Tag Archives: oceania

Australian scientist needing medical help rescued in Antarctica

An Australian scientist is heading home for specialist medical care after an urgent rescue mission to Antarctica.

The expeditioner at Casey research station has a developing medical condition and needs care in Australia, the Australian Antarctic Division said in a statement.

Icebreaker ship RSV Nuyina left Hobart last week and travelled more than 3000km, breaking through sea ice to reach a location 144km from Casey on Sunday.

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Antarctica

Two helicopters took off from the deck, reaching Casey in just under an hour.

They collected the expeditioner and returned to the ship.

The RSV Nuyina is expected to arrive in Hobart next week, depending on weather conditions in the Southern Ocean.

All other personnel at the AAD's four stations are safe, and the expeditioner's family has been kept updated on the situation.

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"Getting this expeditioner back to Tasmania for the specialist medical care required is our priority," AAD acting general manager of operations and logistics Robb Clifton said.

"The first phase of the evacuation was performed safely and successfully and the ship is now on the return voyage to Hobart.

"The expeditioner will be looked after in the Nuyina's specially equipped and designed medical facility by our polar medicine doctors and Royal Hobart Hospital medical staff."

Who are the Tyre Extinguishers and what do they want?

Up to 20 SUVs parked in one of Melbourne's wealthiest suburbs were attacked in the night last week, with owners waking to find the cars' tyres let down.

Climate activist group Tyre Extinguishers claimed responsibility for the sabotage in Toorak, signalling a local offshoot has emerged in Australia following the group's liftoff in the US and various European countries.

A spate of attacks internationally suggests the group is not going away anytime soon – and one expert claims their actions could be a "gateway to violence".

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And with SUVs making up more than 50 per cent of new vehicles sold in Australia last year, it's worthwhile to look at who the Tyre Extinguishers are, what are their goals and how attacks could escalate here.

Who are Tyre Extinguishers?

Tyre Extinguishers, or TX, have one aim, according to the group's website: "To make it impossible to own a huge polluting 4×4 in the world's urban areas."

Although TX now has affiliates in more than 20 countries – including the US, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK – it claims to be a "leaderless, autonomous movement" of groups, who act independently.

When did TX start?

While the nighttime ambush on SUVs in Toorak was new for Australia, TX has been active in international cities for some time.

The group registered a website and started a Twitter account in July 2021, and TX has claimed responsibility for many attacks around the world since.

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What happens next with TX in Australia?

SUV owners in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are bound to suffer more attacks over the next 6-12 months, Orr said, as more TX groups spring up.

"This movement will probably grow as they get notoriety through these acts, and they will achieve some level of success."

Over time, leadership can splinter and more radicalised offshoots can form.

"That's when you can start to see acts of violence that threaten people physically."

Think tank blames rental crisis on record international student numbers

Ballooning overseas student numbers are behind skyrocketing rental increases of up to $1000 in a year and adding to the scarcity of housing stock, a think tank has claimed.

According to the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), the federal government's move to cash in on the $40 billion international student industry has led to a hike in average rental prices.

In the past financial year, rents increased by 4.4 per cent on average – the equivalent of about $24 per week.

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IPA analysis showed demand pressures from the international student intake accounted for about 80 per cent of the increase to rents, on average, across Australia.

In the absence of international students, the research suggested, rents would have increased by only 0.88 per cent.

"Australians already facing a cost-of-living crisis are set to suffer further as the federal government's unplanned, record increase in the international student intake drives rents even higher making housing less affordable," Daniel Wild, deputy executive director of the IPA, said.

"While universities do provide some accommodation for students, the majority of students are in the private rental market, which is driving up costs for Australians.

"Universities must do significantly more to house those they entice here."

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Analysis of ABS data reveals financial year ending June 2023 saw the largest net international student intake on record, with 253,940 new students settling in Australia.

In July, IPA research found the rise in net international student arrivals was the largest on record.

"Australia's intake of international students is well above comparable countries, and on a per capita basis, it is well over double the United Kingdom and approximately eight times that of the United States," Wild said.

"While international students may provide benefits to the bottom line of universities, the question needs to be asked as to how this is improving the experience of Australian students and the wider community."

Homicide Squad detectives investigating after man found dead on Melbourne street

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after a man was found dead on a suburban street in Melbourne's east early this morning.

The man, who is yet to be formally identified, was located on the road, near a white Holden sedan on Tidcombe Crescent in Doncaster East, just before 5am.

The car had significant damage to its bonnet and driver's side.

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A number of residents have told 9News they heard a loud bang late last night.

"Around 11:30 or maybe 11:45ish I heard a huge thump," one resident said.

"I'm not too sure what it was. A little bit of screaming and stuff."

An area of the street has been cornered off as detectives piece together what happened.

"The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established and the investigation remains ongoing," police said.

Three teens charged after four cars stolen moments before wild crash

Three teenagers have been charged after four cars were allegedly stolen from the same home, with one later crashing into a concrete wall in Sydney's north-west.

The teenagers allegedly stole two Mercedes, a Kia and a Volvo from a home in Kellyville about 2am on last Thursday.

Just 15 minutes later, a Mercedes AMG allegedly crossed multiple lanes of traffic before smashing through a reinforced concrete wall on Windsor Road near Barina Downs Road in Norwest.

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A luxury car has ploughed through a concrete wall and left a scene of destruction in Sydney's Norwest.

Police said they attended the scene after the crash but no one was in the Mercedes, which was severely damaged.

Officers executed two separate search warrants at properties in Constitution Hill on Sunday.

"At a property on May Street, police arrested two teenage boys, both aged 16, who were taken to Merrylands Police Station," police said.

"During the search, police located and seized car keys and mobile phones."

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A luxury car has ploughed through a concrete wall and left a scene of destruction in Sydney's Norwest.

During a second search at another Constitution Hill home on Killylea Way, a 15-year-old boy was arrested.

The three boys were charged with a total of 21 offences including aggravated break and enter, car theft charges and participating in a criminal group.

All of the boys have been granted conditional bail and will face the Children's Court this month.