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Gunmen abduct 25 girls from a high school in Nigeria and kill one of the staff - abcnews.go.com

Russian drone and missile barrage in eastern Ukraine kills four

A Russian drone has slammed into an apartment building in eastern Ukraine, killing three people and wounding 12 others, Ukrainian authorities reported. The attack took place early on Saturday, local time, in Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city. It was part of a large Russian missile and drone barrage across the country that targeted power infrastructure. The strikes also killed a worker at an energy company in Kharkiv, further north, a local official said. A fire broke out and several apartments were destroyed in the nine-storey building in Dnipro, the emergency services said. Rescuers recovered the bodies of three people, while two children were among the wounded. Russia fired a total of 458 drones and 45 missiles, including 32 ballistic missiles. Ukrainian forces shot down and neutralised 406 drones and nine missiles, the air force said, adding that 25 locations were struck. Authorities switched off power in several regions because of the attacks, Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk said in a post on Facebook. In eastern Ukraine, fighting for the strategic city of Pokrovsk has reached a key stage, with both Kyiv and Moscow vying to persuade US President Donald Trump they can win on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday that work had begun on President Vladimir Putin's order to prepare plans for a possible Russian nuclear test, according to state news agency Tass. Mr Putin's order on Wednesday followed statements by Mr Trump, which appeared to suggest that Washington would restart its own atomic tests for the first time in three decades. Energy sites attacked Russia has been pummelling Ukraine with near-daily drone and missile strikes, killing and wounding civilians. The Kremlin says its only targets are linked to Kyiv’s war effort. Russia's Defence Ministry asserted on Saturday that the night-time strikes had hit military and energy sites supplying Ukrainian forces. Moscow and Kyiv have traded almost daily assaults on each other’s energy targets as US-led diplomatic efforts to stop the nearly four-year war had no impact on the battlefield. Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries aim to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue the war. Russia wants to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water in what Kyiv officials say is an attempt to “weaponise winter”. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in an X post that the strikes damaged “several major energy facilities” around Kharkiv and Kyiv, as well as in the central Poltava region. Thermal power plants operated by Ukraine’s state energy company, Centrenergo, were again knocked offline by the night-time strikes, the company said in a statement on Saturday. Centrenergo's three plants in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions were damaged by Russian attacks last year and subsequently restored. Russian forces, meanwhile, repelled a “massive” night-time strike on energy facilities in the southern Volgograd region, Governor Andrei Bocharov said on Saturday, two days after Ukraine said that it hit a key oil refinery there with long-range drones. Mr Bocharov added that the strike knocked out power in parts of the region's north-west, but caused no casualties. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces shot down 82 Ukrainian drones during the night, including eight over the Volgograd region. Two people were wounded in the neighbouring Saratov region after a Ukrainian drone strike blew out windows in an apartment building, according to regional Governor Roman Busarin. Fighting for Pokrovsk The city of Pokrovsk sits along the eastern front line, part of what has been dubbed the "fortress belt" of Donetsk, a line of heavily fortified cities crucial to Ukraine's defence of the region. It could also be a key point in influencing Washington's stance and sway the course of peace negotiations, analysts say. Russia troops advanced near Pokrovsk and the nearby town of Myrnohrad, according to the Russian Defence Ministry on Saturday, saying both were encircled. It also said Russian forces surrounded Ukrainian defenders in Kupiansk, a key railway hub in the north-eastern Kharkiv region. Kyiv did not immediately respond to Moscow's statements, which could not be independently verified.

