Vic saved from scorching heat

Southerly winds are protecting Victoria from a blast of desert heat that's baking other states. Source: AAP

VICTORIANS could be putting on jackets and dodging rain clouds while some parts of the country sweat through record-breaking temperatures.

Weather bureau senior forecaster Terry Ryan says Victoria won't be hit by the blast of hot desert heat that's struck elsewhere.

"We're protected by this generally southwest to southerly air flow," he said on Thursday.

"We've got nothing here that's very hot at all."

Melbourne only reached a high of 20C by midday on Thursday with temperatures forecast to stay between a low of 12C and a high of 24C during the next five to six days.

Even in the far north, Mildura reached the state's highest temperature of 25.5C at 1pm (AEDT).

The town isn't forecast to break above 30C until Wednesday.

A band of rain has also been crossing the state as the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Christine is picked up by southerly winds.

Scattered showers are forecast in Melbourne over the next five days.

Victoria's fire danger ratings have also dropped to low across northern parts of the state.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bondi shooting victim in Brothers 4 Life

A MAN found on the streets of Bondi with a gunshot wound in his shoulder has been linked to the Brothers 4 Life gang.

The 31-year-old is also believed to have been on a boat at Rose Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs on New Year's Day when it was shot at from the shore, police say.

Peppered with bullets, the boat left the wharf but was stopped by police a short time later and towed to Balmain.

The boat, the OSCAR II, is a 105-foot luxury motor yacht available for hire for more than $2000 an hour, Fairfax Media reported on Thursday.

Less than two hours after the shooting, a 31-year-old was discovered at Lamrock Avenue opposite Bondi Beach with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

The man is believed to be a member of the Brothers 4 Life gang, which is linked to recent shootings throughout Sydney.

A witness said he spoke to the injured man before police arrived.

"We just walked past and this guy's just said, 'Man, I've been shot in the back,' and these coppers just showed up and they've taken over the scene," the man told Fairfax Media.

Emergency services took him to St Vincent's Hospital, from where he has since discharged himself, police say.

It is understood he is not co-operating with police.

Residents of Sydney's west and southwest witnessed gang violence this year as feuds between Brothers 4 Life members erupted in shootings.

The group was founded by Bassam Hamzy, who was jailed in 1998 for the murder of Kris Toumazis outside the Mr Goodbar nightclub in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst.

He has had his jail time increased after orchestrating kidnappings and assaults and running a drug ring from within prison.

A man believed to be his cousin was shot dead in Revesby last year and another man, Omar Ajaj, suffered multiple bullet wounds in the attack.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cyrus rang in New Year in Times Square

Miley Cyrus rang in 2014 with a headlining spot at Times Square's annual NYE bash in New York. Source: AAP

MILEY Cyrus rang in 2014 with a headlining spot at Times Square's annual New Year's Eve bash in New York.

The pop star, who scrapped a show in Florida to perform as part of TV network ABC's end-of-year TV marathon, sang Get It Right and Wrecking Ball just before midnight, but it was too cold for her to "twerk" or show off too much skin.

Instead, she and three dancers hit the stage in matching gold outfits and the pop star also wore a floor-length white winter coat to keep off the chill.

Cyrus smiled through the show even though she was ill - shortly before taking to the stage, she tweeted, "This cough/cold is not a good combo. please keep praying for me. If I can just get thru tonight I can have a nice lil break."

She cheered up just before taking the stage when she told host Ryan Seacrest all about her "modest" costume, revealing, "This is the most clothed I've been in all of 2013... Due to standards and practices and also the cold weather, this is what we came up with."

And she started 2014 with high praise from Courtney Love, who ended 2013 with the post: "if it wasn't for @MileyCyrus 2013 would've been a dull dreary year. if you can't agree with that, you're an idiot."

Melissa Etheridge also got the Times Square revellers ready for 2014 by singing John Lennon's peace anthem Imagine just before midnight, and the coverage then bounced to Billy Joel performing across the Big Apple at the Barclays Center just after the famous ball drop and the start of 2014.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Icona Pop and Blondie were also part of the countdown celebrations in Times Square.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bon Jovi still highest-grossing tour act

Bon Jovi ended 2013 on a high after banking $US259.5m to score the year's highest-grossing tour. Source: AAP

BON Jovi have re-affirmed their status as the highest-grossing tour act.

The American rockers have ended 2013 on a career high after banking $US259.5 million ($A292.61 million) to score the year's highest-grossing tour.

