During the 3rd India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne on July 9, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a transformative roadmap for the Indo-Pacific. A cornerstone of the visit was the "Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation," which elevates military interoperability, industrial collaboration, and maritime domain awareness to combat regional volatility.

PM Modi gets grand welcome in Melbourne: Australia to supply Uranium to India

A man accused of painting the infamous "Pam the Bird" graffiti on Melbourne's 120-metre Bolte Bridge has been arrested after a dramatic nine-hour standoff with police. Authorities say the incident triggered a major emergency response, disrupted traffic and caused significant public costs. The suspect was taken into custody after peacefully surrendering.

‘Pam the bird’ vandal arrested after scaling Melbourne's 120m Bolte bridge

New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Australia on 9 July for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and with defence cooperation expected to dominate the agenda. The visit comes as both nations seek to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, forged in 2020, against a backdrop of global uncertainty. Major announcements on defence with focus on energy, education, economics (3Es) are anticipated.&nbsp;Defence has increasingly been the area of convergence. The two sides are expected to renew and upgrade the 2009 Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and finalise a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap, and commitments outlined in their 2024 joint statement. Recent high-level engagements, including the Tenth Bilateral Defence Policy Talks in May and the Second Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in June between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles, have built momentum.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-techie-33-dies-as-his-car-gets-swept-away-in-kansas-flash-floods-1782921864067">Indian techie, 33, dies as his car gets swept away in Kansas flash floods</a>&nbsp;The defence relationship has accelerated since the 2021 Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, enabling greater interoperability through joint exercises, strategic dialogues and training. Milestones in 2023 included Australia hosting Exercise Malabar, an Indian submarine visit to Perth, trilateral naval activities with Indonesia, and Indian Navy engagements at Australia’s Cocos Islands.&nbsp;India will be participating in Australian exercise Talisman Sabre 2027. Earlier this year, Australia participated in India’s Exercise Milan, and India participated in Australian exercises Kakadu in March. India has welcomed Australia’s invitation for participation in submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon. Both sides aim to operationalise Air-to-Air Refuelling Arrangement at Exercise Pitch Black.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-directs-meta-to-halt-whatsapp-usernames-feature-until-consultations-are-complete-1782918599679">India directs Meta to halt WhatsApp usernames feature until consultations are complete</a>&nbsp;Beyond security, the three “Es”, economics, energy and education, will feature prominently in talks. Trade and investment conversations during Australia visit are expected to involve business leaders, while cooperation on renewable energy, energy security, and university partnerships will be highlighted. Several leading Australian universities are establishing physical campuses in India. Deakin University became the first foreign institution to open a full branch campus in India, launching operations in Gujarat’s GIFT City in 2024. The University of Wollongong followed, opening its GIFT City campus later that year.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-invites-india-s-ruling-bjp-and-opposition-congress-to-khamenei-state-funeral-1782905079005">Iran invites India’s ruling BJP and opposition Congress to Khamenei state funeral</a>&nbsp;Cyber security and critical technologies are also slated for significant attention. Sports cooperation is another area of opportunity with Australia’s expertise in training, infrastructure, event management and technology seen as complementary to India’s growing ambitions in the sector.&nbsp;A major public highlight will be the “Modi meets Melbourne” community event on 9 July in Melbourne, hosted by the Australia India Foundation. Melbourne is home to one of Australia’s largest Indian communities. According to the 2021 census, nearly 976,000 people in Australia trace their ancestry to India, making the Indian diaspora the second-largest and fastest-growing in the country. Prime Minister Albanese previously described Indian PM Modi as “The Boss” during a 2023 community event in Sydney. This will be Modi’s third visit to Australia as Prime Minister, following the 2014 G20 Summit in Brisbane and a 2023 trip to Sydney.

Defence has increasingly been the area of convergence between India and Australia. The two sides are expected to upgrade the 2009 Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and finalise a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap and commitments outlined in the 2024 joint statement.

New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Australia on 9 July for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and with defence cooperation expected to dominate the agenda. The visit comes as both nations seek to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, forged in 2020, against a backdrop of global uncertainty. Major announcements on defence with focus on energy, education, economics (3Es) are anticipated. Defence has increasingly been the area of convergence. The two sides are expected to renew and upgrade the 2009 Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and finalise a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap, and commitments outlined in their 2024 joint statement. Recent high-level engagements, including the Tenth Bilateral Defence Policy Talks in May and the Second Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in June between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles, have built momentum. Also Read: Indian techie, 33, dies as his car gets swept away in Kansas flash floods The defence relationship has accelerated since the 2021 Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, enabling greater interoperability through joint exercises, strategic dialogues and training. Milestones in 2023 included Australia hosting Exercise Malabar, an Indian submarine visit to Perth, trilateral naval activities with Indonesia, and Indian Navy engagements at Australia’s Cocos Islands. India will be participating in Australian exercise Talisman Sabre 2027. Earlier this year, Australia participated in India’s Exercise Milan, and India participated in Australian exercises Kakadu in March. India has welcomed Australia’s invitation for participation in submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon. Both sides aim to operationalise Air-to-Air Refuelling Arrangement at Exercise Pitch Black. Also Read: India directs Meta to halt WhatsApp usernames feature until consultations are complete Beyond security, the three “Es”, economics, energy and education, will feature prominently in talks. Trade and investment conversations during Australia visit are expected to involve business leaders, while cooperation on renewable energy, energy security, and university partnerships will be highlighted. Several leading Australian universities are establishing physical campuses in India. Deakin University became the first foreign institution to open a full branch campus in India, launching operations in Gujarat’s GIFT City in 2024. The University of Wollongong followed, opening its GIFT City campus later that year. Also Read: Iran invites India’s ruling BJP and opposition Congress to Khamenei state funeral Cyber security and critical technologies are also slated for significant attention. Sports cooperation is another area of opportunity with Australia’s expertise in training, infrastructure, event management and technology seen as complementary to India’s growing ambitions in the sector. A major public highlight will be the “Modi meets Melbourne” community event on 9 July in Melbourne, hosted by the Australia India Foundation. Melbourne is home to one of Australia’s largest Indian communities. According to the 2021 census, nearly 976,000 people in Australia trace their ancestry to India, making the Indian diaspora the second-largest and fastest-growing in the country. Prime Minister Albanese previously described Indian PM Modi as “The Boss” during a 2023 community event in Sydney. This will be Modi’s third visit to Australia as Prime Minister, following the 2014 G20 Summit in Brisbane and a 2023 trip to Sydney.

Defence has increasingly been the area of convergence between India and Australia. The two sides are expected to upgrade the 2009 Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and finalise a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap and commitments outlined in the 2024 joint statement.

Key defence announcements, Mega Melbourne diaspora event to mark PM Modi’s Australia visit

A massive sinkhole opened up at a popular sports field in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, with a depth of 16 feet and nearly 26 feet wide. The incident sent shockwaves through local sports clubs, as this field is used for cricket and Aussie Rules, besides walking dogs and exercise. Banyule Cricket Club has been left without a venue for its home matches scheduled for this weekend. What led to the ground collapsing is not clear. The oval is located close to where boring machines are digging a tunnel for the North East Link project. This has left residents questioning whether the boring operations could have caused the ground to collapse. An investigation has been launched into the incident. The tunnelling operations have been halted. No injuries have been reported.&nbsp;People have been urged to stay away from the place over concerns that it could grow bigger. The incident is being investigated to find the exact cause of the sinkhole. Photos and videos on social media show people gathered around the huge opening in the turf. Banyule Council posted online, “Council is working closely with relevant agencies to assess the situation and determine what's next. We'll provide further updates as information becomes available.” &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A large sinkhole at least 10 metres wide has emerged on a popular sports field in Heidelberg near where tunnel boring machines are digging the North East Link project. Purely Unbelievable!! 👇🏽 <a href="https://t.co/r28RTvNHyi">pic.twitter.com/r28RTvNHyi</a>&mdash; katy 🌸 (@KatyKray73) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatyKray73/status/2008291885274845247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>Tunnelling work was going on on the North East Link tunnel route</h2>While officials have not confirmed a cause, there is speculation that the sinkhole could be linked to tunnelling operations nearby. The North East Link is being built in Melbourne's north-east. It is a 10-kilometre highway tunnel that will connect the Metropolitan Ring Road with the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen. It will help remove 15,000 trucks from local roads and reduce travel time by 35 minutes. It is scheduled for completion in 2028. Shadow Minister Evan Mulholland said, "The costs of the North East Link have become a bottomless pit. What started as a $10 billion project has sunk to $26 billion, and counting."&nbsp;Besides the Banyule Cricket Club, the Banyule Bears Football Club is also looking for a new venue as preseason training begins. Club president Andrew Yodgee was relieved that no one was standing on the spot when the hole opened up. When asked about how it would impact the club activities, he said, "Your guess is as good as mine as far as what happens hereon in and the impact it's going to have on the football club."&nbsp;

A 30-foot-wide and 16-foot-deep sinkhole opened up on a Melbourne sports field, just near a $26bn tunnel project. The North East Link project work has been going on in the area, and people are asking if the boring could have caused the ground to collapse.

A massive sinkhole opened up at a popular sports field in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, with a depth of 16 feet and nearly 26 feet wide. The incident sent shockwaves through local sports clubs, as this field is used for cricket and Aussie Rules, besides walking dogs and exercise. Banyule Cricket Club has been left without a venue for its home matches scheduled for this weekend. What led to the ground collapsing is not clear. The oval is located close to where boring machines are digging a tunnel for the North East Link project. This has left residents questioning whether the boring operations could have caused the ground to collapse. An investigation has been launched into the incident. The tunnelling operations have been halted. No injuries have been reported. People have been urged to stay away from the place over concerns that it could grow bigger. The incident is being investigated to find the exact cause of the sinkhole. Photos and videos on social media show people gathered around the huge opening in the turf. Banyule Council posted online, “Council is working closely with relevant agencies to assess the situation and determine what's next. We'll provide further updates as information becomes available.”

A 30-foot-wide and 16-foot-deep sinkhole opened up on a Melbourne sports field, just near a $26bn tunnel project. The North East Link project work has been going on in the area, and people are asking if the boring could have caused the ground to collapse.

30-foot-wide sinkhole opens up in Melbourne near $26bn highway tunnel project

Four out of five teenagers have been arrested days after they brutally attacked an Indian-origin man with a machete while he was on his way home from a pharmacy in Australia's Melbourne. The 33-year-old victim, identified as Saurabh Anand, was severely injured, including a nearly severed hand, which was later reattached, according to a report by the Australian Today&nbsp;As per the report, on July 19, around 7:30 pm, after Saurabh received medicines from a pharmacy at the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, suddenly five teenagers surrounded him while he was on a phone call with his friend. One of them looked for the victim's pockets while another hit him in the head till he fell to the ground. In the meantime, a third teenager took out a knife and allegedly placed it on the neck of Saurabh.&nbsp;The victim stated that his immediate response was to raise his arm as a defence. "While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack went through my hand. The third went through the bone," he told The Age.&nbsp;They also attacked him with a machete on his shoulder and back, causing him a fractured spine and several broken bones. "All I remember is the pain, and my hand was hanging by a thread," he said.&nbsp;Saurabh managed to escape and made a phone call for help amid severe pain. Later, he was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors primarily thought they would have to cut off his hand. However, they managed to reattach his hand.<h3>Indian student assaulted and racially abused</h3>In a similar incident, an Indian student was allegedly brutally assaulted and racially abused by a group of unidentified men after a dispute occurred over a car parking issue in Australia last week.&nbsp;The incident occurred near Kintore Avenue when the victim, identified as Charanpreet Singh, was out to see the city's light displays with his wife in their car at around 9.22 pm, reported The Australian Today.

