Police are asking for dashcam footage after a man was fatally assaulted in Lower Hutt on Friday night.Craig McKelvie died in hospital after being seriously assaulted, Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Todd said.He was found at…

Two separate instances of gun violence within hours of each other south of Brisbane have landed two people in hospital with facial injuries.

Cameras caught the moments both shots were fired, but questions remain over whether the crimes are linked.

Neighbours on Cowper Avenue, in the Logan suburb of Eagleby heard gunshots as a car drove by at 9pm yesterday.

READ MORE: Victoria could see 'some of the largest evacuations' in the state's history

Police said young man standing in the front yard was hit in the face during a drive-by shooting.

While the injuries are not life threatening, his mother doesn't know why he was targeted.

"He said to me 'I've just been shot'," Lorraine Costner told 9News.

"I said 'what?'"

She said her son could still have pellets from a shotgun in his jaw, and also has powder burns.

The other shooting happened earlier in Crestmead, also in Logan.

Police said a dark SUV pulled up at a property in Bix Street and a man got out, arguing with a man in the yard before firing.

He missed, and hit a 58-year old woman standing nearby.

She was taken to hospital with facial injuries.

Queensland police are searching for both shooters, and trying to work out if the crimes are linked.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen a dark-coloured Mazda CX9 or a white or silver Mitsubishi Lancer in either of the suburbs to contact them.

They also want dash cam from the areas.

A huge fire blazed on Saturday at the notorious Evin prison where political prisoners and anti-government activists are kept in the Iranian capital.

Online videos and local media reported gunshots, as nationwide protests entered a fifth week.

Iran's state-run IRNA reported there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official.

READ MORE: Workers at crucial oil refineries join Iran protests

The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze.

He said the "rioters" were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict.

The official said that the "situation is completely under control" and that firefighters were extinguishing the flames.

Later, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said that "peace" had returned to the prison and that the unrest was not related to the protests which have swept the country for four weeks.

Footage of the blaze circulated online.

Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm.

READ MORE: What is behind the masssive protests in Iran?

A protest broke out on the street soon after, with many chanting "Death to the Dictator!" — a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — and burning tires, circulating videos showed.

Witnesses said that police blocked roads and highways to Evin prison and that at least three strong explosions were heard coming from the area.

Traffic was heavy along major motorways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital, and many people honked to show their solidarity with protests.

Riot police were seen riding on motorbikes toward the facility, as were ambulances and fire trucks. Witnesses reported that the internet was blocked in the area.

The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that an "armed conflict" broke out within the prison walls.

It said shots were first heard in Ward 7 of the prison.

This account could not immediately be verified.

The prison fire occurred as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations along main streets and at universities in some cities across Iran on Saturday.

READ MORE: Iranian authorities arrest eight after teenage protester's death

Human rights monitors reported hundreds of dead, including children, as the movement concluded its fourth week.

Demonstrators also chanted "Down with the Dictator" on the streets of Ardabil in the country's northwest.

Outside of universities in Kermanshah, Rasht and Tehran, students rallied, according to videos on social media.

In the city of Sanandaj, a hotspot for demonstrations in the northern Kurdish region, school girls chanted, "Woman, life, freedom," down a central street.

The protests erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.

She was arrested by Iran's morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.

Iran's government insists Amini was not mistreated in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained.

At least 233 protesters have been killed since demonstrations swept Iran on September 17, according to US-based rights monitor HRANA.

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The group said 32 of the dead were below the age of 18.

Earlier, Oslo-based Iran Human Rights estimated 201 people have been killed.

Iranian authorities have dismissed the unrest as a purported Western plot, without providing evidence.

Public anger in Iran has coalesced around Amini's death, prompting girls and women to remove their mandatory headscarves on the street in a show of solidarity.

Other segments of society, including oil workers, have also joined the movement, which has spread to at least 19 cities, becoming one of the greatest challenges to Iran's theocracy since the country's 2009 Green Movement.

Riots have also broken out in prisons, with clashes reported between inmates and guards in Lakan prison in the northern province of Gilan recently.