The Livin' On A Prayer stars have been trekking across the globe on their Because We Can: The Tour shows since February, and their huge success has landed them the top spot in Pollstar.com's annual list.

The figure is a record for the stars themselves, despite guitarist Richie Sambora quitting the gigs in April to spend more time with his daughter.

Beyonce's The Mrs Carter Show World Tour, which kicked off in April, was a distant second with a haul of $US188.6 million, while Pink claimed third place with $US170.6 million for her The Truth About Love tour.

Justin Bieber and Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band rounded out the top five, while Rihanna, Taylor Swift and One Direction also placed high on the list.

The Pollstar data re-affirms Bon Jovi's status as the highest-earning touring act of the year - Billboard magazine editors also honoured the band with the same title in early December.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Almost 10,000 NSW drivers caught speeding

2013 saw the lowest number of people die on NSW's roads for almost 90 years, the government says. Source: AAP

POLICE nabbed almost 10,000 motorists for speeding on NSW roads during the Christmas holiday period, but no lives have been lost on the state's roads in the past two days.

NSW police said 9972 drivers had been caught speeding since December 20, when this year's Operation Safe Arrival began.

They said 486,087 breath tests had been issued, with 710 drivers charged for drink-driving.

Provisional and learner drivers were "dominating the most serious incidents", police said.

"We are still seeing too many people breaking the road rules - particularly drink-driving and speeding," Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said in a statement.

"The fact we are still seeing learner and provisional drivers continuing to put others at risk by breaking the law is also of concern."

NSW's road toll is at seven, with no reports of fatal crashes on the state's roads on Tuesday or so far on Wednesday.

On Monday, a young girl was killed and five other people injured in a single-vehicle crash about 50 kilometres south of Cessnock.

Earlier on Wednesday, the state government said 2013 had the lowest number of people die on NSW's roads since 1924.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay said provisional figures showed the death toll was 339 last year, down from 369 in 2012.

But cyclist fatalities have doubled since 2012.

The national road toll period runs from midnight December 23, 2013, until midnight January 3, 2014, local times, in line with the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Board.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Deadline set for Stradbroke Island exodus

Campers have been told to leave a North Stradbroke Island beach or face being removed by police. Source: AAP

CAMPERS have been told to leave a North Stradbroke Island beach by 4pm (AEST) or face being removed as a large bushfire burns nearby.

Queensland authorities want to have Main Beach cleared of people before they close the only road out.

"We are asking people to evacuate. However, we would suggest if you aren't removed from that area by four o'clock today you will be forced to evacuate," a police spokeswoman told AAP.

The fire, which was set off by lightning, has been burning in thick bushland for days.

It's not threatening lives or property, but authorities are concerned about an expected wind change on Wednesday afternoon.

About 900 campers could be at risk if the fire changes direction, they say.

A massive exodus began earlier on Wednesday and many people are arriving in the town of Dunwich.

Ferries and barges will take the holidaymakers back to the mainland from there.

A Stradbroke Ferries manager told AAP they could not comment because they were too busy organising the evacuation.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Target Australia gift cards okay

Target Australia says its gift cards have not been affected by a glitch that has hit Target US. Source: AAP

TARGET Australia has assured customers that it is not experiencing any problems with its gift cards, following reports that the shopping giant in the US was having post Christmas troubles.

America's second-largest discount retailer Target US said an unidentified number of gift cards sold over the Christmas period were not properly activated.

"We are aware that some Target gift cards were not fully activated and apologise for the inconvenience," company spokeswoman Molly Snyder said in a statement.

Target Australia said on Wednesday that it has no affiliation with Target US and is in no way affected by their reported issues.

"Target Australia has not had any credit card security issues and all gift cards are working normally," general manager, corporate affairs, Jim Cooper said in a statement.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queensland bakes in 'unusual' heatwave

Queensland is about to swelter in a heatwave, with the mercury tipped to reach close to 50C. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND is about to swelter in a heatwave, with the mercury tipped to reach close to 50C in some parts of the state this week.

In the western Queensland town of Birdsville, the mercury could soar as high as 48C on Thursday which in Brisbane, temperatures are predicted to hit a sultry 39C on Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to be 5C to 10C above the average across the state over the next few days.

Meteorologist Gordon Banks from the Bureau of Meteorology said a large, dry, hot mass of air stagnating in the nation's interior was the cause.

