Kiwifruit orchards were developed while leaving much of the natural environment untouched.
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Ducks harmed in suspected animal cruelty incident
A Muscovy duck was found with tape on its back and a broken wing.
Plane catches fire on tarmac at US airport, passengers escape on the wings
An American Airlines plane engine caught fire at Denver International Airport after the aircraft was diverted there Thursday evening, officials said, forcing passengers to deplane onto the aircraft's wing as smoke enveloped the plane.
Passengers onboard American Airlines flight 1006 were evacuated at the gate, according to a government source familiar with the incident.
The flight, en route to Dallas-Fort Worth from Colorado Springs, landed in Denver around 5 pm local time, data from FlightAware.com shows.
READ MORE: Influencer at centre of wombat scandal flees Australia
Video from inside the airport shows dozens of passengers exiting the aircraft and standing on the plane's wing as smoke filled the air.
Six crew members and 172 passengers deplaned the Boeing 737-800 aircraft after the plane's engine caught fire at the Denver airport, an American Airlines spokesperson told CNN in a statement.
The flight crew and passengers were relocated to the airport's terminal, according to the statement. "We thank our crew members, DEN team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority," the airline said.
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The plane landed at gate C38, where it caught fire, a Denver International Airport spokesperson told CNN.
The fire was extinguished, all passengers were evacuated and there were no injuries, the spokesperson said.
Video captured by a Montana woman waiting for a connecting flight inside the airport shows a large cloud of smoke from the plane rising as dozens of passengers are seen exiting the plane and running away.
Leonard, who was flying in from Helena, Montana, told CNN she was waiting inside the Denver International Airport for her connecting flight to Colorado Springs. That is when she looked outside and saw flames and smoke engulfing the plane.
"I was terrified for those passengers," Leonard said. "I can't even imagine how scared they must've been."
More to come.
US influencer at centre of wombat scandal flees Australia
The US influencer who briefly took a baby wombat from its mother in footage shared on Instagram has left Australia, the government has confirmed.
9News understands Montana-based hunting enthusiast Sam Jones flew out of Australia this morning.
"There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
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Jones faced intense backlash yesterday after an undated video circulated online of her picking up a baby wombat from the side of the road as its distressed mother watched on.
The video erupted online, sparking swift backlash from the Prime Minister and native wildlife advocates.
Before she left Australia, the Department of Home Affairs said it was reviewing the woman's tourist visa.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the footage as an "outrage" when asked about it at a press conference in Perth.
"To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother is just an outrage," the PM said.
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"And I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.
"Take another animal that can actually fight back, rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother.
"See how you go there."
It is not yet known which Airport the Influencer left Australia from.
More to come.
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Why this never-before-seen image offers hope to Parkinson’s sufferers
Australian researchers have made a huge breakthrough in the fight against Parkinson's disease after solving a decades-long mystery.
Scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) have for the first time been able to observe a key protein directly linked to the awful disease, and determine what it looks like.
The protein, PINK1, supports cell survival by detecting damaged mitochondria and tagging them for removal.
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In a healthy person, when mitochondria are damaged, PINK1 gathers on mitochondrial membranes and signals through a small protein called ubiquitin, that the broken mitochondria need to be removed.
The PINK1 ubiquitin signal is unique to damaged mitochondria, and when PINK1 is mutated in patients, broken mitochondria accumulate in cells.
In a person with Parkinson's and a PINK1 mutation, the mitophagy process no longer functions correctly and toxins accumulate in the cell, eventually killing it.
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Brain cells need a lot of energy and are especially sensitive to this damage.
Although PINK1 has been linked to Parkinson's, and in particular Young Onset Parkinson's Disease, researchers had been unable to visualise it and did not understand how it attaches to mitochondria and is switched on.
The idea of using PINK1 as a target for potential drug therapies has long been touted but not yet achieved because of the unknowns.
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The research team hope to use this new breakthrough to find a drug to slow or stop Parkinson's in people with a PINK1 mutation.
Parkinson's disease is insidious, often taking years, sometimes decades to diagnose.
Often associated with tremors, there are close to 40 symptoms including cognitive impairment, speech issues, body temperature regulation and vision problems.