 An Indian-origin man was brutally attacked by five teenagers around 7:30 pm on July 19 while he was on his way home after receiving medicines from a pharmacy at the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows.

Four out of five teenagers have been arrested days after they brutally attacked an Indian-origin man with a machete while he was on his way home from a pharmacy in Australia's Melbourne. The 33-year-old victim, identified as Saurabh Anand, was severely injured, including a nearly severed hand, which was later reattached, according to a report by the Australian Today As per the report, on July 19, around 7:30 pm, after Saurabh received medicines from a pharmacy at the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, suddenly five teenagers surrounded him while he was on a phone call with his friend. One of them looked for the victim's pockets while another hit him in the head till he fell to the ground. In the meantime, a third teenager took out a knife and allegedly placed it on the neck of Saurabh. The victim stated that his immediate response was to raise his arm as a defence. "While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack went through my hand. The third went through the bone," he told The Age. They also attacked him with a machete on his shoulder and back, causing him a fractured spine and several broken bones. "All I remember is the pain, and my hand was hanging by a thread," he said. Saurabh managed to escape and made a phone call for help amid severe pain. Later, he was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors primarily thought they would have to cut off his hand. However, they managed to reattach his hand. Indian student assaulted and racially abused In a similar incident, an Indian student was allegedly brutally assaulted and racially abused by a group of unidentified men after a dispute occurred over a car parking issue in Australia last week. The incident occurred near Kintore Avenue when the victim, identified as Charanpreet Singh, was out to see the city's light displays with his wife in their car at around 9.22 pm, reported The Australian Today.

&nbsp;An Indian-origin man was brutally attacked by five teenagers around 7:30 pm on July 19 while he was on his way home after receiving medicines from a pharmacy at the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows.

Indian-origin man brutally attacked with machete in Australia's Melbourne, four teenagers held

The Indian diaspora and Hindu communities around the world are staging protests against the targeted killings of Hindu tourists after identification and segregation in the horrific terror attack at Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 by terrorists of The Resistance Front, or TRF&mdash;an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Following the killing of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national, members of the Indian and Hindu communities around the world have taken to the streets in protest.
In London, the Indian community protested outside the Pakistan High Commission.&nbsp; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9zxtt7u-9nqr0y50-4glnev4h">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Members of the Indian community staged a protest in Copenhagen, Denmark, condemning the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PahalgamTerroristAttack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PahalgamTerroristAttack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PahalgamTerrorAttack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PahalgamTerrorAttack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuKashmir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuKashmir</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuKashmirAttack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuKashmirAttack</a> <a href="https://t.co/3QYkJiKGhi">pic.twitter.com/3QYkJiKGhi</a>
&mdash; DD News (@DDNewslive) <a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewslive/status/1915991379945071090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
Similarly, Indians hit the streets in Copenhagen and Melbourne to protest the attack that killed 26 unarmed civilians on vacation in Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s picturesque Pahalgam.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pahalgam-attack-union-minister-puri-slams-bilawals-provocative-remark-says-pakistan-in-terminal-decline-9005580" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pahalgam attack: Union Minister Puri slams Bilawal's provocative remark, says Pakistan in &lsquo;terminal decline&rsquo;</a>
From Federation Square in Melbourne to the Pakistan High Commission in London, and from Copenhagen to the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu, protesters are demanding justice and condemning the brutal act of terror. Voices of anger, pain, and unity are echoing globally as the diaspora stands in solidarity with the victims and calls for action.
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🚨 Frankfurt, Germany &mdash; Indian community stages a PROTEST rally against the Pahalgam terror attack, carrying posters EXPOSING Pakistan&rsquo;s role in cross-border terror 👏 &mdash; Indians are protesting on the streets; where is German-based Dhruv Rathee? <a href="https://t.co/mcggUzy1QX">pic.twitter.com/mcggUzy1QX</a>
&mdash; Megh Updates 🚨&trade; (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1916540514523926938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
Members of the Indian community staged a protest in Copenhagen, Denmark, condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9zxv6wc-48dyxi3c-r612cd7e">
A massive crowd of Indian Hindus are currently parading through the streets of Brampton, Ontario protesting against the local police force. This is not Mumbai. This is Canada. <a href="https://t.co/XriYGkgz1M">pic.twitter.com/XriYGkgz1M</a>
&mdash; Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) <a href="https://twitter.com/Harry__Faulkner/status/1853590730138071355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
There was a face-off between Indian diaspora groups who gathered to protest Pakistan-backed terrorism and counter-protesters outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, which saw a Pakistani diplomatic official making a throat-slitting gesture.&nbsp;
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A theme on the Indian side of the protests so far has been emptying bottles of water on the ground, in reference to the Indian government suspending the Indus Water Treaty <a href="https://t.co/5SDDcGqc8F">pic.twitter.com/5SDDcGqc8F</a>
&mdash; Jack Hadfield 🇬🇧 (@JackHadders) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackHadders/status/1915809459152064904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
In videos posted by Indian community groups on social media, the Pakistani official can be seen taunting them from the balcony of the mission building at Lowndes Square.
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VIDEO | Indian community stages protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London against the Pahalgam terror attack that took 26 innocent lives. (Full video available on PTI Videos &ndash; <a href="https://t.co/n147TvrpG7">https://t.co/n147TvrpG7</a>) <a href="https://t.co/QDGnm7vPBl">pic.twitter.com/QDGnm7vPBl</a>
&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1915963548263715134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
He was holding a poster with a sketch of Captain Abhinandan Varthaman and the words &ldquo;Chai is Fantastic&rdquo; &ndash; a reference to the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot&rsquo;s captivity in February 2019.
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He's not an ordinary Pakistani, but a Pakistani diplomat. They threatened the people who were protesting outside Pakistan High Commission in London. And more importantly, note that 'slit-your-throat' gesture with Abhinandan's poster. From top to bottom, they&rsquo;re all Jihadis. <a href="https://t.co/9OFi61SZ1X">pic.twitter.com/9OFi61SZ1X</a>
&mdash; Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrSinha_/status/1915974143754866893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
The official, standing next to a large banner reading &ldquo;Pakistan stands with Kashmiris&rdquo;, could be seen making a threatening throat-slitting gesture towards the Indian protesters across the building.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-indus-waters-treaty-suspension-bjp-mp-calls-for-stopping-water-to-bangladesh-9008124" target="_blank" rel="noopener">After Indus Waters Treaty suspension, BJP MP calls for stopping water to Bangladesh</a>
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World | India News: Following the brutal killing of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national in the Pahalgam terror attack, members of the Indian and Hindu communities around the world have taken to the streets in protest.

The Indian diaspora and Hindu communities around the world are staging protests against the targeted killings of Hindu tourists after identification and segregation in the horrific terror attack at Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 by terrorists of The Resistance Front, or TRF—an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Following the killing of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national, members of the Indian and Hindu communities around the world have taken to the streets in protest. In London, the Indian community protested outside the Pakistan High Commission. #WATCH | Members of the Indian community staged a protest in Copenhagen, Denmark, condemning the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack.#PahalgamTerroristAttack #PahalgamTerrorAttack #JammuKashmir #JammuKashmirAttack pic.twitter.com/3QYkJiKGhi — DD News (@DDNewslive) April 26, 2025 Similarly, Indians hit the streets in Copenhagen and Melbourne to protest the attack that killed 26 unarmed civilians on vacation in Jammu and Kashmir’s picturesque Pahalgam. Also Read | Pahalgam attack: Union Minister Puri slams Bilawal's provocative remark, says Pakistan in ‘terminal decline’ From Federation Square in Melbourne to the Pakistan High Commission in London, and from Copenhagen to the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu, protesters are demanding justice and condemning the brutal act of terror. Voices of anger, pain, and unity are echoing globally as the diaspora stands in solidarity with the victims and calls for action. 🚨 Frankfurt, Germany — Indian community stages a PROTEST rally against the Pahalgam terror attack, carrying posters EXPOSING Pakistan’s role in cross-border terror 👏 — Indians are protesting on the streets; where is German-based Dhruv Rathee? pic.twitter.com/mcggUzy1QX — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) April 27, 2025 Members of the Indian community staged a protest in Copenhagen, Denmark, condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack. A massive crowd of Indian Hindus are currently parading through the streets of Brampton, Ontario protesting against the local police force. This is not Mumbai. This is Canada. pic.twitter.com/XriYGkgz1M — Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) November 5, 2024 There was a face-off between Indian diaspora groups who gathered to protest Pakistan-backed terrorism and counter-protesters outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, which saw a Pakistani diplomatic official making a throat-slitting gesture. A theme on the Indian side of the protests so far has been emptying bottles of water on the ground, in reference to the Indian government suspending the Indus Water Treaty pic.twitter.com/5SDDcGqc8F — Jack Hadfield 🇬🇧 (@JackHadders) April 25, 2025 In videos posted by Indian community groups on social media, the Pakistani official can be seen taunting them from the balcony of the mission building at Lowndes Square. VIDEO | Indian community stages protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London against the Pahalgam terror attack that took 26 innocent lives. (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/QDGnm7vPBl — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2025 He was holding a poster with a sketch of Captain Abhinandan Varthaman and the words “Chai is Fantastic” – a reference to the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot’s captivity in February 2019. He's not an ordinary Pakistani, but a Pakistani diplomat. They threatened the people who were protesting outside Pakistan High Commission in London. And more importantly, note that 'slit-your-throat' gesture with Abhinandan's poster. From top to bottom, they’re all Jihadis. pic.twitter.com/9OFi61SZ1X — Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) April 26, 2025 The official, standing next to a large banner reading “Pakistan stands with Kashmiris”, could be seen making a threatening throat-slitting gesture towards the Indian protesters across the building. Also Read | After Indus Waters Treaty suspension, BJP MP calls for stopping water to Bangladesh

Pahalgam attack: Indian diaspora protests in London, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Melbourne and other cities across globe

The Indian Consulate in Melbourne, Australia was vandalised on Thursday, once again becoming a target, and graffiti was discovered at the front entrance of the premises, officials confirmed on Friday (April 11).&nbsp;
The diplomatic office located at 344 St Kilda Road was attacked by some miscreants in early hours of April 10, around 1 am. Victoria Police confirmed to The Australia Today that officers attended the site on the morning of April 10 following reports of graffiti on the building.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-hindu-temple-vandalised-in-us-with-anti-india-graffiti-ahead-of-khalistani-referendum-8835595">Another Hindu temple vandalised in US with anti-India graffiti ahead of 'Khalistani referendum'</a>
&ldquo;Officers believe the front entry of the building was graffitied overnight, sometime between Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 April. An investigation into the damage remains ongoing," a police spokesperson said.&nbsp;
Indian High Commission in Australia reacted to the vandalism, saying that the incident has been raised with Australian authorities, further asserting that necessary steps are being taken to ensure security of Indian diplomats.
"The incident of defacing at the premises of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne by miscreants has been raised with Australian authorities. All necessary steps are being taken to ensure safety and security of Indian diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in the country. @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @cgimelbourne," the Indian High Commission said in a post on X.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The incident of defacing at the premises of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne by miscreants has been raised with Australian authorities. All necessary steps are being taken to ensure safety and security of Indian diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in the&hellip;
&mdash; India in Australia (@HCICanberra) <a href="https://twitter.com/HCICanberra/status/1910660395880374604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
The consulate officials have not released any official statement yet, however, according to the sources, the matter has been raised with top Victorian officials and the Indian High Commission in Canberra.&nbsp;
The community leaders said that repeated attacks on places of religious and cultural significance are deeply distressing and undermine social cohesion in Australia&rsquo;s most multicultural state, Australia Today reported.&nbsp;
WATCH: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-sheikh-hasinas-family-museum-vandalised-in-dhaka-8694622">Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina's family museum vandalised in Dhaka</a>&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just graffiti &mdash; it&rsquo;s a message of intimidation aimed at our community," a local Indian-Australian organised said.&nbsp;
The incident has again raised concerns within the Indian-Australia community, triggering frustration over a growing pattern of targeted incidents involving Hindu temples and Indian government premises across Melbourne.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/protesters-in-bangladesh-have-demolished-more-houses-of-leaders-of-sheikh-hasinas-awami-league-and-defaced-murals-of-the-countrys-founder-sheikh-mujibur-rahman-after-they-vandalised-and-set-on-fire-the-former-family-home-of-the-deposed-prime-minist-8695353">Bangladesh protesters vandalise houses of Awami League leaders after setting fire to Hasina's family house</a>
Indian Consulate General has previously faced similar provocations, with slogans defacing the premises in past years.&nbsp;
Moreover, the police have not confirmed whether any suspects have been identified, nor whether security footage has been reviewed.&nbsp;
They have also urged people to help if they have any related information.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au," the police spokesperson added.&nbsp;
Victoria Police and the State Government have pledged to crack down on hate-based crimes and vandalism, particularly those targeting faith-based institutions.
WATCH: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-hindu-temple-vandalised-in-us-with-anti-india-graffiti-ahead-of-khalistani-referendum-8835595">Another Hindu temple vandalised in US with anti-India graffiti ahead of 'Khalistani referendum'</a>&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Victoria Police confirmed to The Australia Today that officers attended the site on the morning of April 10 following reports of graffiti on the building.

