A turf war between the Killer Beez and Tribesmen motorcycle gangs has exploded with four drive-by shootings this evening in Auckland, the Herald understands.Comment has been sought from the police but a Herald source says the shootings…
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Man sent to prison for 'ritualistic humiliation' of former partner
The force with which Cory James Turner threw pre-mixed drinks at his former partner left bruises on her in the shape of the cans. The former Murchison dairy farmer has today gone to prison for 15 months for the episode of terrible…
Albanese has first meeting with Biden, wants to 'strengthen' alliance
Anthony Albanese has met for the first time as prime minister with US President Joe Biden, as both leaders confirmed they wanted to ensure the US–Australia alliance became even stronger.
The face-to-face followed a meeting of Quad leaders in Tokyo, including Biden, Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Biden said Albanese's prompt appearance at the meeting so soon after his electoral victory illustrated that Australia was "all in" on the partnership.
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"I'm looking forward to having the chance to get to know you a bit more personally," Biden said.
He said he was "proud" of the alliance between the US and Australia.
Albanese said he was proud to open his prime ministership with the Quad meeting.
"Australia and the US are great mates," he said.
He referred to the US support of Australia during WWII, and said he wanted to "really strengthen" the alliance.
Earlier, Albanese said the Quad meeting had shown Australia's change of government had not meant a change of heart on key alliances.
"The government in Australia has changed, but this was an opportunity to tell our Quad partners the US, Japan, and India, that the government's commitment to the Quad has not changed," Albanese said following the meeting.
But Albanese wasn't all about continuity – emphasising the new government's "changed position" on climate action.
"That has been welcomed by these three nations in the Quad, and they welcomed it because it will strengthen what is an important issue in the Indo-Pacific," Albanese said.
"I share the view that this is a national security issue."
He confirmed that China's bid for increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific had been discussed, including a recent security deal with the Solomon Islands.
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Ahead of the meeting, Albanese had spoken about the work that the Quad still had to do in the region, including building a "stronger more co-operative Indo-Pacific region that respects sovereignty", and flagged an increase to Australia's foreign aid budget.
"The region is looking to us to work with them and lead by example," he said.
"That's why my government will take ambitious action on climate change and increase our support to partners in the region, as they work to address it, including with new finance."
Biden joked about Albanese's rapid progression from winning an election to the Tokyo trip.
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"You got sworn in, got on a plane and if you fall asleep while you're here, it's okay," Biden said.
"It's really quite extraordinary just getting off the campaign trail as well. Congratulations on your election.
"We greatly appreciate your commitment on being here so soon after taking office."
Australia will host the next meeting of the four Quad nations' leaders next year.
It will likely be Biden's first visit to Australia as president, although he has previously visited the country as vice-president.
Ahead of meeting his Quad partners, Albanese picked up the phone to his United Kingdom counterpart, Boris Johnson, to discuss climate change and the AUKUS security pact.
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The Anglo alliance, which briefly shot to the forefront of the election campaign when it was revealed the Biden administration had expected Labor to be kept informed of the negotiations, will allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines using UK or US technology.
According to Downing Street, Johnson suggested broadening the agreement into other areas.
"Discussing AUKUS, the leaders strongly agreed on its vital importance and the exciting opportunities it provided," the UK Prime Minister's office said, in a readout of the call.
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"The (UK) Prime Minister said he thought the trilateral grouping could go further together in other domains, where both countries could collaborate for the global good."
Both leaders agreed there was "strong alignment" on global security, climate change and trade and highlighted the importance of the recently signed free trade agreement, Downing Street said.
Albanese and Wong will meet with US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
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"The relationship with the United States is our most important, along with our relationships in the region and our multilateral commitments as well," Albanese said on Monday.
"The (Quad) meetings that we will have, not just with the United States, but importantly with our hosts in Japan and India are going to be very important, in a good way, to send a message to the world that there's a new government in Australia and it's a government that represents a change, in terms of the way that we deal with the world on issues like climate change but also a continuity in the way that we have respect for democracy and the way that we value our friendships and long time alliances."
Royal New Zealand Air Force finds survivors on two boats missing near Kiribati
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Child-porn addict caught with 11,000 pictures and videos glad he got caught
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Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta hasn't 'directly' contacted NZ ambassador in Russia
The foreign affairs minister is being accused of having no “direct” contact with the New Zealand ambassador to Russia or the Embassy in Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Gerry Brownlee, National’s spokesman for foreign…
Greenhithe ram raid: Men chase thieves down highway after liquor store heist
Four ram raiders got the fright of their lives when they were confronted by two men mid-burglary before being chased down an Auckland motorway. The offenders had just smashed through the Greenhithe Liquor Centre on Saturday when…
Charge withdrawn in Taranaki case that alleged a dog was suffocated to death
Police have withdrawn a cruelty to animals charge against a 75-year-old man who allegedly killed a French bulldog by suffocating it on a Taranaki street in plain sight. Cash the French bulldog was allegedly found dead with a plastic…
World's fastest passenger jet goes supersonic in tests
The race to resume supersonic passenger flights nearly two decades after the retirement of Concorde was offered a glimmer of excitement on Monday when plane manufacturer Bombardier revealed high speed achievements while confirming the launch of its new business jet.
The Canadian company said the in-development Global 8000 will be "the world's fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet".
With a capacity for up to 19 passengers, a range of 8000 nautical miles (14,800 kilometres) and a top speed of Mach 0.94, the upcoming plane is expected to enter service in 2025, according to a statement from Bombardier.
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The news comes after a Global 7500 test vehicle broke the sound barrier during a demonstration flight last May, achieving speeds of more than Mach 1.015.
Supersonic breakthrough
The aircraft, accompanied by a NASA F/A-18 chase plane, also became the first Transport Category airplane to fly supersonic with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a result of the flight, says Bombardier.
"The Global 8000 aircraft leverages the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a flagship aircraft of a new era," Éric Martel, president and CEO for Bombardier, said in a statement.
Flight testing for the Global 8000 has already begun on Global 7500 flight-test vehicles.
Bombardier says the upcoming aircraft will also have a cabin altitude equivalent to 2900 feet.
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New era
Global 8000 is just one of many developments in the numerous efforts to raise the speed of passenger aircraft more than two decades after Concorde retired.
Last year, United Airlines announced it could be offering supersonic routes as early as 2029 after striking a deal to buy 15 supersonic jets.
Meanwhile, Colorado-based Boom Supersonic has been completing ground testing on X-B1, the prototype aircraft for its Overture jet, designed to seat between 65 and 88 people, which aims to fly on over 500 mainly transoceanic routes that will benefit from the aircraft's Mach-2.2 speeds.
Sadly, Florida-based aviation start-up Aerion collapsed months after revealing plans for a Mach 4+ commercial airliner named Aerion AS3 last year.
Auckland: Police appeal to public for help locating man wanted in relation to Sandringham shooting
Police have appealed to the public for help finding a man wanted in relation to a shooting in a suburban Auckland car park earlier in the year that injured at least five people.Police were called to a car park in Sandringham near…