TRANSCRIPT:
- An eighteen year old shot dead in a beach brawl in Newcastle;
- India expels Pakistani officials and closes a checkpoint after a militant attack in Kashmir;
- Star centre Len Ikitau commits to Rugby Australia to the end of 2027.
New South Wales Police have launched an investigation after the death of a teenager in a brawl in Newcastle.
The probe is being run by detectives from Newcastle, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
Police have been told a group of people were fighting in a car park at Bar Beach late last night when a white SUV drove up and a man armed with a gun got out, fired, and then left in the vehicle.
The eighteen year old died at the scene.
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India has announced a raft of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan in the wake of a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir.
The Cabinet Committee on Security has moved to suspend a crucial treaty that allows the sharing of river water, while a border checkpoint has been closed and Pakistani defence officials in India have been sent home after being declared persona non grata.
The measures follow the killing of 26 men by suspected militants at a tourist destination in Kashmir, the worst attack on civilians in the country in nearly two decades.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says the attackers will be found and punished.
"The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. It resolved that the perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account."
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Food charities have reported a surge in people coming to them for help - including families with two incomes.
77 percent of the hundreds of free food providers surveyed in the OzHarvest network say they have seen a noticeable increase in people seeking food.
But just over half of them say they have had to turn people away because they don't have the resources to meet demand.
Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Golding has told Channel 9 not enough is being done to help people in that position.
"Food has become a really discretionary item for far too many people... We're still waiting to see what the major parties will offer. Well, look, we are still waiting for the major parties to offer to help people who are out there with the least."
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A man has been charged over a data breach that hit the New South Wales court system earlier this year.
The 38-year-old man is accused of gaining unauthorised access to the state's JusticeLink, which allows lawyers, police and businesses to upload sworn statements, identity information, and other files for the 400,000-plus court cases filed each year.
But Acting Attorney-General Ron Hoenig says no personal information from the breach has been detected online or on the dark web.
He also says no one protected by apprehended violence orders has been identified as being at increased risk of harm.
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A major organisation in Australia says they are concerned multiculturalism has either not been a key issue in this federal election campaign - or used to stoke tension.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia says they don't agree with Coalition proposals to change the citizenship 'values' test, ban refugees from Gaza, and deport dual nationals convicted of crimes.
Chairperson Peter Doukas has told SBS he's also concerned migrants have become scapegoats for the cost of living and housing crisis.
"We've seen a divergence, particularly from some political actors, of their traditional stance protecting the pluralistic nature of our multicultural society, and for that reason we have voiced our concerns that we want to keep racism, racial profiling, out of this campaign. All parties have concerning rhetoric regarding immigration in a way that is different from previous stances and the stances of previous Australian governments."
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Four babies from a nearly century-old pair of Galapagos tortoises have made their public debut at a zoo in Philadelphia.
Their first appearance came on the anniversary of their mother's arrival at the Zoo, 93 years ago in 1932.
Dani Hogan from Philadelphia Zoo says the mother holds the record for being the oldest first-time mother of her species.
"The mother, whose name is actually Mommy, came to the Philadelphia Zoo in 1932. She's been living here for 93 years, and this is her first clutch of babies. She just became a new time, a first time mom at about 97 years old, probably the oldest that's ever happened for this species."
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To rugby news,
Star centre Len Ikitau will be available for the next World Cup after re-signing with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies until the end of 2027.
He has signed a flexible deal that allows him to take a sabbatical with the Exeter Chiefs in the UK Premiership beginning in late 2025, before he returns to Australian rugby ahead of the 2026 international season.