The Indian Consulate in Melbourne, Australia was vandalised on Thursday, once again becoming a target, and graffiti was discovered at the front entrance of the premises, officials confirmed on Friday (April 11). The diplomatic office located at 344 St Kilda Road was attacked by some miscreants in early hours of April 10, around 1 am. Victoria Police confirmed to The Australia Today that officers attended the site on the morning of April 10 following reports of graffiti on the building. Also read: Another Hindu temple vandalised in US with anti-India graffiti ahead of 'Khalistani referendum' “Officers believe the front entry of the building was graffitied overnight, sometime between Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 April. An investigation into the damage remains ongoing," a police spokesperson said. Indian High Commission in Australia reacted to the vandalism, saying that the incident has been raised with Australian authorities, further asserting that necessary steps are being taken to ensure security of Indian diplomats. "The incident of defacing at the premises of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne by miscreants has been raised with Australian authorities. All necessary steps are being taken to ensure safety and security of Indian diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in the country. @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @cgimelbourne," the Indian High Commission said in a post on X. The incident of defacing at the premises of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne by miscreants has been raised with Australian authorities. All necessary steps are being taken to ensure safety and security of Indian diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in the… — India in Australia (@HCICanberra) April 11, 2025 The consulate officials have not released any official statement yet, however, according to the sources, the matter has been raised with top Victorian officials and the Indian High Commission in Canberra. The community leaders said that repeated attacks on places of religious and cultural significance are deeply distressing and undermine social cohesion in Australia’s most multicultural state, Australia Today reported. WATCH: Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina's family museum vandalised in Dhaka “It’s not just graffiti — it’s a message of intimidation aimed at our community," a local Indian-Australian organised said. The incident has again raised concerns within the Indian-Australia community, triggering frustration over a growing pattern of targeted incidents involving Hindu temples and Indian government premises across Melbourne. Also read: Bangladesh protesters vandalise houses of Awami League leaders after setting fire to Hasina's family house Indian Consulate General has previously faced similar provocations, with slogans defacing the premises in past years. Moreover, the police have not confirmed whether any suspects have been identified, nor whether security footage has been reviewed. They have also urged people to help if they have any related information. “Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au," the police spokesperson added. Victoria Police and the State Government have pledged to crack down on hate-based crimes and vandalism, particularly those targeting faith-based institutions. WATCH: Another Hindu temple vandalised in US with anti-India graffiti ahead of 'Khalistani referendum' (With inputs from agencies)

'Defacing incident': India raises concern with Australian authorities after miscreants vandalise Consulate in Melbourne

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday (Dec 6) condemned the targeting of&nbsp;Adass Israel synagogue in&nbsp;Ripponlea, located in Melbourne's southeast, calling it a "deliberate, unlawful attack". The attack in question took place on Friday morning where two&nbsp;masked individuals were seen pouring accelerants inside the&nbsp;synagogue.&nbsp;

<h2>An ‘attack on Australian values’</h2>

The Australian PM, while speaking at a forum in Western Australia without mincing his words condemned the attack. Attacking a place of worship is an "attack on Australian values," said Albanese.&nbsp;

“To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism, an attack on the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security,” he added.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-conflict-rebel-leader-says-goal-is-to-overthrow-assads-rule-280k-people-displaced-since-nov-27-782019">Syrian conflict: Rebel leader says goal is to overthrow Assad's rule; 280k people displaced since Nov 27</a>

Meanwhile, Premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Jacinta Allan during her visit to the site on Friday afternoon called the attack on the Jewish house of worship 'an act of antisemitism.'&nbsp;

Allan, who was joined by Jewish leaders, also pledged $100,000 for rebuilding work at the synagogue, which police said has sustained significant damage.

"This is a place of worship set up by survivors of the Holocaust, who fled what was the most evil regime in Europe and chose Melbourne for their home," she told reporters.

<h2 dir="ltr">Investigation underway</h2>

Around 60 firefighters and 17 trucks were called to the site at about 4:10 am (local time) after a large blaze engulfed the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea.&nbsp;

Australia's counter-terrorism police and the arson squad are investigating the firebombing of the synagogue.&nbsp;

The Victoria police are looking for two masked individuals who were just seen spreading an accelerant at the synagogue just before the fire broke out. The police said that they were treating the fire as deliberately lit.&nbsp;

The law enforcement personnel believe the attack was targeted and have renewed an appeal for information. Detective Inspector Chris Murray said police were not ruling out terrorism as a motive as they searched for the suspected arsonists.

“We are throwing everything at this,” he told reporters outside the synagogue on Friday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-scrambles-to-form-government-of-general-interest-after-no-confidence-vote-ousts-barnier-782030">France: Macron scrambles to form ‘government of general interest’ after no-confidence vote ousts Barnier</a>

Murray reassured the public, stating that police were treating that incident as "absolutely serious," adding that patrols would be increased in the area. He further mentioned that cameras in the vicinity were expected to be able to capture most of the event, but the footage had yet not been accessed.&nbsp;

Police request people with any available CCTV footage in that area from 3:00 am (local time) onwards on Friday to contact Crime Stoppers.

<h2 dir="ltr">Jewish groups warned of risk</h2>

Jewish groups said on Friday that they were shocked but not surprised by the attack. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s president, Daniel Aghion, called it a “tragic day.” He added, “We have been warning about the risk of this since last year, 7 October.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday (Dec 6) condemned the targeting of Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, located in Melbourne's southeast, calling it a "deliberate, unlawful attack".

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday (Dec 6) condemned the targeting of Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, located in Melbourne's southeast, calling it a "deliberate, unlawful attack". The attack in question took place on Friday morning where two masked individuals were seen pouring accelerants inside the synagogue. An ‘attack on Australian values’ The Australian PM, while speaking at a forum in Western Australia without mincing his words condemned the attack. Attacking a place of worship is an "attack on Australian values," said Albanese. “To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism, an attack on the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security,” he added. Also Read | Syrian conflict: Rebel leader says goal is to overthrow Assad's rule; 280k people displaced since Nov 27 Meanwhile, Premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Jacinta Allan during her visit to the site on Friday afternoon called the attack on the Jewish house of worship 'an act of antisemitism.' Allan, who was joined by Jewish leaders, also pledged $100,000 for rebuilding work at the synagogue, which police said has sustained significant damage. "This is a place of worship set up by survivors of the Holocaust, who fled what was the most evil regime in Europe and chose Melbourne for their home," she told reporters. Investigation underway Around 60 firefighters and 17 trucks were called to the site at about 4:10 am (local time) after a large blaze engulfed the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea. Australia's counter-terrorism police and the arson squad are investigating the firebombing of the synagogue. The Victoria police are looking for two masked individuals who were just seen spreading an accelerant at the synagogue just before the fire broke out. The police said that they were treating the fire as deliberately lit. The law enforcement personnel believe the attack was targeted and have renewed an appeal for information. Detective Inspector Chris Murray said police were not ruling out terrorism as a motive as they searched for the suspected arsonists. “We are throwing everything at this,” he told reporters outside the synagogue on Friday. Also Read | France: Macron scrambles to form ‘government of general interest’ after no-confidence vote ousts Barnier Murray reassured the public, stating that police were treating that incident as "absolutely serious," adding that patrols would be increased in the area. He further mentioned that cameras in the vicinity were expected to be able to capture most of the event, but the footage had yet not been accessed. Police request people with any available CCTV footage in that area from 3:00 am (local time) onwards on Friday to contact Crime Stoppers. Jewish groups warned of risk Jewish groups said on Friday that they were shocked but not surprised by the attack. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s president, Daniel Aghion, called it a “tragic day.” He added, “We have been warning about the risk of this since last year, 7 October.” (With inputs from agencies)

Australia's PM Albanese condemns Melbourne synagogue fire, calls it ‘attack on Australian values’

A couple from Australia’s Melbourne is facing the heat for causing floods in the city’s rail loop when they were identified in CCTV footage last week. The pair, being called an “amorous couple in a stairwell” was all over the Australian media, at the same time when Olivia Rodrigo was in the city for her concert.

Two stations, heavily packed with commuters, had to be evacuated, which caused significant delays for people travelling from the Olivia Rodrigo concert. Melbourne Central and Flagstaff stations had to be evacuated late on Thursday evening, causing delays across the metropolitan rail network.

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Initially, it was believed the incident was actually an act of vandalism, said Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister, Danny Pearson. Later on, after carefully examining the CCTV, it appears that “an amorous couple in a stairwell dislodged a sprinkler,” Pearson told reporters outside parliament on Wednesday.

“There was extensive flooding. Metro will be investigating these matters further and police are investigating.”

“Perhaps a stairwell may not be an appropriate place to find yourself in after dinner.”

Police on Tuesday released the images of the couple - a man and a woman, who they said may be able to assist with their investigation into the incident, which the police term as offence of “criminal damage.”

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The duo had gained access to a stairwell connecting platforms at Melbourne Central train station at about 10:40 pm local time, and damaged a water pipe and fire sprinkler, as per the police.&nbsp;

Victoria Police said the offenders had fled the scene after the extensive flooding.

"The delays affected big crowds trying to get home from the Olivia Rodrigo concert at Rod Laver Arena," police said.

"At this stage, it is unclear if Miss Rodrigo planned to get home via train or limousine,"&nbsp;they said at the time.

Investigations into the incident continue.

(With inputs from agencies)

A couple from Australia’s Melbourne is facing the heat for causing floods in the city’s rail loop when they were identified in CCTV footage last week. The pair, being called an “amorous couple in a stairwell” was all over the Australian media, at the same time when Olivia Rodrigo was in the city for her concert.

