Seven young individuals in Sydney were apprehended by the Australian law enforcement for allegedly embracing a violent extremist ideology.They were arrested in raids on Wednesday. A judge also said that social media platform X couldn’t share a video of a knife attack on a bishop, which led to the investigation.
Seven teenagers, who were between the ages of 15 to 17, were in a group connected to a 16-year-old boy. The boy is accused of stabbing a bishop in a Sydney church on April 15, according to the police.
Videos of the stabbing were taken from the church service and then shared on X. Last week, a regulator in Australia told the platform to remove the videos. The platform is now trying to not do that.
Five more teenagers were still talking to the police on Wednesday night. The police team includes federal and state police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, and the New South Wales Crime Commission. They are all working together to investigate terrorism.
Over 400 police officers searched 13 properties in southwest Sydney because they thought the suspects were a big danger. This was said by Deputy Commissioner David Hudson of the New South Wales Police.
“We will say that these people followed a religiously motivated, violent extremist belief,” Hudson told the news.
“It was thought that the group. ” Hudson said that the current way we investigate is not enough to keep people in New South Wales safe from the dangerous risk.
Australian police deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said that investigators did not find any clear targets or timing for a planned “violent act. ”
She said the police action was not related to Anzac Day, a public holiday when Australians honor their war dead.
In the past, extremists have wanted to attack it.
A teenager, 16, was accused on Friday of doing a terrorist act, which is a serious crime with a maximum punishment of life in prison. This was after a knife attack that injured an Assyrian Orthodox bishop and priest.
On Wednesday, a judge in an Australian Federal Court made a decision to continue the ban on X from sharing videos of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being stabbed.
Judge Geoffrey Kennett decided to continue the ban that was put in place on Monday until May 10.
X, which was previously known as Twitter, said last week that it will go to court to oppose orders from Australia to remove posts about the attack.
Australia’s eSafety Commission, the first government agency focused on keeping people safe on the internet, asked the court for a temporary worldwide ban.
Marcus Hoyne, a lawyer for X, said to the judge on Wednesday that the bishop didn’t want the video to be banned. Emmanuel just signed a document saying he strongly believes the material should be made available, Hoyne said.
Hoyne said the eSafety Commission was trying to use a lot of power with “orders that basically affect the whole world. ”
Hoyne also said that a ban on the video ordered by the court might not work.
Hoyne said that this material is now showing up in many different places.
The lawyer for the commission, Christopher Tran, said that X did not follow the order given on Monday. Hoyne said he didn’t know what to do about that.
X did not answer The Associated Press’s questions on Tuesday about whether or not the company followed the order.
Elon Musk, who owns X, is saying that Australia is stopping people from speaking freely. The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, is calling Musk a “cocky billionaire. ”
Musk said on his personal account that people in Australia want the truth. “X is the only person fighting for their rights. ”
Musk also criticized Australian independent Sen. in his comments. Jacqui Lambie stopped using her X account because of a problem, and she wants other lawmakers to do the same.
“Elon Musk said she is against the people of Australia. ” This woman really hates the Australian people.
Lambie said to Sky News that Musk is a very rich and mean person.
“He doesn’t care about anyone but himself,” she said. Someone like that deserves to be in prison and the key should be thrown away.
Officials say that social media caused 2,000 people to come to the Christ the Good Shepherd Church after the attack. This led to a riot where 51 police officers were hurt and 104 police cars were damaged.
ASIO boss Mike Burgess said his organization was part of Wednesday’s operation.
“Australia’s security service works hard to give police the information they need to handle threats right away, whether it’s about safety or other issues,” Burgess explained.
He said a few years ago, 50% of the cases ASIO was investigating involved children, but now the number has gone down.
But Burgess said that more young people are being looked into for things like what they post on social media.
“They are a group of people who need protection,” Burgess said.
Tag: Sydney
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7 young radicals detained by Australian police in over the death of a bishop in Sydney
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Sydney Assyrian church bishop says he forgives his assailant
A bishop from an Assyrian church who was stabbed during a church service, has said he is getting better and has forgiven the person who attacked him. The police are investigating the riots that happened after the stabbing.