UN photographer turns lens on women of rural Australia

World-renowned photographer Martine Perret has turned her lens to Western Australia's Midwest, bringing to life the stories of women from regional towns through her Women of the Hinterlands project. After spending more than a decade covering United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions and conflict zones, Ms Perret now bases herself in WA's South West. Since her UN days, she has shifted her focus to the outback, with her project zooming in on the connection women have with the land. Between 2021 and 2024, Ms Perret worked with women across Morawa, Mingenew, Perenjori and Carnamah, culminating in her exhibition Women of the Hinterland. Resilient and strong Ms Perret spent hours with each person, listening to their stories, learning about their lives and exploring the themes of her hinterland project. "They are really resilient and strong women. It's been such a pleasure to spend time with them," she said. Initially, Ms Perret planned to photograph six women, but her ambition quickly grew to include 21 portraits. "We wanted to highlight women from different places," she said. "It was really important to showcase the diversity we have here in terms of stories and to show how important women are." Stuck in the mud One of the shoots that stuck out to Ms Perret was with Giulia Censi on the Yarra Yarra Salt Lake. The idea was for the portrait to symbolise her move from Italy to Australia, and capture a story of travel, resilience and new beginnings. "She was beautifully dressed and had these beautiful shoes and then all of a sudden, her feet sank into the mud," Ms Perret said. "I was really apologetic and thought we would have to stop the shoot, but Giulia just kicked off her shoes and continued barefoot. "We had the biggest laugh. It was a really funny shoot." Another particularly memorable portrait session was with Madeline Anderson in Dandaragan. Before the shoot, Ms Anderson asked permission from her grandfather to use white ash, which was a culturally significant element she wanted to incorporate. "It became spiritual, and I appreciated her revealing this and for letting me be involved," Ms Perret said. She said the openness and trust shown by the women made the project rewarding. "I'm super grateful that these women were willing to reveal their stories to me. It's always such a privilege and honour to be trusted." A big celebration of women Ms Perret's next project will also highlight the stories of rural women. The Geraldton-based project will be called Saltwater Women. "It's early days, so I can't share too much, but it's a work in progress," she said. Her end goal is to bring Saltwater Women and Women of the Hinterland together for a major exhibition. "I'm crossing my fingers that we can showcase a big celebration of women in a couple of years," Ms Perret said. Women of the Hinterland was completed as part of a North Midlands Project residency and is on display at the Morawa Arts and Cultural Centre until November 15.

