Police are looking for a teenager who went missing from the Christchurch area this evening. Jordan, 13, has been reported missing from the Clyde Rd, Riccarton, area.He was last seen wearing a green long sleeve Hunting and Fishing…

Sneakers have quickly become a lucrative investment option for savvy shoe-lovers, but fake versions of the much-loved footwear are marring the potential gain for collectors.

Sneaker collector Steven Wei from Kicks TW says there's never been a better time to buy shoes, with classics fetching thousands.

"Sneakers are a very strong investment – that's why everyone is loving it and the market is pumping at the moment," he said.

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A pair of Air Jordans from Footlocker retailed at $260 less than a year ago – now – they're selling for $700.

In 1985 a pair sold for $40, but today the price tag could be up to a whopping $10,000.

"Because of social media which is a very big factor, it makes everyone want a piece of the sneakers," Mr Wei said.

The sneaker market in Australia is worth $2 billion dollars annually, but fraud in the footwear trade is rife.

IN PICTURES: Record-breaking auction sales

The large amount of fake shoes being sold has prompted eBay to launch a sneaker authentication program.

The online retail giant eBay has started sending shoes to the US for authenticators to inspect before shipping to the customer.

"As a lot of things during COVID, the sneakerhead community was forced to move buying and selling online which does open them up to fakes and counterfeits," eBay senior director David Ramadge said.

"Everything from stitching to shoelaces … they even sniff the shoe to test for glue to see if its real glue."

E-commerce sneaker marketplace StockX authenticates shoes locally in Melbourne.

READ MORE: Gas in homes exposing Australian children to higher risk of asthma

"Some standouts are obviously the box – the font on the box – the overall craftsmanship of the shoe – and there's a few other tips that we can't really share," an Authenticator from StockX said.

Mr Wei has had all his sneakers authenticated.

His limited-edition Nikes are the most valuable of his collection and worth more than $100,000.

In one of Mr Wei's cabinets alone there is more than a quarter of a million dollars worth of shoes.

READ MORE: 'Huge' South Melbourne factory fire forces school to close, remains a crime scene

It is for that reason he doesn't normally keep them on display – normally, they're under lock and key in a secret location.

"Now I really rate quality over quantity," Me Wei said.

"Sneakers are colourful – they're just beautiful you can put them on the wall – you can put them in your shop and in your office.

"It's not only good for the value – it's visual."

It was the early hours of New Year’s Day in 1997 when it happened. Ben Smart and Olivia Hope were among 1500 revellers at a party at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds in the South Island of New Zealand.The pair, who had…

A young woman who had a sexual video of her posted on a porn website by an abusive ex-partner was told by police he did not mean harm because it wasn’t on a “high-volume site” like PornHub. The story of “Jess” is just one of many…

Ugly scenes broke out as Jarryd Hayne's victim was escorted out of court by police, with the young woman being spat at after he was jailed to at least three years and eight months over her sexual assault.

Judge Helen Syme said it was clear the woman had been resisting Hayne during the sexual assault at her home on Grand Final night in 2018 as she handed down her sentence at Newcastle District Court today.

"I do not accept he was not aware that she was attempting to push him away and trying to physically resist him… it was very clear she said no several times," Judge Syme said.

READ MORE: New COVID-19 restrictions in place for Greater Sydney

"I have found the offender was fully aware that the victim was not consenting and went ahead anyway. His decision to do so increases the objective seriousness," she said.

The woman was surrounded as she left court, with one Hayne supporter staring her down and spitting on her as others pleaded to let her by.

https://twitter.com/tiffgenders/status/1390182167586607104

The maximum time served will be five years and nine months.

Earlier, as the former NRL player was swarmed by supporters. Family and friends shielded them with umbrellas.

Earlier, as the former NRL player was swarmed by supporters. Family and friends shielded them with umbrellas.

Inside court, his victim bravely spoke about the devastating impact the crime has had on her life.

"I have spent countless hours crying, the feeling of violation and feeling dirty doesn't go away. I have nightmares and flashbacks of his face looking right through me," the now 28-year-old said.

https://twitter.com/tiffgenders/status/1390174525224996866

"Sometimes I can't get out of bed."

The woman, who can't be named, described feelings of anger, frustration, and wanting to die.

