Thursday bulletin

11 Apr 2013

South Korea upgrades alert status to vital threat as North Korea prepares to test missiles. Meanwhile, in the US, four firefighters are being held hostage.

Alert status raised in South Korea

South Korea has raised its alert status to vital threat as North Korea is expected to undertake a missile test. Speculation is that a launch will coincide with birthday celebrations for founder of North Korea, the late Kim Il-Sung, on 15 April. A launch may also coincide with visits by John Kerry, US Secretary of State and NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen. ABC News has the details.

New-look ANZAC Day planned

The dawn service at the Australian War Memorial will feature the names and images of famous battles projected on the front of the monument, while VC winner Ben Roberts-Smith recounts events from Afghanistan. The change comes among complaints that many people who attended the service, particularly children, could not see what was going on. Memorial director Brendan Nelson says the service will also be displayed on big screens. Sky News has more.

High-speed rail report to be released today

A report to be released today will reportedly show that a high-speed rail link along Australia’s east coast would cost $114 billion and approximately 40 years to build. The rail link would connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne with the journey between Canberra and Sydney taking just one hour. Read more.

Casino bouncers abused their power

The Victorian Supreme Court has heard that three bouncers from Crown Casino abused their positions of power in 2011, when they abused two patrons after throwing their friend out of the Casino for being drunk. Three security officers are on trial for assault, recklessly causing injury, intentionally causing injury and false imprisonment. Seven News has the full story.

Firefighters held hostage in the United States

Four firefighters are being held hostage in Georgia, USA by a gunman demanding cable TV, internet and mobile phone services. Information on a possible motive is not yet known, however the gunman allegedly claimed to be suffering a heart attack to lure the firefighters to the scene. Read more.

Costa Concordia operator fined

The biggest cruise operator in Europe, Costa Crociere, has been fined for the Costa Concordia disaster which killed 32 people. The operator accepted limited responsibility for the disaster and a court has ruled the company will need to pay one million Euros. News.com.au has more.

Happy dance for lottery winner

A 51-year-old grandmother in Toronto, Canada has broken out the happy dance after discovering that she had won $40 million in the lottery. Maria Carreiro said she will share the money with her three children and five grandchildren, and go on a delayed honeymoon with her husband. Read the full story and watch the happy dance below.