Latest news with #Gallant
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
The parched part of Victoria where even football fields are ground down by drought
The meagre grass cover at the ground was only possible thanks to water supplied from a nearby property when the club was trying to resow the ground. Nearby dairy farmer Josh Parsons pumped water from his dam to the football ground in March. But with the water level now dropping below halfway, Parsons said he was no longer able to continue providing water. 'If it doesn't fill this winter, I've got to get through all next summer as well,' he said. Parsons, who milks 300 cows and has 600 acres of land, said last autumn was terrible, and this one had been worse. He said he began the summer with enough fodder that would usually last well over 1½ years. But without rain, Parsons said that would be gone by late August. Although winter typically brings reliable rain in south-west Victoria, the region is now into its second year of prolonged dry weather. Colac has had its lowest rainfall on record for an 18-month period ending in April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Colac's water storages are now down to about 50 per cent. In the 25 months since April 2023, the coastline from Warrnambool to Cape Otway has had its lowest rainfall on record. Monash University climate scientist Ailie Gallant said heavy rain events were now required to break the drought. 'Unfortunately, at the moment there's no indication they're on the horizon,' she said. Gallant said storms, particularly in south-west Victoria, had been less frequent or dropping smaller quantities of rain than usual. The regions from Adelaide through to south-western Victoria were the areas hit the hardest by drought, she said. Loading 'For a drought to go on this long and have these consistently low monthly rainfalls – that's a big deal. It's not good,' she said. Gallant said while south-west Victoria might still be receiving higher rainfall totals than other typically dry regions, it was still causing widespread social problems and undermining agriculture in drought-affected areas. 'Drought is all relative to the location,' she said. 'It's not going to be as dry necessarily as Mildura. But the point is that the south-west area is used to higher rainfall.' The Victorian government has faced a fierce backlash from farmers after it sought to introduce a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, to replace the Fire Services Property Levy, under which property owners pay to help fund the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria. From July the new levy will fund all emergency services. But farmers had railed against the government's plans after many faced levy increases of up to 150 per cent. On Friday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced a one-year pause on the contentious tax hike for farmers. The government also announced extended drought relief measures after weeks of political pressure. In a statement, the government said that rainfall in May reached the worst-case scenario projected at the beginning of the month. It committed an additional $37.7 million in drought funding, providing $5000 in grants to provide support on farms. That figure will rise to $10,000 for farmers in south-west Victoria and parts of the Wimmera, where the drought has hit particularly hard. The government said the conditions had left paddocks and dams dry while fodder prices had doubled. In May, the government agreed to allow farmers in 24 drought-affected areas to pay a reduced emergency services levy. On Friday, it extended that to all primary producers for the 2025-26 year. Allan said the drought was affecting farmers across the state. 'There will be people going to the wall. Some really tough decisions are being made right now.' Dairy farmer Matt Reid 'It's why we're expanding support statewide,' she said. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking welcomed the increased funding but called for the new levy to be scrapped. Councils will have to collect the levy, and many have pushed back against the increased payments. Last week, the Baw Baw and Loddon shire councils voted to oppose the tax, urging the state government to back down. Loading Matt Reid, a dairy farmer and the Western Eagles' vice president, said the news that farmers would not pay the increased levy for a year would come as a relief. But he said farmers were still hurting, with long waits at abattoirs as producers sought to offload stock because they could not afford feed and water. He described the drought as a 'shake-out event' and some farmers would be forced to leave the land. 'There will be people going to the wall,' he said. 'Some really tough decisions are being made right now.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Age
The parched part of Victoria where even football fields are ground down by drought
The meagre grass cover at the ground was only possible thanks to water supplied from a nearby property when the club was trying to resow the ground. Nearby dairy farmer Josh Parsons pumped water from his dam to the football ground in March. But with the water level now dropping below halfway, Parsons said he was no longer able to continue providing water. 'If it doesn't fill this winter, I've got to get through all next summer as well,' he said. Parsons, who milks 300 cows and has 600 acres of land, said last autumn was terrible, and this one had been worse. He said he began the summer with enough fodder that would usually last well over 1½ years. But without rain, Parsons said that would be gone by late August. Although winter typically brings reliable rain in south-west Victoria, the region is now into its second year of prolonged dry weather. Colac has had its lowest rainfall on record for an 18-month period ending in April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Colac's water storages are now down to about 50 per cent. In the 25 months since April 2023, the coastline from Warrnambool to Cape Otway has had its lowest rainfall on record. Monash University climate scientist Ailie Gallant said heavy rain events were now required to break the drought. 