Tag Archives: oceania

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PM makes ‘downpayment’ on $30 billion shipyard to build nuclear submarines

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced a multi-billion dollar investment in an Adelaide shipyard to train workers in building AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines.

He said the $3.9 billion cash injection into the Osborne shipyard by the federal government was a "downpayment" for the facility, which will support the 10,000 skilled workers required to build the vessels.

Albanese confirmed today the total cost will be $30 billion, as forecast by the Australian Naval Infrastructure.

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Under the AUKUS agreement, the Australian navy will acquire eight nuclear-powered (but not nuclear armed) submarines over the next decade from the United States and Britain.

The federal government says 5500 jobs will be created at the shipyard, with thousands more indirect roles stemming from the shipyard's construction programs.

"This is a driver of not just of national security and how were going to defend our nation into the future," Albanese said.

"It's also a driver of our economic prosperity, as well as making such an enormous difference to some of the apprentices that we've met here today."

Speaking alongside the prime minister, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the Adelaide shipyard would be the only in the southern hemisphere capable of constructing nuclear-powered submarines.

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"Importantly, this will modernise Aussie manufacturing as we go through it because it's not just the 10,000 jobs here," he said.

"We've got 70 companies already going through the qualification process to win work supplying not just Australian submarines but UK and US submarines."

AUKUS was signed five years ago by the leaders of Australia, the US and UK in a move aimed at deterring China's assertiveness in the Pacific.

Doubt over the future of AUKUS emerged last January when US President Donald Trump was sworn in.

He ordered a review of the defence pact by the Pentagon, concerned it did not meet his "America first" agenda.

The agreement hung in the balance for months until the US Defence Department gave the green light in September. 

Later, Trump warmly endorsed AUKUS when he hosted Albanese at the White House, saying it was "full steam ahead".

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Drenching continues for South-East Queensland

Residents across Queensland are being warned today to expect another burst of wet weather, with up to 50mm of rain forecast in some parts.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more heavy falls and the risk of flooding across southern, central and northern parts of the state.

Senior Meteorologist Dean Narramore told Weekend Today this morning Brisbane and the Gold Coast are among areas set to bear the brunt over coming hours.

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"We're going to see that rain really pick up this afternoon and this evening around the Gold Coast and of south-east Queensland.

"And that's why we're going to see the flood watches are current."

The bureau says a large trough over western, southern, and central Queensland has caused the wet conditions of past days.

The rain and thunderstorms are likely to shift north and west away from the coast into central Queensland by tomorrow.

Rapid river level rises are possible in areas that receive the heaviest rainfall.

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/2022792442076877003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The bureau warns catchments likely to be affected include the upper and lower Brisbane River, including the Bremer River, and Warrill, Lockyer, Laidley, Ipswich and Brisbane creeks.

A strong marine wind warning has also been issued today for waters in Capricornia, Hervey Bay, K'gari, and the Sunshine and Gold coasts.

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Teens pinned to wall by out-of-control car skidding into takeaway shop

Heart-stopping CCTV footage captured the moment a car skidded out of control in Queensland, smashing into two teenage boys.

Firefighters were forced to use a winch to free the pair, after they were pinned against a wall outside an Ipswich takeaway shop as they waited for an afternoon snack.

9News obtained confronting footage of the moment the 13 and 14-year-old boys were struck by the car, which is seen spinning out of control around 4pm yesterday.

READ MORE: Four-hour Melbourne siege ends as man bitten by police dog

Car skids out of control, pinning teenagers to wall

The boys can be seen sitting on the tables outside Carmen's Seafood and Takeaway before the blue Ford Falcon skidded off the road and headed straight toward them.

The driver and passengers of the car, bearing green P plates, immediately jumped out and tried in vain to pull the car off the pair as passers by rush over to help.

Paramedics arrived minutes later and stayed with the boys until firefighters arrived and used a winch to pull the Falcon away from the wall to free the teens.

They were both transported to the Queensland Children's Hospital with life threatening injuries.

Car skids out of control, pinning teenagers to wall

The teens remain in hospital tonight – the 14-year-old in a critical but stable condition, while the 13-year-old is in a stable condition.

