Midday News Bulletin 06 April 2024

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Major flood warnings in New South Wales after torrential rain; Israel's military sacks two officers after the deadly strike on the World Central Kitchen workers; And in cycling, several riders left with serious injuries after a high speed crash in Spain.


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TRANSCRIPT
  • Major flood warnings in New South Wales after torrential rain.
  • Israel's military sacks two officers after the deadly strike on the World Central Kitchen workers.
  • And in cycling, several riders left with serious injuries after a high speed crash in Spain.
Torrential rain has soaked many parts of New South Wales and authorities are warning of hazardous floodwaters.

Chatswood was Sydney's wettest suburb with 189 millimetres while Gosford and the Central Coast received 161 millimetres.

Premier Chris Minns says while conditions have cleared in Sydney, people need to be alert to the risk of flooding.

"Flood levels in some of the rivers, particularly in western Sydney, are continuing to rise. And that presents a real danger for some communities. So it's very important for those who live in communities that are low lying flood prone areas that you continue to listen to emergency broadcasts from the State Emergency Service, that you download the hazards near me app so you're completely aware of the latest emergency situation in your community."

The New South Wales State Emergency Service Commissioner, Carlene York, says there have been more than 150 flood rescues.

"We've had 152 across the state. 72 just being in the metropolitan area, So, again, very dangerous floodwaters, difficult to see at night, people need to make safe decisions to look after themselves and their family or other people in the car and not drive through those floodwaters."



The Australian government is expected to appoint a "special adviser" to ensure a thorough investigation into the Israeli air strike that killed seven aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.

The Israeli military has sacked two officers and reprimanded three others for their roles in the strike.

The Israeli Defence Forces say its drone operators had mistaken an aid worker for a gunman and targeted a World Central Kitchen vehicle with a missile.

It said two more missiles were launched after survivors from the first strike entered other vehicles.

The IDF says the officers had mishandled critical information and violated the army's rules of engagement.

It says the findings of the investigation will be referred to the military's advocate general who will decide if anyone should be prosecuted.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the US will review the findings and assess what steps Israel is taking to avoid a repeat.

"As Israel pursues any military operations against Hamas, it has to prioritise protection of civilians. It has to make that job number one. Too many people have been caught in this cross fire of Hamas' making-children, women, men losing their lives. Their safety has to be a priority and military operations need top be designed around their protection, not the other way around."



A state-run news agency in Russia is reporting that Ukrainian military drones have attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant but have not caused any damage to its critical infrastructure.

There hasn't been any public comment om the Russian allegations from Ukraine.

In the past, both sides in the two-year-old conflict have accused each other of shelling the plant, none of whose six reactors are operating.



Apple has laid off more than 600 workers in California, in company's first big wave of post-pandemic job cuts.

The iPhone maker has notified workers in multiple offices that they were losing their jobs effective from May 27, amid a broader wave of tech industry consolidation.

The company has been a notable exception as other tech companies slashed their workforces over the past two years.

It fellows was a massive surge in hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen big tech companies focused on cutting costs, with Amazon, Sony and Snap, the owner of Snapchat, announcing fresh rounds of layoffs in recent weeks.



In cycling,

Two-time defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard remains in hospital in Spain a day after breaking his collarbone and several ribs in a bad crash with other top riders during the Itzulia Basque Country race.

He also suffered a collapsed lung and pulmonary contusion.

Australian rider Jay Vine is also in hospital with fractured vertebrae and double world champ Remco Evenepoel needed surgery on a fractured collarbone and shoulder blade.

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