The statistics behind Victoria's crime wave

Victoria is experiencing a crime wave, with the number of criminal incidents rising to their highest level on record. The federal opposition leader recently went as far as to label Melbourne Australia's "crime capital". This followed incidents including a brawl involving machetes at a Melbourne shopping centre in May, a fatal attack on two young boys in September and the daylight stabbing of a woman in the city's CBD in October. When an alleged crime occurs in Victoria at one location on a single date, it is recorded on the police database. This occurs even if multiple offences or multiple alleged offenders and/or victims are involved. If police have later deemed no offence has occurred, the incident is removed from the count of "criminal incidents". By collecting these singular criminal events and adjusting for Victoria's population, a partial picture of crime across the state can be generated. But these numbers alone do not tell the story. Crime statistics can be difficult to gauge, with the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns impacting social movement and offence trends. Here is a deeper look at some of the numbers behind Victoria's current crime wave. Which crimes have become more common? The largest category of crime in Victoria is property and deception offences, growing in 2024/25 to make up two-thirds of all criminal incidents in the state. It means crimes such as theft, burglary, and arson are more than four times more common than crimes against the person, such as assault. In particular, crimes relating to vehicles have featured heavily in the past year's statistics and media headlines across Victoria. Analysis by the Insurance Council of Australia showed motor vehicle theft claims fell in every Australian state in 2024/25 except for Victoria, where claims rose. In the 12 months to June 2025, there were 25,448 incidents of vehicles being stolen, a jump of 56 per cent on the previous year. Reports of thefts stealing from motor vehicles also rose sharply from 2023/24 to 2024/25. Statistics also show the number of both common and serious assaults has risen in Victoria, even accounting for population growth. In addition, there has been a steady rise in the number of assaults occurring in public settings, such as on public transport or on public streets. An illegal tobacco war between organised crime groups has made headlines for several years in Victoria, resulting in more than 100 tobacco stores being set alight across the state. Despite the high profile of these incidents, the arson rate has actually fallen from a high in 2016. But the rate has continued consistently since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Where is crime growing? The growth in crime is widespread across Victoria. Just four local government areas have seen a decrease in crime since the 2022/23 financial year, while dozens have seen double-digit increases. Low populations in rural areas can skew crime figures, but data shows urban areas are by far the hardest hit by a rise in crime. Three quarters of all criminal incidents in the 2024/25 financial year occurred in Greater Melbourne suburbs. Metropolitan areas saw a greater share of arson incidents over the past 12 months to June 2025. When adjusting for population, the numbers in certain areas of Victoria are stark. The suburb of Broadmeadows in Melbourne's north had 44 arson incidents, while a short distance away across the Western Ring Road, similarly sized Fawkner had nine. In the space of a 10-minute drive, the arson rate jumped more than 400 per cent. Victoria's car crimes are also heavily concentrated in a small minority of suburbs. The majority of Victorian suburbs did not see a single car theft in 2024/25, while just 5 per cent of suburbs accounted for 65 per cent of all motor vehicle thefts. Cases of theft from motor vehicles saw a 42 per cent spike in the past year, from 55,082 theft incidents to 78,304. In the case of both offences, Melbourne's CBD was the worst-hit suburb in the state. There were 2,359 thefts from motor vehicles in Melbourne's CBD in the 12 months to June 2025, up from 1,049 the previous year. That means, over the course of the year, something was stolen from a motor vehicle every four hours in the CBD. Who is committing these crimes? Authorities say the rise in Victorian crime has been mainly driven by recidivists — repeat offenders committing crimes. Despite an increase in criminal incidents per capita, data shows the overall rate of offenders per capita has steadily dropped in Victoria for more than a decade. In September, Victoria Police reported that 5,400 people, or 0.07 per cent of the population, were responsible for 40 per cent of crime in the state. In particular, the force highlighted recidivism in teenagers as a driving factor. "It's very well recognised across the board that we have seen an increase in youth crime, particularly in Melbourne," Central Queensland University criminologist and associate professor Xanthe Mallett said. "Violent crime, more weapons being used, specifically knives. "We are seeing retail crime increase, car theft, break and enters … but there's a core group of repeat offenders and that's the problem that the police are grappling with." Dr Mallett said Melbourne was not the only city experiencing an increase in youth crime. She said Queensland was also experiencing a rise in break-ins, car thefts, and teenagers going armed with weapons. Dr Mallett said she believed the rise in crime could be directly linked to the COVID pandemic, when she said lockdowns caused a breakdown in social cohesion and an increase in domestic and family violence. She said, given Melbourne endured the longest lockdowns in Australia, it was no surprise that the city has also been hit hardest by the increase in crime. "I think it's going to be a really long time before we fully understand the effects of COVID, especially in Melbourne. "For some of these young people, that event has been incredibly impactful, and I think we're still seeing that lack in social cohesion. "The psychological impact on those people hasn't been fully investigated yet or understood." Media and political attention has also been focused on offenders committing crimes while on bail for other offences, with the government facing criticism over its handling of bail laws. In September, when a 32-year-old woman allegedly stabbed another woman in Melbourne's CBD, police also charged her with committing an indictable offence while on bail. Statistics show the number of people charged with breaching bail conditions has dropped when accounting for the population. A sharp decline in figures occurred in 2024/25, following a softening of bail laws in March 2024. These changes repealed offences that applied when certain, non-violent crimes were committed while already on bail, meaning fewer bail breaches would be recorded. It also made it easier for offenders to be granted bail — even if reoffending was a risk. These changes lasted just one year before the government reversed them, admitting the laws did "not meet community expectations". What has the response been? The changes to bail laws in March and August this year are just the latest of repeated adjustments to address crime. Bail laws have been changed in Victoria more than a dozen times since 2008 in response to crime spikes and high-profile cases. The government coupled the new bail laws with a crackdown on knife crime, with a machete ban put in place in September, and the reopening of a controversial youth justice centre. Premier Jacinta Allan has earmarked further new legislation to tackle the rising crime rate, which is expected to be signed off by cabinet next week. Dr Mallett said she understood the rise in crime had created fear in the community, but she said locking up youths through tougher bail laws was not the answer. "Obviously, for that very hardcore group, we have to make sure that the community is safe, and incarceration may be the only choice in that situation," she said. "But for the vast majority, we know that it doesn't actually reduce offending." She said detention and jail exposed young people to more hardened criminals, increasing their likelihood of repeat offending. Victoria Police has also vowed to focus more heavily on crime prevention, with Chief Commissioner Mike Bush committing to an annual 5 per cent reduction in crime. The target comes in tandem with a restructuring of the force, cutting executive roles to divert staff to the front lines. Dr Mallett said she did not expect a turnaround to come quickly. "There's no quick fix. We're looking at years' worth of work that we're going to have to do to turn this tide," she said.

