Westmead unit block fire forces overnight evacuation

State housing property becomes rubbish-filled health hazard

A Department of Housing property in St James, Perth's south-east, has accumulated piles of rotting rubbish in its backyard for months, creating health concerns and distressing neighbours along Albany Highway. The state-owned social housing property has been left unattended with no sign of the tenant for weeks, while more than 23,000 applicants remain on Western Australia's social housing waitlist. Neighbours have complained to the Department of Housing about the smell, rats, and public health risks, with some offering to organise a community clean-up themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Bird flu spreads; pilot dies in crash; prison proposal

Western Australia confirms three cases of H5N1 bird flu in giant petrels, with infections detected near Dunsborough and Esperance, while South Australia reports another case near Adelaide. A 76-year-old pilot has died after his home-built replica Spitfire crashed in a paddock near Northam shortly after takeoff. The WA government is considering converting the Bullsbrook quarantine centre into a low-security facility for prisoners nearing the end of their sentences, sparking concern among local residents. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Pilot dies in replica Spitfire crash near Northam

A 76-year-old pilot died when his home-built replica Spitfire aircraft crashed in a paddock near Northam, east of Perth, approximately five minutes after takeoff. The experienced pilot had spent five years building the replica aircraft, which went down just kilometres from Northam Airfield despite near-perfect flying conditions. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Bird flu outbreak spreads across Australian states

Multiple cases of H5N1 bird flu have been confirmed across Australia, with three infected birds detected in Western Australia near Esperance and Dunsborough, and another case in Port Elliot, South Australia. The affected birds are giant petrels and a brown skua, all migratory seabirds from Antarctic regions. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Savannah Guthrie's emotional plea after mother's abduction

Melbourne-born American TV host Savannah Guthrie has made an emotional on-air plea for help after reports emerged of a ransom note claiming her mother Nancy Guthrie is dead. The 84-year-old Nancy went missing from her Arizona home in January in an apparent abduction. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.