Chinese engineers have broken ground on a new super -deep borehole that will burrow far into the Earth's crust as the country steps up its search for natural resources hidden thousands of metres underground.

The hole will eventually reach 10,520 metres into the ground at the Sichuan Basin in southwest China, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

The region is a major area for gas production and engineers expected to find a natural gas reserve there, the report said.

READ MORE: Three people sitting in cars shot in 'targeted' Sydney attack

The announcement came just weeks after China began drilling another super deep borehole which is slated to extend even further into the Earth with a planned depth of 11,100-metres.

That project is located at the Tarim Basin in China's northwest autonomous region of Xinjiang.

If completed, they would be among two of the deepest human-made boreholes in the world.

However, they would not be deepest.

That record currently lies with the now defunct Kola Superdeep Borehole in north-west Russia, a Soviet-era scientific drilling project that took 20 years to complete and went to 12,262 metres.

These ultradeep holes stretch greater than Mount Everest measuring from top to bottom, which is about 8,800 metres.

Humans have reached the moon but when it comes to exploring the land deep beneath our feet, we have only scratched the surface of our planet.

Drilling deep allows scientists to learn more about how the Earth was formed with the crust acting like a geological timeline of or world's formation.

But there are also strong commercial incentives – tapping into potentially lucrative energy reserves buried deep below.

Both the companies involved in the Chinese boreholes are major state-owned oil conglomerates.

The most recent project at Sichuan Basin is operated by PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Co, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, one of the biggest state-owned energy companies in China, according to Xinhua.

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Painting it as a move of "great significance," the state news outlet said the effort is aimed at exploring deeply buried resources while "promoting the progress of the core technology and equipment capability of China's oil and gas engineering."

"The drilling will further reveal the secrets of evolution under the Sinian formation," it said, referring to the way in which rocks are arranged in the Sichuan Basin.

Chen Lili, deputy chief engineer of PetroChina Southwest Oil, told the state news outlet that they expected a raft of "world-class challenges" to overcome during the drilling process.

Unveiling the Xinjiang project previously, Xinhua dubbed it a "telescope" into the deepest end of the earth, with its 2,000-tonne design tasked to penetrate more than 10 continental strata.

It said the drilling setup can withstand 200 degree celsius and forces 1,700 times greater than that of atmospheric pressure.

In May, Sinopec Corp said it had struck sizeable oil and gas flows in an exploration well in the Tarim basin at a depth of 8,591 metres below the surface, Reuters reported.

China, the world's second-largest economy and the world's biggest carbon emitter, has huge energy needs. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has declared future energy security as a national security priority.

China has become a global leader in renewable energy – it is on track to double its wind and solar energy capacity and hit its 2030 clean energy targets five years early, according to a recent report.

But it is also the world's biggest producer of planet-heating pollution and is ramping up coal production.

The US is the world's second-biggest carbon emitter.

US climate envoy John Kerry met with Chinese officials in Beijing this week and called for faster action to confront the climate crisis.

Xi did not meet with Kerry this week. But while the US climate envoy was visiting, Xi told a national conference on environmental protection that China's commitment to its duel carbon goals – reaching a carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 – is "unwavering," according to state news agency Xinhua.

"But the path, method, pace and intensity to achieve this goal should and must be determined by ourselves, and will never be influenced by others," he said.

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It was a night that started out like any other for Hayley Wormleaton, but one would end in horror, trauma and loss.

Hayley, then aged 19, was sitting in the bedroom of her home in Lalor Park, western Sydney in September 2015, when her uncle came home. 

He was not acting like himself.

"I heard my nan call out to me," Hayley said.

READ MORE: Three people shot in cars in 'targeted' Sydney shooting

"I then walked out of my bedroom door and (my uncle) was sitting on the lounge next to my nan, and he had a knife."

Hayley ran to her neighbour's house to ask for help.

Her nan also tried to run, but only made it to the neighbours' lawn before she was murdered.

Hayley called police and tried to run back to the home, as she knew there were children, her cousins, still inside the house with her uncle.

"I tried to go back out the front door, but my neighbour wouldn't let me," Hayley said. 

One of her cousin's managed to run to safety next door.

When the police arrived, Hayley went outside and saw the body of her seven-year-old cousin on the lawn. He too had been murdered by her uncle.

Hayley's 35-year-old uncle was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment.

Growing up, Hayley said she was surrounded by domestic violence and grew to accept it as normal.

