Other candidates standing for elections in Northland report death threats and damage.

All tram services south of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast are suspended after a tram derailed this morning.

The tram had unloaded all passengers at the Surfers Paradise North station following a medical emergency at the Cavill Avenue Station.

The tram then continued south until its tail jumped the tracks near Ocean Avenue and Surfers Paradise Boulevard, smashing into a light pole.

READ MORE: What we know about the shot that killed Charlie Kirk

Witness Alan Jarvie said he noticed the tram changing lines.

"I was watching it sorta start moving, taking off and part of it went off, part of it just slid along the track line," Jarvie said.

"All of a sudden, it hit that middle wire post and wires come down, a few sparks, not for very long.

"It shut off pretty quickly and then all of a sudden people came from everywhere."

The driver was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Services north to Helensvale have been restored but south to Broadbeach remains closed, with only buses available as transport.

G:LINK says it is investigating the cause of the derailment and working to identify any damage to the network.

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NASA has banned Chinese citizens with US visas from participating in agency programs — a dramatic escalation in the space race between China and the United States.

It occurs as China gears up to send a crewed mission to land and potentially establish a habitat on the moon, about which the Trump administration has expressed increasing alarm.

The new policy began September 5 and its effects have since rippled across the sprawling agency, according to two people at NASA who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

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The change affects hundreds of scientists and researchers, many of whom are funded by NASA to conduct their work in climate science, space and other disciplines, the sources said.

A NASA spokesperson put the number of those affected at less than 100.

It is not clear if there was a specific incident that prompted this crackdown.

When CNN asked NASA why these steps were taken, NASA's press office sent a post on X with a clip of a recent appearance by acting administrator Sean Duffy on Fox Business.

"China is NOT going to the moon with good intentions," the post from Duffy reads.

"America will get there FIRST, preserving peace for both the US and our international partners."

Chinese nationals are no longer allowed to have physical access to NASA facilities, to join Zoom calls with their NASA colleagues or access the agency's supercomputing resources.

Supercomputing work is essential for those who are studying climate change in particular.

The limitations placed on these researchers is disrupting NASA's work and could stymie the careers of younger Chinese researchers who came to the US to advance their scientific work, as well as benefit the space agency through their findings, the sources said.

The restrictions also apply to attendance at NASA-funded meetings, both in person and online.

They are resulting in additional disruptions amid what has already been a turbulent time for NASA employees since the administration has targeted the agency for steep budget cuts and reductions in personnel.

The directive is unrelated to the August 28 executive order from President Donald Trump, which designated NASA as having national security functions, according to an agency spokesperson.

"The internal action taken at NASA pertaining to Chinese nationals, including physical and cybersecurity restrictions, are a separate matter from the Executive Order," the spokesperson told CNN.

Today, NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens was more specific about the sweeping nature of the restrictions imposed on Chinese citizens who have US visas, telling CNN: "NASA has taken internal action pertaining to Chinese nationals, including restricting physical and cybersecurity access to our facilities, materials, and network to ensure the security of our work."

The new restrictions, reported earlier by Bloomberg News, come at a time of heightened competition between the US and China both on Earth and in the new space race.

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China has been advertising plans to land Taikonauts — or Chinese astronauts — on the lunar surface for the first time by 2030, competing with NASA's plan to return its own astronauts to the moon's surface as soon as mid-2027.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, a close Trump ally who is also the Secretary of Transportation, caused a stir in early August by saying he has directed the US space agency to fast-track plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon to generate power for a future permanent settlement on the lunar surface.

"We're in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon," Duffy told reporters at the time, warning that if another country beat the US, that nation could declare a "keep-out zone" that could thwart NASA's moon base plans.

These charged discussions about racing China to the moon come as NASA is set to lose thousands of employees and could lose billions in funding.

At least 4000 people are taking deferred resignation offers from the Trump administration, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

The president's proposed 2026 budget would also slash NASA's overall funding by 24 per cent.

While funding for the agency's Artemis moon landing program has remained largely intact, the cuts would include a nearly 50 per cent reduction in science funding.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have expressed a desire to secure American supremacy in space.

"Make no mistake, we are in a new space race with China," Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said at a committee hearing last week.

"Space is no longer reserved simply for peaceful exploration.

"It is today a strategic frontier with direct consequences for national security, economic growth and technological leadership."

Cruz's Democratic colleague, Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, the committee's ranking member, added she viewed continued investments in space technology to be "critical to our future economic and national security".

"We know we need to go back to the moon, and we know we need to go there before China establishes a permanent presence," Cantwell said.