"What I experienced was horrible, nobody should ever have to feel that way. I am destroyed and damaged but I am still standing," she told the court.

"I am destroyed and damaged but I am still standing."

"Your body remembers and your mind doesn't forget. I survived this and I have protected a tiny spark of my life."

Hayne was found guilty in March of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent after meeting up with the woman on league grand final night in September 2018.

He kept a taxi waiting while he went inside the woman's home and assaulted her, before travelling back to Sydney.

Hayne maintained the sex was consensual and has already flagged an appeal.

The 33-year-old was a superstar in the NRL, playing for Parramatta Eels and briefly for the Gold Coast Titans.

He then made a failed attempt to switch to professional American football, then very briefly in rugby union sevens.

Hayne told the court this morning that he was due to sign a contract with St George Illawarra Dragons on the day he was charged with sexual assault.

"Because the media were involved, the frenzy that it went in with the charges, I didn't hear from them after that," he said.

His former Parramatta teammate Tim Mannah addressed the court to give a reference for his best friend.

Mannah said he noticed a change in Hayne's behaviour after he attended a Bible college in Perth.

He said you can't have a five-minute conversation with Hayne "without him talking about something from the Bible".

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Don't look up now, but there could be snakes in your ceiling.

That's right – snakes, plural.

The Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers surprised their loyal fans with a post on Facebook today showing just what could be dug out of a roof.

Catcher Dave was pictured holding what might have been some particularly desiccated wigs after a job yesterday, but the fruits of his labour were a bit creepier.

READ MORE: Fisherman finds one-metre tiger snake in his boat

"How is this haul from Dave when he conducted a roof inspection yesterday," the company wrote on Facebook.

"He brought down over 30 snake skins out of the family's roof space, and there was probably another 20 skins up there."

Amazingly, the family's reaction was not to immediately relocate to Antarctica.

READ MORE: 'Absolute weapon' snake sheds giant skin in family roof

"The kids at the house loved it and had plenty of questions to ask Dave about snakes," the company wrote.

The company said the snakes served as "free pest control".

"Snakes are great to have in your roof as they eat all the rodents," it wrote.

Bluey will be brought to life on the stage in Brisbane, with a new puppeteer pulling the strings of the precocious pup.

The stage production of the much-loved family animation debuted at QPAC last year and is back by popular demand, running until Sunday with special performances next weekend.

Jessa Konic, from Melbourne, is new to the role of Bluey, having missed out on playing the role previously due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ MORE: Sneaker value explodes as Melbourne launches authentication program to tackle fakes

"It's very nerve-wracking at the best of times," Ms Konic said.

"To be honest, I didn't know who Bluey was before I came on the show so doing all my research and finding out that this character is such a beautiful girl who is finding her way through life."

Set in Brisbane, the popular Australian animated TV series centres on six-year-old Blue Heeler pup 'Bluey' and her family.

Written for preschool children, the show's themes include family, the importance of imaginative play, modern-day parenting, and Aussie lifestyle and humour.

It has won numerous industry awards and is adored by children, parents and grandparents alike.

"When Bluey skips on stage for the first time there's always a cheer and roar from the crowd," director Jacob Williams said.

Two climbers found dead on Mount Taranaki have been described by their families as avid travellers and adventurers. Richard Phillips, 46 and Peter Kirkwood, 33, died while climbing the mountain on Tuesday. Police recovered their…

The Federal Government remains open to "dialogue" with China after Beijing announced it was suspending high-level economic links with Canberra.

The Chinese government announced today it is suspending all activities under the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, amid worsening relations between the two countries.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan described China's decision as "disappointing" but did not reject moving forward with the $150 billion in two-way trade mechanism.

READ MORE: Chinese propaganda outlet makes fresh attack on Australia

"It is disappointing to hear that the NDRC has made this decision," Mr Tehan said.

"The Strategic Economic Dialogue, which was last held in 2017, is an important forum for Australia and China to work through issues relevant to our economic partnership.

"We remain open to holding the dialogue and engaging at the ministerial level."

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said the move was prompted by the "Cold War mindset" of some Australian officials and politicians.

"Recently, some Australian Commonwealth Government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination," the commission said in a statement.