Evin Prison, which holds detainees facing security-related charges and include dual citizens, has been charged by rights groups with abusing inmates.

READ MORE: 'Ancient giant' discovered by farmers becomes tourist sensation

The facility has long been known for holding political prisoners as well as those with ties to the West who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations.

Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American who had been furloughed from prison while serving a 10-year sentence on internationally criticised spying charges, was recently sent back into Evin.

His 85-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, was freed and allowed to leave the country.

In 2018, the prison was slapped with US sanctions.

"Prisoners held at Evin Prison are subject to brutal tactics inflicted by prison authorities, including sexual assaults, physical assaults and electric shock," the US Treasury Department wrote in a statement after announcing the sanctions in 2018.

Commercial strikes resumed Saturday in key cities across the Kurdish region, including Saqqez, Amini's hometown and the birthplace of the protests, Bukan and Sanandaj.

The government has responded with a brutal crackdown, arresting activists and protest organisers, reprimanding Iranian celebrities for voicing support, even confiscating their passports, and using live ammunition, tear gas and sound bombs to disperse crowds, leading to deaths.

In a video widely distributed Saturday, plainclothes Basij, a paramilitary volunteer group, are seen forcing a woman into a car and firing bullets into the air amid a protest in Gohardasht, in northern Iran.

Widespread internet outages have also made it difficult for protesters to communicate with the outside world, while Iranian authorities have detained at least 40 journalists since the unrest began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

More than 9000 residents in Victoria's 24 "hardest hit" LGAs have applied for emergency disaster funding and thousands more have been forced to flee their homes as the worst flood crisis in a generation batters the state.

As of 7pm today, almost 70 emergency warnings remained in places across Victoria including, Echuca near the NSW border, were residents received text messages telling them to leave by midday.

Bunbartha, between Echuca and Shepparton, was hit with an evacuation warning just before 6.30pm.

READ MORE: Victorians impacted by floodwaters eligible for emergency payments

In Echuca, residents are preparing for the first of two flood peaks with the Campaspe River expected to peak at 96.2 metres.

The SES warned as many as 1000 properties would either be surrounded or, in some cases, inundated.

In other parts of the state's north, thousands were either fleeing their homes or trying to defend them as earlier deluges continued to drive river level rises and some residents were warned it was already too late to leave.

https://twitter.com/vicemergency/status/1581505574436364288?s=20&t=-FI3qLIAoVkvw9EiIB0MNQ

People in the town of Charlton in north-west Victoria were told this morning they should evacuate the area immediately, with major flooding expected to peak today and continue into Monday.

"The duration of the event is likely to be three to five days," Vic Emergency has warned.

The evacuation warning is expected to be in place until 10am tomorrow.

A relief centre has been opened at Wycheproof P-12 College for Charlton residents and their pets to shelter in the meantime.

Residents can find the latest warnings and evacuation orders on the VicEmergency website and weather updates on the Bureau of Meteorology website.

https://twitter.com/vicemergency/status/1581420926943391744

Shepparton and Mooroopna

Residents in Shepparton, 180 kilometres north of Melbourne, and nearby Mooroopna, Orrvale and Kialla West were told it was too late to leave their areas, after major flood warnings were issued about the rising Goulburn River overnight.

"Major flooding now occurring at Shepparton where a major peak around 12.2 metres is possible early Monday, above the 1974 flood level of 12.09 metres," Vic Emergency said.

"Strong river rises will continue during Sunday at Shepparton, where levels are likely to exceed 12.10 metres by 6pm Sunday, before peaking around 12.20 metres early Monday."

READ MORE: Clean up begins in small Victorian town ravaged by floodwaters

Not far from Shepparton, in Mooroopna, a power station has been submerged in floodwater, with a resident sharing aerial footage of the little that can be seen of the station above the water.

Powercor announced it had de-energised the station, which powers about 10,688 homes and businesses in Mooroopna and surrounding towns, as a safety measure.