Two knife attacks happened in Sydney. One at a shopping center near Bondi beach on Saturday killed six people, and the other at a church in Sydney’s west on Monday. This has surprised the people of Sydney.
I am doing well and getting better very fast. “Don’t worry,” Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel said in a message on social media, his first public comments since the attack. I forgive the person who did this. I will pray for you and the person who told you to do this. I also forgive them.
Bishop Emmanuel, who is popular with young people on TikTok and has spoken against homosexuality, COVID vaccinations, and Islam in his church speeches, was hurt in the attack. The attack is believed to be a terrorist act driven by suspected religious extremism.
A young man has been arrested for attacking the bishop, and he is in the hospital under police supervision.
A group of angry people outside the church fought with the emergency workers and demanded that they give them the person they thought was the attacker.
New South Wales state Police Commissioner Karen Webb said a 19-year-old man, who was not a church member, was charged because of his part in the riot.
“Many people joined in the riot. ” Webb said it is really bad and gross during a news talk.
Additional investigators have been given the job to look into the riot. It hurt around 50 officers and ruined 20 police cars.
Bishop Emmanuel told his church members to stay calm and follow the law.
The police are checking things, and the Bondi mall opened on Thursday so people can go inside to honor the victims. The stores are still closed, and there are flowers laid out on the second floor. Businesses can start trading again from Friday.
“We’ve moved from being very surprised to not believing what happened to feeling very sad, and it will take a long time for people to understand and accept it,” said Paula Masselos, who is in charge of the local council, in an interview with ABC TV.
She said there will be a gathering with candles on Sunday, and there are many flowers and bouquets at a memorial that was made quickly. -
Man detained following alleged stabbing at Sydney church
Australian police say they arrested a man after a bishop and three people from the church were stabbed in Sydney. No one is seriously hurt.
The incident happened on Monday evening during a church service that was being shown on TV, according to the police. The Assyrian church shows its services on the internet.
A video on social media shows a man in black clothes walking up to a religious leader at a church called Christ the Good Shepherd. He seems to stab the leader many times in the head and upper body.
People in the church are yelling and running to help the bishop. The church’s website said the bishop’s name is Mar Mari Emmanuel.
The NSW Ambulance helped a man in his 50s who had lots of cuts and took him to the hospital. They also treated three other people at the scene for one or more cuts.
“The police are coming in a big group and they want people to stay away from the area,” the police said. Many people came to the church and hospital and stood together in a group.
Chris Minns, the leader of New South Wales, said on social media that the scenes were upsetting and asked people to stay calm and support each other. Religious leaders also were surprised and expressed their sympathy.
A lot of Australians feel really surprised and upset after one person stabbed six people to death in a crowded Sydney shopping mall on Saturday. Many more people were also hurt.
It was not clear right away if the two stabbings were related.
Christ the Good Shepherd was getting ready for Palm Sunday, which is coming up later this month.
Last year, the bishop was on TV and in the newspapers all over the country.
In May 2023, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation shared a video about a campaign that was mean to hurt the LGBTQ+ community. In the video, a bishop said that if a man calls himself a woman, he is not a man or a woman, but an “it”. Since you are a machine, I will not call you a person. It’s your decision, not mine. -
Six killed in Sydney mass stabbing
Police report that a man fatally stabbed six people at a busy shopping center in Sydney on Saturday before being shot and killed by police. Multiple individuals, including a young child, were also wounded in the attack.
According to New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke, the suspect stabbed nine people at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, located in the city’s eastern suburbs. A police inspector shot the suspect after he turned and raised a knife. Six victims and the suspect lost their lives. Police have not provided specific details about the condition of the injured.
Cooke stated that authorities believe the suspect acted alone and assured the public that there is no ongoing threat. However, officials have not yet identified the perpetrator. Cooke described the situation as “quite raw” and stated that a comprehensive investigation is underway.
He said there was “nothing that we are aware of at the scene that would indicate any motive or any ideology.” When asked whether officials were ruling out terrorism, he said: “We’re not ruling anything out.”