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Likely in her early teens and bearing a close resemblance to her mother, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is increasingly viewed as his likely heir.

The girl, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, was in the spotlight again as she accompanied her father on his high-profile China trip, his own first visit to a major gathering of world leaders and her first known trip abroad.

Video and images carried by North Korean state media showed her right behind her father and ahead of Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui as they got off a train in Beijing, clapping as officials at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing bowed to her father, and standing near him as he was seated with senior officials in a meeting room inside his train.

READ MORE: LIVE: What gunman revealed about himself in the moments after the shooting

South Korea’s spy agency said on September 11 that it assesses that the trip solidified her status as her father’s likely heir.

She is believed to be 12 or 13 years old. Not much else is known about her, but her repeated appearances at high-profile events with her father have prompted speculation that she’s being groomed as North Korea’s next leader.

China trip analysed intensively

In a closed-door briefing for politicians, the South Korean National Intelligence Service said Kim Jong Un was believed to have brought his daughter to China to help her acquire overseas experience and cement her status as his likely heir, according to Park Sunwon, who attended the meeting.

The spy agency cited coverage of her appearances in China in the country's main state TV station and newspaper, which target the ordinary citizens, according to lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun, who was also present at the meeting.

READ MORE: Former Virgin boss gets astonishing golden handshake

Her name and age are unconfirmed

North Korean state media outlets have never published her name, referring to her as Kim Jong Un's “respected” or “most beloved” child.

The belief that she is named Ju Ae is based on an account by former NBA champion Dennis Rodman, in which he recalled holding Kim Jong Un’s baby daughter during a trip to Pyongyang in 2013.

Her exact age is unconfirmed but South Korean intelligence officials believe she was born in 2013.

In 2023, South Korea's spy agency told politicians it assessed Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju also have an older son and a younger third child whose gender is unknown.

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She’s being increasingly showcased in her father’s events

Kim Jong Un allowed his daughter to be seen in public for the first time during a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in November 2022.

Photos in state media showed Kim Ju Ae wearing a white coat and red shoes as she watched a soaring missile from a distance and walked hand-in-hand with her father.

Her carefully crafted appearances have included missile tests, military parades, and the launch of a naval destroyer in April.

Kim Jong Un has recently expanded his daughter’s public appearances beyond military events to include some of his most ambitious economic projects and cultural events, including the opening of a beach resort in June.

READ MORE: What we know about Charlie Kirk's suspected shooter

Some question her chances to take over a male-dominated system

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service issued a careful assessment last year that it views Kim Ju Ae as her father’s likely successor, citing a comprehensive analysis of her public activities and the state protocols provided to her.

However, some outside experts disagree with that assessment, citing Kim Jong Un’s relatively young age and the extremely male-dominated nature of North Korea’s power hierarchy.

In its recent briefing at parliament, the National Intelligence Service assessed that Kim has no major health issues and that he conducted official schedules in China smoothly.

Since its foundation in 1948, North Korea has been successively ruled by male members of the Kim family — Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung.

Kim Jong Un inherited power in late 2011 upon his father's death.

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Former Virgin Australia boss Jayne Hrdlicka has walked away from the airline with a massive $50 million golden handshake.

The company's annual report, released this morning, revealed the ex-chief executive was given one of the largest payouts in Australian corporate history.

Hrdlicka, who left Virgin in March, was given a cash package worth more than $20 million – including her salary, short-term incentives and longer-term bonuses – plus more than 10 million shares.

READ MORE: What we know about the shot that killed Charlie Kirk

Those were worth $29.7 million when the airline went public and re-listed on the ASX in late June with a share price of $2.90.

However, that price has since climbed to more than $3.25, taking the total value of Hrdlicka's payout to more than $50 million.

She had forfeited a further 6.8 million shares by resigning earlier this year.

Neither chair Peter Warne nor current chief executive Dave Emerson mentioned Hrdlicka in their annual report statements, however a passage later in the document outlined her role in turning the company around after it had fallen into voluntary administration during the pandemic.

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"During her tenure, Jayne successfully led the group's exit from voluntary administration, stand up of the airline following the COVID-19 pandemic and the transformation of Virgin Australia into a profitable and sustainable business," the report states. 

"In addition, during FY25 Jayne led Virgin Australia's deeper strategic partnership with the Qatar Airways Group, including a 25 per cent equity investment and enhanced strategic alliance."

Hrdlicka's payout dwarfs even that of former Qantas boss Alan Joyce, who was handed $21 million when he left the national carrier in 2023. 