Those inside the Falcon, including the driver, were not physically injured but were looked over at the scene.

"We were just here and I heard a loud bang and some screaming," Tina Le from the shop told 9News.

"Then we came out and saw a car right in front of the shop. They just came home from school I think, they were just getting a feed.

Car skids out of control, pinning teenagers to wall

"Hoping they're okay."

No charges have been laid and police say there will be a thorough investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash.

Any witnesses are being encouraged to come forward.

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Three people rescued after becoming trapped in floodwaters as heavy rain lashes Queensland

Three people have been rescued from floodwaters in Queensland as heavy rain sparked flood warnings across large parts of the state.

A 56-year-old woman became trapped in her car after it became submerged in water on Booral Road in Bunya Creek about 10.40pm yesterday.

Two men, aged 25 and 26, stopped to help her and removed her from the car.

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Three people have been rescued from floodwaters in Queensland as heavy rain sparked flood warnings across large parts of the state.

But they also got into trouble when all three became trapped in fast-flowing water. 

Emergency services began a frantic effort to save them and were able to pull the trio to safety. 

The two men were assessed at the scene and the woman was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital for observation.

Three people have been rescued from floodwaters in Queensland as heavy rain sparked flood warnings across large parts of the state.

It wasn't the only close call overnight, with two men rescued from the roof of a truck in Mount Steadman and a man and woman rescued from a car trapped in floodwaters near Biggenden.

It comes as Hervey Bay recorded 120mm of rainfall in less than two hours, with totals reaching 180mm in parts of the Burnett catchment.

The Gold Coast Hinterland was one of the worst hit with 176mm recorded in Upper Springbrook, while the outback town of Taroom recorded 130mm to 150mm in 24 hours. 

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A severe weather warning was in place today for north and central Queensland including Charters Towers, Townsville, Moranbah, Ingham, Palm Island and Collinsville.

While the peak of the rainfall has now passed the south-east, more showers are on the way tomorrow. 

"The risk of severe storms remains pretty broad across interior Queensland and right up into the north-east tropics as well," Bureau of Meteorology's Felim Hanniffy said. 

"We could see falls broadly of that 20 to 50mm in the south-east during Sunday and certainly couldn't rule out falls higher than that, particularly around the more elevated terrain."

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Four-hour Melbourne siege ends as man bitten by police dog

A man has been bitten by a police dog during an arrest, bringing a four-hour siege to an end in Melbourne's north-east.

Police responded to reports of a man behaving erratically at a unit on Boadle Road in Bundoora about 9.20pm yesterday.

Witness Hayden Walmsley
told 9News the commotion was "aggressive".

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A man has been bitten by a police dog during an arrest, bringing a four-hour siege to an end in Melbourne's north-east.

"Things banging. Things being smashed sounded like glass got smashed at one point. Walls being hit," he said.

"There was lots of things being thrown there was lots of noise. It was scary," another witness, Megan Beckwith, said.

Officers attempted to negotiate with the man but he retreated inside a property and barricaded himself inside with a woman.

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A man has been bitten by a police dog during an arrest, bringing a four-hour siege to an end in Melbourne's north-east.

Officers, including specialist police, continued to attempt to negotiate with the man but were unsuccessful. 

After about four hours, they were able to get the woman out and then pounced on the man.

Officers broke down the door and arrested the 33-year-old.

He was taken to hospital under police guard with a dog bite injury he received during the arrest.

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A man has been bitten by a police dog during an arrest, bringing a four-hour siege to an end in Melbourne's north-east.

An officer was also left with minor injuries.

The woman inside the unit was uninjured and police believe the pair are known to one another.

9News understands the man had lived in the apartment for a few months and police were at the property in late January to execute a warrant for his arrest.

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Grandfather kidnapped in case of mistaken identity from Sydney home

Police are appealing for an 85-year-old widower to be returned to his family after he was kidnapped in what they say was a case of mistaken identity.

Neighbours contacted police after hearing commotion from a home in North Ryde in Sydney about 5am yesterday.