Cooke mentioned that the police inspector, a senior officer, acted alone when she confronted the suspect and swiftly engaged him shortly after arriving at the scene, effectively “saving a range of people’s lives.”
Footage depicted numerous ambulances and police vehicles surrounding the shopping center, with people seen leaving the area.Paramedics were observed providing medical treatment to patients at the scene.Witness Roi Huberman, a sound engineer at ABC TV in Australia, recounted that he sought refuge in a store during the incident.
“And suddenly we heard a shot or maybe two shots and we didn’t know what to do,” he said. “Then the very capable person in the store took us to the back where it can be locked. She then locked the store and then she then let us through the back and now we are out.”
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Two human remains found during search for Sydney couple who went missing
Australian police found two bodies while looking for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, a missing couple from Sydney.
Karen Webb, the police chief of New South Wales, stated that she is convinced they have discovered Luke and Jesse.
Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, a police officer who used to go out with TV presenter Mr Baird, was recently accused of murder.
The bodies were found in a country side area in the town of Bungonia.
The police said that Mr. Lamarre-Condon didn’t want to help at first,but then he told them where the two bodies were on Tuesday morning.
Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said the bodies were found close to the property’s entrance and someone tried to hide them under rocks and debris.
Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said that the police think two “surf bags” were used to carry the dead couple in a white van from Mr. Baird’s house in Paddington, where they were probably murdered.
Investigators discovered a bullet from Mr. Lamarre-Condon’s work gun at the scene last week. They also found a lot of blood and furniture that had been turned over.
Mr Lamarre-Condon went to court on Friday but was not allowed to leave until his next court date. He has not said anything about the reasons why he was charged. He started working as a police officer in 2019 and used to be a famous blogger.
Police started paying attention to the Bungonia property, which is about two hours south of Sydney. They learned that Mr. Lamarre-Condon had gone there in a white van, which is believed to have the bodies of the pair along with an acquaintance last Wednesday.
Mr Lamarre-Condon cut the lock on a gate, left the woman there, and drove away in a van. He came back 30 minutes later, according to the police.
The crime, which has shocked Australia, is thought to be the first suspected murder by a New South Wales police officer in many years. This has led to an investigation into when officers can use their guns outside of work hours.
The Mardi Gras parade organizers in Sydney have decided not to invite the NSW police to this year’s march. This decision has caused a lot of strong opinions on the internet and the police are also upset. They say the murders were not related to hating gay people but were a crime done out of strong emotions.
Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade has a long history that involves LGBTQ+ activism and police violence. In1978, the first march led to many people being beaten and arrested by the police.
In the last few years, it has become a event that brings people together, with police officers participating every year since 1998.
Many people have shared their kind words for Mr. Baird, a former TV host and reporter, and Mr. Davies, who was a flight attendant for Qantas.
Commissioner Webb said that Jesse and Luke were very involved in the community and he can see from their online photos that they had a good life. -
Policeman accused of killing gay couple who went missing from Sydney
A 28-year-old police officer has been accused of killing Jesse Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies who went missing.
Police searched hard on Wednesday after the couple’s bloody things were found in a trash can near Sydney.
Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, who used to date Baird, was wanted by the police and turned himself in on Friday.
Investigators are still looking for the men’s bodies and are not sure how they died.
The police say the couple was killed on Monday in Jesse Baird’s house in Paddington, a suburb in Sydney. Then their bodies were put in a white van.
People said they heard loud talking and arguing in the morning. A van that was rented was seen on video at the same place later that day. The van was discovered in the southern part of Sydney on Friday morning.
New South Wales Police found a bullet from Beaumont Lamarre-Condon’s work gun at the Paddington crime scene, along with a lot of blood and furniture that was turned over.
He didn’t come to work on Tuesday. The senior police officer’s gun was found in a safe at the police station later, said Det Supt Daniel Doherty.
The police found clothes with blood on them, a phone, and credit cards in a bin in Cronulla, which is 28km away from where the crime happened. They also found some things in a house in Balmain.
Detective Superintendent Doherty said Beaumont Lamarre-Condon is thought to have also gone to Newcastle, which is 170km north of where the crime happened, after the alleged killings.
