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Search under way after passenger ‘jumps overboard cruise ship’

Authorities are searching for a passenger who apparently jumped overboard a cruise ship bound for Sydney.

Carnival Splendor, a cruise ship owned by Carnival Cruise Lines, reported a male passenger had fallen around 30km north-east of Moreton Island, Queensland last night.

A Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson said family of the passenger notified the crew, who subsequently told authorities.

WATCH: Patrons flee as machete attack at restaurant leaves teen in hospital

Carnival Splendor sails in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.

"Carnival confirmed on Saturday that Carnival Splendor was assisting authorities search for a guest who apparently climbed over the safety railing and jumped overboard as the ship was sailing from Moreton Island towards Sydney overnight," the spokesperson said.

"A review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guest's action."

The spokesperson added the company would continue to assist authorities once the ship docks in Sydney tomorrow.

"Carnival's Care Team is supporting the guest's family and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one," the spokesperson said.

LIVE UPDATES: Albanese reveals how Australia could help secure Strait of Hormuz

A search and rescue effort is now underway, being led by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

"[AMSA] has tasked its Cairns and Melbourne-based Challenger jets, five rescue helicopters from around the metropolitan Brisbane area, and six surface vessels into the area, with Queensland Police assisting AMSA with the operation," an AMSA spokesperson said in a statement.

Carnival Splendor sails in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific region, according to Carnival Australia's website.

It is 952 feet (290m) long, and can hold over 3000 passengers and 1150 crew onboard.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

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Diners flee as machete attack at restaurant leaves teen in hospital

Patrons at a Melbourne restaurant ran away in panic after a masked group attacked a gathering with machetes last night, leaving a teenager in hospital.

It's believed about 12 people were seated outside a business at Eaton Mall when a large group of unknown offenders wearing balaclavas approached at about 7.45pm.

At least two of the masked group pulled out machetes and attacked an 18-year-old Malvern East man.

READ MORE: Trump and Iranian foreign minister say Strait of Hormuz is fully open

Several masked individuals approahced a table, before attacking a teenager.One of the masked people was seen wielding a machete.

The attack was caught on multiple CCTV cameras nearby, as well as on phone footage taken by bystanders.

One CCTV shows patrons at surrounding tables either fleeing in fear after the attack began, or hiding underneath tables.

The 18-year-old was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 16-year-old boy was also attacked but was physically uninjured.

The attackers fled on foot and no arrests have been made.

LIVE UPDATES: PM says Australia 'stands ready' after Macron, Starmer pledge security mission

Patrons from surrounding restaurants were seen either fleeing in panic or hiding under tables after the attack began.

Despite the offenders not yet being identified, police believe it was a targeted incident between parties known to one another.

Police said they would conduct proactive patrols in the area.

Any witnesses or anybody with relevant information or footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers online or on 1800 333 000.

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US Navy denies food shortages after grim photos emerge from blockade ships

The US Navy has denied reports of food shortages on board two major vessels participating in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Yesterday USA Today reported crew aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli were not getting enough to eat.

One photo taken by a Marine showed a mostly empty lunch tray with a single scoop of shredded meat and one tortilla.

READ MORE: Trump said he appointed counterterrorism official because his wife died

One meal consisted of ground meat and a single tortilla.

Another showed a meal of a handful of boiled carrots, a meat patty and another piece of processed meat.

Neither would be considered enough to satisfy an average person's appetite.

But the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations has issued a statement denying the reports.

"Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality aboard our deployed ships are false," the statement read.

"The US Navy possesses an unmatched logistics capability to sustain operations at sea, and routine menu adjustments are simply how we optimise our endurance to keep our warships in the fight."

Parcels from family members, including food and other supplies, have also not been delivered.

But the Navy announced this morning they had lifted the hold on mail.

"Regarding mail and personal packages, a temporary hold on sending mail into theatre, due to combat operations, has been lifted," the statement read.

"Our logistical network is highly adaptable, and we remain committed to supporting our warfighters as they execute Operation Epic Fury."

READ MORE: Trump calls presenter 'least attractive', demands she be taken off TV

Another meal was a ground meat patty, an unidentified piece of meat and some sliced carrots.

Democratic congressman Mike Levin expressed his anger in a post on Bluesky.

"This is completely unacceptable and Congress must investigate," Levin said.

 "Service members aboard the USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln are rationing food and going without fresh produce."

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth described the reports as "more fake news from the Pharisee Press".

"My team confirmed the logistics stats for the Lincoln & Tripoli. Both have 30+ days of Class I supplies (food) on board," he said.

