Category: Top Stories

Russian authorities say they have detained a man described as a “Ukrainian special services agent” in connection with a car explosion that killed Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik on Friday. The suspect allegedly purchased the car that exploded in Balashikha, less than 32 kilometres east of Moscow, according to TASS citing Russia’s Federal Security Service. The suspect’s nationality is unclear; according to the FSB, he has a residence permit in Ukraine. Russian authorities say they have detained a man described as a “Ukrainian special services agent” in connection with a car explosion that killed Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik on Friday. (CNN) ... Read more

At least 14 people have been killed and 750 injured in a huge explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas in southwestern Iran, according to official Iranian media citing the country’s interior ministry. The explosion sent a huge plume of thick, grey smoke from the Shahid Rajaee part of the port complex, according to videos geolocated by CNN, with the government saying the blast was likely linked to chemicals being stored. Iran’s Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni said six people remain missing as firefighters continue to work to extinguish the blaze, despite challenges posed by high winds, Iranian media reported. ... Read more

A man is in hospital after allegedly being stabbed by a teenage girl in Melbourne’s CBD early today. The 21-year-old man was on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Queen Streets at around 5.30am when he was approached by a teenage girl, police said. The teenager, who was in a group of around 10-15 other people, then allegedly stabbed him. Three people were hurt in two separate incidents in Melbourne’s CBD. (9News) He suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. The victim and the teenage girl were not known to each other. No arrests have been made. In a ... Read more

Emergency services were called to an unoccupied property on Caroll Street in Deer Park at around 7am following reports of a fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find smoke and flames billowing from the roof of the single-storey home. The fire was under control by 8.13am. The cause of the fire remains unknown and an arson chemist is expected to attend the scene. Investigations into the cause of the fire, which police believe is suspicious, remain ongoing. Anyone with information or dashcam/CCTV footage of the incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Source ... Read more

The driver allegedly behind a crash that killed an elderly man in Perth is out on bail tonight, insisting he wasn’t aware he’d collided with the victim. The 84-year-old was just metres from his home in Wembley when he was struck and left lying in the middle of the road. Michael Hadwiger’s blue Holden Cruze was found by police at a house in Craigie yesterday afternoon. The 84-year-old was just metres from his home when he was struck. (9News) Shortly after, officers smashed their way into the 44-year-old’s Glendalough flat to arrest him. Police had been searching for him and ... Read more

Most of Sydney and large parts of NSW will cop a drenching to end the long weekend as rainfall and strong winds batter the east coast. Drivers heading back towards Sydney and surrounding regions have been warned to stay alert and be careful on the roads after last night brought heavy rains, with a further deluge to come. The Bureau of Meteorology said an upper level low above central in-land NSW is heading east towards the coast, bringing with it more heavy rain and some thunderstorms. Drivers heading back towards Sydney and surrounding regions have been warned to stay alert ... Read more

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to announce a $204 million pledge to introduce around-the-clock healthcare. Labor’s latest Medicare promise will include a 24/7 health advice line and access to after-hours doctors via telehealth for free under a rebranded 1800MEDICARE program. Albanese is set to announce 1800MEDICARE – which would replace Healthdirect – at a Labor rally in western Sydney later today. Anthony Albanese holds up a Medicare card. (Dominic Lorrimer) The expanded telehealth offering will be available in every state and territory from January 1 next year if Labor is re-elected. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said earlier today the ... Read more

Two people were arrested during a fiery clash between opposing protest marches yesterday in Melbourne’s CBD. A man and a woman were arrested after violence erupted outside Parliament House in Spring Street when women’s rights protesters clashed with transgender rights activists. Police used pepper spray to control the crowd as punches were thrown between the opposing rallies. There was a strong police presence in the CBD ahead of yesterday’s warring protests. (9News) It’s understood the initial protest was organised by Women’s Voices Australia in protest of the Allan government’s plans to overhaul anti-vilification laws to include the LGBTIQA+ community. Trans-rights ... Read more

Residents in Sydney‘s Northern Beaches woke to a surprise visitor this morning, with a juvenile humpback whale swimming off Little Manly Cove. The unique sighting of the younger marine mammal comes ahead of the peak migration season. The sight left witnesses gobsmacked. Residents in Sydney’s Northern Beaches woke to a surprise visitor this morning, with a juvenile humpback whale swimming off Little Manly Cove. (9News) The unique sighting of the younger marine mammal comes ahead of the peak migration season. (9News) “I’ve never seen a whale come this close or up that close, it was truly something special,” Alex Smith ... Read more

World leaders and Catholic faithful have bidden farewell to Pope Francis in a funeral highlighting his concern for the “most peripheral of the peripheries” and reflecting his wishes as pastor. Though presidents and princes attended the mass in St Peter’s Square today, prisoners and migrants welcomed him at the basilica across town where he will be buried. Some 250,000 people flocked to the funeral, held on a brilliant spring day that was supposed to have been a special Holy Year celebration for adolescents. Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli (front, left) kneels next to the closed coffin at the funeral mass for ... Read more