READ MORE: Australia heading for another La Nina spell

Almost $10 million of that was clawed back by the Qantas board due to the reputational damage suffered by the airline, although it was revealed last week that Joyce was given one further $3.8 million payout.

Since resigning from Virgin, Hrdlicka has since been appointed as the chief executive of alcohol giant Endeavour Group, which runs the likes of Dan Murphy's, BWS as well as a string of pubs and its own drinks brands.

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Mortgage holders are heading for one further interest rate cut this year, but it could be the last for a while.

That is the prediction from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the country's biggest, as consumers continue to spend with confidence.

It says recent figures showing the Australian economy picking up momentum more than forecast, backs the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) making another rates cut.

LIVE UPDATES: Manhunt continues for Charlie Kirk's killer

"With the broader economy showing signs of resilience and the consumer returning to a more solid footing, we don't see the need for the RBA to go much further," CommBank head of Australian economics Belinda Allen said.

"We continue to expect just one more cut in November, but no change at the RBA's September meeting."

The move would reduce interest rates to 3.35 per cent from 3.60 per cent.

The CBA's household spending intentions index revealed consumer spending last month rose 0.3 per cent.

This followed a 0.7 per cent lift in July and 0.5 per cent rises in May and June.

Australians last month splurged more in nine of the 12 categories, headed by utilities, communication, recreation and education.

In contrast, spending on insurance, household goods and food and beverage dipped.

"We've now seen six months of solid growth, reinforcing our view that a consumer recovery is underway after a series of false starts last year and early into 2025," Allen said.

"The combination of growing incomes, a solid labour market and lower interest rates is helping improve household sentiment as consumers are able to both spend and save again."

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One shot turned a day into chaos, grief, and mounting political outrage when an unknown shooter killed controversial right-wing influencer and Trump ally Charlie Kirk onstage during an event at a university in Utah.

The shooter remains on the run, as law enforcement try to piece together what took place on the day.

A range of experts have also chipped in on everything from the kind of bullet used to where the shooter was likely standing.

LIVE UPDATES: Manhunt continues for Charlie Kirk's killer

So far, much is speculation, but a picture is beginning to come together, even if it remains a sketch so far.

Here's what we know.

Where was the shooter?

Authorities believe the killer was on top of the roof of one of the university buildings.

After firing the fatal shot, they jumped down and fled into a nearby neighbourhood.

CNN believes the shooter pulled the trigger atop the building of the Losee Centre, about 135 metres from where Kirk was onstage.

An audio forensics expert, analysing the sound of the bullet, told CNN it was probably fired from about 150 metres away.

READ MORE: 'Either skilful or lucky': Everything we know about Charlie Kirk's suspected shooter so far

What was the weapon used?

Authorities have recovered a rifle they believe is the murder weapon.

Its details have not officially been released, but CNN quoted a law enforcement official saying the gun is a Mauser bolt action .30-06 calibre rifle with a long-distance scope.

The official also said a single shell casing remained inside the bolt mechanism.

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The aforementioned audio forensics expert, Rob Maher, said the bullet had been faster than the speed of sound, travelling at an estimated 800m/s.

That bullet could only have come from a high-powered rifle, he said, not a handgun.

READ MORE: Joe Rogan reacts to Charlie Kirk's death as he is told live on air

How difficult was the shot?

Theories have emerged online about the killer being a "professional" marksman of some sort.

However, firearms experts have played down that angle.

"He didn't have to be highly trained as a sniper to make that shot from 200 yards (180 metres), because 200 yards with the right rifle and the right optics is not that far," former FBI supervisory special agent Dennis Franks told The Independent.

But he also said hitting a target of that distance outside a shooting range was vastly different to a crowded public setting, requiring a level of skill or plain luck.

"To do it under the stress of a live situation, he was either skilful or lucky," said Franks.

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Large parts of Australia are now more likely to end the year with a moisture-laden La Nina weather pattern after forecasters changed their modelling.

Climate change and the rapid warming of oceans has forced the Bureau of Meteorology to revise its analysis for the two major weather patterns: El Nino and La Nina.

The former brings warmer conditions while La Nina leads to increased cloud and rain.

LIVE UPDATES: Manhunt continues for Charlie Kirk's killer

Both weather patterns are influenced by sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

But the bureau has now overhauled the way it calculates how unusually warm or cool the ocean is, reports Weatherzone.

The bureau's forecasters now use a new method, called the relative Niño index, for their analysis, to take into account the rapidly rising sea temperatures.

It says without the shake-up, El Nino may seem more frequent and La Nina may appear less common.

