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WA teen charged over alleged online threat towards Sydney mosque
A 16-year-old boy has been charged over an alleged online threat towards a mosque in south-west Sydney.
The Australian Islamic House Masjid Mosque in Edmondson Park allegedly received comments on an Instagram post yesterday evening from an account that referenced the 2019 Christchurch Mass Shooting at a mosque in New Zealand.
A major police investigation was quickly conducted, with police arresting a teenager at Eaton, in Western Australia.
READ MORE: NSW schools among latest closures as Cyclone Alfred moves in
He has been charged with creating a false apprehension to the existence of threats or danger.
He was granted bail and will appear in a children's court in Western Australia next month.
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‘Only hours left to prepare,’ premier warns
Those in the "impact zone" need to think about leaving now, well before Cyclone Alfred makes landfall.
Woman charged after ‘lovely’ grandmother allegedly murdered inside her home
A beloved grandmother allegedly murdered inside her home in Melbourne's east has been remembered as a "lovely" neighbour.
Irene Herzel, 78, was found with critical stab wounds after police visited her home in Blackburn South to conduct a welfare check just after 11am yesterday.
A 47-year-old woman, who 9News understands is a relative of the woman, was arrested nearby a short time later.
READ MORE: Cyclone Alfred completes U-turn and heads for south-east Queensland
She has been charged with murder.
John Hurley lived on the same street as the grandmother and described her as a "lovely and pleasant person".
"I used to walk past her place on most days and she would be out there, saying 'hello, how are you'," he told reporters today.
"We would talk about gardening. I used to deliver her some lemons and she would bring over something she would make with the lemons. She was a lovely person.
"It's so sad to see. She was very quiet, unassuming, pleasant. (She) just wanted to be a really nice person. I am just shocked this happened because she was so lovely.
READ MORE: Where and when Cyclone Alfred will make landfall
Hurley said he was "fortunate" to have her on the street.
The 47-year-old woman is set to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
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Beaches closed, shelves empty as Cyclone Alfred approaches
More than four million people across Brisbane, the Sunshine coast and Gold Coast in Queensland as well as in northern NSW towns including Byron Bay and Lismore are planning for Cyclone Alfred.
Almost 20,000 homes at risk of flooding in Brisbane alone when cyclone hits
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, bringing with it intense rainfall and high risk of flooding.
Flood mapping has shown that almost 20,000 homes are at risk of flooding in Brisbane alone when the storm hits.
Flood warnings have been issued in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, with flash flooding and burst waterway banks predicted in the days ahead.
LIVE UPDATES: Cyclone Alfred bears towards south-east Queensland as emergency preparations get underway
Low-lying suburbs near rivers and creeks are considered to be at most risk, as are beachside communities which could be affected by storm surge flooding.
Today, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Christie Johnson warned floods could start as soon as this afternoon and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned people to prepare for evacuations.
"I have seen the way that the south-east has handled flooding events and I've seen the way that Queenslanders have dealt with all forms of challenges like this, and I have every faith that the state will come through this," he said.
READ MORE: Where and when Cyclone Alfred will make landfall
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner issued a warning today that "almost 20,000 properties across Brisbane could be impacted by storm surge or flooding".
"According to the modelling, areas most at risk include Nudgee Beach, Brighton, Windsor, Ashgrove, Morningside and Rocklea," he said.
Other areas at significant risk of flooding in Brisbane include Coopers Plains, Carina, Sandgate, Hemmant, Lota, Tingalpa, Indooroopilly, Albion, Bardon and Wynnum West.
"We are advising people to make a plan in those areas," Schrinner said today.
"As the Premier said, the first option will be to stay with family and friends. You will be safe and more comfortable by staying with family and friends."
Brisbane city council, Moreton Bay council, and Gold Coast council have directed locals to monitor flood warnings and mapping online.
Residents can search their address to learn how their home and local area may be impacted on their local government's disaster dashboard. A list is available here.
READ MORE: Will Tropical Cyclone Alfred impact flights this week?
Over the border, parts of northern NSW are also bracing for floods as Cyclone Alfred creeps closer to the coastline.
Residents can check flood mapping for their local area on the Tweed shire council website, the Ballina shire council site, and the Byron shire council site.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state government is bracing for a worst-case scenario "akin to the 2022 natural disaster".
The northern NSW floods claimed nine lives and ravaged thousands of homes and buildings from Cudgera Creek to Tweed Heads.
READ MORE: How to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred and what to expect
The premier urged people concerned about flooding to evacuate their homes by Thursday evening.
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Chinese warships pass major Australian naval base
The flotilla of Chinese warships has sailed beyond Perth and is off the north-west coast of Western Australia.
It passed the navy base HMAS Stirling on Garden Island, near Rockingham, yesterday.
The vessels are continuing their circumnavigation of Australia, which triggered a row with China and intense domestic political debate when they staged a live fire drill off NSW.
