Qantas And Security Staff Strike; Aussie Stars Offer To Fill Pre-Game Show

Good morning, this is your news today, streaming online now and YouTube and we begin in Sydney where major delays are expected at the city's airport with security staff walking off the job while some Qantas workers conduct their own industrial action. Live to Jack Hahn at Sydney Airport. Jack, good morning. And to you as well, Tom. What this means for passengers depends on who you ask. Qantas this morning insisting there'll be no disruptions to customers. Sydney Airport, a little less optimistic, saying there will be delays and disruptions while the union says there'll be chaos. There are two strikes slated for this morning. The first one, the biggest one, up to 400 airport security staff threatening to walk off the job between 7.30 and 9.30 at every single terminal here at the airport. Then a smaller strike is also planned among QantasLink workers and Qantas ground handlers. That strike also impacting ground services at a number of airports including Brisbane, Adelaide and in Perth. Only time will tell what disruptions this will incur on passengers, Tom. Alright Jack, thank you. In breaking news, we'll take you live shortly to New York City where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to address the media shortly. Our team is there and we'll bring that to you live as it happens. In the meantime, Lions star Lachie Neal has broken his silence as the club prepares a last-ditch effort to free the midfielder for Saturday's grand final. Live to Peter Feagan in Brisbane. Sylvia, very good morning to you. Yes, the Lions and Lachie Neal will face the AFL Appeals Tribunal at 4pm. As you mentioned, a last-ditch effort to free their star midfielder to play in this weekend's grand final. He's been given one week's suspension for striking Hawthorne's Jack Univant. He went to the airport yesterday with the team flying to Melbourne and made a very brief statement at the airport. Here he is. The club and myself have decided to appeal the tribunal's decision. Obviously very hopeful that that's successful, but regardless of the result, I will be here to support the boys and the club. Lions, Sylvia, the Lions saying very tight-lipped on what their defence will be. However, there are suggestions they will argue that the grading of the striking was far too high. Sylvia? No doubt they'll throw everything at it. Peter Feagan, thank you. At least 11 people have been killed in a mass shooting near the South African city of Durban. Three armed gunmen stormed a house party and opened fire on 14 people inside. South African police have now launched a nationwide manhunt. They allege the attack stems from a feud between rival gangs. Now to some breaking news out of the US. Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was found guilty of committing a sexual act against a former assistant in 2006. Following a retrial, Weinstein has maintained his innocence. Around 2,000 residents in the UK town of Falmouth have been allowed back into their homes after an unexploded World War II bomb was safely towed out to sea. Emergency crews discovered the device, weighing more than 100 kilograms, near the docks earlier this week. Guardships safely moved the bomb and they have now lifted the exclusion zones. The British Air Force jet has exploded in a fireball after crashing near homes and farms in Wales. Extraordinary footage. Live to Josh Bavis in London. Tom, the officials in Anglesey in North Wales are calling this a very serious near miss after this Hawk T2 training jet came crashing out of the sky, landing not far from homes, farms, a golf course and a caravan park. The footage captures the pilots ejecting safely before the aircraft enters a downward spiral and eventually exploding in that huge fireball. Thankfully, the pilots only received minor injuries and are receiving medical treatment and no one on the ground was injured. Tom? Josh, thank you. In just a matter of hours, China's Xi Jinping will touch down in Washington DC, set to be greeted in a lavish welcome by Donald Trump. Live now to Lauren Tomasi, who's there. Sylvia, this is such a rare red carpet rollout on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews for the Chinese leader. Donald Trump will be there greeting the plane when Xi Jinping touches down in the next couple of hours. The eyes of the world, certainly on Washington DC, as leaders from around the world gather in New York City. It's only been four months since the two leaders met in China and they have so much to get through. Trade, Taiwan, certainly AI. They will also be discussing the war in Iran. Today is really the prelude, tomorrow the main event. There will be that summit and a state dinner where both leaders will be joined by a number of tech bosses. A lot of pomp and padrontry, but the question is how productive will this summit of superpowers be? Sylvia? All eyes on it. Lauren, thank you. A driver has taken out a power pole and crashed into the front yard of a home in Sydney's southwest. Just before midnight, police began to pursue a Volkswagen Golf after it was spotted speeding in Bass Hill. Shortly after, the 19-year-old driver crashed through a brick fence and hit a car parked in the driveway. He was arrested at the scene. A worker has narrowly escaped injury after a tobacco store was firebombed in Melbourne's northeast. Police say a suspicious blaze broke out at a Watsonia business just after 7.30 last night. The employee managed to flee from a back room when the fire broke out. No arrests have been made. A growing number of Australians fear they will be forced to work forever. Research from Finder has revealed 17 per cent of employees believe they will never be able to afford retirement, while 12 per cent are planning on working part-time well into their senior years. The NRL is being inundated with offers from Aussie artists who want to step in and headline the grand final of the NRL live to Kalatuma. Good morning, Tom. Yes, there are certainly some big names that are wanting this gig. Shannon Knoll is keen. He took to social media yesterday and said, what about me? In Excess and Noiseworks frontman John Stevens also has his eye on this gig, as do plenty of other Aussie artists. Now this comes after Tones and I, well the talks of the NRL and her, well they collapsed. She says it's because she had prior commitments. NRL boss Peter Volandes says he's now been absolutely inundated with artists who are wanting to perform, including some acts from overseas. So the NRL is certainly not short of options, Tom. Definitely not. All right, Carla, thank you. Pubs in Victoria are set to get a boost, with new fast-tracked licenses allowing them to stay open until 3am. The State Government will unveil the plan today, which also includes cutting approval times for license changes by five weeks. The new system will also fast-track renovations and allow under-18 staff to clear tables. Okay, now to Tom's favourite subject, robots. And these ones have shown off their skills on a New York rooftop. Korean company Galaxy Corporation displayed its androids, which danced to a range of hits, including a classic Gangnam Style. Yeah, right, the corporation CEO also displayed a highly advanced humanoid. The inspiration behind the design? Himself. I mean, sometimes you say the robots haven't got us covered, but on the dancing front, they probably do. Oh no, I've seen humans more robotic than that on a dancefloor. But can the robots do the robot? I don't know about that humanoid, though. Speak for yourself. Stuff of nightmares. All right, come on, Gangnam, up you get. Gangnam? Come on, Gangnam. Gangnam? Is that what it's called? Psy? Wasn't it Psy who did the song? I think Tom calls it Psy. Oh, poor Tom. He's taken the Psy out of me. Leave him alone. Leave him alone. Leave him alone. We've been through a lot today. Yes, it's been a big week for poor Tommy. I've been a punching bag this week. It'll be my turn next week. Let's have a look at the weather, shall we? Maybe we do need a robot in here. Showers are expected along the Queensland coastlines. Meanwhile, a partly cloudy forecast for everyone waking up in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. You're doing great. You're still waking up. The other side of the country, it's shaving up to be a mostly sunny day in WA. Okay, I go over to you now. Thank you, Tom.