Tag Archives: oceania

Flood risk emerges as near-record rainfall hammers east coast

Parts of New South Wales have been hit by near-record rainfall as a weather system moving across the state is giving Sydney a wet end to the month.

It comes as the SES has warned large parts of the state, including Sydney, to prepare for the risk of flash floods.

Authorities warn rainfall will shift from inland areas to parts of the NSW Mid North Coast, and Hunter Valley regions, and could extend into Greater Sydney and the Illawarra.

LATEST: Warning of flight delays at Sydney airport as thick fog covers city

Slow-moving troughs and a low-pressure system are pelting Sydney and New South Wales with rain.

"Daily rainfall totals of 20-40mm are likely, with locally heavy falls of 70-80mm possible with slow-moving thunderstorms," the SES warned in a statement.

Dubbo in the state's Central West had nearly 60mm of rain in just 24 hours to 9am yesterday, with the 59.4mm recorded becoming the equal second-wettest day in May since records began in 1870.

The reason for the wet weather is because a low-pressure system and slow-moving troughs are moving across the state.

"Pools of cold upper-level air cause the atmosphere to become unstable, paving the way for wet and stormy weather," Weatherzone's Anthony Sharwood said.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran shoots down US drone as ceasefire crumbles

The Sydney Harbour Bridge enveloped by fog this morning.

The rain is set to get worse as the week wears on, with Sydney set to be in the firing line.

Sydney received around 15mm of rain since 9 am yesterday, and could see around 5mm today, with the city draped in fog this morning.

However, it will cop a drenching to end the week, with 80mm of rain potentially falling on Thursday and Friday.

According to Weatherzone, Sydney will get a slight reprieve over the weekend as rainfall eases, but it could ramp up by early next week.

Warning of flight delays at Sydney airport as thick fog covers city

Sydney Airport is warning thick fog over the city is likely to impact flights today. 

The city woke to fog lying about 50 metres above ground, spanning from the city's south to north-western suburbs.

A spokesperson for Sydney Airport said the weather conditions will be monitored through the morning.

READ MORE: No charges for second group of 'ISIS brides' after flights touch down in Melbourne, Sydney

The Sydney Harbour Bridge enveloped by fog this morning.

"Fog has descended at the airport resulting in delays and cancellations across the network. We will continue to monitor the weather conditions as the morning progresses. 

"We advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline."

It has already impacted flights into Sydney, with two international passenger services diverted to Brisbane airport.

Three cargo flights have also been diverted to Brisbane.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning of treacherous conditions on the city's roads.

"Reduced visibility in fog will make road conditions dangerous during Wednesday in all suburbs," a spokesman said.

"Motorists are advised to take extreme care."

‘Far better off’: Aussie bosses warn of mass exodus to NZ and USA

Entrepreneurial Australians may be lured abroad to New Zealand or the United States after the federal government overhauled the tax treatment for investments, business owners warn.

NZ finance minister Nicola Willis may have been tongue-in-cheek when she recently invited Aussies to hop across the ditch – where there is no comprehensive capital gains tax (CGT) – but business owners may be seriously considering the move.

Founders say scrapping the 50 per cent CGT discount, which will drastically reduce profits for some business owners who decide to sell, is the death knell for Australia's start-up culture.

EXCLUSIVE: Expat Annie decided to move back to the UK. She lasted just six months

Allan Blood. Executive Director for Victorian Hydrogen & Ammonia Industries

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at

"They need to be rewarded for the hard work they put in," he said.

"Even in a place like NZ – sure, it might not have as many people, but I do think that their government is far more supportive from a taxation standpoint."

If there is a mass exodus of deep-pocketed investors and founders to NZ or the US, Australia could miss out on billions of dollars that will instead be pumped off-shore.

The co-founder of Melbourne start-up QSIC, Matthew Elsey, who now lives in the US, agrees that fellow Australian founders will now be rethinking the geography of their next venture.

"This is a sad state of affairs. It is part of the Aussie spirit to have a crack and give it a go. Jim is getting us going all right. Going overseas," he said in a post on LinkedIn.

"If you're optimising for success and you look at this tax treatment, you now need to be way more successful in Australia to achieve the same outcome you could overseas.

"In an industry where most businesses fail, no one will take that risk."

Children killed as train crashes into school minibus

A crash between a bus and a train travelling at high speed in northern Belgium has killed four people, including two children, and injured five other children, officials say.

The injured children were hospitalised in a serious condition, said Lisa De Wilde, spokeswoman for the East Flanders public prosecutor's office.

The collision happened at a level crossing during the morning rush hour on Tuesday (Tuesday afternoon AEST) near the town of Buggenhout, more than 30 kilometres north-west of the capital, Brussels.

READ MORE: No charges after more 'ISIS brides' and kids return home

The minibus driver and an escort were killed along with two children, 12 and 15, De Wilde said at a news conference.