Cherry-Evans confirms historic switch after 352-game Manly career

Manly great Daly Cherry-Evans has completed one of the most high-profile shifts in NRL history, joining the Sydney Roosters. Cherry-Evans's departure marks the first time a player with 350-plus games has ever changed clubs. The arrival of the veteran, who is set to partner Sam Walker in the halves, shapes as a significant boost to the Roosters' premiership hopes. "Daly's experience and understanding of the game will be a strong addition to our group and we're excited to welcome him to the Roosters," coach Trent Robinson said in a statement on Friday. "I'm looking forward to working with him." The 36-year-old will formally join the Roosters later this month. As the only remaining active NRL player born in the 1980s, Cherry-Evans shocked the league in March by revealing he would leave the Sea Eagles at season's end. The Roosters have long been considered the frontrunners for Cherry-Evans's signature. Cherry-Evans leaves an immense void at Manly; statistics indicate no single player at any club has had a bigger and better impact in the past two decades. No player in NRL history has started more games at halfback for one club, with all 352 of his matches coming there since winning a premiership in his rookie 2011 season. The former Manly captain's 29 field goals are a record for the NRL era, as are his seven golden-point winners. Cherry-Evans, dropped after game one of this year's State of Origin series, played 26 games for Queensland and 21 Tests for Australia.

Man who threw sandwich at federal agent found not guilty of assault

A former US Justice Department paralegal has been found not guilty of assault after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during President Donald Trump's law enforcement surge in Washington DC. Sean Charles Dunn became a symbol of resistance to Mr Trump's deployment of federal agents in America's capital following a viral video showing him tossing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent on August 10. Mr Dunn, 37, shouted "fascists" and "racists" and chanted "shame" toward the group of agents, who were in front of a club hosting a "Latin Night". "Why are you here? I don't want you in my city!" Mr Dunn shouted, according to police. Mr Dunn ran away after hitting the agent with the sandwich but was apprehended. He was rearrested after being released from custody when armed federal agents in riot gear raided his home. The White House posted a highly produced "propaganda" video of the raid on its official X account, Mr Dunn's lawyers said. His misdemeanour acquittal is another setback for prosecutors, who have faced a backlash for their aggressive charging tactics during the law enforcement surge. The Justice Department had initially sought a felony assault indictment against Mr Dunn, but in a highly unusual move, the grand jury declined to sign off on the felony charge. The office of US attorney Jeanine Pirro then charged Mr Dunn with a misdemeanour. There was no dispute over whether Mr Dunn threw the sandwich. But his lawyers argued it was a "harmless gesture" during an act of protest protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects free speech.. After the foreperson read the verdict, Mr Dunn hugged his lawyers. Later, he said: "I'm relieved and I'm looking forward to moving on with my life." After Mr Dunn's arrest, Attorney-General Pamela Bondi announced his firing in a social media post that referred to him as "an example of the Deep State". Mr Dunn's lawyers urged the judge to dismiss the case for what they alleged was a vindictive and selective prosecution. They argued that the posts by Ms Bondi and the White House showed Mr Dunn had been targeted for his political speech. Mr Dunn did not testify at his trial, but the jury heard him explain after his arrest why he had confronted the CBP agents. A law enforcement officer's body camera captured him saying: "I did it. I threw a sandwich. I did it to draw them away from where they were. I succeeded." After his acquittal, Mr Dunn said he was trying to protect the rights of immigrants that night. "Let us not forget that the great seal of the United States says, 'e pluribus unum'. That means 'from many, one,'" he told reporters. "Every life matters, no matter where you came from, no matter how you got here, no matter how you identify it. You have the right to live a life that is free." Ms Pirro, a former Fox News host appointed by Trump to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, said in a statement: "As always, we accept a jury's verdict; that is the system within which we function. However, law enforcement should never be subjected to assault, no matter how 'minor.'" She added that "even children know when they are angry, they are not allowed to throw objects at one another". 'Felony footlong' CBP Agent Gregory Lairmore testified that the sandwich "exploded" when it struck his chest hard enough that he could feel it through his ballistic vest. "You could smell the onions and the mustard," he recalled. Agent Lairmore's colleagues jokingly gave him gifts making light of the incident, including a sandwich-shaped plush toy and a patch that said "felony footlong". Agent Lairmore acknowledged that he kept the gifts, placing the patch on his lunch box.