The China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue is a high-level diplomatic mechanism.

It is the principle bilateral economic forum between Canberra and Beijing and has been used to promote investment between the two countries.

Relations between Beijing and Canberra plummeted last year after Australia called for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and introduced foreign interference legislation.

It triggered trade reprisals from China targeting Australian exports such as coal, barley, timber and seafood.

Souring relations between Canberra and Beijing have continued in recent months.

READ MORE: Multi-million expansion of Australian military bases in signal to China

Last month one of the Federal Government's top national security officials yesterday warned the "drums of war" are beating.

Home Affairs Department Secretary Mike Pezzullo said Australia must work to reduce the risk of war "but not at the cost of our precious liberty".

His remarks followed Defence Minister Peter Dutton's warning that China was militarising ports in the region.

Five more people are being treated for serious blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has said.

The cases are in a 74-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman from Victoria, a 66-year-old man from Queensland, a 64-year-old woman from Western Australia and a 70-year-old man from Tasmania.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said the 66-year-old is in intensive care as a "direct result" of receiving the COVID jab on March 30.

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"(The) TGA has confirmed with me that they believe that his illness is a direct result of the AstraZeneca vaccine," Dr Young said.

"He received the first dose of the vaccine on 30 March … and presented to the Townsville hospital, where he was admitted and tested and it's now been confirmed that he… has most likely developed that syndrome."

Dr Young's announcement was followed by Tasmanian authorities announcing a 70-year-old man was in hospital with suspected blood clots following his AstraZeneca jab.

Tasmanian acting director of Public Health Dr Scott McKeown said the man reported symptoms seven days after the vaccine and was now in a stable condition in hospital.

Therapeutic Goods Administration head John Skerritt has cautioned that there are always the occasional adverse reactions to vaccines.

READ MORE: 'We know for sure' someone with COVID moving around Sydney

"I just want to go back a step and remind people that for every thousand doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine administered we receive between six and seven on average adverse event reports," Professor Skerritt said.

"These are people who have felt unwell or have presented to a doctor or hospital after being vaccinated."

These "adverse event reports" are overwhelmingly fever, joint pain, muscle soreness, tiredness, nausea and vomiting, Professor Skerritt said.

Professor Skerritt has reassured Australians that the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe.

"Sadly, blood clotting including fatal blood clotting is actually quite a common cause of serious illness and death in Australia," he said.

"We have talked about 50 cases a day being serious and this was before COVID vaccines."

Professor Skerritt said the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine "still very significantly exceeds the risks".

"You'll notice that all of those people, one just, are over 50, but if you stop back and think about who is now getting the AstraZeneca vaccine, it is only with a few rare exceptions it is only people over 50," he said.

"So it is obvious that future cases will be in the over 50s."

The five new instances of blood clotting has not changed TGA advice to the government.

"Australia is not immune from community transmission and we're certainly not immune from cases coming in through hotel quarantine," Prof Skerritt said.

"Remember that the risk of serious illness or death dramatically increases by every 10 years of age once you turn 50."

Eleven cases of blood clotting in total have been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, of 1.4 million doses administered.

Of those, four are out of hospital already and two are back at work. A fifth is "doing well" in hospital.

All 16 cases of severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine in Australia have now recovered, TGA head John Skerritt has said.

"In Australia, there were 54 cases reported to 24 April but only 16 were genuine," he said.

"All of those people have recovered, they were often treated with adrenalin by their health care facility, and there's a warning with the vaccines that if you've had this sort of reaction to similar sorts of products or vaccines before don't get vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine."

Allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine in Australia were in line with worldwide figures.

AstraZeneca released a statement in the wake of the blood clot news.

"AstraZeneca is aware that there have been additional cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopaenia (TTS) reported in people who recently received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and that they are receiving treatment," the statement read.

"Patient safety remains AstraZeneca's highest priority and we continue to support regulators in Australia and overseas.

"Tens of millions of people have now received our vaccine across the globe. The extensive body of data from two large clinical datasets and real-world evidence demonstrate its effectiveness, reaffirming the role the vaccine can play during this public health crisis.

"Our global commitment remains to play an important role in addressing the current global health emergency posed by COVID-19 by providing a safe and effective vaccine, at no profit during the pandemic."