The American pitbull cross’ owner agreed to have the dog put down afterwards.

The Wellington City Council plan will go out for public consultation next week.

Two people have been charged with helping a man accused of driving a speeding high-performance car that crashed and killed two siblings in concealing his alleged crime.

Officers chased after and arrested a 22-year-old woman outside Liverpool Local Court after upgrading the charges against Johnson Kokozian, 20, over the horrific Friday-night smash in south-west Sydney.

The woman was at court to support Kokozian, who allegedly fled the scene after crashing a Mercedes-Benz AMG while travelling at nearly double the speed limit in a 50km/h zone.

READ MORE: Spring to abruptly end for millions of Aussies

Alina Kauffman, 24, and her 15-year-old brother Ernesto Salazar were killed in the crash just 200 metres from their Heckenberg home.

Police initially accused Kokozian of two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, but those charges were upgraded to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death due to the alleged excessive speed.

He was also charged with driving in a dangerous manner, negligent driving occasioning death, two counts of failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death, as well as driving while disqualified.

Kokozian did not appear in court on Wednesday after being denied bail at the weekend.

READ MORE: Alleged fugitive charged after month on the run

The woman arrested at the court was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence and hindering an investigation.

A 21-year-old man who was arrested at his Liverpool home earlier on Wednesday has been hit with the same charges.

Both are expected to face court on Wednesday afternoon.

A prosecutor told the court a brief of evidence would be served before Kokozian's next appearance in November at Campbelltown.

Police have been looking for the other alleged occupants of the Mercedes following the smash after being told three young men fled the aftermath in a Volkswagen Golf.

A 61-year-old man is also being questioned after his arrest on Wednesday afternoon.

China has indicated that leader Xi Jinping will skip an important gathering of the world's 20 top economies for the first time with Premier Li Qiang traveling to the event in New Delhi this weekend in his place.

Xi's absence from the G20 summit comes as tensions simmer between China and host country India, especially over their disputed border and New Delhi's growing ties with the United States.

The no-show of China's top leader – unprecedented since the first such summit was held in 2008 – will likely be seen as a snub to India, which is hosting the powerful group of world leaders for the first time amid efforts to boost its global clout under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Questions about Xi's attendance at the meeting were first raised last week when Reuters reported the Chinese leader was likely to miss it, citing two unnamed Indian diplomats.

At a regular news conference Monday, China's Foreign Ministry said Li, China's second-ranking leader, would attend the summit on Saturday and Sunday, without mentioning Xi.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry, sidestepped a question from a reporter about the reason for Xi's non-attendance.

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"The Group of 20 is a major forum for international economic cooperation, and China has always attached great importance to and actively participated in relevant activities," Mao said, without addressing the substance of the question.

Even during the Covid pandemic, Xi attended the meetings in 2020 and 2021 by video link.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, will also skip the summit.

Russia will be represented by its foreign minister instead.

Brian Hart, a fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Xi's absence at the G20 summit will be "highly conspicuous," but given Beijing's opacity one can only speculate on the reasons behind that decision.

"It could be an intentional snub against India, or it could be that Xi is preoccupied with domestic issues. It could also be that Xi doesn't feel the timing is right for him to meet with certain leaders, like President Biden or Prime Minister Modi," he said.

"But perceptions matter. Regardless of whether it is intended as a snub against India, some will see it as such."

Beijing's announcement has dashed hopes that Xi and US President Joe Biden might meet at the summit, as the two superpowers seek to stabilize their rocky relations.

Preempting confirmation from Beijing, Biden on Sunday publicly expressed disappointment that he would not see Xi in New Delhi.

"I am disappointed – but I'm going to get to see him," Biden told reporters on Sunday.

Biden had previously told CNN he would be meeting with Xi in "the fall."

The two leaders last spoke in person in November 2022 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, where they pledged to restore channels of communication in an effort to prevent rising tensions from spilling into open conflict. That meeting is the only time the two have met in person since Biden took office.

Four US cabinet officials have visited Beijing in recent months, after a suspected Chinese spy balloon derailed a fledgling effort at rapprochement earlier in the year.

Xi's absence from the G20 summit also means he will not have a formal bilateral meeting with Modi, as the two nuclear-powered neighbors remain at loggerheads over their contested border.