Manchester United teen added to Socceroos squad

Manchester United teenager James Overy headlines 11 inclusions in the Socceroos squad as Jackson Irvine and Riley McGree make long-awaited returns from injury. Overy, who turns 18 this weekend, has earned his first senior call-up ahead of games against Venezuela and Colombia, having impressed with the Young Socceroos at the U20 World Cup. The energetic Perth-born right-back recently signed his first professional contract with the Red Devils and had played under-19s for Scotland before committing to Australia. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has indicated he will cast his selection net wide, while injuries to Alessandro Circati, Jordy Bos, Jacob Italiano and Aziz Behich also forced his hand. Irvine and McGree make long-awaited returns from foot injuries while Adelaide United skipper Craig Goodwin is also back in the squad — the only tested A-League Men player to feature. Australia face Venezuela on November 15 (AEDT) in Houston, Texas then Colombia in Queens, New York on November 19 (AEDT) — two of the host cities for next year's World Cup finals. Wisła Płock striker Deni Jurić, the younger brother of former Socceroos marksman Tomi Jurić, earns his first call-up at 28. Fresh off his first senior hat-trick, Sydney FC recruit Al Hassan Toure joins younger brother Mohamed Toure in the squad for the first time, with teammate Paul Okon-Engstler chasing a first cap. Uncapped defender Jack Iredale (Hibernian) and one-cap defender Callum Elder (Derby County) are also among the European-based selections. Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach has earned his first call-up, replacing Joe Gauci, while teammate Kai Trewin has been rewarded for his fine form as a defensive midfielder. Daniel Arzani, Mitch Duke, Ajdin Hrustić, Hayden Matthews, Alexander Robertson and Patrick Yazbek drop out of the squad. "It's another opportunity to expand the depth and introduce players who have not yet been exposed to the Socceroos environment or senior international football," Popovic said in a statement. "We also welcome back some familiar faces, from Australia and abroad. "I've had the chance to closely observe the opening rounds of the A-League season, and we believe this is the ideal time to integrate domestic players into the squad. "We are delighted to be back in the United States to face strong South American opposition as we continue our preparations for the World Cup." Socceroos squad Goalkeepers: Patrick Beach*, Paul Izzo, Mat Ryan Defenders: Cameron Burgess, Miloš Degenek, Callum Elder, Jason Geria, Jack Iredale*, Lewis Miller, James Overy*, Kye Rowles Midfielders: Max Balard, Cameron Devlin, Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, Paul Okon-Engstler*, Aiden O'Neill, Kai Trewin* Attackers: Martin Boyle, Nicholas D'Agostino, Craig Goodwin, Nestory Irankunda, Deni Jurić*, Al Hassan Toure*, Mohamed Toure * denotes uncapped players

Arsenal 15yo becomes Champions League's youngest ever player

Arsenal winger Max Dowman has become the youngest player in Champions League history, coming on as a second-half substitute against Slavia Prague at age 15 years and 308 days. Dowman is the first 15-year-old to play in Europe's top club competition. The previous youngest was Youssoufa Moukoko, a striker who played for Borussia Dortmund just 18 days after his 16th birthday back in 2020. Dowman's latest exploit came weeks after he became the second-youngest player — behind Arsenal teammate Ethan Nwaneri — to feature in the Premier League after making his debut against Leeds, also as a second-half substitute in August. Still a school kid, Dowman has also come on as a replacement at defending champion Liverpool in the league this season and featured in two English League Cup matches. Arsenal was leading 3-0 when Dowman came on to replace Leandro Trossard in the 72nd minute against Slavia. There were no more goals. Dowman is a left-footed attacking midfielder who was born in Chelmsford — a city in the county of Essex, which is northeast of London — and joined Arsenal at the age of 5 in May 2015. He made his debut for Arsenal's under-18s at age 13 and became the youngest scorer in the UEFA Youth League at age 14, when he was playing for the under-19s. Dowman was still 14 when he was asked by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to train with the senior team in December last year and he starred on the club's preseason tour of Asia in matches against AC Milan and Newcastle. To abide by Premier League regulations for players under 18, Dowman has had to change into his Arsenal uniform for training sessions and matches in a separate locker room from his senior teammates. He recently returned to school in Essex after a break for the summer holidays.