Aside from weather forecasting afficionados, most Australians will be more interested in what it means for our approaching summer weather.

The answer is La Nina is more likely based on the relative index, which is in line with current seasonal outlooks.

They forecast above average over large areas of Australia's north and east during the last three months of this year.

Daytime temperatures may also dip across these regions during late spring into early summer because of the increased cloud cover.

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US podcaster Joe Rogan was filming the latest episode of his show with actor Charlie Sheen when news broke that conservative activist Charlie Kirk had been shot dead.

The pair's shocked reaction was caught live on camera as they were told of the shooting by a producer.

"This has just happened. We just got word that Charlie Kirk got shot," the podcast host said, looking stunned and clutching at his head.

LIVE UPDATES: Fresh images released of suspect in Charlie Kirk's murder

"That's f—ing awful," Sheen, 60, said in the video.

"Murdered for having a different opinion from somebody else. A different ideology from somebody else."

Rogan responded by saying they didn't know who had killed the 31-year-old Turning Point USA creator and Donald Trump ally, or what their motivation was.

The podcaster never interviewed Kirk on his show, but said he had met him once at a gun range.

"He's not a violent guy," Rogan said. 

"He was talking to people on college campuses."

READ MORE: Who was Charlie Kirk?

He added that Kirk "wasn't even particularly rude. He tried to be pretty reasonable with people."

Rogan lamented that the US was a country where people were deeply at odds with each other.

"People are so divided in this country… and there's so many people that love it and they profit off that division."

"One of two things is going to happen,  people are going to realise how f—ing insane this is…. or it's going to get a lot worse."

Kirk, a married father-of-two, was killed on Wednesday afternoon local time as he was speaking on stage to a crowd at Utah Valley University campus.

The killer, who fired the fatal shot from atop a nearby building, is still on the run.

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A 24-pack of Jack Daniels premixed whiskey and cola sits on top of a pelican case, inside a trench.

On the dirt floor lies part of another, crushed pack of alcohol – a 12-pack of Gordon's premixed gin and tonic.

Six bottles of Mammoth iced coffee and chocolate lie scattered, next to a gas bottle and camping stove, all sheltered by a tent and tarp.

READ MORE: What's next for children on the run for years with slain fugitive?

These are among the items seen in the second batch of photos of fugitive dad Tom Phillips' campsite released by New Zealand police on Wednesday.

The images show a campsite approximately 200 metres away from where Tuesday's pictures were taken, across some difficult terrain.

It was in this area where two of Phillips' children – Maverick and Ember – were found on Monday afternoon after the fugitive father was killed in a shootout with police on a remote country road south of Auckland.

Phillips went into hiding with his three children in December 2021 and had been hunted by police ever since.

Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said police staff were working in steep and uneven terrain to document evidence from the camp scene.

"It's a very grim, dimly-lit area, surrounded by dense bush," he said.

The Phillips tent was well covered and dry.

"We are currently looking at a number of items at the site. Aside from the burglaries we are now able to link to Tom, it is apparent that he had outside help," Saunders said.

Police removed the vehicles from the scene of the shootout on Tuesday night and were due to continue their examination of the area on Wednesday and Thursday.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Saunders said sleeping bags were found at the scene.

"Sleeping bags there, a tent, appear to be in the same sleeping area," he said.

He added he didn't believe the site was their main hideout.

On seeing the latest photos, experienced bushman Ngahiraka Te Riini described the campsite as "pretty average".

"It looks pretty temporary. It doesn't look like somewhere you would spend a long period of time," he told Stuff.

Riini said that although the site looked better than the one seen in pictures on Tuesday, it was "nothing special".

"I mean, it's dug into the bank, they've got shelter from one side, and then the roof looks alright. But honestly, it looks pretty average."

"That was probably one of the first things I thought when I saw that campsite is that it probably wasn't one of his better ones; he must have had other areas where they were better established than that," he said.

Despite this, Riini said Phillips could have survived there for a while.

"I've seen people living in less than that. I've met a few guys that live in the forest and they get by with less."

The first images of the campsite, released to media and the public on Tuesday, showed an incredibly rugged and remote camp.

At the time, Riini said, it looked more like a makeshift garage of sorts, where the vehicles were stored.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told reporters on Tuesday that officers were able to locate the campsite, but were prewarned about firearms on the scene when they were getting the two remaining children out safely.

Before going to the site, Chambers said police teams were told they would find at least one firearm and ammunition at the campsite.

This has since been recovered.

This article was originally published on Stuff.co.nz and has been reproduced here with permission.