He said the information from Beaumont Lamarre-Condon didn’t help the investigation, but tips from the public really did. He asked again for anyone with information to call the police.
“It’s really important that we find the bodies, not just to know how they died but also to give the family some answers. ” “They are very upset,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
Mr Baird used to be on TV and report from the red carpet, but his show got canceled in December. Davies used to work as a flight attendant for Qantas.
Many happy pictures of the couple were posted a lot on their social media. Many people have been leaving kind messages since they went missing.
Beaumont Lamarre-Condon started working as a police officer in 2019. Before that, he was a famous blogger who met celebrities like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus.
The Australian media wrote about his meetings with famous people, and a magazine asked if he was the biggest fan in Australia.
Det Supt Doherty refused to say why the crimes happened but mentioned that the police officer had broken up with Jesse Baird a few months ago, so that’s something the police are looking into.
Beaumont Lamarre-Condon was not allowed to go free and had to go to court on Friday afternoon. -
Robbie Williams fan passes away following a fall during Sydney concert
A 70-year-old woman died in the hospital after falling at a Robbie Williams concert in Sydney last Thursday.
During the show at Allianz Stadium, she tumbled down six rows of seats and hurt her head really bad.
The woman was taken to a hospital close by and put into a deep sleep on purpose. Doctors confirmed on Tuesday that she had passed away.
The singer from Britain has not said anything about what happened on the first night of his Australian XXV tour.
The accident happened after the show was over, while many people were leaving the stadium, according to a spokesman.
The woman didn’t use the stairs, she tried to walk over the seats instead. She slipped and fell, the spokesman said in the report by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“This is a very sad event and we are thinking of the customer and their family at this time. ”
Around 40,000 people went to the show on 16 November. The popular British singer is the focus of a new documentary on Netflix. They will be performing in Melbourne next Wednesday.
A 23-year-old fan passed away at a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro last Friday after fainting from the heat.The British singer has not said anything about the incident that happened on the first night of his Australian XXV tour.
Swift honored the fan and said she was very upset and heartbroken by the fan’s death. She posted on Instagram: “She was really beautiful and too young”. -
Teens who started Sydney fire turn themselves in
Following a devastating fire that engulfed a seven-storey heritage building in central Sydney, two 13-year-old boys have voluntarily surrendered to the police.
The inferno, which broke out on Thursday afternoon, necessitated the efforts of approximately 100 firefighters to bring it under control.
Law enforcement authorities suspect the involvement of other teenagers in the incident and have appealed for their cooperation, urging them to come forward.
While 13 of the 15 individuals who were homeless and sheltering in the building have been located, the blaze has resulted in the displacement of around 70 residents from nearby structures.
As a precautionary measure, an exclusion zone is expected to remain in effect for seven days.
The police have confirmed that the two teenagers who turned themselves in are currently assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales said the fire reached a “10th” alarm status on Thursday – the most severe level.
The building was heritage-listed and formerly home to the Henderson Hat factory. It had sat vacant for many years, but there were plans to redevelop it into a hotel.
After it caught fire, a thick column of smoke could be seen across Sydney. Video showed the top level of the building falling on to the nearby street.
Fire and Rescue NSW said they were able to contain the fire to prevent damage to nearby residential blocks.
The organisation also said investigations into the cause of the blaze had been taken over by NSW Police Arson Squad.
The building is located in inner-city Sydney, across the road from the city’s central station.
Transport to and from the central area had to be stopped on Thursday as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.
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US woman detained in Sydney over a gold gun
An American woman was detained in Sydney after flying from Los Angeles and landing there with a firearm that was 24-carat gold-plated.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a statement that the 28-year-old lady did not have a permission to import or possess a handgun in Australia when she arrived in Sydney on Sunday.
Australia has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, and it is against the law to “intentionally” import weapons without authorization. Australia’s maximum sentence for this crime is ten years in prison.
The woman, who was not identified in the statement, appeared before a local court Monday and received bail. The status of her visa and continued stay in Australia is subject to the courts. Depending on the outcome, she could be removed from the country, according to the ABF.
