Tag Archives: oceania

More human remains found as police investigate 2008 murder of Queensland father

More human remains have been found as police investigate the more than a decade-old unsolved murder of Queensland father Francis Foley.

Foley, who was known as Frank, disappeared from his home in the Reward Fossicking area near Rubyvale, around December 23, 2008.

Last year, a person fossicking for gems in Sheep Station Creek, which is about one kilometre downstream from Foley's home found human remains.

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Francis Patrick Foley, also known as Frank, went missing from the Rubyvale area in December 2008.Francis Foley 2008 murder in Reward Fossicking area, Queensland.

After forensic testing, the remains were identified as Foley's.

A renewed police search of the now-dry creek bed yesterday uncovered what are believed to be further human remains.

Police are set to forensically examine the findings to confirm their origin. while police have today been re-interviewing nearby residents.

The find comes as police yesterday announced the new offer of a $500,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons responsible for Foley's murder.

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Francis Foley 2008 murder in Reward Fossicking area, Queensland.Francis Foley 2008 murder in Reward Fossicking area, Queensland.

"Someone out there knows what happened to Foley and they now have 500,000 reasons to come forward and speak to police," Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said yesterday.

Foley's son Shaun Charlton also yesterday made an impassioned plea for information on his father's killer.

"Please help me find my dad's killer and help my family find my father's killer," he said.

Two more people charged over deadly Sydney crash that killed siblings

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.

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Paramedics treated 24-year-old Alina Kauffman and her 15-year-old brother Ernesto Salazar but they both died at the scene of a crash in Heckenberg in Sydney's south-west on September 1.

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

Two people have died in a head-on crash in Heckenberg.CCTV moments before a crash in Sadleir Avenue, Heckenberg in Sydney's south-west on Friday, September 1.

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's Xi Jinping will skip G20 amid tension with host nation

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 Australia's airports is an elusive and exclusive club. So who gets in?

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?

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The Qantas Chairman's Lounge in Brisbane.

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.

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The entrances to the Qantas chairman's lounge are nondescript.

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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Qantas chairman's lounge

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.

The Chairman's Lounge in Brisbane, one of six around the country.

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 lauds 'steady and sturdy' economic growth in June quarter

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.

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers during a press conference

"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."

Perth mum was standing in her living room when the world went black

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."

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Ashlee Dyer, pictured with her family, said she was grateful she trusted her instincts.

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."

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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.

Ashlee Dyer was told she would have lost her vision completely if she hadn't taken action.

"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."