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RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today

A HUGE wolffish has shocked Japanese fisherman and pictures of the unwieldy beast have prompted questions about the effects of the Fukushima disaster.

NICK WHIGHAM and WIRES
10 min read
September 17, 2015 - 5:32AM

Good morning, and welcome to our morning news coverage. We will be bringing you the best of what’s happening this morning, so you can get across the news quickly.

10am:

That’s it for this morning’s #RUSHHOUR blog. Stay up to date with the rest of today’s headlines at news.com.au.

9:45am:

Chile’s coastline has been evacuated due to a tsunami threat following a monster 8.3 magnitude earthquake.

The quake was felt as far away as Buenos Aires, in Argentina, about 1,400 kilometres away, while a tsunami warning is in place for the whole of Chile’s coastline.

Terrified residents in Santiago poured onto the streets as buildings swayed and shook, according to local reports. But as of yet, there has been no reports of any deaths or significant injuries.

Chile has been rocked by an huge earthquake.
Chile has been rocked by an huge earthquake.

This morning’s scary event comes just years after a magnitude 8.8 quake and ensuing tsunami hit central Chile in 2010. The Tsunami killed more than 500 people, destroyed 220,000 homes, and washed away docks, riverfronts and seaside resorts. That quake released so much energy, it actually it shortened the Earth’s day by a fraction of a second by changing the planet’s rotation.

-With AFP

9:30am:

The funeral for murdered Gold Coast woman Tara Brown will be held at Southport this morning. Ms Brown, 24, died from injuries she sustained last week during an alleged assault on a suburban street in Molendinar.

The young mother of one’s death has shocked the Gold Coast and created an outcry for more to be done to tackle domestic violence. Police allege Ms Brown was attacked by former partner Lionel Patea after being run off the road.

Patea is then alleged to have beaten Ms Brown in the face with a cast iron fire hydrant cover as she lay trapped in her overturned car.

-AAP

9:20am:

A Canadian pilot diverted an international flight to make sure a puppy passenger didn't have to endure some chilly conditions.

A French bulldog, named Simba, was on Air Canada flight from Tel Aviv to Toronto when the captain realised the heating system was malfunctioning below the aircraft meaning the dog could be left in minus 50 or 60 degree temperatures as the plane was about to cross over the Atlantic.

“It’s my dog, it’s like my child. It’s everything to me,” Simba’s owner, German Kontorovich, said after the dog arrived at Pearson Airport on another flight.

The airline incurred about $14,000 in extra fuel costs for the diversion, which delayed the flight by about 75 minutes.

“The captain is responsible for all lives on board — whether it’s human or canine,” airline spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick told CNN.

9:10am:

A South Australian man has been shot dead by police in a shootout in the Murray Mallee.

Police say the man shot at officers who returned fire just before midnight, fatally wounding the 50-year-old. Officers attempted CPR, but he died at the scene.

The man is alleged to have shot at police for several hours after officers attended his Elwomple Rd home, near Tailem Bend, just before 7pm.

Police were called to the home over concerns about the man’s welfare.

“We attended his home and it all escalated from there, ”Senior Constable Rebecca Stokes said.

Read more at the Adelaide Advertiser.

9am:

An Afghan refugee who had his visa cancelled due to child pornography convictions and set himself alight at a West Australian immigration detention centre has died in hospital.

The man, who had his permanent protection visa cancelled in May last year, died last night at Perth’s Fiona Stanley Hospital, West Australian police said this morning.

He had been a detainee at the Yongah Hill detention centre near Northam. A WA Police investigation into the man’s burn injuries is continuing.

-AAP

8:45am:

So it turns out it was a prank call. Yesterday Elton John and the Russian President were espousing conflicting accounts about an alleged phone call between to two.

The British star on Tuesday posted a message on Instagram, thanking Putin for calling him to discuss gay rights in Russia and inviting him to Moscow. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the reports, saying that Putin never called the singer.

Sir Elton John.
Sir Elton John.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir “Vovan” Krasnov and Alexei “Lexus” Stolyarov told Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda that they had fooled John by calling him on Tuesday and pretending they were Peskov and Putin. The two men, known for prank-calling Russian and Ukrainian celebrities for television shows, said the audio of the call would be broadcast on a prime-time show later this afternoon, Australian time.

-With AP

8:30am:

With Malcolm Turnbull in the top job, calls for an Australian republic are beginning to grow ever louder.

Unlike Abbott’s unflinching fondness for the British monarchy and Australia’s colonial lineage, Turnbull is well known to support the push for the country to become a republic, and he’s been joined by Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd who have exchanged tweets in support of the cause.

Julia Gillard tweeted “Proud to stand w/ @Peter_Fitz & his call for new members to join the Republican cause.”

Kevin Rudd responded: “Much I disagree on with Julia Gillard. But not this. Time to join @AusRepublic.”

