The incident occurred near Mount Eden Rd about 1.40am on Saturday, August 2.

‘All the horrible phone calls that came to our house … it was all worth it.’

Very strong winds, high-intensity rain and thunderstorms are forecast.

MetService issues highest weather alerts it can for Wellington, Marlborough, Canterbury.

Brittany Higgins has abandoned appeals against her costly defamation battle loss to her former boss, ex-Liberal senator Linda Reynolds.

Reynolds sued Higgins over a series of social media posts the former defence minister believed damaged her reputation.

Western Australia's Supreme Court in August found the posts were defamatory and awarded damages of $315,000 plus $26,109 interest to Reynolds.

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Higgins was also ordered to pay 80 per cent of Reynolds' legal costs, which are estimated to be over $1 million.

The former political staffer in September, appealed Justice Paul Tottle's damages award and finding that she breached a 2021 deed of settlement between the pair with an Instagram post referring to her being a defamation victim.

She also challenged the costs order in another appeal.

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A court spokesperson confirmed discontinuance notices for both appeals were filed on Monday.

It comes about a week after Reynolds launched bankruptcy proceedings against Higgins to recoup the costs awarded in her defamation win.

Reynolds filed a creditor's petition in the Federal Court, claiming Higgins "failed to comply" with a bankruptcy notice issued to her several weeks earlier.

Higgins' husband David Sharaz has also been served with bankruptcy proceedings by Reynolds.

He was also found to have defamed the former politician and was ordered to pay $85,000 in damages plus interest and costs. 

Higgins previously apologised to Reynolds after the former defence minister emerged victorious from the duo's high-profile five-week defamation trial, which ended in September 2024.

Justice Tottle found Higgins' social media posts carried an array of imputations.

They included Reynolds engaged in a campaign of harassment against Higgins, mishandled her rape allegation and engaged in questionable conduct during Bruce Lehrmann's aborted criminal trial for rape.

The 360-page judgment made factual findings about the events involving Reynolds and Higgins, including her alleged 2019 rape and the events in the years after it.

Higgins made 26 false or misleading statements in media interviews after her alleged sexual assault, it said.

She alleges former co-worker Lehrmann raped her in the senator's ministerial suite.

A Federal Court judge overseeing a defamation case launched by Lehrmann against Network Ten found Higgins was, on the balance of probabilities, raped by her former co-worker in the office.

Lehrmann is appealing that finding.

He has always denied the rape allegation and his criminal trial was derailed by juror misconduct.

Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.

With temperatures soaring in parts of Australia today, plenty of people will be slathering on sunscreen – but what should you do if the bottle in your beach bag has been recalled?

More than 20 sunscreens have been pulled from shelves over SPF claim concerns, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Here's a full list of the recalled sunscreens, what to do if you own one, and how to get a refund.

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Sunscreens that have been recalled in Australia

Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ sunscreen was one of the first to be pulled from shelves in August.

Since then, the following sunscreens have been recalled as they use the same base formulation:

• Aspect Sun Physical Sun Protection SPF50+
• Aspect Sun Tinted Physical SPF50+
• Aesthetics Rx Ultra Protection Sunscreen SPF50+
• People4Ocean SPF50+ Mineral Bioactive Shield Lightly Tinted Cream (10g and 45g)
• BEAUTI-FLTR Lustre Mineral SPF 50+ Illuminating Facial Sunscreen
• MCoBeauty SPF 50+ Mineral Mattifying Sunscreen
• Outside Beauty & Skincare SPF 50+ Mineral Primer
• Salus SPF 50+ Daily Facial Sunscreen

Additional sunscreens using the same base formulation have voluntarily cancelled their listing on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and are under review by the TGA.

They include the following: 

• New Day Skin Good Vibes Sunscreen SPF50+
• New Day Skin Happy Days Sunscreen SPF50+
• Beauti-FLTR Lustre Mineral SPF50+
• GlindaWand The Fountain of Youth Environmental Defence Cream SPF50+

Some sunscreens have paused supply in Australia and are also under review by the TGA.

