Wednesday's headlines

15 Jan 2014

Australian entertainer Rolf Harris has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of sexual assault in a London court. In other news, a student has opened fire in a middle school in Roswell, New Mexico.

Harris pleads not guilty

Australian entertainer Rolf Harris has pleaded not guilty to sex offences dating back to the 1960s. Harris appeared in court on Tuesday ahead of his scheduled trial in April. The court heard Harris is accused of 12 separate counts of sexual assault, allegedly involving four victims. Read more on Sky News.

Man’s body found on Cairns street

The body of a man found lying on a CBD street in Cairns was most likely there for almost a week before being noticed by a passer-by. Police and scientific officers swarmed the island in the middle of the street but don’t believe there are any suspicious circumstances. Read more.

Death toll from Philippine floods and landslides

The Philippines government says 22 people have been killed from floods and landslides in the southern region over the weekend, with nearly 200,000 people evacuated. Major rivers overflowed as torrential rain hit the eastern section of Mindanao island. Many of the victims were still struggling to rebuild after Typhoon Bopha struck the region in December 2012. ABC News has more.

Indonesian volcano erupts

Mount Sinabung has erupted in Indonesia, spewing lava and ash clouds, and forcing 26,000 people to flee their homes. The volcano has erupted more than 30 times, sending ash five kilometres into the air and spreading hot clouds over a 4.5 kilometre radius. Mount Sinabung had been dormant for around 400 years before it erupted in 2010 and again in September 2013. News.com.au has the story.

Student opens fire in middle school

A student has opened fire in a middle school in Roswell, New Mexico, leaving two teenagers in a critical condition. A 14-year-old and 13-year-old were airlifted to hospital and another may be injured. The shooting took place just before classes started. Read more.