8:15am:

Weeks ago, news.com.au published a story on the fight to save the life of an Oklahoma death row prisoner named Richard Glossip. Hollywood stars, the daughter of the man who admitted to carrying out the crime and countless others believe he is innocent.

Despite their tireless efforts to gain clemency, he was set to be executed overnight.

But after he’d been served his final meal, an appeals court halted the execution with just two hours to spare.

They said they had uncovered new evidence, including a fellow inmate’s claim that he overheard another man convicted in the case admit he acted alone. The news led to jubilant scenes among supporters outside the prison.

Kathleen Lord and Don Knight, two of Richard Glossips' attorneys, and Sister Helen Prejean, a death penalty opponent, embrace outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
Kathleen Lord and Don Knight, two of Richard Glossips' attorneys, and Sister Helen Prejean, a death penalty opponent, embrace outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

Richard Glossip was twice convicted of ordering the 1997 killing of Barry Van Treese, who owned the Oklahoma City motel where Glossip worked. Motel handyman Justin Sneed admitted robbing and beating Van Treese with a baseball bat, but said he did so only after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000.

Read more here.

8am:

The World Wildlife Foundation has painted a very bleak picture of the decline of the planet’s marine species.

Marine populations have declined 49 per cent in the past four decades according to the report released by the WWF and Zoological Society of London.

The extraordinary loss has occurred between 1970 to 2012 with some fish species found to have declined by almost 75 per cent.

The authors of the report say the disheartening findings are a result of the impact of climate change, as well as habitat loss, overexploitation and pollution.

“In less than a human generation, we can see dramatic losses in ocean wildlife — they have declined by half — and their habitats have been degraded and destroyed,” said Mr Brad Ack, senior vice president for oceans at WWF.

7:50am:

British late night host James Corden has scored some major brownie points with his wife.

The TV personality had iconic soul singer Stevie Wonder on his show and during a segment in which the pair were driving around, Corden got the singer to call his wife and give her a special rendition of I Just Called to Say I Love You.

The effort was so good it brought the show’s host to tears.

You can watch the moment below as the magic starts around the four minute mark.

7:30am:

Malcolm Turnbull has been urged to provide “boring, competent, predictable government” while he settles into the prime minister role.

Mr Turnbull on Wednesday signed a deal with NSW and Victoria to fund the national disability insurance scheme and introduced laws on the China free trade deal and multinational tax avoidance. He’s also working on a new frontbench line-up, with new ministers set to be sworn in on Monday.

Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos said regaining the trust of voters was a key job for Mr Turnbull in the wake of Tony Abbott’s ousting.

He’s expected to return to the ministry under the new leader he strongly backed.

“What we want is boring, competent predictable government,” Senator Sinodinos told Sky News.

He expects Mr Turnbull will soon turn his attention to tax reform, including superannuation and the GST, to come up with a coherent package to take to the next election.

-AAP

7:20am:

Police conducting a raid at a suspected drug dealer’s home south of Boston made an unusual discovery — a stolen 2004 Red Sox World Series ring.

The Red Sox broke an 86-year World Series championship drought in 2004 and the ring would be considered priceless by most Bostonians.

Police had been watching the home for several months before deciding to swoop this week.

Captain John Dougan said they found a “significant” number of oxycodone pills, money-counting machines, police scanners, $9,000 in cash and the cherished ring which they believe belongs to a team employee, not one of the players on the 2004 roster.

-With AP

7:05am:

A ginormous wolffish has shocked the Japanese fisherman who reeled in the unwieldy beast off the island of Hokkaido, near eastern Russia.

The sea creature was caught over a week ago and pictures of the scary-looking fish have been terrifying internet users when they became widely shared this week.

Wolffish typically only grow up to 112cm and weigh 15kg, according to the Daily Star, but the one pictured in the recent catch is thought to be over two metres long as the fisherman struggles to hold it up.

The huge catch has prompted questions over the effects of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster on marine live in the area.

Man catches giant wolffish off the island of Hokkaido – near eastern Russia. Picture: @Hirahiroro
Man catches giant wolffish off the island of Hokkaido – near eastern Russia. Picture: @Hirahiroro

6:50am:

Victoria police are appealing for witnesses after a road rage incident last night which resulted in the driver of a Land Rover ramming a car not once, twice but three times.

Investigators have been told that the Land Rover allegedly cut off the driver of a blue Subaru Wagon and an argument ensued when the pair pulled up at the next set of lights.

Police believe the victim drove off from the lights when the driver of the Land Rover intentionally rammed the victim’s car three times.

The Land Rover ended up stranded on the centre median strip of Springvale Road before the driver fled the scene.

Police are urging those who witnessed the incident to come forward.

The Land Rover may have come off second best.
The Land Rover may have come off second best.

6:40am:

If Australia’s free trade deal with China should falter it would benefit New Zealand, the country’s prime minister says.

