Tag Archives: oceania

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New Australian sanctions target Russian oligarchs

Australia has announced a new wave of sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs, key businesspeople and their family members over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Federal Government named 33 individuals as the subject of new sanctions. They include Roman Abramovich, the UK-based owner of English Premier League football club, Chelsea.

Among others were Dmitri Lebedev, the chairman of Bank Rossiya, and Alexey Miller the chief executive of global energy corporation Gazprom, Sergey Chemezov, chairman of defence contractor Rostec and Nikolay Tokarev, chief executive of state-run oil pipeline company Transneft.

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Roman Abramovich

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia had to date imposed 460 sanctions against individuals and corporations over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The sanctions announced today reinforce Australia's commitment to sanction those people who have amassed vast personal wealth and are of economic and strategic significance to Russia, including as a result of their connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin," Ms Payne said.

"Many of these oligarchs have facilitated, or directly benefited, from the Kremlin's illegal and indefensible actions in Ukraine since 2014."

Australia follows the US, Britain, Canada, the European Union and New Zealand, in sanctioning key Russian individuals over the invasion of Ukraine.

READ MORE: Vladimir Putin's inner circle: The men behind Russia's war in Ukraine

Last month the Federal Government imposed sanctions against all 339 members of the Russian parliament and eight oligarchs close to Mr Putin.

Russia later responded to the international sanctions by drawing up a list of nations who "commit unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies, and citizens" through sanctions.

They included Australia, EU states, the US, UK, Canada, Ukraine, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan.

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Police 'not far off' making arrests after two young men stabbed to death

Police have described the stabbing death of a 16-year-old Melbourne boy as a "very vicious assault".

Investigators said an "incident" occurred at a party in Coburg on Saturday night, which later led to the assault and death of Declan Cutler.

The 16-year-old left the party with friends following the incident, but they were chased by a dark sedan with a number of men inside.

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The vehicle chased the group along Horton Street, near Elizabeth Street, in Reservoir.

But Mr Cutler got separated from his friends, where the offenders then attacked him in a brutal assault about 2.30am on Sunday, Detective Superintendent Paul O'Halloran said.

"It was a very vicious assault," he said.

"(Officers reviewing footage) were quite shocked by the brutality which involved a number of stabbings to the victims and also kicks and punches."

Neighbours said they overheard yelling coming up the street, before rushing to try and help the teen, who died on a nature strip.

Mr Cutler's family remains heartbroken over his death.

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"No teenager deserves this, let alone my godson," one relative said.

"It's just shocking, it's horrible for us as a family."

Detective Superintendent O'Halloran said the assault was a targeted attack.

In a separate incident, a man who attended a function at Watermark in Docklands was also later stabbed to death.

Police said about 10 people were involved in the assault, which occurred after a dispute erupted at the venue.

Two men from Western Australia, aged 26 and 23, left the venue and walked towards their car on Bourke Street, near Harbour Esplanade, when they were violently attacked about 3.20am on Sunday.

"Knives were produced, both were stabbed and sadly the older male did pass away and his brother is in hospital in a serious, but stable condition," Detective Superintendent O'Halloran said.

No arrests have been made for either attack, but Detective Superintendent O'Halloran said police were "not too far off" finding the offenders.

The stabbings are not linked and had no connection to Melbourne's Moomba Festival.

Witnesses, people with CCTV/dashcam footage or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Drivers facing long wait for potholes to be fixed

Motorists across flood-ravaged New South Wales and Queensland are struggling to avoid potholes and cracked bitumen after the recent downpour damaged road networks.

The NRMA is today warning commuters in Sydney and Brisbane as well as flood-hit regional areas to be patient as the repair operation is likely to last weeks or even months.

It said some members are claiming thousands of dollars for damage caused to their vehicles by potholes.

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Burst and flat tyres, damaged suspension and steering systems are among the most common complaints.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury told nine.com.au that roads in flood-hit parts of the country had received an "intense and sustained" downpour last week.

"Many roads have been repaired after heavy rain at the start of this year. Then when this latest downpour came, they reopened again," Mr Khoury said.

Road repair crews needed a long period of dry weather to mend damaged surfaces.

NRMA data showed on Monday March 7, when the downpour worsened, the organisation received 81,000 calls, the highest number of calls in four years.

Requests for NRMA towing services jumped by more than 300 per cent from the same day last year, with a third of that figure related to tyre damage.

NSW councils are responsible for maintaining 90 per cent of the state's road network, while Queensland councils oversee 80 per cent of that state's roads.

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Sydney floods

Local Government NSW president, Darriea Turley, said it was "hard to determine" the full cost of repairs that councils faced because damage continued to be reported.

"It is crucial that councils receive sufficient funding and support from government to not only rebuild our roads, but also rebuild to withstand future disasters," Ms Turley said.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority said 22 local government areas would receive financial aid to restore damaged essential public infrastructures such as roads and bridges.

Mr Khoury said councils are already struggling with the flood cleanup and called for the Commonwealth government to repeat last year's $1 billion funding for road repairs in the upcoming federal budget.

Potholes can be reported to Transport for NSW on 131 700 or to the Queensland Government on 13 19 40.