"Safety is always our priority, and we have taken this action to reduce the risk to the community and minimise long-term damage to electricity assets that may lead to prolonged power outages," Powercor has said.

Powercor said it built a levee, sandbagged and used pumps to keep the water out, but was unsuccessful.

The energy company said it was able to restore power to about 4700 customers connected to the substation by supplying them via other parts of its network.

About 5954 customers will remain off power until it is safe to re-energise the site.

It is expected the power station will be out of action for days.

However, affected residents are warned to be careful about electrical appliances, and to not assume that power has been cut to their home.

The water level has been rising all day in and around Shepparton, claiming roads, playgrounds and swamping homes. 

READ MORE: Social services minister says cost-of-living pressures to stay in 2023

Already more than 8000 properties have been impacted by floodwaters, according to Greater Shepparton City Council, while more than 160 people are at Shepparton Relief Centre and more than 6000 homes are without power.

ADF called in to help save Echuca

A large wall of sandbags is holding back the majority of flooding in Echuca, but waters were expected to continue to rise.

Teams from the Australian Defence Force are on the ground to the town to try to help protect it from the rising waters.

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Crews have been seen adding more and more sandbags to the wall to try to keep it strong in the fight against the rising waters.

Echuca residents there are bracing for a double whammy: first they will be hit with waters from the Campaspe River and then, in the next few days, they'll also get water from the Murray River.

Local resident Michael has told Today that everyone in the town is feeling very worried.

"We've had floods here before but we haven't had anything like this," he said.

"We are in a situation that is going to get real critical.

"If the water goes over (the sandbag wall) then God help us because things here are now serious."

READ MORE: Blaze, shots heard from prison in Iran capital amid protests

https://twitter.com/IzaStaskowski/status/1581397458223271936

Some homes have already gone under, despite sandbagging preparations.

One home in Echuca has been seen filled at least foot-high with floodwater.

The residents have told Today they woke to find their home inundated about 3am, with the water having begun leaking in through their garage, and through sandbag barriers.

Evacuations could continue for days

Victoria's emergency services chiefs warned on Saturday the state could experience "some of the largest evacuations" in the state's history over the coming days.

Premier Daniel Andrews also warned Victorian the state is far from being "out of the woods".

Meanwhile, major flooding is still occurring along the Goulburn River at Seymour, which peaked around 3am Friday at 8.26 metres.

It's forecast to finally drop below the major flood level (7m) on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the clean-up begins in the small town of Rochester, 180 kilometres north of Melbourne which all went underwater on Friday.

Recovery is also continuing in Maribyrnong in Melbourne, after hundreds of businesses were flooded on Friday. 

READ MORE: Two people injured after shooting incidents south of Brisbane

More rain on the way

While the rain cleared off to make for a dry weekend, Weatherzone is forecasting another wet spell later into the week, which could "wreak havoc" over "several days" right along the east coast, from Queensland down to Tasmania.

"Another low-pressure system and trough… will intensify and push across the NT and SA early next week, before moving into and settling over QLD, NSW, VIC & TAS for several days," they said.

READ MORE: Why more Aussies are getting trapped in a 'mortgage prison'

"We can see widespread falls of 20-40 millimetres are likely, but heavier localised falls of 100-150 millimetres are possible over recently impacted areas.

"While rainfall amounts might change in the lead-up to this event, widespread rainfall is likely, and it won't take a large amount to see rivers rise again."

A number of weather alerts and flood warnings are in place across NSW and Tasmania also as river levels rise from the recent rainfall runoff. 

New South Wales residents can keep up to date with the latest warnings and safety advice on the NSW SES website, while those in Tasmania can stay up to date here.

Charles Croucher has been appointed as Chief Political Editor for 9News, replacing the outgoing Chris Uhlmann who recently announced his retirement.

Croucher, who grew up in Branxton in NSW and first joined 9News in 2010, steps into a role made famous by the legendary Laurie Oakes.

"When I first arrived at Parliament House, I counted the steps between my desk and Laurie's," said Croucher.