A couple from Australia’s Melbourne is facing the heat for causing floods in the city’s rail loop when they were identified in CCTV footage last week. The pair, being called an “amorous couple in a stairwell” was all over the Australian media, at the same time when Olivia Rodrigo was in the city for her concert. Two stations, heavily packed with commuters, had to be evacuated, which caused significant delays for people travelling from the Olivia Rodrigo concert. Melbourne Central and Flagstaff stations had to be evacuated late on Thursday evening, causing delays across the metropolitan rail network. Also Read | Five killed, including two children in deadly car crash in Cumbria Initially, it was believed the incident was actually an act of vandalism, said Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister, Danny Pearson. Later on, after carefully examining the CCTV, it appears that “an amorous couple in a stairwell dislodged a sprinkler,” Pearson told reporters outside parliament on Wednesday. “There was extensive flooding. Metro will be investigating these matters further and police are investigating.” “Perhaps a stairwell may not be an appropriate place to find yourself in after dinner.” Police on Tuesday released the images of the couple - a man and a woman, who they said may be able to assist with their investigation into the incident, which the police term as offence of “criminal damage.” Also Read | Indian American billionaire and past monk, investigated for tax abuse The duo had gained access to a stairwell connecting platforms at Melbourne Central train station at about 10:40 pm local time, and damaged a water pipe and fire sprinkler, as per the police. Victoria Police said the offenders had fled the scene after the extensive flooding. "The delays affected big crowds trying to get home from the Olivia Rodrigo concert at Rod Laver Arena," police said. "At this stage, it is unclear if Miss Rodrigo planned to get home via train or limousine," they said at the time. Investigations into the incident continue. (With inputs from agencies)

'Amorous couple' blamed for flooding that shut down two major Melbourne stations

A 24-year-old Indian-origin woman, Manpreet Kaur, tragically passed away on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Delhi just before takeoff on June 20.

According to reports, Manpreet Kaur, a student who worked at Australia Post and aspired to become a chef, was on her way to visit her family in India for&nbsp;the first time in four years. However, shortly after boarding the plane, she suffered a medical episode and collapsed in front of her seat.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-doubles-foreign-student-visa-fee-to-curb-migration-indian-students-likely-to-be-hit-736799">Australia doubles foreign student visa fee to curb migration, Indian students likely to be hit</a>

"When she got on the plane, she was struggling to put her seatbelt on. Just before her flight started, she fell in front of her seat and died on the spot," her friend Gurdip Grewal told the Herald Sun.&nbsp;

Qantas flight crew and emergency services attempted to provide medical assistance, but tragically, Manpreet Kaur passed away at the scene. As per reports, she was suffering from tuberculosis.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/activist-medha-patkar-gets-five-month-jail-term-in-23-year-old-defamation-case-736779">Activist Medha Patkar gets five-month jail term in 23-year-old defamation case</a>

Manpreet's friend Grewal&nbsp;said she had been feeling unwell for hours before arriving at the airport&nbsp;but still managed to board the flight.

Her friend Gurdip Grewal has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Manpreet's family during this difficult time.&nbsp;

Watch | India: Nature's fury hits with landslide in Lonavla, avalanche in Kedarnath

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"Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled. As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need," Grewal wrote on the fundraising page.&nbsp;

Victoria Police are currently preparing a report for the coroner, and Qantas has expressed their condolences to Manpreet's family and loved ones.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A 24-year-old Indian-origin woman, Manpreet Kaur, tragically passed away on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Delhi just before takeoff on June 20. According to reports, Manpreet Kaur, a student who worked at Australia Post and aspired to become a chef, was on her way to visit her family in India for the first time in four years.

A 24-year-old Indian-origin woman, Manpreet Kaur, tragically passed away on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Delhi just before takeoff on June 20. According to reports, Manpreet Kaur, a student who worked at Australia Post and aspired to become a chef, was on her way to visit her family in India for the first time in four years. However, shortly after boarding the plane, she suffered a medical episode and collapsed in front of her seat. Also Read | Australia doubles foreign student visa fee to curb migration, Indian students likely to be hit "When she got on the plane, she was struggling to put her seatbelt on. Just before her flight started, she fell in front of her seat and died on the spot," her friend Gurdip Grewal told the Herald Sun. Qantas flight crew and emergency services attempted to provide medical assistance, but tragically, Manpreet Kaur passed away at the scene. As per reports, she was suffering from tuberculosis. Also Read | Activist Medha Patkar gets five-month jail term in 23-year-old defamation case Manpreet's friend Grewal said she had been feeling unwell for hours before arriving at the airport but still managed to board the flight. Her friend Gurdip Grewal has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Manpreet's family during this difficult time. Watch | India: Nature's fury hits with landslide in Lonavla, avalanche in Kedarnath × "Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled. As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need," Grewal wrote on the fundraising page. Victoria Police are currently preparing a report for the coroner, and Qantas has expressed their condolences to Manpreet's family and loved ones. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian-origin woman passes away on Melbourne-Delhi flight just before takeoff

Following the shutdown of one of its engines due to fire, a passenger plane landed safely at an airport in New Zealand on Monday (June 17), according to the country's fire department.

Following the shutdown of one of its engines due to fire, a passenger plane landed safely at an airport in New Zealand on Monday (June 17), according to the country's fire department. After the fire caused a detour, the Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which was headed for Melbourne, Australia, touched down in the city of Invercargill, New Zealand. “Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.50 PM, bound for Melbourne. It experienced an issue just after take-off and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport. We will provide further updates as information becomes available,” Queenstown airport authorities said in a post on X. #BREAKING | Fire has been seen coming from the engine of an aircraft flying over Queentown tonight with witnesses reporting “loud bangs”. The aircraft was diverted to Invercargill Airport and has just made an emergency landing. 🔗 https://t.co/1mxdZCNhqz pic.twitter.com/mkcrJ6D8GC — nzherald (@nzherald) June 17, 2024 × In a different X post, Drawyah, a social media account that streams train and airplane simulations, stated, "Greetings from Invercargill! The mood is calm in the cabin, a tad shaken but on the ground, as fire crews inspect the plane. Can confirm it was a bird strike on the way out." Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.50pm, bound for Melbourne. It experienced an issue just after take-off and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport. We will provide further updates as information becomes available. — Queenstown Airport (ZQN) (@NZQN) June 17, 2024 × According to Lynn Crosson, shift supervisor for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the plane touched down in Invercargill around fifty minutes after taking off from Queenstown. Fire trucks were available at Invercargill. Also read: Greek coastguard threw migrants into sea after tying their hands: Report According to Queenstown Airport spokesman Catherine Nind, the source of the engine fire and the number of people on board the aircraft were not immediately known. 👋 Greetings from Invercargill! Mood is calm in the cabin, a tad shaken but on the ground as fire crews inspect the plane. Can confirm it was a bird strike on the way out. pic.twitter.com/NBq7GnSR8a — Drawyah (@DrawyahYT) June 17, 2024 × In an email statement to CBS, Virgin Australia said that "a possible bird strike" might have been the cause of the event. With a population of 53,000, Queenstown is a popular tourist spot in the South Island of New Zealand, known for its alpine scenery, adventure tourism, and skiing. According to the country's aviation regulator's website, birds strike planes at New Zealand airports at a rate of roughly four per 10,000 aircraft movements. According to the organisation, the severity of the repercussions varies based on the location of the aircraft impact, the size of the birds, and the pilot's response. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Australia-bound Boeing 737-800 plane's engine erupts in flames with loud bangs

Australian police are searching for two Haryana brothers who fatally stabbed another individual of Indian descent in Melbourne early Sunday morning (May 5). 22-year-old MTech student Navjeet Sandhu, who also hails from&nbsp;Haryana’s&nbsp;Karnal, was stabbed to death as he tried to intervene in a dispute among Indian students over the rent issue.&nbsp;

Emergency services responded to the incident at 1 am at North Rd at Ormond in&nbsp; Melbourne’s&nbsp;southeast.&nbsp;

Police said they were searching for 26-year-old Abhijeet Abhijeet and 27-year-old Robin Gartan, both brothers, in connection with the murder.

The Australian quoted Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Homicide Squad as saying that the accused brothers were consuming alcohol at a&nbsp;“party or gathering.”

“Throughout the evening there were some altercations occurring … prior to 1am an altercation has occurred … resulting in the two victims being stabbed,”&nbsp;Inspector Thomas said.

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Meanwhile, relatives of Navjeet Sandhu in India have said the altercations occurred due to some disagreement over rent&nbsp;as&nbsp;all of the involved students used to live in the same house.

''Navjeet's&nbsp;friend (another Indian student) had asked him to accompany him to his house to pick up his belongings as he had a car. While his friend went inside, Navjeet heard some shouts and saw&nbsp;there was&nbsp;a scuffle. When Navjeet tried to intervene&nbsp;asking&nbsp;them not to fight, he&nbsp;was fatally stabbed&nbsp;in the chest with a knife,''&nbsp;said Yashvir from Karnal, the&nbsp;victim’s&nbsp;uncle.

He said the family received the information about the incident early Sunday morning.

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The family is in a state of shock.&nbsp;"Navjeet was a brilliant student and was to join his family in July for vacations,''&nbsp;he said.

Navjeet went to Australia on a study visa one-and-a-half years ago&nbsp;and&nbsp;his father, a farmer, had sold one-and-half acres of their land to fund his education, reported the Press Trust of India.

The family has urged the government of India to bring&nbsp;Navjeet’s&nbsp;dead body&nbsp;“as soon as possible.”

Australian police said the accused, Abhijeet and Robin, are travelling in a stolen 2014 white Toyota Camry sedan.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Australian police are searching for two Haryana brothers who fatally stabbed another individual of Indian descent in Melbourne early Sunday morning (May 5). 22-year-old MTech student Navjeet Sandhu, who also hails from Haryana’s Karnal, was stabbed to death as he tried to intervene in a dispute among Indian students over the rent issue.

Australian police are searching for two Haryana brothers who fatally stabbed another individual of Indian descent in Melbourne early Sunday morning (May 5). 22-year-old MTech student Navjeet Sandhu, who also hails from Haryana’s Karnal, was stabbed to death as he tried to intervene in a dispute among Indian students over the rent issue. Emergency services responded to the incident at 1 am at North Rd at Ormond in Melbourne’s southeast. Police said they were searching for 26-year-old Abhijeet Abhijeet and 27-year-old Robin Gartan, both brothers, in connection with the murder. The Australian quoted Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Homicide Squad as saying that the accused brothers were consuming alcohol at a “party or gathering.” “Throughout the evening there were some altercations occurring … prior to 1am an altercation has occurred … resulting in the two victims being stabbed,” Inspector Thomas said. Also read: Qantas settles flight cancellation lawsuit with $66 million penalty Meanwhile, relatives of Navjeet Sandhu in India have said the altercations occurred due to some disagreement over rent as all of the involved students used to live in the same house. ''Navjeet's friend (another Indian student) had asked him to accompany him to his house to pick up his belongings as he had a car. While his friend went inside, Navjeet heard some shouts and saw there was a scuffle. When Navjeet tried to intervene asking them not to fight, he was fatally stabbed in the chest with a knife,'' said Yashvir from Karnal, the victim’s uncle. He said the family received the information about the incident early Sunday morning. Also read: Australia anticipates a smaller revenue upgrade citing global economic weakness The family is in a state of shock. "Navjeet was a brilliant student and was to join his family in July for vacations,'' he said. Navjeet went to Australia on a study visa one-and-a-half years ago and his father, a farmer, had sold one-and-half acres of their land to fund his education, reported the Press Trust of India. The family has urged the government of India to bring Navjeet’s dead body “as soon as possible.” Australian police said the accused, Abhijeet and Robin, are travelling in a stolen 2014 white Toyota Camry sedan. (With inputs from agencies)

Melbourne police searching for two Haryana students following fatal stabbing incident

A man in the Australian city of Melbourne died after he fell out of a hot-air balloon. The aircraft had been in the air for around 30 minutes when the man fell over the side of the basket above the city, on Monday (Mar 18) morning.&nbsp;

<h2>What we know about the incident</h2>

The hot air balloon was said to be more than&nbsp;450 metres off the ground and 30 minutes into flight when the man reportedly fell off. Emergency services were called to Albert Street in Preston where his body was found around 7:30 am (local time).&nbsp;

The circumstances around his death were not immediately clear but it is not being treated as suspicious. The police also spoke to the other occupants in the balloon to ascertain the details of the incident.&nbsp;

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The balloon later landed safely around Yarra Bend Park, a few kilometres away from where the man’s body was found.&nbsp;

Albert Street had been closed on both sides after the incident between Wood Street and Murray Road and drivers were urged to avoid the area.&nbsp;

The man’s fall reportedly left fellow passengers and the pilot “traumatised” as they witnessed the tragedy and counselling was being offered to them.&nbsp;

The hot air balloon took off from CT Barling Reserve, Reservoir around 7:00 am (local time). The identity of the man or other occupants of the balloon was not immediately known.&nbsp;

“Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Preston on Monday 18 March,” a spokesperson for Victoria Police told Sky News.&nbsp;

<h2>Hot Air Ballooning Industry responds&nbsp;</h2>

The National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation issued a joint statement expressing their condolences to the man’s family and friends.