Police ask for help after body found in burnt-out ute

Police are calling on the public for assistance after a body was found in a burnt-out car in southern New South Wales. Emergency services were called about 9:30am on Saturday, after a burnt-out utility was found just off Kolkilbertoo Road at Barellan, about 50 kilometres east of Griffith. NSW Ambulance attended the scene, but paramedics were unable to assist the driver, who was found deceased inside the vehicle. A police spokesperson said officers believe the vehicle left the road before crashing and catching fire. A post-mortem examination will be carried out to help identify the victim and confirm the cause of death. Police are calling on anyone who has information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers. Meanwhile, police were responding to another fatality at Burcher in the northern Riverina. Shortly before 6am, emergency services were called to Burcher Road after a passing motorist noticed a ute had left the road and struck a large gum tree. The driver, believed to be a local 56-year-old man, died at the scene. A report will be prepared for the Coroner. The fatalities come as the NSW road toll exceeds the 2024 statistics. According to the latest NSW government data, 296 people have died on NSW roads in 2025, 41 more compared to the same time last year.

Last disposal rule headlines AFL's seven changes for 2026 season

AFL players will be penalised under the "last-disposal out of bounds" rule next season after the league approved another set of changes to law interpretations. Under new rules confirmed on Wednesday, a free kick will be awarded against players who have the last disposal before the ball crosses the boundary line between the 50m arcs. The last-disposal rule, which is already in place in AFLW and the second-tier SANFL, is set to remove some of the umpire guesswork around the existing "insufficient intent" rule. However, the insufficient intent rule will remain in place inside the 50m arcs. The AFL has also removed the requirement for a player to start in the goal square at centre ball-ups, while a competing ruck cannot cross the centre circle line and engage with their opponent prior to contesting the ball. A shrug in a tackle will now be deemed prior opportunity and a player must now stand if they are within the protected area — within 5 metres — when a mark or free kick is paid. Players will also have a reduced amount of time to bring the ball back into play after a behind, down to eight seconds from 12. New AFL football boss Greg Swann has overseen a raft of rule changes since starting the role in July, and said the latest tweaks had been made following extensive industry consultation. "The changes have been made with a focus on making the game easier for our umpires to adjudicate and also reducing total match length," Swann said in a league statement. "Streamlining procedures such as stoppages and centre ball-ups will enhance the flow of the game for players and fans alike. "We have consulted clubs and other industry stakeholders over the past six months and taken on board their feedback and ideas, and we believe these changes will make a positive impact on the game." The latest rule changes follow the AFL's decision last month to scrap the centre bounce and remove the substitute, allowing teams to have five players on the interchange bench.

Woman charged after Tasmanian police alleged shot at in driveway

A southern Tasmanian woman has been charged with attempted murder after a police car was shot as officers drove up a driveway, police say. Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said officers arrived at a property at Collinsvale, near Hobart, in an unmarked police car on Sunday evening with a search warrant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. "Upon entering the property and driving through the front gate, police became aware that something had struck their vehicle," Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said. "Shortly afterwards, a 37-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were taken into custody without incident. Both were found in possession of firearms." He said a single bullet hole was found near the wheel guard of the unmarked vehicle. "Regardless, it is reprehensible that our officers were placed at such risk while performing their duties. "This incident could have had tragic consequences, and it was extremely fortunate that no-one was physically harmed." The woman was charged with attempted murder and several firearms-related offences. The man has been charged with firearms offences and attempted aggravated assault. Both are expected to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday.

Flights to LAX halted due to air traffic controller shortage

Flights departing for Los Angeles are being held due to a staffing shortage.

WATCH: Man struggles to walk as powerful winds hit France

Strong winds in central France made it difficult for the man seen in this video to stay upright, much less make any forward progress.