ABF Commander Justin Bathurst said the arrest spoke to the diligence of the force’s officers and sophistication of the country’s detection technology.
“ABF officers are committed to protecting our community by working with law enforcement partners to prevent items like unregistered firearms getting through at the border,” Bathurst added in the statement.
Australia is often held up as an example of how decisive action gun control can succeed in reducing deaths from firearms.
The country implemented sweeping gun-control measures after a lone shooter murdered 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in April 1996.
Rapid-fire rifles and shotguns were banned, gun owner licensing was tightened and remaining firearms were registered to uniform national standards alongside a hugely successful nationwide buy-back and amnesty scheme.
Gun violence has reached record levels in the United States, which is the only nation in the world where civilian firearms outnumber people. In Australia, there are approximately just 14 guns for every 100 people, compared to 120 per 100 in the US, according to the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey (SAS).
The US also has more deaths from gun violence than any other developed country per capita. The rate in the US is eight times greater than in Canada, 22 times higher than in the European Union and 23 times greater than in Australia, according to Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) data from 2019.
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Experiment gone wrong: Sydney school students injured after science experiment
A classroom science experiment gone wrong has injured several students at a primary school in Sydney, Australia.
According to reports, at least two students were taken by ambulance to a hospital with severe burns. Another nine people are thought to have received minor burns.
According to initial reports, the experiment used sodium bicarbonate and methylated spirits, according to 9news.
At the scene, helicopters, paramedics, and fire trucks were seen responding.
On Monday, around 13:00 local time (02:00 GMT), the incident occurred at Manly West Public School.
New South Wales Ambulance Acting Superintendent Phil Templemen said the wind impacted the experiment and blew around some of the chemicals that were used.
The children – believed to be aged between 10 and 11, according to reports – suffered burns to their bodies, including on their face, chest, lower abdomen and legs, said the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).
One teacher was also treated for minor injuries.
Several parents who dropped by the school on Monday afternoon said they had questions as to why the experiment took place, but added that the school had got things “under control”.
“We heard online what happened, it was a bit worrying but everything seemed to be under control quite quickly,” Mich Ashton, a parent at the school, told the BBC.
Another parent, who did not want to be named, said it was a “routine science experiment” that occurred, adding that the teacher involved was “much loved”.
One resident told the SMH that a teacher had emerged from the school earlier to speak to a group of people who had gathered outside.
“The teacher who addressed us said it was a science experiment that went wrong and some chemical burns were involved,” said Tyson Atkins.
One popular school science experiment that can be found online, called the Carbon Sugar Snake, uses methylated spirits and baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate.
It involves mixing sugar with baking soda, placing a small amount of the mixture in sand soaked with methylated spirits, and igniting the concoction.
However, it was not immediately clear what kind of experiment the school had conducted.
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Sydney: Cruise ship carrying 800 Covid cases lands
A holiday cruise ship carrying approximately 800 people with Covid-19 stopped in Sydney, Australia.
After sailing from New Zealand, the Majestic Princess cruise liner arrived at Circular Quay.
When the ship docked, there were approximately 4,600 passengers and crew on board, which meant that approximately one in every five had Covid.
The outbreak is similar to the early 2020 Ruby Princess cruise liner Covid incident, in which at least 900 individuals tested positive and 28 perished.
Marguerite Fitzgerald, the president of the cruise operator Carnival Australia, said a large number of cases started to be detected about halfway through the 12-day voyage.
All cases were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, she said.
Staff would be assisting all guests who have tested positive “with accessing private transport and accommodation to complete their isolation period”, she said. The ship will soon depart for Melbourne.
Asked about comparisons between the Majestic Princess and the Ruby Princess – which also belongs to the same operator – Ms Fitzgerald said: “Since then, we as a community have learnt a lot, a lot more about Covid.”
The outbreak comes as Covid cases rise across Australia.
In New South Wales, 19,800 new cases were detected in the seven days to Friday.
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Sydney experiences wettest year on record
Sydney, Australia’s largest city, has broken its yearly rainfall record with 86 days remaining in 2022.