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“Hot air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit.”&nbsp;

It added, “Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatised by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counselling for all affected.”&nbsp;

The incident is also being investigated by WorkSafe Victoria, the Air Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

While emergency landings of hot air balloons are not uncommon in Melbourne, they are rarely, if ever fatal.&nbsp;

In 2022, a hot air balloon carrying 13 passengers and a pilot was forced to land among buildings in Melbourne’s south-east, Elwood. Three passengers sustained minor injuries due to the incident which was attributed to a faulty balloon.&nbsp;

(With input from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A man in the Australian city of Melbourne died after he fell out of a hot-air balloon. The aircraft had been in the air for around 30 minutes when the man fell over the side of the basket above the city, on Monday (Mar 18) morning.

A man in the Australian city of Melbourne died after he fell out of a hot-air balloon. The aircraft had been in the air for around 30 minutes when the man fell over the side of the basket above the city, on Monday (Mar 18) morning. What we know about the incident The hot air balloon was said to be more than 450 metres off the ground and 30 minutes into flight when the man reportedly fell off. Emergency services were called to Albert Street in Preston where his body was found around 7:30 am (local time). The circumstances around his death were not immediately clear but it is not being treated as suspicious. The police also spoke to the other occupants in the balloon to ascertain the details of the incident. Also Read | A 20-year-old student from India's Andhra Pradesh killed in US: Report The balloon later landed safely around Yarra Bend Park, a few kilometres away from where the man’s body was found. Albert Street had been closed on both sides after the incident between Wood Street and Murray Road and drivers were urged to avoid the area. The man’s fall reportedly left fellow passengers and the pilot “traumatised” as they witnessed the tragedy and counselling was being offered to them. The hot air balloon took off from CT Barling Reserve, Reservoir around 7:00 am (local time). The identity of the man or other occupants of the balloon was not immediately known. “Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Preston on Monday 18 March,” a spokesperson for Victoria Police told Sky News. Hot Air Ballooning Industry responds The National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation issued a joint statement expressing their condolences to the man’s family and friends. Also Read | At least two injured after bear chases pedestrians in Slovak town “Hot air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit.” It added, “Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatised by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counselling for all affected.” The incident is also being investigated by WorkSafe Victoria, the Air Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. While emergency landings of hot air balloons are not uncommon in Melbourne, they are rarely, if ever fatal. In 2022, a hot air balloon carrying 13 passengers and a pilot was forced to land among buildings in Melbourne’s south-east, Elwood. Three passengers sustained minor injuries due to the incident which was attributed to a faulty balloon. (With input from agencies)

Australia: Man dies after falling from hot-air balloon in Melbourne

Taylor Swift is beyond thankful. The ''Lover'' singer is currently performing in Melbourne, Australia, as part of her International Eras tour. And, before she wrapped-up the three-day gig in Melbourne, Taylor took a moment to thank her thousands of fans who had gathered at the Melbourne cricket ground.&nbsp; 
 
In the clip that has been shared widely on social media platforms, Tay Tay expressed her gratitude at the jam-packed venue as she went on to reveal that these were the “biggest shows'' that she has ever played on tour. 
 
Around 288,000 people attended Taylor's three-day concerts. In a clip posted on X (formerly Twitter), Swift can be heard saying, “96,000 people the first night, 96,000 people the second night, 96,000 people tonight. All of that, those are all the biggest shows I’ve ever played on a tour and you did it three times.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-prince-harry-to-visit-uk-with-lilibet-and-archie-amid-king-charles-cancer-diagnosis-report-691414">Prince Harry to visit UK with Lilibet and Archie amid King Charles cancer diagnosis: Report</a> 
 
“The math is that it’s 288,000 people in three nights,” she continued, as per People. “Melbourne, you are the love of my life. I cannot believe you, what have you done,” Swift added.

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288,000 people for the 3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MelbourneTSTheErasTour?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MelbourneTSTheErasTour</a> and that's why they're winning so hard right now<a href="https://t.co/bOPr7C0uaj">pic.twitter.com/bOPr7C0uaj</a>
— ClareAnne (@ClareAngels13) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClareAngels13/status/1759138751555719586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“It’s just incredibly nice to do for someone. Make them feel welcome like that," she added.&nbsp; 
 
Performing in front of 96,000 fans, it was the biggest concert of Taylor's entire tour and her career. 
 
As a treat for her Australian fans, Taylor performed her heartbreaking song ''You're Losing Me," for the first time live on the stage.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/taylor-swifts-fan-dies-in-car-crash-en-route-to-eras-tour-concert-in-australia-691380">Taylor Swift fan dies in car crash en route to Eras Tour concert in Australia</a> 
 
As a surprise, Taylor kicked off her Melbourne tour by sitting at the piano as she sang her breakup ballad.&nbsp; 
 
In the footage that went viral, Taylor said, “I’ve never played this song live before. It’s one of my favorites.”

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.Taylor Swift just told 96,000 people at the MCG that this is the biggest concert she has ever played. Welcome Taylor Swift. Melbourne is the major events capital. ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@taylorswift13</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mcg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/melbourne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#melbourne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TaylorSwiftErasTour?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TaylorSwiftErasTour</a> <a href="https://t.co/yNamD2mrV2">pic.twitter.com/yNamD2mrV2</a>
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After her Melbourne gig, she will perform in Sydney, Australia, at Accor Stadium. 
 
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has announced a new bonus track called ''The Bolter''&nbsp;from her 11th studio album Tortured Poets Department. The album announced on Grammy Night will release on April 19. 
 
“I’m very excited for April 19. I can’t wait for you to hear all the songs. Tortured Poets is an album I think, more than any album I’ve made, is one I needed. It was a lifeline for me. It reminded me why songwriting is something that gets me through life,” she told the crowd in Melbourne.

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Taylor Swift is beyond thankful. The ''Lover'' singer is currently performing in Melbourne, Australia, as part of her International Eras tour. And, before she wrapped-up the three-day gig in Melbourne, Taylor took a moment to thank her thousands of fans who had gathered at the Melbourne cricket ground.

Taylor Swift is beyond thankful. The ''Lover'' singer is currently performing in Melbourne, Australia, as part of her International Eras tour. And, before she wrapped-up the three-day gig in Melbourne, Taylor took a moment to thank her thousands of fans who had gathered at the Melbourne cricket ground. In the clip that has been shared widely on social media platforms, Tay Tay expressed her gratitude at the jam-packed venue as she went on to reveal that these were the “biggest shows'' that she has ever played on tour. Around 288,000 people attended Taylor's three-day concerts. In a clip posted on X (formerly Twitter), Swift can be heard saying, “96,000 people the first night, 96,000 people the second night, 96,000 people tonight. All of that, those are all the biggest shows I’ve ever played on a tour and you did it three times.” Prince Harry to visit UK with Lilibet and Archie amid King Charles cancer diagnosis: Report “The math is that it’s 288,000 people in three nights,” she continued, as per People. “Melbourne, you are the love of my life. I cannot believe you, what have you done,” Swift added. 288,000 people for the 3 #MelbourneTSTheErasTour and that's why they're winning so hard right nowpic.twitter.com/bOPr7C0uaj — ClareAnne (@ClareAngels13) February 18, 2024 × “It’s just incredibly nice to do for someone. Make them feel welcome like that," she added. Performing in front of 96,000 fans, it was the biggest concert of Taylor's entire tour and her career. As a treat for her Australian fans, Taylor performed her heartbreaking song ''You're Losing Me," for the first time live on the stage. Taylor Swift fan dies in car crash en route to Eras Tour concert in Australia As a surprise, Taylor kicked off her Melbourne tour by sitting at the piano as she sang her breakup ballad. In the footage that went viral, Taylor said, “I’ve never played this song live before. It’s one of my favorites.” .Taylor Swift just told 96,000 people at the MCG that this is the biggest concert she has ever played. Welcome Taylor Swift. Melbourne is the major events capital. ❤️ @taylorswift13 #mcg #melbourne #TaylorSwiftErasTour pic.twitter.com/yNamD2mrV2 — Steve Dimopoulos MP (@Steve_Dimo) February 16, 2024 × After her Melbourne gig, she will perform in Sydney, Australia, at Accor Stadium. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has announced a new bonus track called ''The Bolter'' from her 11th studio album Tortured Poets Department. The album announced on Grammy Night will release on April 19. “I’m very excited for April 19. I can’t wait for you to hear all the songs. Tortured Poets is an album I think, more than any album I’ve made, is one I needed. It was a lifeline for me. It reminded me why songwriting is something that gets me through life,” she told the crowd in Melbourne.

‘Biggest shows I’ve ever played’: Taylor Swift expresses gratitude to Melbourne fans

Die-hard Taylor Swift fans flocked to a Melbourne stadium early Friday, snapping up merchandise hours before the first Australian date of her money-raking, two-year-long "Eras" tour.&nbsp;

The 34-year-old megastar kicks off seven Australia shows in Melbourne on Friday, the first of three stadium gigs in the city, before heading to Sydney for four more sell-out dates.&nbsp;

"The Eras Tour", which takes fans through the Swift discography, is predicted to be the highest-grossing musical tour of all time, netting about US$1 billion in ticket sales, according to Pollstar, a trade publication. 
 
"The main thing that got me into her was probably the lyrics and how I can relate them to so many different situations", said 21-year-old Australian fan Kendra Harris, who has been waiting months to see her hero in the flesh.&nbsp;

"I also love how she's so communicative with fans. She posts a lot of things on her social media and will comment on people's TikToks, so it feels like she truly knows you," said Harris.

"She definitely has a close relationship with fans. I know she used to invite fans to her house to listen to the album early, so I feel like doing things like that just shows how much she cares."

With many fans coming from overseas or inter-state and tickets hard to come by, hotel groups are offering ticket-and-lodging packages that run into the thousands of dollars.

- Surprise songs - 
 
Fans were gearing up for the concerts by creating Swift-themed friendship bracelets, preparing outfits and learning "fan chants" to belt out during performances.&nbsp;

Bead kits have reportedly sold out in some Melbourne and Sydney stores, as fans have rushed to make the bracelets, which are traditionally traded before shows.

"I've made like six or seven, but I would like to make a few more before the concert ... you trade them with people and I think people just give them if you don't have any," said Harris.

Many concert outfits will be inspired by Swift's self-described "Eras", her transformation through a range of musical genres, from country to pop.&nbsp;

Following last year's re-release of her album "1989", Swift has made around US$500 million from streaming royalties and music purchases such as tracks, albums, CDs, LPs and cassettes, according to Billboard.&nbsp;

"I saw the 'Eras Tour' movie in cinemas and that just made me even more excited, it looks amazing and I'm excited to hear what surprise songs we get as well," said Harris.&nbsp;

Swift, whose hits include "Shake It Off", "Blank Space" and "You Need to Calm Down", performs an acoustic set on piano and guitar, while featuring two surprise songs not on the official setlist.