In Australia, over 200,000 people live with Parkinson's and between 10 per cent and 20 per cent have Young Onset Parkinson's Disease – meaning they are diagnosed under the age of fifty.
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The impact of Parkinson's on the Australian economy and healthcare systems is estimated to be over $10 billion each year.
"This is a significant milestone for research into Parkinson's. It is incredible to finally see PINK1 and understand how it binds to mitochondria," corresponding author on the study Professor David Komander said.
"Our structure reveals many new ways to change PINK1, essentially switching it on, which will be life-changing for people with Parkinson's."
The full study can be found online here.
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Australia’s youngest murderer out of prison
Australia's youngest-ever convicted murderer will walk from prison following a court's refusal to keep him locked up four years after his sentence ended.
The child killer has spent almost two thirds of his life behind bars after abducting and fatally stabbing his three-year-old neighbour Courtney Morley-Clarke when he was 13.
His 20-year sentence expired in 2021 but concerns over his stunted maturity, institutionalisation and threats of inflicting violence against others have led to rare post-sentence detention orders.
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A brief foray in the community in 2023 on court-ordered close supervision resulted in him approaching about 200 women across 95 days, including several mothers with young children.
One unlawful interaction – talking to a mother dressing her young child at a beach – forced his return to jail.
An application to detain him for a further year was heard in the NSW Supreme Court as the state argued he posed too great a risk to the community.
Concerns were aired the man was "very institutionalised", had suffered a "deep freeze maturation process" and kept ruminating about taking revenge on a community corrections officer.
Psychiatrists previously diagnosed the 38-year-old with a severe personality disorder that made him self-centred and unempathetic.
But Justice Mark Ierace on Friday dismissed the state's application to detain the killer further.
His written reasons are expected to be published later in the day.
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It likely means Courtney's killer falls back onto his prior extended supervision order, requiring him to stick to a pre-determined schedule of movements, stay off encrypted apps and other conditions.
The order runs the maximum five years.
He entered custody the day he murdered Courtney, having left his adoptive parents' home on the Central Coast in the middle of a hot summer night before pulling the girl from her bedroom.
He later told police how he took the youngster to a nearby field.
"I stabbed her in the heart," the then-teenager said.
The boy then directed police to a pool of blood on a concrete driveway and a steak knife lying nearby.
The girl's naked and lifeless body was found in tall grass soon after.
The sentencing judge described the "exceedingly disturbing killing of a very young child" as utterly inexplicable and cruel.
"Somewhat disturbingly he gave one answer (in his police interview) which suggested that, once he had killed one person, he expected that it would become easier killing the next one and the one after that," the judge said.
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Sydney tradie returns to work the day after $10 million Powerball win
A Sydney tradie has woken up as a multi-millionaire after he won $10 million in last night's Powerball.
The Manly resident, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, held the only division one winning entry nationally and took home the entire prize.
The man said he had a sleepless night after the unlikely win.
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"I honestly thought I'd wake up and it wouldn't be there in the morning, like it was all a dream," the tradesman said.
"I started shaking and I definitely wasn't sleepy after that. I couldn't help but shed a tear.
"Although I'm running on no sleep, I'm at work today like normal."
The man said he would seek financial advice after the multi-million dollar win.
"I'm going to see a financial advisor and set myself up," he said.
"It means I might not have to work anymore. I'll be able to help my family too."
There are many different ways to get help and information about gambling. You can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call on 1800 858 858.
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This scrawled note in a Melbourne shop window was the last straw
Melbourne teenagers have been left in tears and parents claim they are out hundreds of dollars after a local debutante dress store closed without warning them, on the back of a slew of complaints.
Addison Rose Deb Dresses in Keilor East shut its doors on March 4, with a handwritten note in the store window advising customers that it would reopen in two weeks.
Several days later, a new note appeared claiming the store had closed due to a break-in on March 5, during which thieves allegedly stole custom ordered dresses.
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A spokesperson for Victoria Police told 9news.com.au confirmed police were called after an alleged burglary and the investigation into the incident was ongoing.