"It was normal for me to wake up in the middle of the night with things being smashed and doors being kicked in and yelling and screaming and I would wake up and go to school the next day," Hayley said. 

"My nan used to have a saying, 'Whatever happens at home stays at home.'"

Eight years later, Hayley said she was now very aware that such violence is not normal.

'Power comes back': NSW Police launch app to help victim-survivors 

Hayley is sharing her story as NSW Police launch an app today, which is aimed at helping victims of domestic violence to discreetly document abuse and access support services.

Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith the "Empower You" app was designed to do exactly that – empower victims of abuse.

"The 'Empower You' app was designed to be user-friendly, intuitive, and interactive, while still having the best safety features for user privacy and discretion," Smith said.

"It has inbuilt features to keep it private on any mobile, including passcodes and quick lock, and has a modest-looking icon that's designed not to alert perpetrators.

"The diary feature allows a victim to collect their thoughts – including photos of injuries and property damage, and screenshots of emails or messages – and document an incident when it happens, no matter how minor or whether they report it to police at that time.

"This is especially important in terms of coercive control, where we know a victim often feels helpless, so with 'Empower You', the abuse is clearly demonstrated, and the power comes back to the victim."

The 'Empower You' app is available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, and NSW Police officers have QR codes on their MobiPOL devices to link to the app in the stores to download.

Victims of domestic and family violence can also seek advice and services by contacting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visiting: https://www.1800respect.org.au.

Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending your local police station. In an emergency or life-threatening situation, contact Triple Zero (000).

A strong cold front is set to sweep across two Australian states in the coming days, bringing chilly temperatures and heavy showers.

Weatherzone predicts a burst of wet weather will hit Queensland from tonight, with some parts of the state expected to pick up a month's rain in one or two days.

It comes as temperatures are set to drop across South Australia as the state is hit with its third and final cold front.

READ MORE: Three people sitting in parked cars seriously injured in 'targeted' Sydney shooting

Queenslanders will start to see a "wintry mix of cold temperatures, thick cloud and rain" in the coming hours as an upper-level cut-off low-pressure system crosses the eastern parts of the country.

The system will move south from tonight and until Tuesday.

Weatherzone predicts heavier rain will hit parts of central and southeast Queensland from tomorrow, with some models suggesting 30-50mm could fall early next week.

"Some areas that have the potential to collect 30 to 50 mm would be receiving a full July's rainfall in one or two days," Weatherzone said.

"These falls would be welcome for the region, with large areas of the state receiving well below average rain in the last couple of months."

READ MORE: Man charged with murder after alleged stabbing death in Newtown

Meanwhile, South Australians will experience a string of chilly days.

A cold front will cross over central and south-eastern parts of the state from this afternoon, bringing a burst of cold winds and showery conditions.

Temperatures have remained low across the country's south over the past week, thanks to "intense cold air", Weatherzone said.

New South Wales, Victoria, southern South Australia, Western Australia, and far south Queensland have all recorded sub-zero temperatures.

READ MORE: Aussie receives acclaim for volcano shot – but nobody knows who he is

Weatherzone said the balmy conditions were "unusually colder than normal in certain regions".

Melbourne is forecast to reach just a top of 14 degrees today and Canberra just 15 degrees, while Sydney should get to 17 degrees and Adelaide to 15 degrees

Brisbane is forecast to reach 22 degrees, and Hobart 14 degrees.

Darwin will get to a sunny 31 degrees and Perth 20 degrees.

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A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing another man in Sydney's inner west.

Police found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds after they were called to a unit block on Forbes Street in Newtown about 7pm on Friday night.

The 63-year-old man was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

READ MORE: Three people sitting in parked cars seriously injured after public shooting in Sydney

Police arrested a 43-year-old man yesterday at a unit block on nearby Golden Grove Street.

He was taken to Newtown Police Station where he was charged with murder, and use weapon to avoid lawful apprehension.

The man was refused bail but is now currently undergoing assessment at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

His court date is yet to be confirmed.

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An anonymous Sydney photographer found himself with a front-row seat to one of nature's most jaw-dropping natural spectacles on the other side of the world, and his photos are now receiving international acclaim.

The photographer, known only by his social media handle Lost Mtns, is based in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

But this week he found himself photographing a different landmark when a volcano erupted in Iceland, south of the capital, Reykjavik.

READ MORE: Underwater volcano covered with 'up to a million' giant eggs found

Lost Mtns told 9news.com.au it was a happy coincidence the volcano erupted when he had leave booked, but getting to the molten mountain was a journey in its own right.