"Our sailors deserve — and receive — the best."

READ MORE: Pentagon lashes reporting of Pete Hegseth's Pulp Fiction Bible verse

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth has begun to refer to the media as Pharisees, after the group of Jewish religious leaders now remembered as instigating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The reports have drawn the mockery of Iranian officials on social media.

"They want the sailors to use the toilets less!" the Iranian Embassy in the UK wrote.

The tweet seemed to reference toilet problems suffered by aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R Ford.

The USS Ford was beset by sewage problems that led to daily 45-minute queues for people wanting to use the toilet.

The carrier, with 5000 crew aboard, had been at sea since last June before being taken to Greece for repairs after a fire in the laundry facility last month.

READ MORE: Trump nears deal that could see him given $14 billion in taxpayer money

The USS Tripoli specialises in ground invasions.

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Trump nears deal with tax office that could see him given $14 billion taxpayer money

Donald Trump may have arranged himself a 11-figure payday after his own tax office signalled they would settle a lawsuit with him.

The US president and two of his sons have sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for $US10 billion ($14 billion) after his tax information was leaked to the media in 2018 and 2020.

Today both Trump and the IRS asked a court to grant a 90-day extension so they could resolve the matter.

READ MORE: Pentagon lashes reporting of Pete Hegseth's Pulp Fiction Bible verse

Donald Trump has the ability to fire anyone who would stop him getting a multi-billion settlement from the IRS.

"The extension will promote judicial economy and allow the Parties to explore avenues that could narrow or resolve the issues efficiently," the statement to court read.

Given the president has appointed the senior staff at the IRS and the Department of Treasury and has the power to fire them, the lawsuit has raised the ire of ethics watchdogs.

One such group, Democracy Forward, has filed a brief opposing the lawsuit.

Democracy Forward CEO Skye Perryman said Trump was "seeking to further illegally line his own pockets at the public's expense".

"The president's corruption continues, this time in an attempt to take $10 billion dollars of the taxpayers' money, which threatens to make a mockery out of our justice system," Perryman said.

"Not only does the president's baseless case have significant legal defects, but there are colossal conflicts of interest at play."

READ MORE: Trump calls presenter 'least attractive', demands she be taken off TV

Donald Trump has sued his own tax office for $14 billion.

Trump had already claimed to have won the lawsuit in the days after it was filed.

"Essentially, the lawsuit's been won. I guess I won a lotta money," he said.

A former IRS contractor has already been jailed over the leak, which exposed Trump's claims of incredible business success to be in part, false.

Some years Trump paid nothing in taxes because of the vast amount of money he had lost in bad investments.

The year he ran for president he paid barely $1000 in taxes.

In February Trump suggested he might make a contribution to charity with the money he was getting from the taxpayer.

"We could make it a substantial amount," he said.

"Nobody would care because it's going to go to numerous very good charities."

Trump has a long history of promising money to charities and then not paying.

READ MORE: Proposed team of experts to decide if Trump is fit for office

Elizabeth Warren has described Donald Trump's actions as "theft".

Senator Elizabeth Warren has now introduced a bill that would stop Trump profiting from suing his own agency.

"Right out in the open, Donald Trump is suing his own IRS to try to steal $10 BILLION taxpayer dollars," she said on Bluesky.

"I just introduced a bill that would make this theft ILLEGAL."

The subject of Trump's tax returns has been a long running source of scrutiny and criticism.

Presidential candidates have for decades released their tax returns to the public.

In 2016, Trump broke that tradition on the justification that he was being audited.

There is no legal reason why a person being audited cannot do so.

Ten years later, he has still not voluntarily released any tax returns. 

READ MORE: Trump said he appointed counterterrorism official because his wife died

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Saint Lucia: Prime Minister Pierre To Unveil Record-Breaking Budget To Drive Saint Lucia’s Next Phase Of Growth

The formal proceedings for Saint Lucia’s 2026/27 Budget presentation will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the Throne Speech to be delivered by His Excellency Felix Finisterre, Deputy to the Governor General of Saint Lucia. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, will deliver his 2026/27 Budget Policy Statement in the House of […]

United States: Tennessee Launches $34 Million Hurricane Helene Relief Program for Farmers And Forest Landowners

Nashville, Tennessee — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture today announced that applications for the Hurricane Helene Agricultural and Timber Relief Fund will open Wednesday, April 22, at 1 p.m. Eastern (noon Central), giving eligible farmers and forest landowners in Northeast Tennessee notice to prepare required documentation and apply for assistance. The block grant funding is supported by the U.S. […]