"I was so lucky to be able to watch and learn from the absolute best. It's a huge honour and challenge to follow in the footsteps of Laurie and Chris, but I'll be helped by a remarkable team of reporters and camera crews. I'm excited to now help lead a very talented team, telling some of the most important stories impacting Australians during these challenging times."

Darren Wick, director of news and current affairs for Nine, said Croucher will 'cut through the spin' during a crucial time of change for Australia and its place in the world.

"The most important reporting role at Nine is the Chief Political Editor in Canberra. We've built the reputation of 9News around excellent journalism and fearless commentary from Laurie Oakes and Chris Uhlmann. Charles Croucher is a brilliant political reporter and analyst," said Wick.

"This is a new era for 9News. We're at a turning point in history as Australia defines its place in the world and our region where alliances are rapidly changing. Charles has excelled at every challenge throughout his career at Nine. He is the best person to break down the complicated language of politics and cut through the spin."

Croucher joined 9News Darwin in 2010 as sports reporter and weekend news anchor before moving to Melbourne to join A Current Affair two years later.

He then spent five years in Canberra as a politics reporter for 9News under Oakes before taking on the role of US correspondent.

Croucher returned to Sydney two years ago and has been reporting for 9News, as well as co-hosting Weekend Today.

To mark his new position at Nine, we asked Croucher a couple of questions about what politics means to him.

Why does politics matter?

Politics matters because it impacts almost every part of our lives. Politics done right can unite the nation to achieve things we individually couldn't dream of and improve lives. Politics done wrong can cost lives. It's hard to think of higher stakes.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Australians over the next couple of years?

Australia faces huge challenges. Externally there's the rise and threat of China, particularly in our region. There's war in Europe and worrying economic outlooks. But the biggest challenges are domestic. Increased cost of living hurts Australians every day. If we want to keep quality of life climbing, the wages have to climb as everyone gets back on their feet after Covid.

The challenge that isn't often talked about is in our society. We have to keep listening to each other. Having lived and worked in the US, I've seen what happens when people pick their sides, retreat to their corners and refuse to engage or listen with their neighbours/family/friends that don't agree. No side of politics or culture is always right. The answer so often involves compromise – we have to still be able to do it. 

You have spent a lot of time in the US and overseas reporting for 9News, particularly politics. What's the one story you covered or moment you witnessed that will always stay with you?

The US remains an incredible place, and to live and report on the Trump era was like few things in history.

However, the one story I'll always remember was the first election I covered for Nine, which was in East Timor.

Timor had been through decades of violence and struggle and the simple act of voting was a huge deal to the people. Women got dressed up and men wore suits. Pigs and chickens ran around the schools where voting took place.

Jose Ramos-Horta was President at the time and he arrived to vote and took his place in the line. A freedom fighter and Nobel Prize Winner, standing among the chickens and the pigs and the people. He lost that day – but made a point of telling me how this transfer of power meant so much to them. I wrote about it a few years ago.

And finally ….

If there was one big historical political event you would have loved to have covered, what would it have been and why?

I would have loved to cover the Hawke years. Big ideas, big characters and big reform. Covering federation would have also been amazing. We don't give enough credit to the people that bought together six colonies into the functioning and thriving nation we have today, and did it all without the need for violence.

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Over 70 firefighters are desperately battling to contain a huge blaze tearing through a pharmaceutical factory in Sydney's west.

Emergency services were called to the Star Combo Pharma facility at Smithfield at 2pm after reports of large volumes of smoke seeping from the building.

Firefighters, as well as a major incident management team, are on the scene working to contain the blaze.

READ MORE: Federal government to open up 250 beds at Mickleham quarantine facility for flood-hit residents

It's not currently know if any staff were inside, with emergency services still unable to give the all clear.

Residents in surrounding suburbs have been warned to stay indoors and avoid the area due to smoke inhalation fears.

Local road closures are currently in place. 

READ MORE: Evacuation warnings continue as floodwaters keep rising across Victoria

The company makes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, vitamins and nutritional supplements – shipping across the country and the world.

It's believed to have just completed a multi-million dollar upgrade of the factory to meet global demand.