Promotion for the tour has been as carefully choreographed as the performance on stage, and helped by Swift recently scooping her fourth "Album of the Year" prize at the Grammys, followed by a much-hyped appearance at the Super Bowl, where she cheered on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the winning Kansas City Chiefs.

The power of Taylor Swift has even seeped into academia, with the University of Melbourne holding a "Swiftposium" to discuss her influence across a range of disciplines.

"Fans view her a lot more as the friend-next-door than they do as a billionaire superpower, which is the reality of what she is," sociologist Georgia Carroll told the gathering.

Die-hard Taylor Swift fans flocked to a Melbourne stadium early Friday, snapping up merchandise hours before the first Australian date of her money-raking, two-year-long "Eras" tour.

Die-hard Taylor Swift fans flocked to a Melbourne stadium early Friday, snapping up merchandise hours before the first Australian date of her money-raking, two-year-long "Eras" tour. The 34-year-old megastar kicks off seven Australia shows in Melbourne on Friday, the first of three stadium gigs in the city, before heading to Sydney for four more sell-out dates. "The Eras Tour", which takes fans through the Swift discography, is predicted to be the highest-grossing musical tour of all time, netting about US$1 billion in ticket sales, according to Pollstar, a trade publication. "The main thing that got me into her was probably the lyrics and how I can relate them to so many different situations", said 21-year-old Australian fan Kendra Harris, who has been waiting months to see her hero in the flesh. "I also love how she's so communicative with fans. She posts a lot of things on her social media and will comment on people's TikToks, so it feels like she truly knows you," said Harris. "She definitely has a close relationship with fans. I know she used to invite fans to her house to listen to the album early, so I feel like doing things like that just shows how much she cares." With many fans coming from overseas or inter-state and tickets hard to come by, hotel groups are offering ticket-and-lodging packages that run into the thousands of dollars. - Surprise songs - Fans were gearing up for the concerts by creating Swift-themed friendship bracelets, preparing outfits and learning "fan chants" to belt out during performances. Bead kits have reportedly sold out in some Melbourne and Sydney stores, as fans have rushed to make the bracelets, which are traditionally traded before shows. "I've made like six or seven, but I would like to make a few more before the concert ... you trade them with people and I think people just give them if you don't have any," said Harris. Many concert outfits will be inspired by Swift's self-described "Eras", her transformation through a range of musical genres, from country to pop. Following last year's re-release of her album "1989", Swift has made around US$500 million from streaming royalties and music purchases such as tracks, albums, CDs, LPs and cassettes, according to Billboard. "I saw the 'Eras Tour' movie in cinemas and that just made me even more excited, it looks amazing and I'm excited to hear what surprise songs we get as well," said Harris. Swift, whose hits include "Shake It Off", "Blank Space" and "You Need to Calm Down", performs an acoustic set on piano and guitar, while featuring two surprise songs not on the official setlist. Promotion for the tour has been as carefully choreographed as the performance on stage, and helped by Swift recently scooping her fourth "Album of the Year" prize at the Grammys, followed by a much-hyped appearance at the Super Bowl, where she cheered on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the winning Kansas City Chiefs. The power of Taylor Swift has even seeped into academia, with the University of Melbourne holding a "Swiftposium" to discuss her influence across a range of disciplines. "Fans view her a lot more as the friend-next-door than they do as a billionaire superpower, which is the reality of what she is," sociologist Georgia Carroll told the gathering.

'You need to calm down': Swift-mania hits Australia ahead of Eras Tour concert

Statues of British colonial figures, Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria have been damaged in Melbourne, on the eve of January 26, celebrated as Australia Day. The Victoria Police have launched an investigation to nab the culprits responsible for the vandalism.&nbsp;

Captain Cook's statue was reported felled near Jacka Boulevard, cut off at the shins and sprayed with the words: "The colony will fall."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, former monarch Queen Victoria's statue was smeared with red paint.&nbsp;

Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan condemned the attack and said this sort of "vandalism" did not have a place in Australian society.&nbsp;

“We will be working with the council to repair and reinstate the statue in St Kilda that has been vandalised overnight," said Allan.&nbsp;

Opposition leader&nbsp;John Pesutto also stood in Allan's corner and called the incident "unacceptable".&nbsp;

“There’s no place for acts of vandalism or any other violent acts against people or property in our community.&nbsp;We support the right of people to protest and demonstrate but it must always be done in a peaceful and respectful way."

Notably, this is not the first instance when the Captain Cook statue has been vandalised on the eve of Australia Day. In 2018, pink paint was dumped on the statue.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hindu-temple-vandalised-again-can-us-still-preach-the-world-673513">Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | Hindu Temple vandalised again | Can US still preach the world?&nbsp;</a>

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<h2>Australia Day and controversy</h2>

Every year since 1994, January 26 is celebrated as Australia Day. For most Australians, it is an official holiday and an opportunity to go to the beach, enjoy a summer Test match and have fun.&nbsp;

However, the choice of date coincides with the arrival of the&nbsp;European settlers at Sydney Harbour in 1788. For some, the date marks the start of a violent colonial campaign that nearly erased the Aboriginals from their native lands.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/celebrating-genocide-australian-cricketer-slams-scheduling-of-match-on-january-26-555051">Also read |&nbsp;'Celebrating genocide?': Australian cricketer slams scheduling of match on January 26</a>

Earlier this week, the Australian men's cricket team captain called for a change to the date of Australia Day and backed the decision to not use the event for the marketing of the Brisbane Test.&nbsp;

“We should have an Australia Day, but we can probably find a more appropriate day to celebrate it. Once you start realising Jan 26 and why it is chosen, Australia Day is meant to be a celebration of everything Australia and our history. [So] we could choose a better date," said Cummins.&nbsp;

Cricket Australia&nbsp;dropped the term “Australia Day” from marketing in 2021, when some Big Bash League teams wore Indigenous strips for games played on 26 January.

(With inputs from agencies)

Statues of British colonial figures, Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria have been damaged in Melbourne, on the eve of January 26, celebrated as Australia Day.

Statues of British colonial figures, Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria have been damaged in Melbourne, on the eve of January 26, celebrated as Australia Day. The Victoria Police have launched an investigation to nab the culprits responsible for the vandalism. Captain Cook's statue was reported felled near Jacka Boulevard, cut off at the shins and sprayed with the words: "The colony will fall." Meanwhile, former monarch Queen Victoria's statue was smeared with red paint. Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan condemned the attack and said this sort of "vandalism" did not have a place in Australian society. “We will be working with the council to repair and reinstate the statue in St Kilda that has been vandalised overnight," said Allan. Opposition leader John Pesutto also stood in Allan's corner and called the incident "unacceptable". “There’s no place for acts of vandalism or any other violent acts against people or property in our community. We support the right of people to protest and demonstrate but it must always be done in a peaceful and respectful way." Notably, this is not the first instance when the Captain Cook statue has been vandalised on the eve of Australia Day. In 2018, pink paint was dumped on the statue. Watch | Gravitas | Hindu Temple vandalised again | Can US still preach the world? × Australia Day and controversy Every year since 1994, January 26 is celebrated as Australia Day. For most Australians, it is an official holiday and an opportunity to go to the beach, enjoy a summer Test match and have fun. However, the choice of date coincides with the arrival of the European settlers at Sydney Harbour in 1788. For some, the date marks the start of a violent colonial campaign that nearly erased the Aboriginals from their native lands. Also read | 'Celebrating genocide?': Australian cricketer slams scheduling of match on January 26 Earlier this week, the Australian men's cricket team captain called for a change to the date of Australia Day and backed the decision to not use the event for the marketing of the Brisbane Test. “We should have an Australia Day, but we can probably find a more appropriate day to celebrate it. Once you start realising Jan 26 and why it is chosen, Australia Day is meant to be a celebration of everything Australia and our history. [So] we could choose a better date," said Cummins. Cricket Australia dropped the term “Australia Day” from marketing in 2021, when some Big Bash League teams wore Indigenous strips for games played on 26 January. (With inputs from agencies)

Statues of Queen Victoria and Captain Cook vandalised in Melbourne on eve of Australia Day

Four Indian nationals were killed in a mass drowning incident at the unpatrolled Forrest Caves Beach on Phillip Island in Australia's Victoria, about 130 km south of Melbourne. The Indian High Commission in Canberra confirmed the incident on Thursday (Jan 25).

The victims, comprising a man and two women in their 20s, as well as a woman in her 40s, were part of an extended family group.

Emergency services were alerted around 3:30 pm (local time) on January 24, responding to distress calls reporting four individuals in distress in the water.&nbsp;

Despite immediate efforts to revive them through CPR, three of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

The tragedy unfolded at a popular tourist destination known for its sea caves.&nbsp;

But Forrest Caves Beach has gained notoriety among locals as a swimming spot lacking lifeguard patrols. The victims were discovered unresponsive after being pulled from the water, with one woman in her 20s airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne in critical condition. She succumbed to the effects of drowning later on.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/man-dies-after-getting-buried-deep-in-the-sand-pit-near-beach-667759">Man dies after getting buried deep in sand pit near beach</a>

The Indian High Commission in a social media post stated, "Heartbreaking tragedy in Australia: 4 Indians lost their lives in a drowning incident at Phillip Island, Victoria. Deepest condolences to families of the victims. @cgimelbourne team is in touch with friends of the deceased for all necessary assistance."

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Heart breaking tragedy in Australia: 4 Indians lost their lives in a drowning incident at Phillip Island, Victoria. Deepest condolences to families of the victims. <a href="https://twitter.com/cgimelbourne?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cgimelbourne</a> team is in touch with friends of the deceased for all necessary assistance.<a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a>
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Local media reports indicated that while the 43-year-old woman who lost her life was holidaying in Australia, the other three were residents of the country.&nbsp;

Concerns about the safety of Forrest Caves Beach were raised on social media, with a local resident warning that increased promotion of Phillip Island as a tourist destination could lead to more incidents.

Also watch |&nbsp;Mystery behind space debris found on Australian beach finally solved!

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"If the island is going to be pushed so hard as a tourist destination, there will be more and more incidents," cautioned a resident on social media, shedding light on the potential risks associated with the picturesque but hazardous location.

(With inputs from agencies)

Four Indian nationals were killed in a mass drowning incident at the unpatrolled Forrest Caves Beach on Phillip Island in Australia's Victoria, about 130 km south of Melbourne.

Four Indian nationals were killed in a mass drowning incident at the unpatrolled Forrest Caves Beach on Phillip Island in Australia's Victoria, about 130 km south of Melbourne. The Indian High Commission in Canberra confirmed the incident on Thursday (Jan 25). The victims, comprising a man and two women in their 20s, as well as a woman in her 40s, were part of an extended family group. Emergency services were alerted around 3:30 pm (local time) on January 24, responding to distress calls reporting four individuals in distress in the water. Despite immediate efforts to revive them through CPR, three of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The tragedy unfolded at a popular tourist destination known for its sea caves. But Forrest Caves Beach has gained notoriety among locals as a swimming spot lacking lifeguard patrols. The victims were discovered unresponsive after being pulled from the water, with one woman in her 20s airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne in critical condition. She succumbed to the effects of drowning later on. Also read | Man dies after getting buried deep in sand pit near beach The Indian High Commission in a social media post stated, "Heartbreaking tragedy in Australia: 4 Indians lost their lives in a drowning incident at Phillip Island, Victoria. Deepest condolences to families of the victims. @cgimelbourne team is in touch with friends of the deceased for all necessary assistance." Heart breaking tragedy in Australia: 4 Indians lost their lives in a drowning incident at Phillip Island, Victoria. Deepest condolences to families of the victims. @cgimelbourne team is in touch with friends of the deceased for all necessary assistance.@MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar — India in Australia (@HCICanberra) January 25, 2024 × Local media reports indicated that while the 43-year-old woman who lost her life was holidaying in Australia, the other three were residents of the country. Concerns about the safety of Forrest Caves Beach were raised on social media, with a local resident warning that increased promotion of Phillip Island as a tourist destination could lead to more incidents. Also watch | Mystery behind space debris found on Australian beach finally solved! × "If the island is going to be pushed so hard as a tourist destination, there will be more and more incidents," cautioned a resident on social media, shedding light on the potential risks associated with the picturesque but hazardous location. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia: Four Indians, including three women, die by drowning in Phillip Island

Australian&nbsp;Open&nbsp;chief&nbsp;Craig Tiley said he remains confident that Rafael Nadal&nbsp;would be at&nbsp;Melbourne&nbsp;Park in January despite the 37-year-old's struggles with injuries over the last couple of years. Nadal, who won two of his 22 major singles titles in&nbsp;Melbourne, has not played a competitive match since bowing out in the second round of this year's edition of the Grand Slam when hampered by a hip flexor problem.

