Ex-journalist elected Australia's new Deputy PM
Canberra: Michael McCormack, a former regional newspaper editor, was elected as Australia's new Deputy Prime Minister on Monday.
He replaces Barnaby Joyce as leader of the Nationals, the governing coalition's junior partner.
Joyce stepped down on Friday following questions over his relationship with media adviser Vikki Campion, and an allegation of sexual harassment by another woman. He called the latter's complaint "spurious and defamatory".
As leader of the Nationals, McCormack automatically becomes deputy to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull - who heads the Liberal Party.
McCormack said Joyce had been an "outstanding leader".
"His service to our party and to our nation will never be diminished. His legacy will endure," he told the media.
McCormack had attracted criticism over a controversial editorial he wrote 25 years ago as editor of the Daily Advertiser, a small newspaper based in the town of Wagga Wagga, in which he described homosexuality as "sordid".
"Unfortunately gays are here and, if the disease their unnatural acts helped spread doesn't wipe out humanity, they're here to stay," he wrote in 1993.
McCormack has since apologised for the piece and said his views have changed.
Although long opposed to same-sex marriage, he voted in line with the majority of his constituents to support its legalisation in Australia last year.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
GESCOM officials booked after woman injured by live wire in Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Dec 24: A case has been registered against the officials of GESCOM and the City Corporation after a 34-year-old woman sustained injuries when an overhead live wire snapped and fell on her in the district headquarters town of Kalaburagi, police said on Tuesday.
The woman, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital, sustained severe injuries to her hands, legs, and stomach and is reported to be in serious condition, they said.
"On the complaint of the victim's family, we have registered a case of negligence against the officials of GESCOM (Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited) and Kalaburagi City Corporation, and the matter is being investigated," a senior police officer said.
ALSO READ; Woman sustains burns after live electric wire falls on her in Kalaburagi
According to the police, on Monday, the electric wire fell on a school bus carrying intellectually disabled children and then landed on the woman. The bus, which was carrying 14 children, was stationed near Old Jewargi Cross to pick up children when the wire fell on the vehicle.
Unaware of the situation, the woman boarded the school vehicle with her son and sustained severe burn injuries as she was in contact with the ground while holding onto the bus to climb into it. However, all the children on the bus were safe, police said.
