Tag Archives: oceania

Tech issue stopping sales at around 30 Woolworths stores across Australia

A widespread IT outage is affecting around 30 Woolworths supermarkets across the country, preventing customers from making purchases.

The majority of stores hit by the outage are Woolworths Metro stores, a Woolworths spokesperson has advised.

"We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said.

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"There are no issues with the Woolworths website.

"We apologise to our customers in those impacted stores for the inconvenience and thank them for their patience as we work through this IT issue."

Woolworths has more than 1100 stores across the country.

More to come.

Trainer charged after allegedly giving dog alcohol, sabotaging race

A greyhound trainer has been charged after allegedly giving his dog alcohol in order to sabotage a race.

Augustus Weekes is also accused of betting on a rival dog at the meet in the NSW Central West in June 2021. He won $4000 by betting against his own greyhound.

On July 20 of this year, detectives searched a property in Larass Lee and arrested the 63-year-old trainer.

READ MORE: Police seize $675 million worth of 'ice' destined for Australian streets

Greyhound trainer Augustus Weekes dog Winlock Lloyd given alcohol

He is facing four charges relating to using corrupt information to bet on an event and was appeared at Orange Local Court today.

His arrest came as part of a joint investigation between the Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission.

In April 2021, Strike Force Grighton was established to investigate a criminal syndicate suspected to be involved in the supply of prohibited drugs between Sydney and the Central West.

Greyhound trainer Augustus Weekes dog Winlock Lloyd given alcohol

NSW Police said the investigation has also been assisted by investigators from the Dubbo Region Enforcement Squad, Central West Police District and the Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission.

So far detectives have seized 34kg of cannabis and other illegal drugs and five men – aged between 23 and 38 – have been charged over their alleged involvement.

Man dies after being pulled from the water at North Bondi

A man has died after being pulled from the water at North Bondi.

A St Vincent's Hospital spokesperson confirmed to 9News the 29-year-old man passed away.

Paramedics were called to treat the man after he got into trouble while spear-fishing on Thursday afternoon.

READ MORE: 'Serious deficiencies' at Wagga Wagga Hospital after man dies post-knee surgery

A man has died after pulled from the water at North Bondi.

Inspector Giles Buchanan said the man was pulled from the water before his friends attempted CPR.

"The Toll Ambulance Helicopter's medical team landed on Bondi Beach, where they treated the man, along with NSW Ambulance intensive care and special operations paramedics," Buchanan said.

"This was a very traumatic experience for this man's friends and we commend their quick response in trying to assist their friend."

School playgrounds being used for terrorism recruitment

School playgrounds are being used as potential terrorism recruitment centres, with graphic videos being shared with vulnerable children, the federal government has warned.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil has joined the nation's spy chief in warning terror groups are converting Australian teenagers as young as thirteen.

She told the Australia-NZ Counter Terrorism Summit on Thursday that she was recently briefed by ASIO about a case involving teenagers radicalising children in the school playground.

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In the case, a group of teenagers targeted lonely or vulnerable children, including those who had been bullied, and flattered them with compliments to befriend them.

The teens then manipulated their targets, showing them increasingly violent Islamic State propaganda videos including beheadings.

"We're seeing these presentations in children that are younger and younger," O'Neil said.

"And it's something we really want the community to be thinking about and talking about."

More than half of ASIO's highest priority investigative cases are minors, some as young as 13 years old.

ASIO Chief Mike Burgess already voiced his concerns about young Australians being recruited by extremists back in February.

"As the director general of security… this trend is deeply concerning," he said.

"Unlike past experience, many of these young people do not come from families where a parent or sibling already holds extreme views."

Howard says stranded Afghanistan embassy staff 'let down'

The man who made the call to send Australian troops into the Afghanistan War says some of the locally engaged staff who worked alongside the ADF have been "let down".

When the Taliban seized control of Kabul a year ago, John Howard said Australia bore a "moral obligation" to help Afghan interpreters and other staff who served for our government, by giving them visas.

At the launch of his new book A Sense of Balance, the former prime minister was asked about a backlog of humanitarian visas and reports some people have been killed in Afghanistan while waiting in the queue.

READ MORE: Mum says murdered teen 'trusted a monster'

John Howard visiting troops in Afghanistan in 2005 when he was prime minister.

"If those facts you've cited are true, we have let those people down and we haven't discharged that obligation," Howard said.

"To the extent either side hasn't discharged that responsibility, I criticise them."

Howard was also asked for his view on a Voice to Parliament, with the Labor government committed to holding a referendum on the potential change to our constitution.

https://twitter.com/ElizaEdNews/status/1560098123409915904

The proposal would see a body established to advise parliament on issues impacting First Nations Australians.

The former prime minister noted he's still "undecided" on a Voice, but has raised concerns about any possible "coercive" influence on government.

"The prime minister has said… it would be a very brave government to ignore a recommendation from this body," Howard said.

"I would like to have more information on anything I think has the potential for division, that has the potential for establishing a body seen as exercising coercive influence on the government."