They include the following: 

• Found My Skin SPF 50+ Tinted Face/Body Cream
• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Light Sunscreen
• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Tinted Facial Sunscreen (Dark)
• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Tinted Facial Sunscreen (Light)
• Endota Mineral Protect SPF50 Sunscreen
• We are Feel Good Inc Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+
• Naked Sundays Collagen Glow Mineral Sunscreen

Allganics Light Sunscreen SPF50+ has not been recalled, cancelled or paused but is under review by the TGA.

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Why are sunscreens being recalled in Australia?

Sunscreen products are being pulled from shelves due to concerns that their SPF may actually be lower than advertised.

That could increase the risk of sunburn when using a product and reduce the long-term effectiveness of preventing skin cancer.

Many of the recalled products use the same base formulation from manufacturer Wild Child Laboratories.

This is the same base used in Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ sunscreen, which reportedly returned an SPF rating of just 4 in Choice's independent testing.

The TGA also expressed concerns about UK-based testing company Princeton Consumer Research (PCR Corp).

A number of Australian sunscreen brands have used PCR Corp for SPF testing, including Ultra Violette.

The TGA is "considering whether to take regulatory action" with regard to SPF claim concerns.

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How does sunscreen testing work?

SPF, which stands for sun protection factor, is a measurement of how well a product protects your skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

The higher the rating, the better and more long-lasting the protection.

SPF is measured by testing a product on human skin and measuring how long it takes to burn.

The TGA is not responsible for testing sunscreen sold here in Australia; that responsibility falls to individual sunscreen brands.

They send their products to accredited laboratories, many of which are overseas, for testing.

Testing involves applying the product to a person's skin and exposing them to a solar simulator that imitates sunlight.

The lab measures how long it takes the skin to react where the product has been applied and where it has not, then compares the data.

Per the international standard for sunscreen testing, a product must be tested on at least 10 volunteers to calculate a product's SPF accurately.

The SPF is the mean (average) of the SPF from each valid test.

Results can vary between different labs, often due to human error.

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What to do if you have a recalled sunscreen

If you already own one of the sunscreens that have been recalled, you may be entitled to a refund.

The TGA advises consumers to return the product to the place you purchased it, then contact the sponsor (the brand behind the sunscreen) for a refund.

A full list of recalled sunscreens and sponsor contact details can be found on the TGA website here.

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The plane carrying Prime Minister Anthony Albanese home from his successful trip to Washington has been forced into an unscheduled landing in the US.

After taking off from Andrews Air Force Base, the Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330-200 taking the prime minister home was meant to fly directly to Hawaii but unexpectedly landed in St Louis, Missouri, after less than an hour in the air.

The move is a precautionary one after a piece of luggage fell from an overhead locker and hit another passenger on the aircraft.

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"It looks like there's been a little mishap inside the plane," 9News national affairs editor Andrew Probyn said.

"We're told it's not very serious, but as a precaution…

"It looks like one of the RAAF staff at the back of the jet has opened an overhead locker and something heavy has fallen on someone below it.

"But I stress it doesn't seem to be too serious, as a precaution they're stopping in Missouri."

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The unscheduled stop has been just about the only blip – aside from Donald Trump clipping Kevin Rudd during an awkward exchange – in what was a tremendously successful trip to Washington for Albanese.

During his White House meeting with Trump, the prime minister inked an $8.5 billion critical minerals deal to combat China's stranglehold on the industry, while the US president was effusive in his praise for Australia and signalled the AUKUS pact will go ahead as planned.

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Shane Hryhorec has been using a wheelchair for the past 18 years and ran into an ironic and glaring issue at Health and Disability Minister Mark Butler's office in Port Adelaide.

He was met with steps leading to the front door when he showed up for their 30-minute meeting to discuss matters affecting people with disability in July.

Then, he noticed a sign reading "ring bell for rear delivery and wheelchair access". The only problem was that the doorbell was missing.

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"I just got lucky. I had my phone on me. If I didn't, I'd be in trouble," he told 9news.com.au, adding that the situation was "ironic".

