Cyclone Jasper upgraded to a category two system as residents continue to make preparations. Time is running out at the COP28 climate summit with negotiations on fossil fuels at a standstill. The Turkish football league suspended after a brutal attack on a referee.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Cyclone Jasper upgraded to a category two system as residents continue to make preparations.
- Time is running out at the COP28 climate summit with negotiations on fossil fuels at a standstill.
- The Turkish football league suspended after a brutal attack on a referee.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper has been upgraded to a Category Two system, as residents in Far North Queensland brace for its landfall on Wednesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting strong winds, heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding.
Queensland's Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy says residents in low-lying areas can access shelter in the two evacuation centres set up in Cairns.
"What we do ask people to be aware of but, if you're in one of those areas of risk is to make that decision to go to the evacuation centre timely knowing that during the hours of darkness tonight, we will see destructive winds form and we will see heavy rainfall."
31 additional Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel arrived in Cairns on Tuesday to assist with preparations.
Efforts at the COP28 summit to secure a landmark deal to phase out fossil fuels are hanging in the balance after the latest draft agreement dropped references to the end of coal, oil and gas.
The weaker language, suggesting a reduction in fossil fuels has been criticised by pacific states and climate activists, while many countries have indicated they won’t agree to the deal as it stands.
More than 100 countries want a deal that includes a commitment to ‘phase out’ fossil fuels.
COP28 president Sultan Al-Jaber has called on all participating nations to put aside their differences with the clock towards the end of the summit ticking backwards.
"This is the first ever COP presidency that has called on all parties to come forward with common ground and consensus on fossil fuel. Now the time has come for all parties to constructively engage and to come to me with that language. I want everyone to show flexibility, to act with urgency."
The United Nations summit was scheduled to end on Tuesday night, but negotiations are expected to continue.
Steven Miles is set to become the 40th premier of Queensland.
The current deputy premier secured enough support from union members during a deal on Monday night.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman withdrew her candidacy for the top job, revealing she would instead back Mr Miles.
Mr Miles has confirmed that Cameron Dick, who was also in the running for the leadership role, is set to become deputy premier while remaining as treasurer.
"Yesterday I asked Cameron Dick to join me as my deputy in a leadership team that we will take to the Labor party caucus on Friday. Cameron has been a strong treasurer."
46-year-old Stephen Miles should emerge from Friday's caucus meeting as Labor's new leader with no other challengers in sight.
Two people have died in a plane crash in northern New South Wales.
Police were notified of the incident early on Tuesday and arrived at the scene in Lilydale where they confirmed the death of a male in his 30s and a child.
It remains uncertain if the two were related, with the families of the victims already notified and an identification process underway.
Local resident Kerry Monk says she witnessed the incident take place.
"We heard the noise, a big explosion, a couple of them, with some whirly sounds, whooshy sounds and we thought 'that's not right.' So we got up and we went to investigate, saw smoke and flames, and thought 'right, that's something pretty serious.' So we raced back to the car, raced into the car, took off, we got phones and things like that, took off to see if we could assist anybody."
The Turkish Football Federation has suspended all league games in the country after a club president punched the referee in the face at the end of a top-flight match.
Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch late on Monday after the final whistle, following a 1-1 draw in a game against Rizespor for the top flight of Turkish football.
The referee, who fell to the ground, was also kicked in a melee that occurred after fans invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.
The Turkish federation president Mehmet Buyukeksi described the incident as inhumane.
"Unfortunately, this attack is very unfortunate and shameful for Turkish football. We believe Turkish football doesn’t deserve this and we say enough is enough. Enough."