'Unfortunately, at the moment there's no indication they're on the horizon,' she said. Gallant said storms, particularly in south-west Victoria, had been less frequent or dropping smaller quantities of rain than usual. The regions from Adelaide through to south-western Victoria were the areas hit the hardest by drought, she said. Loading 'For a drought to go on this long and have these consistently low monthly rainfalls – that's a big deal. It's not good,' she said. Gallant said while south-west Victoria might still be receiving higher rainfall totals than other typically dry regions, it was still causing widespread social problems and undermining agriculture in drought-affected areas. 'Drought is all relative to the location,' she said. 'It's not going to be as dry necessarily as Mildura. But the point is that the south-west area is used to higher rainfall.' The Victorian government has faced a fierce backlash from farmers after it sought to introduce a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, to replace the Fire Services Property Levy, under which property owners pay to help fund the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria. From July the new levy will fund all emergency services. But farmers had railed against the government's plans after many faced levy increases of up to 150 per cent. On Friday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced a one-year pause on the contentious tax hike for farmers. The government also announced extended drought relief measures after weeks of political pressure. In a statement, the government said that rainfall in May reached the worst-case scenario projected at the beginning of the month. It committed an additional $37.7 million in drought funding, providing $5000 in grants to provide support on farms. That figure will rise to $10,000 for farmers in south-west Victoria and parts of the Wimmera, where the drought has hit particularly hard. The government said the conditions had left paddocks and dams dry while fodder prices had doubled. In May, the government agreed to allow farmers in 24 drought-affected areas to pay a reduced emergency services levy. On Friday, it extended that to all primary producers for the 2025-26 year. Allan said the drought was affecting farmers across the state. 'There will be people going to the wall. Some really tough decisions are being made right now.' Dairy farmer Matt Reid 'It's why we're expanding support statewide,' she said. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking welcomed the increased funding but called for the new levy to be scrapped. Councils will have to collect the levy, and many have pushed back against the increased payments. Last week, the Baw Baw and Loddon shire councils voted to oppose the tax, urging the state government to back down. Loading Matt Reid, a dairy farmer and the Western Eagles' vice president, said the news that farmers would not pay the increased levy for a year would come as a relief. But he said farmers were still hurting, with long waits at abattoirs as producers sought to offload stock because they could not afford feed and water. He described the drought as a 'shake-out event' and some farmers would be forced to leave the land. 'There will be people going to the wall,' he said. 'Some really tough decisions are being made right now.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
No joke: A white pigeon walked into a Mass. fire dept., setting off a hunt for its owner
A pigeon walks into the Ashby Fire Department. It's not a Central Massachusetts-themed one-liner, but the beginning of a quest to reunite a lost bird with its owner. An animal control officer was called upon to track down the owner of a domesticated white pigeon that walked into the fire station in the small town north of Fitchburg on Wednesday. The bird did not seem afraid of humans and remained at the station, resting on a firetruck, until firefighters corralled it into a workout room and called town Animal Control Officer Victoria Gallant, the Ashby Police Department said. 'When I got there, he was just walking around while one of the firefighters was exercising on a bike machine,' Gallant told MassLive on Friday. After posting about the lost animal on social media and calling a phone number found on a tag on the bird's leg, Gallant received a call Thursday from the pigeon's owner, according to the department. The firefighters had been calling the bird 'Pete,' the name written on the band around its leg, Gallant said. 'That's actually the owner's name,' she said with a laugh. The man, from Ashburnham, said the bird and two similar white pigeons he owns had been scared off by a hawk. 'I think this is Ashby's first ever case of a missing bird being reunited with its owner,' Ashby Police Chief Derek Pepple said in a statement Friday, commending Gallant. A search continues for the other birds. Ashby Police asked anyone who has spotted them to call the department at 978-386-5652. Karen Read retrial: Biggest takeaways from week 6 as prosecution rests its case Here's where to see fireworks this weekend in Massachusetts Downtown Boston zoning changes could allow buildings up to 700 feet tall Man convicted of attempted kidnapping and rape on Massachusetts rail trail New poll shows who Dems want in 2028 — and it's not Kamala Harris Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Retired P.E.I. Catholic priest facing historical sex-related charges