Xi and Modi agreed to "intensify efforts" to deescalate tensions at the border last month on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa – which was seen as a step toward mending their fraught relationship.

But tensions rose again last week when India lodged a "strong protest" against China's newly published national map, which it said included the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai-Chin plateau in Chinese territory.

The disputed border has long been a source of friction between New Delhi and Beijing, with the agitation spilling into a 1962 war that ended in a Chinese victory.

Tensions rose again in 2020 after a deadly brawl in the Galwan Valley resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese.

Inside many of Australia's major airports is an elusive, and very exclusive, private club.

Nevermind getting through packed security lines in a crowded domestic airport, the bar for entry to the Qantas Chairman's Lounge is much, much higher.

But what exactly is this VIP lounge, and who is allowed within its hallowed halls?

READ MORE: Alan Joyce expected to exit Qantas with final $24m payout

What is the Qantas Chairman's Lounge?

The Chairman's Lounge is a members-only club for VIP clients travelling on domestic flights within Australia.

Outgoing Qantas CEO Alan Joyce once called it "the most exclusive club in the country".

Its members are made up of Australia's political and corporate elite, with invitations extended to members of parliament, celebrities and the chief executives of the country.

Forget waiting for your flight perched on a stiff plastic chair - the chairman's lounge is a luxurious and private oasis within Australia's domestic airports.

READ MORE: New Qantas CEO must pilot airline through headwinds

Entry is found through a "secret door," not signposted like the publicly accessible lounges.

It boasts private rooms and bathrooms, reading areas and a suite of bars, buffets and restaurants.

One regular visitor, describing the allure of the lounge to Nine newspaper the Australian Financial Review, quipped: "Part of the wankiness, as well as the secret doors, is the fact you could ask for absolutely anything, even if it's not on the menu, and it will be cooked pretty quickly, just for you."

In addition to champagne and charcuterie, lounge members have a special boarding call for their flight, to ensure they can wait in comfort until every other passenger has boarded their plane.

How much does it cost to get in?

For entry to the Qantas chairman's lounge, it's not about the money.

And you can't trade in frequent flier points either.

So how do you get in then?

Membership to the elite lounge has to date been approved by Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and erstwhile CEO Alan Joyce.

Joyce's successor to the top job, Vanessa Hudson will now make the call on who gets in.

Otherwise, the secrets on how to join are held close to the company's chest.

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Who is in the club?

Every member of Australia's parliament is invited to join with a "plus one" extended to a person of their choosing.

They don't all accept the invitation, but almost all have.

Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, a former union leader and a long-time Joyce adversary, has reportedly rejected a membership, with Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie also on the out.

Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather is reportedly also not a member.

In August 2023 it was reported Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's 23-year-old son Nathan was extended membership to the club.

The rest of the club's membership is made up of A-list celebrities and high-flying corporate executives.

It is not uncommon for large companies that choose to book staff flights with Qantas often have membership offered for their chairman, CEO, and sometimes CFO.

Where are they?

There are six Chairman's Lounges in total, scattered around Australia's major airports.

Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are home to the exclusive lounges.

Inside, Qantas staff are on call at all times to assist with any travel arrangements that could arise.

While some have claimed the lounge is used as a way to curry favour between Qantas and the business and political sectors, Joyce has insisted membership to the lounge is only "a commercial arrangement".

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australia's economy remains "steady and sturdy" after new national accounts data revealed the nation's GDP grew by 0.4 per cent in the June quarter – slightly ahead of market expectations.

That growth was higher than the 0.2 per cent in the March quarter, and meant the economy increased by 3.4 per cent over the course of the 2022-23 financial year.

"The Australian economy remains steady and sturdy in the face of unrelenting pressure," Chalmers said after the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the national accounts.

READ MORE: Interest rates on hold as RBA Governor Philip Lowe leaves legacy

"Economic real growth held up electively well despite the inevitable toll of higher interest rates, moderating inflation and continuing global uncertainty, particularly as it relates to China.

"We know that there are challenges ahead but we face them from a position of relative strength."

The news wasn't all positive, though, with GDP per capita falling 0.3 per cent in the quarter.

The household saving ratio fell for the seventh straight quarter to 3.2 per cent – its lowest level since June 2008 – and household spending slowed once again to an increase of just 0.1 per cent.