Hryhorec rang his office, and staff came out appearing "embarrassed" and "ashamed" as they tried to figure out how to let him into the building.

He was taken around back and had to wheel past rubbish bins, old campaign corflutes, up a non-compliant ramp, and past the smokers' area to get inside.

"The staff were just clearly fumbling, and you could tell they were like embarrassed to have someone in a wheelchair visiting them and having this kind of experience," he said.

"When I got inside, there was nowhere for me to wait, there was no spot.

"So I was just stuck in a walkway next to someone's desk, watching them design flyers or brochures for public transport."

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The ordeal ate into the meeting and left him with only 10 minutes of the federal minister's time.

"I'm asking him in this meeting about what can he do to make life better for people with disabilities, but what hope do we have of achieving that if his office is not even accessible?" he said.

"The pin dropped at that point. It was a bit of a helpless cause."

Hryhorec addressed the missing doorbell with Butler, but said he received some pushback until his staff confirmed it was not there. 

A few days later, he followed up with the office and was told the doorbell had been fixed. 

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"I run into those issues all the time, but I don't run into those issues at an office for a minister or an MP. Not often," he said.

"Sadly, this is such a common occurrence for people with disabilities."

Hryhorec said his experience "shook" him.

He was unsure whether to share his story, and it took him months to build up the courage to do so. 

Since sharing his experience online, he has received more than 1.5 million views and received support from other people with disabilities, who have run into similar issues.

Hryhorec also lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission to make Butler's office more accessible.

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He argued that the lack of accessibility also meant his office had not hired anyone with a disability.

"The problem is laws need to change, but the people that we need to speak to to change those laws are the same people like Mark Butler, that you can't even get inside their office," he said.

"The only way people can work together is if they have an equal seat at the table and if they can even get inside the building."

A spokesperson for the minister said the office complied with the Disability Discrimination Act, but acknowledged the current set-up "was not good enough".

"Of course, Australians living with a disability should have access to federal parliamentarian offices," the spokesperson said.

"We know this is not good enough."

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Butler's spokesperson said the minister had spoken to the Department of Parliamentary Services about installing a disability access ramp at the front of the building and renovating the reception area for ease of access three years ago, in October 2022.

But they were quoted about $100,000.

"As this expense would be a cost to taxpayers, the office decided to retain the existing accessible entrance," the spokesperson said.

Butler's spokesperson said they requested the Department of Parliamentary Services for a better office in late 2023 and early 2024.

A property with a "more inclusive design" was identified, and discussions are currently underway to secure that property.

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A meteor shower lit up Australia's skies last night, but don't worry if you missed out – there's still plenty of time to see the Orionids meteor shower.

The annual shower comes around every October and runs for multiple weeks, meaning there's plenty of opportunity to spot its shooting stars.

Here's everything to know about the Orionids meteor shower and how to see it in Australia.

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Can you see the Orionids meteor shower in Australia?

Yes, the Orionids meteor shower is visible across the southern hemisphere, including here in Australia.

Swinburne astrophysicist Dr Sara Webb said this week will be Aussies' best chance to see a shooting star.

"With the Orionids peaking this week, it's a perfect opportunity to head outside, away from city light and soak up the universe for an hour or so," she said.

"Look in the direction of the Orion constellation, a very easy one to spot with your naked eye, or via the help of a night sky app."

It is also visible in the northern hemisphere.

What causes the Orionids meteor shower?

The Orionids meteor shower is named for the constellation Orion, as the meteors appear to radiate from the same area of the sky where the constellation is located.

But it is caused by the comet 1P/Halley crossing Earth's orbit.

The comet leaves debris in its wake, which Earth passes through, creating the Orionids meteor shower.

"When you spot the shooting star, you'll be looking at a bit of cosmic debris left behind from a comet burning up in our Earth's atmosphere," Webb said.

And this is not the only meteor shower caused by Halley.

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is also created by debris from the same comet.

That meteor shower occurs in May and is also visible from Australia, so keep an eye out in 2026.

Though both meteor showers are caused by Halley's Comet, the comet itself is rarely visible from Earth.

