Tag Archives: oceania

Man charged in Fiji over alleged rape and sexual assault of Virgin crew member

2025-01-04 FreeNews

A man in Fiji has been charged over the alleged rape and sexual assault of a Virgin Australia crew member on New Year's Eve.

Fiji Police charged the man today, and he will face a Magistrates Court in Nadi on Monday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The alleged incident is believed to have happened early on January 1 in a nightclub area of Nadi, a city on Fiji's main island.

The man charged over the incident was earlier questioned by police.

They said he was known to authorities.

One of the Virgin Australia crew members was allegedly sexually assaulted while two others were robbed, Fiji's Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka confirmed on December 2.

Police have not yet laid charges over the alleged robberies.

Fiji's acting police commissioner earlier told local media that police believed the suspects were locals.

After the incident, the three staff members were advised to stay in their rooms at Hotel Tanoa near the airport, but have since returned to Australia.

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Man dies after house fire at ‘hoarder’s premise’

2025-01-04 FreeNews

A man has died after a fire broke out at a home in Sydney's west earlier this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to a house in Blacktown about 4pm, which was engulfed in flame as they arrived.

Firefighters at the scene were told that there could be a man inside the burning house.

House fire in Blacktown.

The man was found and brought outside where responders started to perform CPR.

He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene despite their efforts.

He has not yet been formally identified.

NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Grant Rice said firefighters were working to stop the fire spreading beyond the property where it started.

"It's classified as a hoarders' premise, so they're doing their best to make sure it doesn't escalate and extend beyond that property," Rice said.

Approximately 32 firefighters and eight trucks were called to the scene.

Police were called to the scene for traffic management.

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Emergency services respond to light plane crash off NSW Mid North Coast

2025-01-04 FreeNews

A light plane has crashed in waters off the NSW Mid North Coast.

The plane went down at the Gaagal Wanggaan National Park near Nambucca Heads on the Coffs Coast at about 4pm today.

Water police, the Westpac Rescue helicopter and other marine-based crews were sent to the scene.

A witness told police he saw a light plane appear to go down out to sea near Nambucca Heads.

It is understood two people were on board the aircraft but their condition is not known.

More to come…

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Brenton Wood, singer behind 1967 hit The Oogum Boogum Song, dies at 83

2025-01-04 FreeNews

American singer-songwriter Brenton Wood has died at the age of 83, Variety have reported.

Born Alfred Jesse Smith, the entertainer is best known for the 1967 hit The Oogum Boogum Song, which has been featured in a range of popular films and TV shows.

The performer's manager, Manny Gallegos, confirmed the news to the US media outlet.

American singer-songwriter Brenton Wood has died at the age of 83, Variety has reported.

Gallegos said Wood died from natural causes and was surrounded by his family at his home in California.

According to a statement from Gallegos, the performer's last words were "Catch you on the rebound", which was a reference to one of his hit songs.

Wood was born in the city of Shreveport in Louisiana on July 26, 1941.

When he was a child, his family moved to the neighbourhood of San Pedro in Los Angeles.

After his high school graduation, he went to East Los Angeles College and started to perform under the stage name Brenton Wood, which some have speculated was inspired by the wealthy Los Angeles neighbourhood of Brentwood.

He developed a strong interest in music and honed his songwriting skills.

Wood also became a competent pianist as he continued his musical journey.

While his earlier singles failed to chart, his persistence in the music industry paid off when he signed with Double Shot Records and novelty single The Oogum Boogum Song reached No.19 on the Billboard charts.

Wood's biggest hit came a few months later when his song Gimme Little Sign hit No.9 on the US pop chart.

The single was later covered by Australian singer Peter Andre in 1993, peaking at No. 3 on the ARIA charts and became the 12th highest-selling single of the year.

Wood's single Baby You Got It also peaked on the charts. He released a number of studio albums and formed his own record label.

Woods was hospitalised in May 2024, which put a stop to his farewell tour.

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Melissa Chan Green pays tribute to ‘Poppa’ who died on New Year’s Day

2025-01-04 FreeNews

The former Newshub journalist said Malcolm came into her life at 3 years old.

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Police hunt arsonists who lit home on fire three nights in a row

2025-01-04 FreeNews

Organised crime investigators are hunting two arsonists believed to be responsible for setting a Gold Coast home alight three nights in a row.

Residents of the home in Main Beach were targeted between 11pm and 11.30pm on the nights of December 28 to December 30.

Police said the two men were travelling in an allegedly stolen car but they believe the jerry can they armed themselves with could lead to their arrest.

In the days after the attack, Hughes Avenue was busy with emergency services.

"Investigations have established a Sceptre branded jerry can, 5-litre variety and red in colour, was used in the execution of these offences," QPS detective inspector Craig Bowman said.

In CCTV released by police, two men doused the home in fuel after they arrived under the cover of darkness.

They left as the blaze took hold.

Detectives from the Crime and Intelligence Command are ramping up their efforts to unmask them.

Organised crime investigators are hunting two arsonists who are believed to be responsible for setting a Gold Coast home alight three nights in a row.

"Police are calling on anyone who recalls selling that brand of jerry can in the weeks prior to these offences, or any person who's been seen filling jerry cans of this description," Bowman said.

Bowman said an allegedly stolen silver Mitsubishi Outlander was used by the alleged arsonists.

Police have not disclosed any suspected motive in the attack.