Sunday, October 11

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Alan Jones’s lawyer criticises senior police officer, vows to fight charges in court
World News

Alan Jones’s lawyer criticises senior police officer, vows to fight charges in court

By Joshua Boscaini for ABC Alan Jones, left, with lawyer Chris Murphy alongside. Photo: ABC News / Keana Naughton Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones's lawyer has criticised a senior police officer and confirmed his client will defend himself against historical indecent assault and sexual touching charges. On Monday, NSW police executed a search warrant at the 83-year-old's Sydney harbourside home and charged him with 24 offences involving eight alleged victims spanning two decades. The charges included 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, nine counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault. NSW police said he knew some of the alleged victims personally and professionally, and the youngest compl...
Sabotage suspected after Baltic Sea telecoms cable C-Lion1 suddenly stops working | World News
Business

Sabotage suspected after Baltic Sea telecoms cable C-Lion1 suddenly stops working | World News

An undersea fibre optic cable between Germany and Finland has stopped working and might have been deliberately cut by an unknown party, according to authorities.The 729 mile (1,173km) C-Lion1 cable under the Baltic Sea from Helsinki to Rostock went offline just after 2am GMT on Monday. The outage was reported by Finnish state-controlled cyber security and telecoms company Cinia.A physical inspection has not yet been done but the abrupt nature suggests it was completely severed by an outside force, said chief executive Ari-Jussi Knaapila. Germany's foreign office said it was "deeply concerned" and it "immediately raises suspicions of intentional damage".A statement said: "Our European security is not only under threat from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid war...
These Canada-U.S. border crossing hours are changing next year. Here’s why
Politics

These Canada-U.S. border crossing hours are changing next year. Here’s why

The Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) is changing the hours you can cross the border at dozens of crossings between Canada and the United States, starting next year. The CBSA said in a statement Monday that it “intends to adjust hours of service at 35 land ports of entry across Canada” starting midnight on Jan. 6, 2025.The changes are being brought into effect in collaboration with the United States, the CBSA said.“It will allow the CBSA to use its resources more efficiently by deploying officers at busier ports of entry. This will support the CBSA’s ability to process travellers and goods as well as to manage enforcement activities,” the agency said in a statement.CBSA said the adjustments are based on “an analysis of operational pressures, peak periods, and services required at the por...
Biden adding ‘fuel to fire’, Kremlin says – as Ukraine allowed to fire US missiles into Russia | World News
Business

Biden adding ‘fuel to fire’, Kremlin says – as Ukraine allowed to fire US missiles into Russia | World News

The Kremlin has criticised President Joe Biden for adding "fuel to the fire" after giving Ukraine permission to launch US missiles into Russia.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to... continue adding fuel to the fire and provoking further escalation of tensions around this conflict." Russia's Foreign Ministry added that the action by Mr Biden's administration would fundamentally alter the nature of the war and trigger "an adequate and tangible" response.The UK has refused to reveal if it plans to follow suit, for example extending the use of British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine to hit targets inside Russia. Follow latest: Ukraine war live updatesBritain's Defence Secretary John Healey told the H...
Ukrainians mourn their war dead after almost 1,000 days of war – but US move sparks hope | World News
Business

Ukrainians mourn their war dead after almost 1,000 days of war – but US move sparks hope | World News

Barely anyone speaks – there is virtual silence apart from the sounds of passing vehicles and the wind whipping through flags and photographs commemorating the dead in a war that started 1,000 days ago when Russia invaded.What is really striking is the sheer number of people who have died, and this memorial in Kyiv's Maidan Square represents just some of those who gave their lives defending their country. Soldiers in camouflage fatigues pause to pay their respects to comrades, civilians stop and stare, heads often bowed. At the same time, on mobile phones, news alerts announce another missile strike on Ukraine. This time in the port city of Odessa.More dead, more injured, it never stops here. As this war grinds on, with Russia making significant gains in the eas...
Alex Jones-affiliated company challenges the Onion’s Infowars purchase
World News