It was last seen in Earth's skies back in 1986 and won't be visible again until 2061.

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What to expect

During the Orionids meteor shower, meteors appear as flashes of light moving across the sky – or, in plain English, shooting stars.

The meteors often originate in the area of the sky near the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

How many meteors will I see?

At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour in the Orionids meteor shower.

Generally, the number of meteors visible in the sky decreases each night after the peak until the shower ends.

What is the best time to see the Orionids meteor shower?

Technically, the best time to see it was last night – but that doesn't mean you've missed out.

The Orionids meteor shower started on October 2, peaked on the night of October 21-22, and will remain active until early November.

That means meteors will still be visible for the rest of the month, though the frequency will decrease over time.

The shower will officially end around November 7.

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Where can you see the Orionids meteor shower best in Australia?

The best place to see the Orionids meteor shower from Australia is from a secluded area away from bright city lights.

Pick somewhere with a clear view of the sky and check the weather forecast, as you need a clear sky to spot meteors.

A meteor shower sky map can help you locate the radiant (area where most of the meteors will appear from) and then it's just a waiting game.

When is the next meteor shower in Australia?

Another meteor shower is already on the horizon: the Leonids.

The Leonid meteor shower will start around November 6, peak around November 17 or 18, and wrap up by the end of the month.

It will be visible from both hemispheres, meaning Australians who miss the Orionids will get another chance to witness a meteor shower soon.

After the Leonids, other meteor showers that will be visible from Australia include the Geminids in December, the Lyrids in April, and the Eta Aquarids in May.

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The Paris prosecutor leading an investigation into crown jewels stolen in a dramatic weekend Louvre heist says they are worth an estimated 88 million euros ($157 million), but that the monetary estimate doesn’t include their historical value to France.

Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said today about 100 investigators are now involved in the police hunt for the suspects and gems after Sunday’s theft from the world’s most-visited museum.

“The wrongdoers who took these gems won’t earn 88 million euros if they had the very bad idea of disassembling these jewels,″ she said in an interview with broadcaster RTL.

READ MORE: Looted Louvre treasures may never be found, experts say

″We can perhaps hope that they’ll think about this and won’t destroy these jewels without rhyme or reason.″

The French government has confirmed the precious objects were not covered by private insurance.

Typically, museum collections in France are considered state property and are only insured when being transported to another facility.

France's culture minister said that the security apparatus installed at the Louvre worked properly during the theft.

Questions have arisen about the Louvre security — and whether security cameras might have failed — after thieves rode a basket lift up the Louvre’s facade, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels on Sunday morning.

“The Louvre museum’s security apparatus did not fail, that is a fact," the minister, Rachida Dati, told lawmakers in the National Assembly.

"The Louvre museum’s security apparatus worked.”

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Dati said she launched an administrative inquiry that comes in addition to a police investigation to ensure full transparency into what happened.

She did not offer any details about how the thieves managed to carry out their heist given that the cameras were working.

But she described it as a painful blow for the nation.

The robbery was “a wound for all of us," she said.

"Why? Because the Louvre is far more than the world’s largest museum. It’s a showcase for our French culture and our shared patrimony.”

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Monday that the museum's alarm was triggered when the window of the Apollo Gallery was forced.

Police officers arrived on site two or three minutes after they were called by an individual that witnessed the scene, he said on LCI television.

Officials said the heist lasted less than eight minutes in total, including less than four minutes inside the Louvre.

Nuñez did not disclose details about video surveillance cameras that may have filmed the thieves around and in the museum pending a police investigation.

“There are cameras all around the Louvre,” he said.

Sunday’s theft focused on the gilded Apollo Gallery, where the Crown Diamonds are displayed.

Alarms brought Louvre agents to the room, forcing the intruders to bolt, but the robbery was already over.

Eight objects were taken, according to officials: a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a matching set linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense; an emerald necklace and earrings from the matching set of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife; a reliquary brooch; and Empress Eugénie’s diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch, a prized 19th-century imperial ensemble.