"Rafael has been training, I follow him closely, probably every day, because he's a massive drawcard for us," Tiley told reporters in&nbsp;Melbourne&nbsp;on Thursday. "He wants to play, he's obviously planning on playing. It all depends on how he pulls up."

"Hopefully in the next week or the next two weeks, ﻿we get some specific confirmation of that. I'm certain Rafael will be here because he's not going to want to miss the opportunity to repeat what he did a couple of years ago." In the 2022 final against Daniil Medvedev,&nbsp;Nadal&nbsp; became the first man in the&nbsp;Open&nbsp;era to come&nbsp;back&nbsp;from two sets down to win the title.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/global-warming-threatens-winter-olympics-future-organisers-soften-demand-in-order-to-retain-potential-hosts-664681">Global warming threatens Winter Olympics future, organisers soften demand in order to retain potential hosts</a>

Nadal&nbsp;has expressed a desire to play one more French&nbsp;Open&nbsp;and represent Spain at the Paris Olympics next year before retiring at the end of his 23rd season on the tour. His team is yet to reveal any plans for his return to the court, however, and&nbsp;Nadal&nbsp;said last week in Barcelona that he was unsure about the timeline.

"I have been able to train a little bit more, the progress seems pretty good," he said. "I don't know when I will be&nbsp;back&nbsp;playing, for sure it is closer than the last time I spoke to the media. If you want me to tell you when I'm returning, I'm not going to do it because I don't know when it is going to be."

Tiley was less bullish than he has been in the past about the prospect of local drawcard Nick Kyrgios taking part in his home Grand Slam. Kyrgios has struggled with knee and wrist injuries since pulling out of last year's&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;Open&nbsp;at the 11th hour and has played only one tour match since the Japan&nbsp;Open&nbsp;in October 2022.

"We have spoken to Nick, and he obviously wants to do the best he possibly can to give him the best chance to play in January﻿," Tiley said of the 2022 Wimbledon finalist. "Whether he's playing, whether he's doing something else, Nick will be here in January and to get him to play will be great. But we've got to take it as it comes&nbsp;and he's got to make sure he takes care of his health..."

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said he remains confident that Rafael Nadal would be at Melbourne Park in January despite the 37-year-old's struggles with injuries over the last couple of years.

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said he remains confident that Rafael Nadal would be at Melbourne Park in January despite the 37-year-old's struggles with injuries over the last couple of years. Nadal, who won two of his 22 major singles titles in Melbourne, has not played a competitive match since bowing out in the second round of this year's edition of the Grand Slam when hampered by a hip flexor problem. "Rafael has been training, I follow him closely, probably every day, because he's a massive drawcard for us," Tiley told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday. "He wants to play, he's obviously planning on playing. It all depends on how he pulls up." "Hopefully in the next week or the next two weeks, ﻿we get some specific confirmation of that. I'm certain Rafael will be here because he's not going to want to miss the opportunity to repeat what he did a couple of years ago." In the 2022 final against Daniil Medvedev, Nadal became the first man in the Open era to come back from two sets down to win the title. Also Read: Global warming threatens Winter Olympics future, organisers soften demand in order to retain potential hosts Nadal has expressed a desire to play one more French Open and represent Spain at the Paris Olympics next year before retiring at the end of his 23rd season on the tour. His team is yet to reveal any plans for his return to the court, however, and Nadal said last week in Barcelona that he was unsure about the timeline. "I have been able to train a little bit more, the progress seems pretty good," he said. "I don't know when I will be back playing, for sure it is closer than the last time I spoke to the media. If you want me to tell you when I'm returning, I'm not going to do it because I don't know when it is going to be." Tiley was less bullish than he has been in the past about the prospect of local drawcard Nick Kyrgios taking part in his home Grand Slam. Kyrgios has struggled with knee and wrist injuries since pulling out of last year's Australian Open at the 11th hour and has played only one tour match since the Japan Open in October 2022. "We have spoken to Nick, and he obviously wants to do the best he possibly can to give him the best chance to play in January﻿," Tiley said of the 2022 Wimbledon finalist. "Whether he's playing, whether he's doing something else, Nick will be here in January and to get him to play will be great. But we've got to take it as it comes and he's got to make sure he takes care of his health..."

Tennis: Craig Tiley remains confident of Rafael Nadal's return for Australian Open

A Canberra court has dismissed charges against Australian rugby league internationals Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton who were arrested for fighting with each other at a nightclub in February. Police had charged both players with fighting in a public place, while charging Wighton with ignoring an exclusion order and his cousin Mitchell with affray and resisting police.

Wighton was celebrating his 30th birthday when police removed him from the nightclub and ordered him to leave the city area. The case was dismissed on Wednesday, a day after a senior police officer admitted evidence he had given in court about Wighton's behaviour was inaccurate.

The police officer told the court on Monday that Wighton had "pushed and shoved" a man at the nightclub and appeared aggressive but on Tuesday conceded his evidence did not match CCTV and police body-camera footage. "Sorry Jack, if that's what happened. I thought I saw something different," Australian media quoted the police officer as saying to Wighton in court on Tuesday.

Australia Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates Court judge Jane Campbell dismissed the case, triggering criticism of police and prosecutors. The arrests were prominently reported by national broadcasters, with video showing four police officers pinning Aboriginal Australian Mitchell face-down to the ground.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/spaniard-carlos-alcaraz-shines-in-mexico-city-as-fans-get-glimpse-of-world-class-tennis-664949">Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz shines in Mexico City as fans get glimpse of world class tennis</a>

Mitchell was heard screaming "my shoulders" and bystanders were heard telling the police the pair had done nothing wrong. "I hope everyone knows and understands the seriousness of what's gone on," South Sydney fullback Mitchell told reporters outside the court.

"Through the last 10 months it's been very hard for myself - not only myself but my family and what they've had to read and endure. A traumatic experience that I've had of Canberra." Mitchell's team mate Wighton thanked his former club Canberra Raiders and his family for their support. Raiders CEO Don Furner called the case "an extraordinary waste" of the court's time and taxpayers' money, while Mitchell's lawyer called for a review.

ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury described the case as "obviously really concerning". ACT Policing said they would work with prosecutors to review the proceedings.

A Canberra court has dismissed charges against Australian rugby league internationals Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton who were arrested for fighting with each other at a nightclub in February.

A Canberra court has dismissed charges against Australian rugby league internationals Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton who were arrested for fighting with each other at a nightclub in February. Police had charged both players with fighting in a public place, while charging Wighton with ignoring an exclusion order and his cousin Mitchell with affray and resisting police. Wighton was celebrating his 30th birthday when police removed him from the nightclub and ordered him to leave the city area. The case was dismissed on Wednesday, a day after a senior police officer admitted evidence he had given in court about Wighton's behaviour was inaccurate. The police officer told the court on Monday that Wighton had "pushed and shoved" a man at the nightclub and appeared aggressive but on Tuesday conceded his evidence did not match CCTV and police body-camera footage. "Sorry Jack, if that's what happened. I thought I saw something different," Australian media quoted the police officer as saying to Wighton in court on Tuesday. Australia Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates Court judge Jane Campbell dismissed the case, triggering criticism of police and prosecutors. The arrests were prominently reported by national broadcasters, with video showing four police officers pinning Aboriginal Australian Mitchell face-down to the ground. Also Read: Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz shines in Mexico City as fans get glimpse of world class tennis Mitchell was heard screaming "my shoulders" and bystanders were heard telling the police the pair had done nothing wrong. "I hope everyone knows and understands the seriousness of what's gone on," South Sydney fullback Mitchell told reporters outside the court. "Through the last 10 months it's been very hard for myself - not only myself but my family and what they've had to read and endure. A traumatic experience that I've had of Canberra." Mitchell's team mate Wighton thanked his former club Canberra Raiders and his family for their support. Raiders CEO Don Furner called the case "an extraordinary waste" of the court's time and taxpayers' money, while Mitchell's lawyer called for a review. ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury described the case as "obviously really concerning". ACT Policing said they would work with prosecutors to review the proceedings.

Rugby: Canberra court dismisses charges against Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton

Italian jockey Frankie Dettori is targeting another ride at the Melbourne Cup in 2024 after calling off his retirement from horse racing. Dettori, who has ridden more than 3,300 winners and claimed three champion jockey titles, was ruled out of this year's Melbourne Cup, which runs at 3 p.m. (0400 GMT) on Tuesday, due to a suspension for a whip breach.

The Melbourne Cup is one of the few major trophies that has eluded the flamboyant 52-year-old, though he has had several near-misses in the two-mile handicap at Flemington. "Hopefully in 12 months here I will get a horse for the Melbourne Cup," he told Australian broadcaster Network 10 on Tuesday. "I'd like to fill in that gap (with victory)."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/swiatek-thrashes-pegula-to-win-wta-finals-reclaim-no1-ranking-655909">Swiatek thrashes Pegula to win WTA Finals, reclaim No.1 ranking</a>

The British-based jockey had planned to retire at the end of the year but revealed last month he had changed his mind, saying he still had a competitive "fire" and would continue his career in the United States.

Italian jockey Frankie Dettori is targeting another ride at the Melbourne Cup in 2024 after calling off his retirement from horse racing. Dettori, who has ridden more than 3,300 winners and claimed three champion jockey titles, was ruled out of this year's Melbourne Cup, which runs at 3 p.

Italian jockey Frankie Dettori is targeting another ride at the Melbourne Cup in 2024 after calling off his retirement from horse racing. Dettori, who has ridden more than 3,300 winners and claimed three champion jockey titles, was ruled out of this year's Melbourne Cup, which runs at 3 p.m. (0400 GMT) on Tuesday, due to a suspension for a whip breach. The Melbourne Cup is one of the few major trophies that has eluded the flamboyant 52-year-old, though he has had several near-misses in the two-mile handicap at Flemington. "Hopefully in 12 months here I will get a horse for the Melbourne Cup," he told Australian broadcaster Network 10 on Tuesday. "I'd like to fill in that gap (with victory)." Also read: Swiatek thrashes Pegula to win WTA Finals, reclaim No.1 ranking The British-based jockey had planned to retire at the end of the year but revealed last month he had changed his mind, saying he still had a competitive "fire" and would continue his career in the United States.

