Melbourne factory fire sparks environmental crisis; US to deploy longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany in 2026; And in sport, England through to European Football Championship final.
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In this bulletin;
- Melbourne factory fire sparks environmental crisis;
- US to deploy longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany in 2026;
- And in sport, England through to European Football Championship final.
Communities in Melbourne's west have been told to avoid a chemical factory fire that sent toxic smoke billowing over the city after firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night.
Locals have now been told to avoid coming into contact with water in Cherry Creek, Anderson's Swamp and Kayes Drain after pollutants from firewater entered the downstream waterways.
Fire Rescue Victoria firefighter Michelle Carling says a range of chemicals were present in the factory.
"Kerosene, fuel, methylated spirits of various types, paint thinners, all sorts. Ethanol? Ethanol."
The fire was sparked by a large explosion at the Derrimut factory in the city's west on Wednesday morning.
Ms Carling says the size of the site means the fire, the most significant in the city for several years, could take days to extinguish.
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The United States is to deploy longer-range missiles in Germany starting in 2026.
This move has been revealed in a joint announcement from the two countries at a NATO meeting.
Intended to counter a perceived Russian threat, it would mark the most significant US weapons deployment in Europe since the Cold War.
A US-German statement detailed the "episodic deployments" of SM-6, Tomahawk, and hypersonic weapons, preparing for their long-term stationing in Europe.
This deployment, previously banned under the now-defunct Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signals a strong warning to Russia.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has lauded the relationship between both countries.
"We, together, the United States and Germany have been confronting the extraordinary challenges to our alliance, to, to our people. But the fact that we're doing it together, the fact that we are such strong partners has been an extraordinary source of strength these past few years. And whether it's Russia's aggression against Ukraine, whether its challenges in the Middle East, whether it's the many issues that we're facing together in the Indo-Pacific, we're so grateful for the partnership between our countries."
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Alice Springs' mayor, Matt Paterson, says a three-day snap curfew imposed on the city centre has worked, and that a decision has yet to be made on whether or not it would be extended.
Mr Paterson, however, has acknowledged on the ABC that it had some adverse effects on Alice Springs' suburbs.
"It's obviously worked in the CBD, but we are hearing that it is pushing crime out into the suburbs, so we'll wait and see what happens. You know, ultimately the community gets to have a breath whilst there's extra resources and there's extra police in town. So we'll just wait and see what's decided."
The curfew was announced after a series of violent incidents last weekend, resulted in the barring of access to the CBD from 10pm to 6am for most people.
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A father has been charged with the murder of three of his children after allegedly preventing their rescue from a burning home in Lalor Park, Sydney.
The 28-year-old will face Parramatta Local Court from his bed at Westmead Hospital today, where he remains under police guard, following a coma induced by the fire.
Three children, aged six, two, and five months, died in the blaze on Sunday.
Three others were hospitalised.
The man faces three counts of domestic violence-related murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The attempted murder charges involve four other children and his 29-year-old partner, who all survived.
He is also charged with destroying property with intent to endanger life.
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England is through to the final of the European Football Championship, after coming from behind to beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Dortmund.
The Dutch took the lead early on with a Xavi Simons strike, but an England penalty by Harry Kane quickly levelled the two sides.
Then in stoppage time, a strike by substitute Ollie Watkins sent England to their second consecutive Euro final.
They will face Spain at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday.