She said that the cause of the crash hadn't been established. Investigators were questioning witnesses and checking security camera footage.

"What we do know is that the barrier was closed and the red light was on," she said.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the badly damaged bus lay toppled on its side, its front section crushed flat.

Forensic experts in protective white suits and wearing gloves were taking photos of the scene. A forensics tent was erected nearby. The train was relatively unscathed.

The train was estimated to be travelling at about 120km/h as it approached the crossing and had "no time to brake", said Frédéric Sacré, a spokesman for Belgian rail operator Infrabel.

"The impact was extremely violent," Sacré told RTBF public broadcaster.

READ MORE: Allegedly murdered girl, accused killer mum identified

Federal Police spokesperson An Berger said that the bus driver appeared to have ploughed through the train barrier.

Infrabel said that the crossing was working correctly. A security camera there showed that the bus, which had nine people aboard, was still moving when the train hit it.

It's believed that 100 passengers were aboard the train and that none of them were hurt. Rail traffic in the area was halted and bus services provided for travellers. Local officials stood for a minute's silence after the news conference.

Children played basketball and rode bicycles at a school not far from the scene in this bucolic town.

READ MORE: Woman charged over alleged assault that chipped waitress' tooth

In a social media post, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed "great sadness" over "the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train".

"My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones," he said.

Lidia Thorpe wipes back tears as police rule out charges over death in custody

NT Police will not press charges almost a year on from the death in custody of Kumanjayi White.

The 24-year-old man with a disability died after being restrained by two police officers in a supermarket at Alice Springs on May 27, 2025.

Today, police confirmed they received advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the investigation.

READ MORE: Dozens of protesters shut down part of Parliament House

Alice Springs Police

"Senior police have spoken directly with the family and officers involved earlier today," NT Police said in a statement.

"We recognise this will be an emotional day for many people across the Northern Territory and ask the community to respond peacefully and respectfully."

The DPP said the legal threshold for prosecution has not been met.

"After considering all available material, including the independent expert report and external legal advice, the DPP formed the view that there are no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution," the DPP said in a statement.

"Decisions of this kind are made independently of government, based only on the evidence and the law."

NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole told reporters both officers involved were still employed but no decisions had been made about their reinstatement. 

"The dynamics of exactly what occurred in the incident is what's going to be explored in the coronial process by the coroner. We'll obviously listen to any recommendations that come in," he said.

Senator Lidia Thorpe became emotional and wiped back tears as she expressed her hopelessness and anger at the news.

"Our people around the country feel this hopelessness when there's no one ever held accountable," she said.

"I'm angry, I'm devastated, and I'm sick of being angry and devastated when I get these stories, and no accountability, no justice for my people ever, and where there is no justice, there is no peace."

READ MORE: Two arrested as part of Dezi Freeman investigation

Senator Lidia Thorpe became emotional and wiped back tears as she responded to news no charges will be laid over Kumanjayi White's death.

Describing her conversations with the federal government over deaths in custody, Thorpe said they don't care.

"The federal government are complicit in deaths in custody because they don't act," she said.

"They're complicit in child removals because they don't act, they have constitutional power to act, and they choose not to."

Dole urged the community to be "mindful" of the impact public commentary would have on the coronial process, Kumanjayi White's family and police officers as he called for calm.

"Our focus remains on community safety, transparency within lawful limits and ensuring the integrity of all ongoing processes," he said.

The investigation was handled by the NT Police while an interstate police force conducted an independent use-of-force review.

The DPP reviewed the evidence and made their ruling today. A coronial inquest is under way.

Thorpe said there would never be a satisfactory outcome when police investigated police.

"I think it's an error that we have police investigating police. There are international examples of independent reviews and investigations of deaths in custody," she said.

"They have experts, they have Aboriginal people, indigenous people at the table so that it's complete independence from the police."

Woman charged over alleged assault that left waitress with chipped tooth

A woman has been charged nearly a month after an alleged assault that left a Melbourne waitress needing emergency dental surgery.

French backpacker Anais Poupon, 19, was working at La Vallee Cafe on Keilor Road in Essendon on April 25 when a passerby allegedly knocked a plate she was carrying, causing it to smash into her teeth.

The alleged unprovoked attack was caught on CCTV and Poupon's colleagues posted the footage to social media in a bid to track down the alleged offender.

READ MORE: Famous chimney stacks reduced to rubble in massive blast

The waitress, French backpacker Anais Poupon, who was walking outside the cafe on Keilor Road, Essendon, was left with a bloodied mouth and chipped tooth as a result of the unprovoked attack.

READ MORE: Hundreds of dollars in power bill relief coming for millions

A 52-year-old Footscray woman was arrested at Dandenong Railway Station about 10.50am on May 23.

She was charged with recklessly causing injury and faced Melbourne Magistrates' court the next day.

The charged woman was granted bail and will next appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court on 17 August, 2026.

Poupon required surgery to fix her chipped tooth following the incident.