Tag Archives: oceania

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Parts of Sydney smashed by hail, heavy rain

Parts of western Sydney have been pummelled with hailstones as much of the New South Wales coast braces for wild weather.

Glenmore Park and Penrith have been hit with heavy rain and hail, while a severe thunderstorm warning remains in place for much of the city.

Two slow-moving storms are making their way across Sydney and could cause flash flooding, the weather bureau said. 

READ MORE: Here's your October long weekend weather forecast

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1575018508546621440Glenmore Park in Sydney's west covered in a blanket of hail.There are two slow moving storms making their way across Sydney.

While Sydney appears to be right in the firing line, the warning area stretches from Nowra on the south coast all the way up to Newcastle. 

Earlier a warning was issued for residents living on New South Wales' north coast, with dangerous hail, damaging winds and a dumping of rain forecast.

People along the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers are particularly in the firing line as conditions significantly worsen in the coming hours. 

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned residents at Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Sawtell and Dorrigo to hunker down and the storms sweep the coast, and to secure lose items and move cars undercover.

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1574956099433816067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"A low and associated trough is moving through northeast NSW today, generating thunderstorms this afternoon and evening," the BoM said.

"Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well. Stay vigilant and monitor conditions."

Overnight, wild storms swept across the state leaving a slew of damage in its wake.

The SES responded to over 100 incidents, with Lithgow, Moss Vale and Mount Druitt among the worst-hit centres.

A total of 15 flood warnings remain in place across the state.

READ MORE: Two blasts detected before sinister disturbance on Baltic Sea

https://twitter.com/Ben_Domensino/status/1574930918774431744

Major flooding is taking place on the Namoi, Macquarie, Bogan and Lachlan rivers.

In Sydney, drivers were forced to pull off the road this morning due to the intensity of the rain, accompanied as it was by lightning and thunder.

It follows intense hail in the city's west yesterday, blanketing Penrith, Springwood and Mount Druitt.

READ MORE: What do I do if my details have been hacked in the Optus data leak?

Similar conditions are expected throughout today across the state.

South-east Queensland has also been hammered by severe thunderstorms and is facing potential flash flooding.

Residents in at-risk communities have been put on high alert for coming days.

The wet weather is expected to last right up until later next week.

READ MORE: Dam failure could inundate 40 homes in South Australian town

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Russia drafting retirees into army, telling conscripts to buy their own supplies

Russian men well past the formal conscription age are being rounded up and forced into the military.

In one instance, a 63-year-old retired lieutenant colonel with diabetes was mobilised. A 51-year-old former lieutenant and a 59-year-old factory foreman were also pressed into service.

Earlier this week, a 59-year-old former lieutenant colonel with arthritis, hearing loss and hernia in the spine was also reported to have received a mobilisation summons.

READ MORE: Putin's draft could upend the deal that kept him in power

Some of the men drafted into the Russian military are at retirement age.

Russia's military has been searching for potential soldiers to fill the 300,000 troop quota set by Vladimir Putin last week.

There has been a mass exodus from the country, with potential draftees fleeing over the border into Georgia, Finland and Kazakhstan.

At a checkpoint into Georgia, thousands of people abandoned their cars at the side of the road, eager to cross on foot before Russia closes the border.

Some young Russian men have reported being stopped from leaving the country.

READ MORE: Two blasts detected before sinister disturbance on Baltic Sea

Some Russians are being blocked from leaving the country.

Meanwhile, conscripts are reporting being sent directly to the front lines without any training at all.

"We've been told officially that we'll go to the combat zone without training," one mobilised serviceman said in a video.

"We're off to Kherson on September 29."

Servicemen have been given uniforms and weapons, but told to source everything else they need themselves.

In one video, a female officer tells new recruits they are only being supplied their uniforms and armour.

READ MORE: Russians flee as conscripts for Ukraine war handed rusty weapons

Russian conscripts were handed rust-covered AK-47s before being sent into Ukraine.

"Take sleeping bags with you. You will have to sleep where you have to," she said.

"All this applies to medicine, diarrhoea tablets, hydrogen peroxide tourniquets. I don't have enough tourniquets for you."

When she was told by a soldier that pharmacies are out of tourniquets, she told them to find some in car first aid kits.

She then told them to buy tampons and pads to use to absorb the blood from bullet wounds.

An estimated 56,000 Russians have been killed since the invasion of Ukraine began in February.

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Government calls for Optus to pay for new passports if data breached

The Australian government said victims and taxpayers should not have to foot the bill to replace passports for those whose data was compromised in last week's Optus breach.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has written to Optus to confirm if the Australian telecommunications giant will pay for victims of the data breach to replace their passports if they wish to apply for one.

"There is no justification for these Australians – or for taxpayers on their behalf – to bear the cost of obtaining a new passport," she said.

READ MORE: The note Caddick's husband left after raid

"I therefore seek your earliest confirmation that Optus will cover the passport application fees of any customers affected by this breach whose passport information was disclosed and who choose to replace their currently valid passport."

A new 10 year passport costs for anyone over 16 costs $308, while a five year passport is $155.

You can expect to fork out an extra $225 for priority processing.

Last night Optus said it would pay for people affected to get new $29 driving licences in NSW, with other states also announcing measures to help people affected.

READ MORE: Ex-football star breaks silence after attempted Brisbane carjacking

The federal government is considering issuing new Medicare cards for the millions of Australians who had their private details leaked as part of the Optus data breach.

Health Minister Mark Butler told the ABC said earlier the government was considering fast-tracking passport replacements.

There is already a backlog after the pandemic, with lengthy line reported at passport offices. 

The Australian Passport Office was reportedly receiving about 15,000 passport applications a day, even before the hack, from Aussies whose documents had expired.

EXPLAINED: What to do if your details have been hacked in the Optus data leak