Spirited fightback puts Aussie women on cusp of International Crown semis

Minjee Lee and Steph Kyriacou have produced a tenacious fightback to keep Australia's women's golf aces in the hunt for the multi-million-dollar International Crown title in South Korea. Not for the first time, Lee and Kyriacou rallied brilliantly to recover from two holes down with seven to play to beat Chinese pair Yan Liu and Weiwei Zhang two-up in Friday's crucial opening fourball match. With teammates Hannah Green and Grace Kim narrowly losing to former world number one Ruoning Yin and Ruixin Liu on the 18th hole, Australia split the points 1-1 for the second day running in Seoul. And once again, Lee and Kyriacou's precious point could prove telling entering Saturday's final pool matches. The top-seeded United States lived up to their favouritism to be the only team to secure a spot in Sunday's semifinals after recording a second straight 2-0 win. Friday's victims were defending champions Thailand, with Angel Yin and Yealimi Noh inflicting a first defeat in seven Crown outings on world number one Jeeno Thitikul. Yin and Noh crushed Thitikul and Pajaree Anannarukarn 5 and 4, while Lauren Coughlin and Lilia Vu beat Chanettee Wannasaen and Jasmine Suwannapura 3 and 2 to propel the USA to the top of Pool A with a perfect four points. Australia (two points) are second in Pool A ahead of a showdown with the Americans on Saturday. Runners-up to Thailand at the 2023 edition of the prestigious biennial event, the Australians likely need to one win of their remaining two fourball matches to book a semis berth. "It's going to be pretty exciting. I think we have a good chance come tomorrow, and hopefully we can put up a good show," Lee said. With one point each, Thailand and China will clash in the other Pool A tie knowing only a 2-0 victory will guarantee semifinal qualification for either side. Australia being in the box seat to progress seemed unlikely when Lee and Kyriacou were staring down a two-hole deficit early on the back nine at New Korea Country Club. But four birdies from world number three Lee dragged the dynamite duo into the lead before Kyriacou sealed victory on the 17th hole. "We struggled a little bit in the start. Our games were a little bit off to start the day, and kind of came around maybe middle of the back nine," Lee said. The pair are now four from five together in the competition. "We kind of had a little pep talk there on 11, a few swear words so probably can't repeat it here," Kyriacou said. "Yeah, we started off really slow and didn't really give ourselves many chances and then Minjee started stumping it and I started holing some things and then it went our way. "We gelled."

Illinois, Chicago urge Supreme Court to uphold block on National Guard deployment

Lawyers for the city of Chicago have asked the Supreme Court to uphold a court order barring the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard into the city.

Famous American art thief reacts to Louvre Museum heist: 'They will be vilified'

Myles Connor walked into the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and walked out with a Rembrandt painting in the 1980s.

Remains found amid search for missing Philadelphia woman Kada Scott: Police

Female remains were found in a shallow grave in a deeply wooded area amid the search for 23-year-old Philadelphia woman Kada Scott. The identity has not been confirmed.

Breaking: Letitia James, NY attorney general and Trump foe, indicted for bank fraud

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a longtime foe of US President Donald Trump, has been indicted for bank fraud. Lindsey Halligan, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Ms James had been indicted on one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement to a lending institution. The Justice Department has been probing mortgage fraud allegations against her. "The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public's trust," Ms Halligan said.

'This place bites': Supercars drivers wary of Bathurst 1000 rain

Supercars heavyweights Triple Eight are leading the charge into the Bathurst 1000 with one eye on the trophy and another on the weather forecast. With rain predicted for Sunday's 161-lap race, co-driver Scott Pye admits he is playing it safe at Mount Panorama. Pye shares the number-one car with defending Supercars champion Will Brown and kicked off the weekend by finishing fastest in the co-drivers' practice session on Thursday. The Triple Eight driver navigated heavy rain to clock a time of 2 minutes and 6.839 seconds as several teams opted to keep their cars in their garage. Two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Chaz Mostert was one of three drivers to crash out in wet and wild conditions during practice, with co-drivers Cam McLeod and Harry Jones suffering a similar fate. Pye is no stranger to heartbreak at Mount Panorama, admitting last year his "ego [was] a bit hurt" after crashing Brown's car during practice. "When it rains on the slick tyre, even just a little drizzle — I don't know if it's tar covering the cracks, but it just is like ice immediately," Pye said. "Even on the slick tyre, you get a bit of drizzle in the rain and you want to bail out of it. "And I've looked pretty average on a Thursday before, so I didn't want to repeat history. "I was pretty cautious out there." Defending Bathurst 1000 winners Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood had a quiet start on Thursday, with Dick Johnson Racing co-driver Hazelwood closing the day by going sixth-fastest. Brown and Pye finished third last year, behind teammates Broc Feeney and Whincup in second. Drivers are set to enjoy dry conditions for Friday's two practice sessions, before qualifying starts at 4:10pm (AEDT). Pye said he felt confident in the car's pace, despite the rain. "It may be wet later in the weekend, but we decided the car and the package we got seemed really quite competitive," he said. "For sure, we rolled out of the way, it was fast immediately. "This place bites hard, especially with the conditions they were [on Thursday]. "But in the race, obviously, you don't have the luxury of bailing out."

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