Police searching for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont have charged his 75-year-old grandparent Josie Murray with firearms offences but have maintained the charges are not linked to the toddler's disappearance.

Officers announced the charge this afternoon as they finished searching for the day in a renewed operation at Gus' family's Oak Park Station homestead, about 43 kilometres south of Yunta in South Australia.

Gus was last seen playing on a mound of dirt about 5pm on September 27.

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Police will continue to search for evidence and said they would remain in the area tomorrow.

"An update on the search activities will be provided as they progress," SA Police said in a statement.

As a result of a previous search at Oak Park Station, police arrested Josie Murray, who was bailed to appear in the Peterborough Magistrates Court on May 6.

Detective Inspector Andrew Macrae said the firearms charges were not related to the disappearance of Gus or a previous incident at Oak Park Station in October involving media attending the property.

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Police earlier this month confirmed a person with close ties to the household, who is not one of Gus' parents, had been speaking with detectives but then allegedly "withdrew cooperation" and has since been identified as a suspect.

Gus' disappearance is now being considered a major crime.

Josie Murray and Gus' other grandparent Shannon Murray released a statement through their lawyers, saying they were "absolutely devastated" by SA Police's statement on February 6.

"We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime. The family has cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad," the statement read.

The lawyers also indicated they will not be making any further comments.

There is no suggestion Josie or Shannon Murray are involved in the disappearance of Gus and it is not unusual for anyone linked to an investigation to seek out legal advice.

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The search for Gus

No evidence of Gus has been uncovered despite extensive searches of the property, which Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said has been the "largest and most intensive" missing person search ever undertaken by SA Police.

A full-scale ground and air search of the property and the surrounding area was launched after Gus went missing.

The search area has totalled 706 square kilometres, with the assistance of 80 Australian Defence Force soldiers, drones, mounted officers and aircraft.

About 163 SA Police officers have been deployed for the search.

A three-day search of six mine shafts near Oak Park Station also failed to uncover any evidence.

Police received more than 150 Crime Stoppers tips about the missing boy.

Officers returned to the area surrounding Oak Park Station to search for Gus' remains on February 2, but uncovered no evidence.

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Neighbours are using their own vehicles to evacuate homes cut off by floods.

Rainfall is intensifying with 250mm predicted over the Banks Peninsula.

Driver Garth Thompson told police he heard a bang, sat up and saw ‘bikes everywhere’.

States of emergency remain in place as the wild weather begins to ease.

Popular Australian sushi chain Sushi Sushi has been bought by a Japanese dining empire in a deal estimated to be worth $160 million.

The food court staple, which began in Melbourne in 1998, has been snapped up by Tokyo-based fast food giant Genki Global Dining Concepts after being listed for sale in mid-2025.

Sources at the time told the Australian Financial Review that Odyssey Private Equity, which bought the sushi franchise in 2019, would be fielding offers above $160 million.

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Genki – which began as a sushi train in 1968 – is one of the biggest fast food giants in the world, with stores in the United Srtates, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Kuwait, the Philippines, China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar.

"Sushi Sushi is an iconic Australian brand with a powerful consumer proposition, strong franchise performance and significant runway for expansion, both in Australia and internationally," said Genki chief executive Mitsuzo Fujio.

The transaction has been described by Genki as part of its effort to become one of the world's leading Japanese sushi brands in terms of store numbers.

Sushi Sushi operates 190 stores across Australia.

It embarked on an aggressive growth strategy when acquired by Odyssey in 2019, adding 60 stores in the past seven years.

Sushi Sushi and Sushi Musa, another Odyssey brand, generated a yearly revenue of $88.7 million in the last financial year.

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The brand began in the back of a fish shop in Box Hill, Victoria.

"Our founder was working in the fish shop during the day and in a high-end Japanese restaurant at night," Sushi Sushi notes on its website of co-founder Anna Kasman.

"She realised that sushi was quality fish on rice; simple quality ingredients artfully made together for an exceptional taste, and she asked one of her chefs to create a Hand roll that they could sell to customers in a fast, fresh and affordable way."

Australia's sushi industry neared the $1 billion mark in 2025, according to IBISWorld.

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A man has been killed, thousands of properties are without power and flights have been cancelled as wild weather lashes large parts of New Zealand.

Met Service issued a red warning yesterday for a low-pressure system creating heavy rain and strong winds in parts of the North Island, with Wairarapa being hit the worst with 256.4mm of rainfall and 240km/h wind gusts overnight.

The conditions have eased slightly, but continue today as the system moves to the southern, central and eastern parts of the country.

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Images showed several roads underwater, rivers flooded, and trees and powerlines down across the affected areas.

Powerco said at least 18,025 of its customers are without power, while Wellington Electricity said 6500 of its customers were affected.

Water supply is also being affected, with Pirinoa residents told to boil all drinking water before use as floodwaters inundate the local water treatment plant and Taihape, Mangaweka, Hunterville and Rātana residents told to conserve water.

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A state of emergency was declared for several districts, schools were closed and flights were cancelled, aborted or delayed. 

Kate McEvoy was on one of the final flights to attempt a landing at Wellington Airport yesterday evening with her three-month-old son, Stuff reported. 

But at the last minute, the pilot pulled up from the approaching runway and turned back around to Christchurch. 

McEvoy told Stuff she was surprised Jetstar tried to make the journey.

"We were watching as all of the departures were getting cancelled, but ours was still going, and we're like 'oh my god, why aren't they cancelling it?'," she said.

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The wild weather has claimed the life of one man, who was found dead inside a submerged car on State Highway 39 in Puketotara last night.

He has been identified as father and keen fisher Brent Knowles.

"My beautiful dad. You were my world, I loved you so much. Life will never be the same. Broken," his daughter, Tanya Knowles, said on social media. 

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon offered his support to those affected, but warned the country is not out of the woods yet.

"To those facing damage, everything possible is being done to help you get back on your feet," he said in a statement today.

"Some regions are still facing the worst of it too.

"Please take warnings seriously and don't take any chances."

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NZ First is continuing to trend upwards, according to the latest survey results.

The backpacker was lured into a van on K Rd and taken to an industrial area, Crown says.

‘I’ve got nothing to hide,’ the judge told a Judicial Conduct Panel today.