Mr Banks said a run of such high temperatures was rare for Queensland.

"We do get these bursts of several days where we're seeing high 30s to low 40s through the (state's) interior," he said.

"But what we're seeing at the moment is that we're having this run of days where we're seeing mid to high 40s through the interior and that certainly is much more unusual."

Diamantina Shire Mayor Geoff Morton, who lives in Birdsville, said it would be business as usual in the small town on Thursday despite the forecast 48C heat, which is 1.5C shy of the 1972 record.

"Once it gets over 45 (degrees) it doesn't matter whether it's 45 or 55, it's still bloody hot," Mr Morton said on Wednesday.

"Everything's hot, everything's hot to touch, the ground is hot ... A few more degrees is not going to make much of a difference."

The long-time Birdsville resident said melted tar sticks to the tyres of passing freight trucks and locals either spend the day in air conditioning or start work early to avoid the midday heat.

"If you walk down the street from 12 o'clock on you won't see anybody. They're hibernating," he said.

"They've got a pretty simple choice. Inside the pub is 23 degrees and outside is 53."

A slightly cooler change is expected to move through the state from Friday.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sydney primed for 2013 big finish

Spectators have begun descending on Sydney's popular spots for the New Year's Eve fireworks show. Source: AAP

PICNIC rugs are in position, beers are in hand and streets have been shut off as Sydney draws closer to its big night.

More than 1.5 million people are expected to gather across the city to view the New Year's Eve fireworks shows, themed Shine, at 9pm, 10.30pm and midnight.

From dawn, eager spectators began filing into the harbour foreshore carrying everything from rugs and chairs to fishing rods and kettles as they vied to snatch the best view.

Access to the Opera House and Blues Point Reserve was shut off from 12.30pm on Tuesday as crowds reached capacity.

As temperatures neared 27 degrees at the Botanic Gardens, some revellers who couldn't get access to shade stripped down to bikinis, or bras and undies. Others just threw water over themselves.

Ross Jollie, from the UK, said he was looking forward to seeing the show firsthand, having spent a lifetime viewing it on television.

"They are the first fireworks you see on TV, so definitely it is the place to be," he told AAP.

At 10.30pm, a one-minute cracker show based on an absurdist self-portrait by the night's artistic ambassador Reg Mombassa will be launched.

"The cranium universe display will basically be the stars, the planets and the sun inside someone's head but on the sky," he told reporters on Tuesday.

While remaining tight-lipped about the particulars, Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the bridge effect, to be unveiled just after midnight, will be "bigger than ever".

For the first time in a decade, more than 1000 fireworks will also be launched off the Opera House's sails.

But it hasn't been good news for all.

About 10,000 people have missed out on a New Year's Eve party at the newly opened Wet'n'Wild theme park in Sydney, after promoters cancelled the event just hours before it was due to kick off.

Event organiser One Cube Entertainment said it had to cancel the festival because of "a major technical production issue" and will hold a replacement concert on Australia Day.

NSW Fair Trading Minister Stuart Ayres said a case manager has been appointed to deal with complaints and to ensure full refunds are granted where requested.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

WA government funds four shark projects

Four projects will share funding as part of the WA government's shark hazard mitigation strategy. Source: AAP

SURFBOARD fins with electronic shark deterrents and an acoustic system to detect sharks at beaches are among four research projects to share in almost $1 million as part of the West Australian government's shark hazard mitigation strategy.

WA company Shark Shield will receive $300,000 over two years to develop surfboard fins with an in-built shark deterrent device that can be retro-fitted to all modern surfboards.

Curtin University's Centre for Marine Science and Technology will receive $130,124 over three years to develop systems that mask the noises of beachgoers that attract sharks.

The University of Western Australia (UWA) will receive $252,417 to develop an acoustic system to detect sharks as they approach beaches.

A further $284,620 will be granted for a separate project at UWA to define the visual, electrical and vibrational cues that trigger shark attacks to help design shark deterrents.

Premier Colin Barnett said there was not one simple way to minimise shark attacks.

"Finding out more about sharks and developing new methods to detect and deter sharks is obviously central," he said.

The premier said the projects would complement research undertaken under the first round of the program, including research into existing shark deterrents and unique deterrents such as strobe lights, bubble curtains and using underwater sounds.

That first round of grants also funded Curtin University's research into sonar detection and imaging of sharks and a project at UWA looking at the development of algorithms to improve visual shark detection.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More