"I just heard glass smashing, dogs barking," neighbour Felix Cho told 9News.

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Police are trying to have an 85-year-old man safely returned home after he was taken in a suspected case of mistaken kidnapping. 

"The screaming just kept on going and then it was muffled so I ended up looking outside, and I saw the guy popping into his car and fleeing off."

Officers arrived to find resident Chris Baghsarian missing and signs of forced entry.

Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks told reporters kidnappers have the wrong person.

"They took Mr Baghsarian whilst he was at home, in his bedroom of his family home, and they took him and bundled him into a car and took him away to a location that we do not know," he said.

"Police consider that Mr Baghsarian was not the intended target."

Baghsarian is a grandfather and lives alone in his home after his wife died four years ago. Marks said his family has no links to criminal activity.

A dark Toyota SUV, believed to have been used in the kidnapping, was found burnt out near Baghsarian's home in South Turramurra.

At least three people are believed to have been involved.

READ MORE: Two dead in Sydney crash allegedly involving stolen car

Neighbours contacted police after hearing commotion from a home in North Ryde in Sydney about 5am yesterday.

Marks said Baghsarian's family are shocked by the kidnapping.

"His family are quite concerned," he said.

"They're quite surprised that this has happened, and what they want is a safe return of their father."

Marks said there are concerns for Baghsarian's health as he needs daily medication.

"Being a hostage, we really fear for his safety and we're appealing for a very safe return and to get medical attention," he said.

"Being an 85-year-old man, we suspect that he may not be doing well."

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Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks

Marks issued a message to the kidnappers, urging them to release Baghsarian.

"Take him to a hospital. Take him to somewhere that's safe, and we'll do the rest. We'll get him the medical treatment that is required," he said.

"I ask, potentially, if there's a member of the kidnapper crew that has any common decency to tell us where he is."

An image of Baghsarian has been released to the public, and anyone who has information or witnessed anything out of the ordinary is also urged to contact the police.

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Two women killed after allegedly reckless driver in stolen car crashes

Two family members have been killed in a crash with an allegedly stolen car in Sydney's south-west.

Police say the man behind the wheel was driving in "one of the most extreme and dangerous" manners when the deadly collision occurred just after 11am today.

Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden alleged it started when a 31-year-old man, known to authorities, punched a 25-year-old man at a service station on King Georges Road in South Hurstville about 10.20am today.

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Two family members have been killed in a crash with an allegedly stolen car that police say was driving in "one of the most extreme and dangerous" manner in Sydney's south-west.

He then allegedly stole the keys to his red sedan from his pocket and fled the scene. 

Police found the car driving on King Georges Road in Beverly Hills.

McFadden alleged the car failed to stop and a chase began with the help of a nearby police helicopter.

The chase continued along the M5 but was stopped near Bankstown. The helicopter continued to track the driver over the next 40 minutes.

"[It was] one of the most extreme and dangerous pieces of driving I've seen in a long time," McFadden said.

"He was overtaking vehicles at speed, breakdown lanes, he was crossing onto the incorrect side of the road, all of which without police vehicles around him or proximate to him."

About 11.10am, the allegedly stolen car crashed into an Alfa Romeo on the Old Hume Highway in Camden South.

READ MORE: Man, 85, kidnapped by mistake from Sydney home

The allegedly stolen car crashed into an Alfa Romeo on the Old Hume Highway in Camden South

Two women inside the car, aged 60 and 84, died at the scene.

McFadden said the women were part of the extended family and offered his condolences to their loved ones.

"They must be going through the absolute most tragic set of circumstances, absolutely devastating for that family," he said.

The 31-year-old man allegedly fled the scene on foot but was arrested at gunpoint.

He was taken to Campbelltown Hospital for mandatory testing and will be transferred to the Campbelltown Police Station for questioning.

Police have set up several crime scenes and the investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the independent Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

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McFadden defended the officers' actions and said they were nowhere near the car when it crashed.

"I've watched the footage from our aviation support aircraft. I can tell you that there were no police vehicles around this driver," he said. 

Charges are expected to be laid tomorrow. 

Anyone with information or footage of the incident is urged to contact police. 

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