Since January, the city has had more than 2,200mm of rain, according to Australia’s weather service.
Widespread flooding across Australia – driven by a La Niña weather pattern – has already killed more than 20 people this year.
People in Sydney and elsewhere have been warned of immediate flood risks and to brace for another wet summer.
“We’ve seen a lot of rain around Sydney today, but it is only going to get worse,” said New South Wales (NSW) Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke on Thursday.
Sydney’s previous rainfall record of 2,194mm was set in 1950.
More heavy rain and storms are forecast for the coming days but catchments are saturated, dams are full, and rivers are already swollen, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
That means many areas are primed for rapid flooding.
“Our message for the community in the coming days is prepare now,” forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse said.
“[This flooding] looks as though it’s going to be more significant than what we have been seeing over the past 12 months.”
Some areas in Sydney and its surrounds may be flooded, but communities in the NSW central west are most at risk, she said.
For some people in areas like the Hawksbury-Nepean, on the western fringe of Sydney, it will be the fifth flood event in less than two years.
Thousands of homes were left uninhabitable when flooding hit NSW and Queensland in February and March.
The disaster was Australia’s most expensive flood in its history. Some of the areas worst hit faced flooding again within weeks.
Experts say the recent wet weather has been driven by climate change and the La Niña phenomenon.
In Australia, a La Niña increases the likelihood of rain, cyclones, and cooler daytime temperatures.
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Sydney United 58 supporters censured for Nazi salutes at the Australia Cup final
A senior government official has stated that fans who showed Nazi salutes and insignia during the Australia Cup final “should be banned for life.”
After initiating disciplinary proceedings, Football Australia (FA) stated that it “seriously condemns the behaviour of a small minority” of Sydney United 58 supporters.
The club said it was “concerned” by reports of the actions of supporters.
In a statement, Sydney United 58 said it had “zero tolerance towards any form of disrespect, racism or discrimination”.
The club added it would work with authorities to conduct a “full investigation”.
Supporter attempts to drown out the Indigenous welcoming ceremony prior to kick-off at Western Sydney Stadium are also being investigated.
FA said on Monday it had issued a show-cause notice to semi-professional side Sydney United 58, this requiring the club to respond before any sanctions are implemented.
The governing body added it was working with New South Wales police “to determine strong and swift action on any identified anti-social behaviour”.
Pictures on social media showed some Sydney United supporters making Nazi salutes during the match.
“It has no place, not just at sporting games, but anywhere in our state, and I know the police are looking at it,” said Perrottet.
“Those people who have done that through those salutes should be banned for life.”
The chanting and booing during the pre-match Welcome to Country – a practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – will be considered as part of the FA investigation.
“The incidents last night caused by some individuals and groups in the stadium was ignorant,” said Jade North, chair of the Football Australia National Indigenous Advisory Group (NIAG).
“This type of behaviour was disrespectful and must not continue in our game and attitudes must change.”
The first non-A-League side to reach the final, Sydney United 58, formerly known as Sydney Croatia, lost 2-0 to Macarthur FC in front of a crowd of 16,461 on Saturday.
“The club is deeply committed to creating an environment that is respectful and inclusive, which allows our community members to celebrate their heritage in a meaningful and responsible way,” the club’s board said.
“Those that do not align themselves with these values are not welcome at Sydney United 58 FC and their views will never be tolerated.”
FA said eight people were evicted during the match “to address some isolated behaviours by a small minority of individuals”.
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Chris Davidson: Former pro-surfer dies after attack outside Australian pub
A former Australian surfing champion, Chris Davidson, passed away after being attacked outside a bar north of Sydney.
After being struck in the face, the 45-year-old fell and injured his head on the pavement, according to the police. He was attended to at the site, but he passed away shortly after
A man, 42, has been arrested and charged with assault causing death.
Mr Davidson grew up in Sydney and competed on the world surfing tour in 2010 and 2011.
He shot to fame as a 19-year-old after he was granted a wildcard entry into the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia, in 1996. There, he beat reigning world champion, Kelly Slater, in two consecutive heats.