"When I first landed I was stuffed," he said, with a laugh.

"But I have learned my lesson in the Blue Mountains, if you wait, if you're tired, nature changes.

"I had just been in a family's kitchen in Abu Dhabi in the desert, then I was in Paris, and then I landed, but tired I decided to go straight to the volcano".

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Jetlagged, he made his way to the car park closest to the volcano and met two locals who insisted they knew where the crater was.

"Worst mistake of my life, we got lost," Lost Mtns said.

"At the end of the day I did 52 kilometres, carrying gear at least 20 kilos.

"I had everything."

But the sight he was met with was "absolutely phenomenal". 

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"The emotions were really raw and powerful," Lost Mtns said.

"To fly over it and feel the force of it was just absolutely incredible.

"Words just don't do it justice. There's nothing man-made that could contain it, nothing man can do could stop lava."

The very next day, the car park closest to the volcano closed due to the threat of poisonous gases.

The recognition

After trekking to the volcano by foot, and flying over it on a helicopter days later, Lost Mtns decided to enter photos in a competition held by two renowned photographers: Chris Burkard, from the US, and Benjamin Hardman, from Australia.

Burkard, has had his work showcased in National Geographic, and together with Hardman, decided to select a limited number of community-sourced photos of the eruption to hang in a gallery they co-own together in Reykjavik.

READ MORE: Sharks found living in active volcano one of enduring ocean mysteries

The funds raised will be donated to the Icelandic Association of Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR).

One of Lost Mtns' photos has made the cut.

"I met Lost Mtns a few days ago at the gallery and really admired his work and approach to photography and travel in the Blue Mountains," Hardman, who is from Perth, told 9news.com.au.

"His close-up image of the lava really struck my attention, the contrast of blue against the explosion of lava was the perfect abstract image to add into the exhibition collection.

"We have work from 25 photographers after an overwhelming volume of submissions. It's incredible how much variety in artistic expression and composition can come out of three days of an erupting volcano."

Lost Mtns is still pinching himself, as he describes the pair as his heroes.

"Meeting them was huge," he said.

"The top 25 photos will be printed and hung in the gallery for a few months.

"And this has ignited a volcano-chasing itch for sure."

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More than a million Aussies go on a cruise from Australia every year, with Sydney one of the most sought-after cruising ports in the world. But the origins of the $5b industry in the nation dates back over 90 years and can be traced to two ships.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of a person who is deceased.

Loved ones of a young Adelaide man who lost his battle with meningococcal disease have remembered him as healthy and vibrant.

Luke Wingfield is the first South Australian to die from meningococcal this year.

The 36-year-old was in the prime of his life, which was cut devastatingly short at the hands of the deadly bacteria.

READ MORE: Hiker dies after trek in blistering Death Valley heat

His older sister, Tania Wingfield, told 9News the loss had left the family devastated.

"Just absolutely heartbroken," she said.

"It's a disease that is absolutely devastating to families."

READ MORE: Mum lashes hit-run driver who almost crushed her baby

He was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital from his Ferryden Park home on Tuesday morning.

Tania said his initial symptoms appeared to be flu-like with the family hopeful the 36-year-old would soon bounce back.

"He looked after himself, he was into fitness, he ate well, he didn't smoke, he didn't do drugs," she said.

When Luke rapidly took a turn for the worse, his family rushed from Port Augusta to be by his side, but by Wednesday night he was dead.

"My brother was such a beautiful person, he was really kind-hearted and he'd do anything for anybody," Tania told 9News

There have been 16 cases of the disease so far this year, surpassing the total of 14 recorded all of last year.

"Meningococcol has a huge impact every year, where there's a number of cases which leads to hospitalisations which sadly leads to deaths," SA Health Minister Chris Picton said.

The vaccine for the B strain has been free in SA for some groups of people since 2018 but is available to others who want it.

"Whether you think it's not serious or not, please, please get help, because I wouldn't want this, wish this upon anybody," Tania said.

Oren Klemich lost his 18-year-old son Jack to the disease 14 years ago.

He says the vaccination is a necessary protection, as often symptoms develop so fast there's little time to act.

"I guarantee if you're unlucky enough for one of your children to get meningococcal, you'll only wish they were vaccinated, it's a horrible disease," Klemich told 9News.

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Lotto Powerball’s $15 million draw has gone unstruck

Tepania is one of five winners of the One Young World Politician of the Year Award.

Initial indications suggest one person is in a critical condition.