China says it is simulating precision attacks on key targets in Taiwan as the military drills it launched in response to the island president's meeting with the US House speaker enter a second day.

The mock drills on Sunday included "tactical manoeuvres" by the Chinese navy, state media reported.

Multiple services had carried out "simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan Island" and in the surrounding waters, CCTV reported.

EXPLAINED: What is the One-China policy and why does it matter?

It said the exercises, dubbed "United Sharp Sword", were being carried out under the supervision of the Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army.

Taiwan's defence ministry reported that, as of noon local time, it had detected a total of 58 PLA warplanes over the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, of which 31 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's ADIZ, or air defence identification zone. It said it had also detected a total of nine PLA navy vessels.

China launched the exercises on Saturday, a day after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a 10-day visit to Central America and the United States where she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

It described them as "a serious warning against the Taiwan separatist forces' collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Beijing had repeatedly warned against Tsai's meeting with McCarthy and had previously threatened to take "strong and resolute measures" if it went ahead.

China's ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as its territory despite never having ruled it, and has spent decades trying to isolate it diplomatically. It has not ruled out using force to take control of the island.

China reacted in a similar fashion when then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August, launching a series of military drills that surrounded the island and firing missiles over it.

Those drills were the first time China had fired missiles over the island, and many experts saw them as representing a major escalation of China's military intimidation against Taiwan.

China says Operation Joint Sword military drills will continue through Monday.

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Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty all in firing line for thunder tonight.

A toddler is in a serious condition after being found unconscious in a small river in Adelaide's north on Easter Sunday morning.

The little boy, aged under two, was discovered by his parents in the Little Para River at Paralowie just after 9am after going missing from their family home.

He had gone out with an older sibling but only one of them returned.

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By the time the youngest was found in the water, he was unconscious.

Paramedics raced to the scene and performed CPR.

He was rushed to the Royal Women's and Children's Hospital where he remains a critical condition.

South Australia Police are checking security camera footage.

9News understands the two little boys were filmed as they walked down along the street to the river.

Five people have been rushed to hospital with burns after an outdoor fire pit exploded on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

A 26-year-old woman was put into an induced coma and rushed to hospital in a serious condition after the accident at Calvert Parade in Newport about 5.30pm on Saturday.

Some of the guests managed to escape into a swimming pool to relieve their burns.

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The ethanol pit was being refilled when the explosion happened.

Medics in a helicopter landed on nearby Newport Oval to treat the injured.

The 26-year-old woman's partial thickness burns to her face and arm were cooled with a hose, NSW Ambulance said, before she was put in an induced coma and taken by road to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

A 55-year-old with burns to his stomach, and a 54-year-old man with burns to his face and arms were both taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition.

READ MORE: Police hunt for man who allegedly doused a woman in petrol

Two other patients with minor burns didn't need hospital treatment.

9News understands the owners of the luxury multi-level home were hosting an Easter gathering in the backyard of their home, which overlooks Newport Beach.

The property was bought for $8.5 million in 2020.

Neighbour Marnie said it was "bedlam" as locals spilled out into the street to see what happened.

NSW Police were also called to the emergency.

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Bethells Beach, Henderson Valley, parts of Swanson and parts of Piha are affected.

The assault occurred just before 9pm last night.

Several residents have been evacuated after a fire broke out in an apartment block close to Sydney's CBD.

Fire and Rescue NSW said an automated alarm called crews to the building on the corner of Liverpool and Oxford streets in Darlinghurst just after 5pm on Saturday.

Flames and smoke were seen coming from level 15 of the block.

READ MORE: Police hunt Brisbane 'gunman' who allegedly set fire to house

https://twitter.com/FRNSW/status/1644973902584778755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Fire and Rescue NSW said the building was "heavily smoke logged" and while "numerous" people were evacuated, some occupants were being told to stay where they were because of the smoke.

A total of 14 fire trucks and more than 40 firefighters were on the scene.

NSW Ambulance said paramedics assessed one person smoke for inhalation.

Oxford Street was closed in both directions between Flinders and Brisbane streets, Live Traffic NSW said.

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More to come…

Two years ago, eight dirt, road and quad bikes were seized by the police.

The off-white powder can cause paranoia, anxiety, and a dry or numb mouth.

Two men have drowned at NSW beaches this Easter Sunday.

A man in his 70s died after being pulled from the water at a beach north of Sydney.

The man was found unresponsive in the water at Fingal Beach, Port Stephens at 10am this morning.

NSW Ambulance paramedics did CPR but were unable to revive him.

A man believed to be in his 60s also died after being pulled from the water in the state's Lake Illawarra region, south of Sydney.

Emergency services were called to Killalea Beach, Shell Cove just before 3pm.

The man couldn't be revived.

Police are investigating both deaths, and will send reports to the Coroner.