On March 11, the store announced on its now-deleted Instagram that it had "experienced two break-ins in recent months" and had been forced to close for "safety reasons".
The post also alluded to "harmful rumours" circulating about the business.
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Some customers have turned to Paula Parra, who owns Parra Gowns 5km down the road, after bad experiences with Addison Rose Deb Dresses.
Parra told 9News that girls turn up "week after week crying" about missing gowns.
She also owns an alterations business and previously supplied alterations for Addison Rose Deb Dresses, but cut ties over Arzanov's business practices.
"There was so many things that were going on that were so wrong," Parra alleged.
"I said, 'I can't deal with her anymore. This is wrong. She's gonna go down in flames, and she's not bringing my business down with her.'"
Addison Rose Deb Dresses remains temporarily closed and customers told 9News the store has been cleared of dresses.
Many are still seeking refunds on dresses that they fear will not arrive in time for their daughters' debutantes – if at all.
Aussie icon named among top 20 destinations of 2025
Grab your suitcase and your passport – Time has just released its list of the world's 100 greatest places to visit in 2025.
Rare ‘blood moon’ will be visible from millions of Australian homes tonight
Millions of Australians have the chance to witness a rare 'blood moon', the first of its kind in almost three years.
The exciting astronomical event will see the moon bathed in red light for a few short but striking moments tonight.
The blood moon will be visible in most parts of Australia but you'll have to be quick, as the eerie effect isn't going to last long.
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Here's everything you need to know about the blood moon including what it is, how to see it and when it will be most visible.
What is a blood moon?
It sounds spooky but a blood moon is actually just a kind of lunar eclipse; specifically, a total lunar eclipse.
This occurs when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, blocking all direct sunlight from reaching the moon's surface.
However, some light can still reach the moon through the Earth's atmosphere.
This light appears orange or red because only longer wavelengths can make it through the atmosphere without scattering, leaving only the deepest, warmest colours visible.
While the term blood moon isn't scientifically recognised, it's commonly used to describe these kinds of eclipses which leave the moon bathed in eerie red light.
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What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs any time the moon moves into the Earth's shadow, leaving the moon partially or wholly darkened as light from the sun cannot reach it.
There are several different kinds of lunar eclipses and they can occur quite frequently, though some are more rare than others.
A penumbral lunar eclipse only causes a subtle dimming effect, while a partial lunar eclipse typically dims only part of the moon's surface.
A total lunar eclipse, wherein the whole surface is dimmed and may appear red, is more rare.
A central lunar eclipse is relatively rare and occurs when the moon passes near and through the centre of Earth's shadow and a selenelion or 'horizontal eclipse' is when both the sun and an eclipsed moon are visible in the sky at the same time.
Unlike a solar eclipse, lunar eclipses can be safely viewed without eye protection.
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How rare is a blood moon/total lunar eclipse?
Total lunar eclipses are more rare than penumbral or partial lunar eclipse.
The last blood moon occurred in November 2022 and was visible with the naked eye in the Australian night sky.
After the March 14 blood moon, the next total lunar eclipse is expected to take place in Australia on September 7 and 8, 2025.
What is the best time to see the blood moon in 2025?
The blood moon will appear tonight and will last between 55 and 80 minutes, however only part of the eclipse will be visible as it will begin before the moon has risen in most capital cities.
The best time to view the blood moon will be right on moonrise, as the eclipse is likely to finish soon after in most cities.
Expected moonrise times in Australia's capital cities are as follows:
- Sydney – 7.13pm
- Melbourne – 7.40pm
- Brisbane – 6.04pm
- Canberra – 7.22pm
- Adelaide – 7.35pm
- Darwin – 7.02pm
- Hobart – 7.32pm
The blood moon is unlikely to be visible in Perth, where moonrise will be at 6.37pm local time.
More details on when the blood moon will be visible in cities around the country can be found on TimeandDate.com.
Where is the best place to see the blood moon in 2025?
The best place to witness a lunar eclipse of any kind is a high vantage point with a clear view of the eastern horizon and limited artificial light sources.
Somewhere dark without any visual obstructions is best, but the blood moon will be visible from most major cities too.
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