Mr Slater was among those who paid tribute to Mr Davidson after his death.
“Had many a good battle with this guy. One of the most naturally talented surfers I ever knew,” the 11-time world champion wrote on Instagram.
Surfing New South Wales executive director Mark Windon said Mr Davidson was “one of the most stylish surfers” Australia had ever produced.
“He was an absolute prodigious talent and as flamboyant as he was in the water,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“[He] was a larger-than-life character, and for his life to finish that way is really sad.”
Police have not released further details about the incident in South West Rocks, a small coastal town.
The 42-year-old man was refused bail on Monday and will next face court in November, local media said.
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Labour shortage : Qantas executives to work as baggage handlers for three months
Australian airline Qantas has asked senior executives to work as baggage handlers for three months as it tries to tackle a significant labor shortage.
The firm’s head of operations is looking for at least 100 volunteers to work at Sydney and Melbourne airports.
Tasks include loading and unloading bags as well as driving vehicles to move luggage around airports.
The company’s operations manager is searching for at least 100 volunteers to work at the airports in Sydney and Melbourne.
Additionally, to operating cars to transport luggage throughout airports, tasks include loading and unloading bags.
Like much of the global airline industry, Qantas is struggling to resume its services as borders reopen.
“The high levels of winter flu and a Covid spike across the community, coupled with the ongoing tight labor market, make resourcing a challenge across our industry,” Qantas’ chief operating officer Colin Hughes said in an email shared with the BBC by the company.
“There is no expectation that you will opt into this role on top of your full-time position,” Mr. Hughes added.
The managers and executives were asked to work in the baggage handling roles for three or five days a week, in shifts of either four or six hours a day.
The note went on to say that applicants need to be able to move suitcases weighing as much as 32kg each.
“We’ve been clear that our operational performance has not been meeting our customers’ expectations or the standards that we expect of ourselves – and that we’ve been pulling out all stops to improve our performance,” a Qantas spokesperson told the BBC.
“As we have done in the past during busy periods, around 200 head office staff have helped at airports during peak travel periods since Easter.”
Qantas was among airlines hit hard by the pandemic as countries closed their borders, grounding planes.
The industry laid off thousands of staff during the pandemic, many of which were the ground staff.
In November 2020, Qantas outsourced more than 2,000 ground staff roles, on top of thousands more job cuts it had already announced, in an effort to limit its financial losses.Last month, the airline apologized after passengers complained of delays and missing luggage.
Australia had among the strictest Covid travel restrictions in the world, including for its own citizens, and only began lifting the controls in November 2021.
As measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 have eased around the world, Qantas and other major airlines have struggled to resume services at the scale seen before the pandemic.
Staff shortages have also affected UK airports and airlines, resulting in cancellations and delays throughout the holidays. The lack of baggage handlers has also contributed to a backlog of bags in terminals.
To assist control demand, airports like Heathrow have capped passenger numbers over the summer. As a result, several airlines have suspended ticket sales for specific routes.
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Police identify Saudi sisters found dead in Sydney flat
Two Saudi sisters found dead in their Sydney apartment in “unusual” circumstances last month have been identified by police, as authorities appealed for more information.
Police discovered the bodies of Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, on June 7, following a concern for welfare report, according to a statement on Wednesday from New South Wales Police.“Despite extensive inquiries, detectives have been unable to ascertain how the women died,” the statement said. “However, it is believed the women had been deceased for some time prior to being located.”The sisters arrived in Australia from Saudi Arabia in 2017, NSW Police confirmed to CNN. “The circumstances of their death were unusual because they have no signs of injury,” police said.NSW Police detective inspector Claudia Allcroft said any information from the public could hold the key to solving the investigation.“Detectives are interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen or who may have information about the women’s movements in the days and weeks prior to their deaths — which we believe occurred in early May,” Allcroft said in the NSW Police statement.In a statement posted on Twitter, the Saudi Consulate in Sydney said it was in contact with Australian authorities about the case. “The Consulate also expresses its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,” it said.CNN has reached out to the Saudi Embassy in Canberra for comment.Source: cnn.com