Alex Jones-affiliated company challenges the Onion’s Infowars purchase

By Dietrich Knauth for Reuters Alex Jones has been forced to sell his assets to pay a US$1.5 billion defamation bill for the families of those killed in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Photo: AFP / Getty Images A losing bidder connected to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones challenged on Monday the Onion's purchase of Jones' Infowars website, saying the Onion won a rigged bankruptcy auction and offered half as much cash as its bid. First American United Companies, which is affiliated with Jones' dietary supplements businesses, asked US bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston to disqualify the bid by the Onion, a parody news site, and name its own US$3.5 million (NZ$5.9m) bid as the winner. Jones was forced to auction his assets, including Infowars, in bankruptcy,...
Joe Biden allows Ukraine to begin firing US rockets deep into Russia – as politician warns it ‘risks World War Three’ | World News
Business

Joe Biden allows Ukraine to begin firing US rockets deep into Russia – as politician warns it ‘risks World War Three’ | World News

Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine to begin firing US-supplied rockets deep into Russia - as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to push for "further support" for Kyiv at the G20 summit.Mr Biden's policy shift means Kyiv will now be able to use Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for long-range attacks, two American officials have told Sky News' US partner network NBC News. Follow latest: Ukraine war live updatesUkraine plans to conduct its first such attacks in the coming days, the sources said, without revealing details due to operational security concerns.The US has eased restrictions on the use of ATACMS, which have a range of up to 190 miles, after Russia began deploying North Korean ground troops to supplement its own forces in the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such a move wo...
What long-range missile strikes in Russia could mean for Ukraine war
World News

What long-range missile strikes in Russia could mean for Ukraine war

By Tom Balmforth, Max Hunder, Lili Bayer, Reuters Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky , centre, visits the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Photo: AFP / Handout / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service The US decision to authorise long-range Ukrainian strikes could help Kyiv defend the foothold in Russia's Kursk region that it seized as leverage in any war talks, but may come too late to change the course of the war, analysts said. Two months before leaving office, President Joe Biden lifted some restrictions that have blocked Kyiv from using US-supplied weapons for strikes deeper into Russian territory, in a major policy change, Reuters reported on Sunday. Military analysts said the impact on the battlefield, where Ukraine has been on the back foot for m...
Canadians will get child benefit cheques this week amid Canada Post strike – National
Politics

Canadians will get child benefit cheques this week amid Canada Post strike – National

The latest child benefits are going out to Canadian parents this week amid a postal disruption as thousands of Canada Post workers remain on a nationwide strike. Eligible families who have children under the age of 18 years will receive November payments of the Canada child benefit (CCB) on Wednesday.Parents who are expecting payments via mail will still get their cheques delivered, Canada Post and the Canada Revenue Agency has said.“Canada Post has agreed to deliver benefit cheques for the Canada child benefit and related provincial and territorial benefits (including the Alberta child and family benefit) for November 20, 2024,” the CRA says on its website.The Crown corporation says it has a “special agreement” with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) so that socio-economic cheque...
Two British men killed in Spain after car crashes into suspected drug trafficking boat in dual carriageway pile-up | UK News
Business

Two British men killed in Spain after car crashes into suspected drug trafficking boat in dual carriageway pile-up | UK News

Two British men have been killed in Spain after their car hit a suspected drug trafficking boat when it fell out on a dual carriageway.A third man, aged 54, is seriously injured after the crash which happened on the RM-12 road near the La Manga resort in Murcia. A 49-year-old and 57-year-old died after the collision at around 9.30pm on Saturday.Another eight people suffered minor injuries after six vehicles were also involved in the pile-up.The driver transporting what was described as an "inflatable boat" fled the scene, according to the Spanish Civil Guard. A spokesperson said the boat fell out on the dual carriageway after becoming detached from a trailer.The Britons' car was travelling behind the trailer.Police officers investigating the collision suspect the boat "may be related to dr...