ABS head of national accounts Katherine Keenan said the lower savings were caused by high interest rates – which were left on hold for the third consecutive month yesterday – having to pay back income tax, and the rising cost of living.

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"We know that people are under pressure from the rising cost of living and higher interest rates as well," Chalmers said.

"And we see that in the National Accounts data.

"Australians continue to pull back on discretionary spending to make room for essentials and also to cover mortgage repayments… people are also spending less on renovating their homes and are saving less out of their incomes."

Despite the challenges faced by the economy, market analysrt Farhan Badami said the GDP growth was a positive result.

"Many analysts feared for the worst due to the impact of fluctuating interest rates and the ongoing challenges posed by a sluggish post-COVID recovery in China," Badami said.

"Despite the somewhat modest GDP figures, the overall outcome remains positive.

"However, there are potential challenges on the horizon, particularly if there is a decline in public demand, which could potentially undo the progress achieved in this quarter."

The day Ashlee Dyer suddenly lost her vision was like any other ordinary afternoon.

The mum-of-four, from Perth, was standing in the middle of the lounge room and mucking about with her kids.

"I was about to do a TikTok dance with my daughter and everything just went completely black," Dyer said, recalling the afternoon in February last year.

Frightened and confused, Dyer, 36, said she immediately burst into tears.

"I was crying and just thankful that my husband was there because otherwise I would have been home with my kids by myself."

READ MORE: Spring to abruptly end for millions of Aussies

Although she was scared, Dyer said she initially resisted her husband's suggestion to go to the hospital.

"My automatic reaction was I'll just sleep it off. I'll just go for a nap and I'll be fine," she said. 

After about five minutes, Dyer's vision slowly returned, but it was still far from normal.

"It came back, but it was sort of pixelated," she said.

"It's hard to describe, it was kind of like I was underwater."

READ MORE: Qantas' reputation is mud. How do you fix it?

Dyer also had a headache at the time.

When it became clear her vision wasn't getting any better, Dyer decided to go to her local hospital after all.

But the place was packed, and Dyer said she felt like her symptoms were being brushed off as a migraine.

"I went to the hospital but I ended up discharging myself because basically I was told it was a migraine," she said.

Dyer was convinced this wasn't the case.

"I knew there was something else going on," she said.

"I just felt like I had to keep rubbing my eyes to see.

"So I ended up booking the appointment with an optometrist at Specsavers for the next day."

It was a move Dyer credits with saving her sight.

The optometrist, Jessica Templeman, ran multiple tests and found the optic nerves behind both of her eyes were swollen.

"She basically said that she wanted me to go straight to the emergency room," Dyer said.

Templeman directed Dyer to the Royal Perth Hospital where there is a specialised ophthalmology clinic.

"She was amazing. She actually called ahead and told them that I was coming," Dyer said.

At the hospital, doctors discovered Dyer had a rare condition called intracranial hypertension, where a build-up of fluid in the brain leads to increased pressure, often causing headaches and vision loss.

Templeman told 9news.com.au intracranial hypertension generally affected about one in 100,000 people.

Contact reporter Emily McPherson at em********@******om.au

"It can have no symptoms, especially during the early stages. This is why it is important to get regular eye examinations with a retinal scan so it can be detected before it progresses further," she said.

Other symptoms can include blurred or double vision, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting.

"I was told that, if Jessica hadn't found what she found, and I just let it go, I would have lost my vision completely," Dyer said.

Doctors worked quickly to perform a lumbar puncture to drain the extra fluid in Dyer's brain.

A few weeks later, Dyer underwent surgery to have a brain stent inserted to keep the fluid from building up again.

Dyer said doctors weren't sure what had caused her to develop intracranial hypertension, but it was likely something she had had for some time.

"Thinking back now, I did have some headaches leading up to it," Dyer said.

"But I've had high blood pressure my whole life, so I didn't think there was anything different going on."

Dyer said she wanted to share her story to raise awareness about the condition and remind others how important it was to trust your instinct when it came to your body and seek second opinions.

"I'm so grateful that I trusted my gut," she said.

"It actually gives me shivers just even talking about what could have happened."

A boat carrying three people was rescued from the Coral Sea 835 kilometres off the coast of Queensland in the dead of night after their rescue beacon was detected by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

The emergency signal was first detected at 1.30am on Wednesday, and was found to originate from a 9-metre inflatable catamaran with three people on board.

