Brisbane news live: Billionaire’s super yacht docks ahead of Riverfire | Globemaster plane to fly low over city for Riverfire rehearsal; Liz Truss heading to Brisbane

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Billionaire’s super yacht docks ahead of Riverfire

By William Davis

A super yacht reportedly owned by mining magnate Clive Palmer has docked in a prime location ahead of this weekend’s Riverfire display.

The dark blue and white boat “Australia” was built in Italy and reportedly set the Queensland billionaire back about $40 million in 2021.

Tug boats helped tether the 56-metre vessel, which features a jacuzzi, two sundecks, and multiple bars, to a buoy between the Story Bridge and Kangaroo Bridge just after 10am on Monday.

It’s among the best locations in the city to view the Riverfire fireworks and jet display, which will start from 4.50pm on Saturday.

7.26am

While you were sleeping

Here’s what’s making news further afield this morning:

At least 15 people have died and 18 are injured after Lisbon’s Gloria funicular railway car, which is popular with tourists and is one of the city’s symbols, derailed and crashed on Wednesday evening local time.

Environment Minister Murray Watt has granted Glencore the greenlight to extend its Ulan thermal coal mine near Mudgee by two years to 2035 to access an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal. The decision has prompted criticism from climate groups.

The Coalition has secured its first political win in parliament since the election, forcing the government to support amendments that will fast-track the delivery of 20,000 aged care packages to older Australians in the next two months.

China’s Victory Day parade demonstrated an astonishing display of military hardware and innovation. Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute’s international security program, agreed that military planners in Washington, DC and Canberra would be unnerved, if not necessarily surprised, by the assets on show.

Eric Trump’s stake in a crypto company created this year is now worth about $US548 million ($838 million), in one of the most striking examples of how the first family is profiting from the digital-asset industry.

A horror serving day and an inspired Felix Auger-Aliassime have combined to cruel Alex de Minaur’s dream of reaching a maiden major semi-final at the US Open.

7.21am

Listen for the rumble in the sky: Riverfire flyover rehearsals today and tomorrow

By Nick Dent

You will hear them before you see them – Royal Australian Air Force planes will fly over Brisbane today in a rehearsal for Saturday’s Riverfire festivities.

Both a C-17 Globemaster and C-27 Spartan aircraft will fly over Victoria Bridge today at roughly 12.30pm, timed for a Brisbane Festival media call at the South Bank Cultural Forecourt.

Tomorrow, two EA-18G Growlers will take to the skies for their practice runs between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

Here’s a video of last year’s practice run:

The rehearsals are always a thrill for workers in Brisbane’s high-rise office towers, who get an up-close view of the huge transport planes and fighter jets.

The ADF flyovers are a popular curtain raiser for the Riverfire fireworks display, and the military planes are scheduled to appear from 4.50pm on Saturday, September 6.

Flyover rehearsal schedule

Thursday

C-17A Globemaster III at approximately 12pm - 12.30pm
C-27J Spartan at approximately 1pm - 1.30pm

Friday

2x EA-18G Growlers (2 individual rehearsal flights) at approximately 12.30pm - 1.30pm