TRANSCRIPT
- Two dead and more than 60 injured in a Christmas market car ramming attack in Germany
- Travel chaos in Sydney ahead of the holidays
- Alyssa Healy returns as Australia bat first against New Zealand
German police have arrested a Saudi man after a deadly car ramming attack on a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg, about 130 kilometres southwest of Berlin.
The Magdeburg city administration says at least two people, including one child were killed, and 68 injured when the black B-M-W barrelled 400 metres through a crowd of revellers.
Regional premier Reiner Haseloff says the driver is currently being questioned.
"We have caught the perpetrator. He is a doctor from Saudi Arabia who has been working here in Saxony-Anhalt and has been in Germany since 2006. We are currently in the process of collating all further data and also carrying out the interrogation. As things stand at the moment, it's a lone offender, so there's no further danger to the city at the moment because we were able to arrest him and all investigations are now underway."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to travel to the city on Saturday.
This attack comes one day after the eight-year commemoration of the 19th of December 2016 truck ramming terror attack at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market in Berlin.
**
Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke says the government has agreed in principle to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, over a decade after its disappearance.
The Boeing 777, carrying 239 people, including six Australians and a New Zealand resident, vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on the 8th of March 2014.
Mr Loke says exploration firm Ocean Infinity proposed searching a new area in the southern Indian Ocean.
The company, which led the last search ending in 2018, would receive $112 million only if substantive wreckage is found.
**
A bus driver has died, and 13 passengers have been injured after a crash on the Hume Highway near Kyeamba, 50 kilometres south of Wagga Wagga, early this morning.
Officers attached to Riverina and Murray River police districts arrived to find a bus and a truck, both travelling north, had collided.
The bus driver died at the scene, while none of the passenger's injuries were life-threatening.
The truck driver was uninjured and taken to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital for mandatory testing.
Police are seeking information or dashcam footage and urge motorists to avoid the area as all northbound lanes of the Hume Highway remain closed.
**
Festive season rail services are being disrupted by industrial action and planned track work.
It comes as the New South Wales Police Commissioner warns she may recommend Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks be cancelled over safety concerns.
Transport for New South Wales warns the rail network will face chaos today, the last shopping weekend before Christmas, with limited trains and bus replacements hindered by staff shortages.
The New South Wales government and rail operators are awaiting a Fair Work Commission decision on Christmas Eve, hoping to suspend the industrial action.
Meanwhile, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union remains confident the commission will side with them, dismissing concerns over fireworks cancellations as a government ploy to strengthen what it calls its weak case.
State Premier Chris Minns says he will follow police advice on whether New Year's Eve fireworks will go on or not.
"The stakes are high. I understand that there's significant inconvenience for New South Wales commuters, for families. That's why we're in court. We're going to make those arguments. We've got a few steps to take before a decision has been made. But as I said, we we would, of course, take the advice of the New South Wales police and the police commissioner, can't be in a situation where millions of families, or 1.5 million people, usually gather on the on the harbour forecourt in on New Year's Eve, where they're stranded and can't get home."
**
And in cricket,
Captain Alyssa Healy returned from a knee injury but lost the toss, with Australia batting first in the second women's O-D-I against New Zealand in Wellington.
Darcie Brown was recalled to replace injured spinner Sophie Molineux, while Healy’s inclusion saw Georgia Voll left out despite her impressive debut series against India earlier this month.
Australia's bowling attack includes Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, and Brown, all playing together for the first time this series.
Rain had delayed Healy’s comeback after washing out the series opener.