LIVE UPDATES: Cyclone Alfred bears towards south-east Queensland as emergency preparations get underway
Australian authorities are monitoring the warships as they travel through international waters.
The Department of Defence said today the People's Liberation Army-Navy Task Group 107 – comprised of a frigate, a cruiser and a replenishment vessel – is operating 300 nautical miles (556km) north-west of Perth.
"Defence continues to monitor the task group while it remains in the vicinity of Australia's maritime approaches," it said in a statement.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles told Today this morning the ADF, working with the New Zealand military, had done a "really fantastic job" in tracking the ships.
The Royal Australian Navy ships – HMAS Warramunga, HMAS Stuart and HMAS Toowoomba – are shadowing the task group.
"And we'll continue to keep a very close eye on that task group as we have from the very moment that this task group entered the vicinity of Australia," said Marles.
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Listen to The Country online: Christopher Luxon on Trump, tariffs, and sandwiches
Christopher Luxon, Emma Brodie, Emma Higgins, and Gordon Rennie.
NSW schools among latest closures as Cyclone Alfred creeps closer
Schools and businesses across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will close today and tomorrow as Tropical Cyclone Alfred looms ever closer.
The category 2 storm is expected to make landfall late on Thursday evening, bringing with it damaging winds, intense rainfall and the possibility of flash flooding.
Sports and other events have also been called off in anticipation of the cyclone's arrival.
LIVE UPDATES: Cyclone Alfred bears towards south-east Queensland as emergency preparations get underway
Here's everything you need to know about school, business and other closures and cancellations as Cyclone Alfred approaches.
School closures: Queensland
Most Queensland schools remain open on Wednesday, per the Queensland Department of Education, and will close on Thursday before the storm makes landfall.
"Schools will be closed in the impacted area tomorrow and Friday," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed today.
Schools on North Stradbroke and Moreton Bay islands are open, but only for supervision.
Many child care centres are already closed and many universities are expected to pause teaching from Thursday.
READ MORE: Which areas are at most risk of flooding when Cyclone Alfred makes landfall
School closures: New South Wales
In northern New South Wales, more than 100 schools have closed from Tweed Heads to Yamba as local communities brace for impact.
"We request families in affected areas to not send your children to school for the next three days," the NSW Department of Education said in a statement on X.
"Our school staff will be onsite this morning in case the message is not received in time."
Some local child care centres have also shut.
READ MORE: Where and when Cyclone Alfred will make landfall
Sport and other events
AFL and NRL games in southeast Queensland have been shifted or postponed ahead of Cyclone Alfred's arrival, including Thursday night's AFL season opener between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats.
Saturday's AFL match between the Suns and Essendon at Carrara has also been postponed.
The NRL game between the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night has been relocated to Sydney's Commbank Stadium.
A Saturday night Women's A-League match at Perry Park has been called off.
Other sporting events including the Australian Boardriders Battle grand final, the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships, WPGA tournament and Mooloolaba Triathlon have been cancelled or postponed.
Junior and amateur sport events are expected to be cancelled as well.
American rock band Green Day cancelled their Wednesday night concert at CBUS Stadium, urging fans to "Stay safe out there!"
Community events and local markets are expected to be called off across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.
READ MORE: Will Tropical Cyclone Alfred impact flights this week?
Business closures
Many businesses in Queensland will close from Thursday, as well as council libraries, community halls, golf courses, pools and playgrounds.
Some supermarkets in Queensland are currently restocking 24/7 to meet demand as locals stock up on essentials, unsure if stores will remain open through the storm.
9news.com.au understands that Coles and Woolworths stores are operating as usual at present and will monitor the situation.
Airports
Airports in Queensland and northern New South Wales remain open but airlines have warned travellers to keep in contact if they have an upcoming flight.
Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar have offered customers booked on flights in the affected areas flexible travel options to avoid flying during the worst of the storm.
READ MORE: How to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred and what to expect
Public transport
In Queensland, some bus and ferry services have already been halted.
Brisbane River ferries and Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries are not running until further notice. Buses running in the Redlands region have also been cancelled.
"Public transport is slated to go all through today, but it will not be operational on Thursday and Friday," Crisafulli said today.
Disruptions are also expected in parts of New South Wales, with Burns Point Ferry services in Ballina already stopped.
Road closures
No road closures have been announced in Queensland or northern New South Wales, but travellers in affected areas have been warned to avoid unecessary journeys from tomorrow.
"Queenslanders need to be prepared for major roads and bridges to be closed," Crisafulli confirmed.
People in Queensland are advised to monitor the QLD Traffic website for updates, those in New South Wales can monitor the Live Traffic NSW site for closures.
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Tauranga McDonald’s worker allegedly taken hostage by man who claimed he had gun; kidnap charge laid
The man allegedly took the worker outside with something held against his neck.