The boat was reportedly on its way from Vanuatu to Cairns when contact was made with emergency services.

READ MORE: Alleged fugitive charged after month on the run

Both hulls of the inflatable catamaran were said to be damaged after "several shark attacks".

AMSA requested the assistance of a nearby freighter ship carrying vehicles and directed them to the source of the distress signal.

The Dugong Ace, a vehicle carrier registered to Panama, was asked by AMSA to go to the source of the signal, while a rescue aircraft was scrambled from its base in Cairns.

The freighter was able to reach the stricken catamaran and conduct the rescue of the three people on board.

Two Russian citizens and a French citizen were brought aboard the freight ship.

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After the rescue, the freighter that rescued the crew has since made a course towards Brisbane and is due to arrive in at the port on Thursday morning.

The AMSA said: "This is a timely reminder to always carry a distress beacon while on the water.

"GPS-equipped EPIRBs and personal locater beacons (PLBs) can save your life in an emergency."

An Australian woman says she was forced to provide incredible dashcam footage to her insurance provider to prove her daughter was not at fault when her car was hit while sitting stationary in traffic.

Lifelong NRMA customer Jenny told Ben Fordham on 2GB she lodged an insurance claim after the front of her car was clipped in an accident while her daughter, an off-duty police officer, was behind the wheel on July 9 on their way back from a snow trip.

She claims an insurance representative said her daughter was at fault for the crash which damaged their vehicle, meaning she would have to pay the excess.

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"When we initially made the claim over the phone she kept referring to it as our car hitting another car, I kept saying to them, 'No, that's not correct'," she told Ben Fordham Live on 2GB.

"She was actually stationary in the outside lane, traffic has built up on Hume Highway, she has basically come to a full stop.

"A car was coming up the inside and was clipped by a car that tried to come into that lane.

"That caused it to roll approximately eight times and it rolled across the front of our car."

https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/exclusive-dash-cam-footage-clears-young-driver-of/embed

NRMA later cleared Jenny's daughter of blame after she took dashcam footage to an in-person NRMA office proving her innocence – however, the issue still wasn't resolved.

Nearly a month later, on August 1, the smash repair company informed Jenny that NRMA had denied their insurance claim to fix the paint blend on the vehicle.

"They (didn't) want to blend the paint to the surrounding panels, (but) according to the paint repair guidelines, if a panel's got to be replaced, then the paint has to be blended to the surrounding areas," she said.

"One of the doors had to be replaced and the front (panel), but the NRMA wouldn't allow that to happen."

READ MORE: Qantas' reputation is in the bin. What can new CEO Vanessa Hudson do to retrieve it?

The car is close to brand new and was purchased in May for $61,000.

Jenny decided to submit a claim with the driver at fault's insurance company to fix the paint job.

The claim was accepted within a matter of days.

"It's been two months of a nightmare," she said.

"The at-fault insurance company rang me and confirmed all the details … (it was) the identical claim to what we put through to the NRMA."

The car is still not ready two months after the initial claim was made.

In a statement to 9news.com.au, NRMA said it had apologised to Jenny over the incident.

"We understand this accident was a traumatic experience for our customer, her daughter, and their family," it said.

"When a customer has been in an accident our priority is ensuring that they're safe and that we make their claims experience as easy as possible."

"We've spoken with our customer today to apologise directly for their experience.

"We will always review dash cam footage to help determine who is at fault in an accident and agree this should have been resolved as soon as they had lodged their claim.

"We will also take the appropriate steps with the relevant teams to do everything we can to prevent a similar issue happening in the future."

Authorities in the US state of Indiana, are asking for public help and cooperation after finding two dogs inside a cage under a tarp without water.

According to Police Department, the dogs were found in a street in the town of Connersville, about 120kms south-east of Indianapolis

They were "hot and lethargic" inside the cage due to heat and lack of air flow, officers said.

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The animals had also defecated inside the crate and were confined in a very small area, where movement was nearly impossible, police said.

The owners left a note to "surrender" the dogs to whoever found them and left a bag of dog food and small amount of water in the cage, according to police.

The dogs, named Kilo and Rosco, were handed to a local animals shelter, despite it already being over capacity.

The Connersville Police Department asked anyone with interest in adopting the dogs or any other pets to contact the Fayette County Animal Shelter.