Initial reports said Karlov was badly hurt but Russian RIA news agency has since reported that he has died of his wounds.

Read the full story here.

Gunman Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş fired eight shots while shouting “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!”.Source:AP