Horse racing: Italian jockey Frankie Dettori eyes another Melbourne Cup in 2024 after retirement U-turn

A loud bang was heard and a bizarre flash of light was reported on Wednesday night in Melbourne's northeastern part, stunning the locals.&nbsp;

CCTV captured a mysterious flash of light, which was followed by a bang boom. The footage was posted on a social media forum by a resident from Doreen.&nbsp;

The intriguing post then went viral. The resident who posted it said he heard the sound while getting out of his car at about 9:00 pm&nbsp;(local time).&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-hungry-bear-steals-frozen-lasagne-after-breaking-into-house-in-us-648579">Hungry bear steals frozen lasagna after breaking into house in US</a>

People who couldn't record it rushed to social media to find answers regarding the late-night explosion.&nbsp;

One user wrote, "Ok, a massive explosion wasn't how I expected tonight to go! What in the world was that?!" The user hails from the Mernda area.&nbsp;

Another user wrote, speculating the "loud af" sound came from the roadworks. Another resident said, "Our whole house shook".&nbsp;

Posting the CCTV footage, one local said on a local page that they guessed "Maybe a meteorite?"&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/asian-elephant-named-rani-dies-after-lost-dog-runs-loose-at-st-louis-zoo-648672">Asian elephant named Rani dies after lost dog runs loose at St. Louis Zoo</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ok, massive explosion wasn’t how I expected tonight to go! 
What in the world was that?! 
Anyone around <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Doreen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Doreen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mernda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mernda</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Explosion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Explosion</a> know what happened?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Melbourne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Melbourne</a>
— Owlbear 💜🦉🐻 won at life today! #PAXAus (@TabletopOwlbear) <a href="https://twitter.com/TabletopOwlbear/status/1714581017175244886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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That was fucking loud, our whole house shook. Someone posted this on a local page, maybe a meteorite? 🤷🏻‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/FakoRqxL7d">pic.twitter.com/FakoRqxL7d</a>
— 𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗭 (@onlyrebz) <a href="https://twitter.com/onlyrebz/status/1714592544548667764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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There's no confirmation, but astrophysicist Clare Kenyon told the Herald Sun: "The culprit? Most likely space junk or a meteor."&nbsp;&nbsp;

She added, "When a piece of space junk – or even something natural like a chunk of space rock – is pulled towards Earth, it's moving really quickly and then basically slams into the atmosphere, creating a kind of sonic boom."&nbsp;

"The friction from Earth's atmosphere is immense and causes the material to break apart and burn causing lingering bright streaks of light across the sky," she added.

Dr Brad Tucker, who is an astronomer from the Australian National University, also hinted at a meteorite. He said that the "flash associated with this boom" hints at it likely coming from a meteor.

"It would have been a bit of an astroid broke off, travelled through space, [and] hit the Earth's atmosphere," Tucker said.

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A loud bang was heard and a bizarre flash of light was reported on Wednesday night in Melbourne's northeastern part, stunning the locals. CCTV captured a mysterious flash of light, which was followed by a bang boom.

A loud bang was heard and a bizarre flash of light was reported on Wednesday night in Melbourne's northeastern part, stunning the locals. CCTV captured a mysterious flash of light, which was followed by a bang boom. The footage was posted on a social media forum by a resident from Doreen. The intriguing post then went viral. The resident who posted it said he heard the sound while getting out of his car at about 9:00 pm (local time). Also read: Hungry bear steals frozen lasagna after breaking into house in US People who couldn't record it rushed to social media to find answers regarding the late-night explosion. One user wrote, "Ok, a massive explosion wasn't how I expected tonight to go! What in the world was that?!" The user hails from the Mernda area. Another user wrote, speculating the "loud af" sound came from the roadworks. Another resident said, "Our whole house shook". Posting the CCTV footage, one local said on a local page that they guessed "Maybe a meteorite?" Also read: Asian elephant named Rani dies after lost dog runs loose at St. Louis Zoo Ok, massive explosion wasn’t how I expected tonight to go! What in the world was that?! Anyone around #Doreen #Mernda #Explosion know what happened?? #Melbourne — Owlbear 💜🦉🐻 won at life today! #PAXAus (@TabletopOwlbear) October 18, 2023 × That was fucking loud, our whole house shook. Someone posted this on a local page, maybe a meteorite? 🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/FakoRqxL7d — 𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗭 (@onlyrebz) October 18, 2023 × There's no confirmation, but astrophysicist Clare Kenyon told the Herald Sun: "The culprit? Most likely space junk or a meteor." She added, "When a piece of space junk – or even something natural like a chunk of space rock – is pulled towards Earth, it's moving really quickly and then basically slams into the atmosphere, creating a kind of sonic boom." "The friction from Earth's atmosphere is immense and causes the material to break apart and burn causing lingering bright streaks of light across the sky," she added. Dr Brad Tucker, who is an astronomer from the Australian National University, also hinted at a meteorite. He said that the "flash associated with this boom" hints at it likely coming from a meteor. "It would have been a bit of an astroid broke off, travelled through space, [and] hit the Earth's atmosphere," Tucker said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

What was that? Loud bang and bizarre flash of light stun locals in Melbourne

Shabana Azmi, a beacon of cinematic brilliance and cultural significance, illuminated the Australian soil with the tri-colour symbolic of India's rich heritage. The occasion was the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023, where the iconic actress hosted the flag-hoisting ceremony.&nbsp;

Shabana Azmi, a globally acclaimed artist, has not only etched her name in Indian cinema but also transcended borders, capturing the hearts of audiences across continents.

Shabana Azmi is set to dazzle the screen in R&nbsp;Balki's highly anticipated film Ghoomer which made its world premiere at the festival. As the tricolour fluttered against the Melbourne skyline, the shared emotions of patriotism and unity resonated strongly with the attendees.

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Commenting on the ceremony, Shabana Azmi said, "To be having this honour to hoist the Indian flag, the flag that I’m so proud of, the flag all of us present today are proud of in Melbourne is an honour I never believed I could have. I would like to reiterate that we are here to celebrate Indian cinema in Melbourne, and I truly believe that art knows no boundaries and cinema can be an instrument for social change”

Azmi was recently lauded for her performance in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani where she played Alia Bhatt's grandmother. She was paired opposite Dharmendra in the film and the duo's onscreen kiss became a talking point of the film.&nbsp;

Shabana Azmi, a beacon of cinematic brilliance and cultural significance, illuminated the Australian soil with the tri-colour symbolic of India's rich heritage. The occasion was the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023, where the iconic actress hosted the flag-hoisting ceremony.

Shabana Azmi, a beacon of cinematic brilliance and cultural significance, illuminated the Australian soil with the tri-colour symbolic of India's rich heritage. The occasion was the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023, where the iconic actress hosted the flag-hoisting ceremony. Shabana Azmi, a globally acclaimed artist, has not only etched her name in Indian cinema but also transcended borders, capturing the hearts of audiences across continents. Shabana Azmi is set to dazzle the screen in R Balki's highly anticipated film Ghoomer which made its world premiere at the festival. As the tricolour fluttered against the Melbourne skyline, the shared emotions of patriotism and unity resonated strongly with the attendees. Commenting on the ceremony, Shabana Azmi said, "To be having this honour to hoist the Indian flag, the flag that I’m so proud of, the flag all of us present today are proud of in Melbourne is an honour I never believed I could have. I would like to reiterate that we are here to celebrate Indian cinema in Melbourne, and I truly believe that art knows no boundaries and cinema can be an instrument for social change” Azmi was recently lauded for her performance in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani where she played Alia Bhatt's grandmother. She was paired opposite Dharmendra in the film and the duo's onscreen kiss became a talking point of the film.

Shabana Azmi hoists the tricolour in Melbourne ahead of Indian Independence Day

A 64-year-old woman died after she reportedly jumped from the Royal Caribbean cruise in the Singapore strait on Monday morning. Her son, a Melbourne-based businessman initially accused the crew staff of washing the hands off and reached out to the Indian government seeking help on Monday evening.

Indian woman jumps from cruise ship, dies in Singapore strait

A Melbourne woman, aged 55, who was imprisoned for keeping an Indian-origin Tamil woman as a slave for eight years, has now been sentenced to an additional two-and-a-half years for threatening the victim before she gave proof in the criminal trial, said the police, as per news agency PTI.

The police, on Saturday, released a statement saying that Kumuthini Kannan and her husband Kandasamy Kannan were earlier convicted and sentenced for enslaving the victim, in her 60s, in their Mount Waverley home between the years 2007 and 2015.

The statement said that Kumuthini pleaded guilty to the offence of twisting the course of justice during an Australian Federal Police (AFP) slavery probe and was sentenced on July 7 in the County Court of Victoria to an additional two years and six months imprisonment.

The judge ordered that the sentence would begin 18 months before the completion of the sentence she was currently facing for the slavery offences.

Earlier, Kumuthini was sentenced to eight years in prison with a non-parole period of four years for the slavery offences.

She will be eligible for parole in January 2026. Her husband was sentenced to six years in prison, with a non-parole period of three years.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-controversy-surrounds-special-operations-group-memoir-as-publisher-takes-it-off-market-614374">Australia: Controversy surrounds 'Special Operations Group' memoir as publisher takes it off market</a>

They were sentenced and imprisoned in the year 2021 after the police probe established the couple had kept the victim as a slave for eight years.

<h2>Victim was threatened to not give evidence during the court proceeding</h2>

The federal police had charged the couple in June 2016 with slavery crimes and in 2020, while awaiting trial, Kumuthini threatened the victim and cautioned her not to give proof during the court proceedings.

As per Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the victim was told: "When you go to court, say nothing. Say you don't remember. Tell the judge you are suffering from mental illness."

"Don't repeat what you are saying. If you do, you will lose everything.

"If you listen to the police, you'll never be able to leave this country, you'll be here until you perish until you die."

In February 2020, the AFP Human Trafficking Team charged the woman with attempting to twist the course of justice, contrary to Section 43 of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), and the matter was heard separately from the slavery proceedings.

As per local media reports, the exploitation of the elderly woman took place because her family was in India. Also, she did not speak English and her passport was taken away by the Kannans. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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A Melbourne woman, aged 55, who was imprisoned for keeping an Indian-origin Tamil woman as a slave for eight years, has now been sentenced to an additional two-and-a-half years for threatening the victim before she gave proof in the criminal trial, said the police, as per news agency PTI.

A Melbourne woman, aged 55, who was imprisoned for keeping an Indian-origin Tamil woman as a slave for eight years, has now been sentenced to an additional two-and-a-half years for threatening the victim before she gave proof in the criminal trial, said the police, as per news agency PTI. The police, on Saturday, released a statement saying that Kumuthini Kannan and her husband Kandasamy Kannan were earlier convicted and sentenced for enslaving the victim, in her 60s, in their Mount Waverley home between the years 2007 and 2015. The statement said that Kumuthini pleaded guilty to the offence of twisting the course of justice during an Australian Federal Police (AFP) slavery probe and was sentenced on July 7 in the County Court of Victoria to an additional two years and six months imprisonment. The judge ordered that the sentence would begin 18 months before the completion of the sentence she was currently facing for the slavery offences. Earlier, Kumuthini was sentenced to eight years in prison with a non-parole period of four years for the slavery offences. She will be eligible for parole in January 2026. Her husband was sentenced to six years in prison, with a non-parole period of three years. Also read: Australia: Controversy surrounds 'Special Operations Group' memoir as publisher takes it off market They were sentenced and imprisoned in the year 2021 after the police probe established the couple had kept the victim as a slave for eight years. Victim was threatened to not give evidence during the court proceeding The federal police had charged the couple in June 2016 with slavery crimes and in 2020, while awaiting trial, Kumuthini threatened the victim and cautioned her not to give proof during the court proceedings. As per Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the victim was told: "When you go to court, say nothing. Say you don't remember. Tell the judge you are suffering from mental illness." "Don't repeat what you are saying. If you do, you will lose everything. "If you listen to the police, you'll never be able to leave this country, you'll be here until you perish until you die." In February 2020, the AFP Human Trafficking Team charged the woman with attempting to twist the course of justice, contrary to Section 43 of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), and the matter was heard separately from the slavery proceedings. As per local media reports, the exploitation of the elderly woman took place because her family was in India. Also, she did not speak English and her passport was taken away by the Kannans. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia: Melbourne woman convicted of keeping Indian-origin woman as slave handed more jail time

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