The new government under Malcolm Turnbull has fast-tracked legislation for the agreement, trying to pressure Labor - which has concerns it will cost Australian jobs - to lock in the deal. But New Zealand’s John Key told the Australian Financial Review this morning the benefits of its deal with China have been 11 times greater than the most optimistic estimates and the country would be “quite happy” if Australia’s failed.

-AAP

6:30am:

A young teenager in the US has received an invitation for dinner at the White House, a job offer from Facebook and become the number one trending topic on Twitter overnight after he was mistakenly arrested for bringing a bomb to school.

Ahmed Mohamed, 14, made a clock and took it to his Texas high school, but when a teacher mistook the device for a bomb, he was handcuffed and interrogated by five police.

His arrest sparked a national outcry that has reached all the way to President Barrack Obama.

Ahmed, described by the Washington Post as “a self-assured kid with thick-framed glasses and a serious expression” had only started at the school a few weeks prior to his arrest this week.

But thankfully, sanity prevailed and no charges were laid.

“The follow-up investigation revealed the device apparently was a homemade experiment, and there’s no evidence to support the perception he intended to create alarm,” police said.

The hashtag #IStandWithAhmed has since been trending worldwide with twitter users showing support for the young man with some questioning the role that racial profiling played in the response by police.

Mark Zuckerberg has shown his support for the teenager.
Mark Zuckerberg has shown his support for the teenager.

6:20am:

Dozens of migrants on Wednesday braved tear gas, riot police and water cannon to briefly break through Serbia’s border with Hungary in several hours of clashes at the flashpoint Roszke crossing.

The disturbances began midafternoon after several hundred migrants frustrated at Hungary’s closure of its frontier this week — previously a major entry point into the EU — began shouting slogans.

A migrant picks up shoes, at the border crossing into the Hungary, near Horgos, Serbia.
A migrant picks up shoes, at the border crossing into the Hungary, near Horgos, Serbia.

The situation escalated and clashes raged for over four hours, with black-helmeted riot police firing tear gas and water cannon as migrants threw stones, sticks and plastic bottles.

Fourteen police were injured, authorities said.

The Hungarian authorities even brought up several “Humvee” military vehicles mounted with guns and stationed them 100-200 metres back from the border.

Several dozen of the migrants managed to pull down wire meshing across two access routes to Hungarian territory, with police in body armour retreating some 50 metres (yards) then firing more teargas.

-AFP

6:10am:

American comedian Steve Rannazzisi has admitted he lied about escaping the World Trade Centre attacks on September 11, 2001.

Stephen Rannazzisi, on the far right with cast members of The League, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, Mark Duplass, Nick Kroll.
Stephen Rannazzisi, on the far right with cast members of The League, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, Mark Duplass, Nick Kroll.

While appearing on WTF with Marc Maron in 2009, the 37-year-old recounted a tale in which he worked as an account manager at Merrill Lynch’s offices on the 54th floor of the south tower.

“I was there and then the first tower got hit and we were like jostled all over the place,” Rannazzisi, who stars as Kevin on US TV show The League, said at the time.

“And then the Port Authority came on the loudspeaker and were like, ‘Hey, explosion in tower one, things are being taken care of, everyone remain where you are. Stay calm, we’re figuring things out,’”

“I was like, ‘Well I’m gonna go check this thing out.’ I went downstairs, walked outside, saw all the pandemonium. And then about five or six minutes later, bang!” he continued.

But The New York Times reported on Wednesday that after being confronted with evidence that undermined his account, Rannazzisi admitted it was fictitious.

6am:

Malcolm Turnbull’s rise to prime minister has already given the Liberals a poll bounce of nearly three percentage points.

The first poll since Mr Turnbull’s party room defeat of Tony Abbott on Monday night shows the government and opposition now 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis.

A fortnight earlier, Labor was comfortably ahead 53-47 per cent.

The Liberal Party has enjoyed a bump in the polls with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the helm.
The Liberal Party has enjoyed a bump in the polls with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the helm.

The ReachTEL poll of 3278 people across Australia, conducted on Wednesday night for the Seven Network, shows primary support for the Liberal Party at 39.3 per cent, up 2.8 points in just over a fortnight.

Labor’s support dropped 1.6 point.

Mr Turnbull comfortably leads Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister — 61.9 per cent to 38.1 per cent.

At the last poll on August 28, Mr Shorten comfortably led Mr Abbott 57.9 to 42.1 per cent.

The verdict on Mr Abbott’s performance hasn’t changed much.

The latest poll shows just 14.4 per cent rate his performance as very good, the same as on August 28, while 36.5 per cent rate his performance as very poor, a one point improvement.

-AAP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/rush-hour/rush-hour-the-stories-you-need-to-know-today/news-story/3109defdb47f729274dd74ad695cc0b7