A retired Roman Catholic priest on Prince Edward Island is facing sex-related charges that go back to the late 1980s. RCMP began an investigation that led to charges being laid against Rev. Brendon Earl Gallant, 79, after the alleged victim came forward two years ago. He made his first appearance in provincial court in Georgetown on May 22. Proceedings were adjourned to give him time to get a lawyer. None of the allegations have been proven in court and Gallant has not yet entered any pleas. The charges filed in Kings County include sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching, and cite a single victim who was under the age of 14 at the time of the alleged offences. The location cited in the documents was St. Margaret's, one of the many communities Gallant served over his time in the priesthood. Diocese posts statement "The Diocese of Charlottetown has learned that a retired priest made an appearance in court recently where he faced charges related to sexual offences involving a minor," the diocese wrote in a statement posted to its website. "We can confirm the priest is not in active ministry. We invite prayers for all affected by this news. We are committed to ensuring our churches are safe environments." Gallant also served as a priest at Catholic churches in Cardigan, Little Pond, St. Georges, Georgetown, Souris, Charlottetown, Glenwood, Brae, Alberton, Bloomfield, Foxley River, St. Charles and Burton before retiring after his last posting in Tignish in 2018. The list is long because some Catholic priests on P.E.I. are responsible for multiple smaller communities at the same time, driving among them for weekend Mass and other services. In an email correspondence with CBC News, the chancellor of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Fr. Chris Sherren, said they learned about the charges the day before Gallant's first appearance. However, he said the diocese had been aware Gallant might be under investigation. "We knew it involved potential sexual misconduct, so we immediately removed him from active ministry as a precaution while we waited to see what would happen with the investigation," Sherren wrote. Sherren also confirmed Gallant was a priest in Kings County during the time frame covered by the allegations. The chancellor said the specific allegations were a surprise to him. In the statement posted to the diocese website, officials said the organization has a safe environment policy and anyone who wishes to report misconduct by a member of the clergy, lay staff or volunteer should call the diocese office or report directly to police. No other known victims In response to a request from CBC News, the P.E.I. RCMP issued a news release late Friday afternoon. "Any time there is a crime of this nature, there is always the concern that there are other victims. At this stage, we have no information showing other incidents," Cpl. Gavin Moore said in the release. "A sexual assault complaint can be made at any time, and there is no statute of limitations as to how far back the assault happened."
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
2025 Champions League Final: Can PSG finally break through against Inter?
PSG's new strategy of signing young players to replace established superstars has proven successful this season. Inter Milan will be looking to atone for their loss to Manchester City in the 2023 decider.ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Israel says it plans to build 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that includes formally recognising a number of unauthorised outposts already constructed without Israeli government approval. The Israeli anti-settlement organisation Peace Now reports that the plan involves legalising 12 existing outposts, constructing nine new settlements, and designating a neighbourhood within an existing settlement as an independent settlement. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the new settlement initiative "reinforces our sovereignty over Judea and Samaria," using Israel's biblical reference for the West Bank. He described the decision as a strategic measure to "solidify our historical rights" and as a "firm response to Palestinian terrorism." Gallant further claimed that settlement expansion helps block the formation of a Palestinian state, which he said would pose a security threat to Israel. Peace Now criticised the move as the most sweeping since the 1993 Oslo Accords, which had laid the groundwork for a now-stalled peace process. The group warned that the decision would reshape the landscape of the West Bank and deepen the Israeli occupation. The West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem - territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War - are central to Palestinian aspirations for statehood. Approximately three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, under a system of Israeli military control and limited Palestinian Authority governance. Peace Now accused the Israeli government of abandoning any pretence of pursuing a two-state solution. "The government is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace," the group stated. The West Bank currently hosts over 500,000 Israeli settlers living in more than 100 settlements, ranging from modest outposts to large towns with modern infrastructure. Most of the international community view Israeli settlements there as illegal and an obstacle to resolving the decades-old conflict. Despite this, Israel has accelerated settlement construction in recent years and has, since the outbreak of war in Gaza, escalated house demolitions and land seizures in the territory, forcing many Palestinians families to evacuate. Expansion has steadily limited Palestinian mobility and access to land, making the viability of a future Palestinian state increasingly unlikely. Under President Donald Trump, US policy shifted sharply in support of Israeli claims over occupied territories, including steps to legitimise settlements. Although President Joe Biden had voiced opposition to settlement growth, his administration refrained from applying significant pressure on Israel to stop the practice. The top United Nations court ruled last year that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on it to end, and for settlement construction to stop immediately. Israel denounced the non-binding opinion by a 15-judge panel of the International Court of Justice, saying the territories are part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people.
