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TRANSCRIPT:
- A man in Western Australia charged with planning a terrorist act
- Pakistan's defence minister says his country is in an "open war" with Afghanistan
- The Matildas face goalkeeper trouble ahead of their Asian Cup opener
A 20-year-old man from Western Australia has been charged with planning an alleged "mass casualty" terrorist attack targeting public buildings and Muslim places of worship.
Jayson Joseph Michaels, from the town of Bindoon north of Perth, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday facing five charges.
Authorities began investigating his online activity before raiding a home in the Wheatbelt.
Authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the WA community.
Australian Federal Police superintendent Peter Hatch says it is alleged he was motivated by white supremacist ideology.
"It is alleged the man had written a manifesto-style document outlining plans for an ideologically motivated attack of violent extremism, involving mass casualties. It is further alleged the man detailed intentions to attack Muslim faith places of worship in WA; as well as WA police headquarters and Parliament House in WA."
**
Former US president Bill Clinton has denied wrongdoing at a Congressional panel on his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Clinton has several documented trips and interactions with Epstein when he was trying to set up his charitable work after he was president.
It was also before Epstein was under federal investigation for sex trafficking - and Mr Clinton says he regrets his association with him and never knew of his crimes at the time.
Mr Clinton is the first sitting or former president to testify before members of Congress in more than 40 years.
Democrat Suhas Subramanyam says hard questions will be asked during the closed-door session.
"We're going to ask President Clinton the hard questions today. We're going to get to the truth about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. But let's be real. We're talking to the wrong president today. President Trump is the one who released has ... not released 2.5 million files. President Trump is the one who is blocking our investigation. President Trump is the one who wants us to go away, but it will not go away. And so, yes, we will talk to President Clinton today. But moving forward, this needs to be not about party, but about getting to the truth and getting justice for the survivors."
Being mentioned in the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice does not imply wrongdoing, and Mr Clinton has not been accused of a crime or formally investigated.
**
The United Nations Human Rights Office has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to abide by international law.
The two neighbouring countries have traded attacks in a dramatic escalation of tensions that Pakistan’s defence minister says means they are now in "open war".
The latest violence follows months of clashes between the two neighbouring nations, despite the negotiation of a ceasefire in October.
The UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, is warning that escalating violence risks harming civilians and deepens an already fragile refugee crisis.
“As mentioned before, I call for de-escalation, for calm, for protection of civilians. If this continues, we would have great concern about the situation of civilians. And I would also be concerned whether this would exacerbate an already difficult refugee situation."
**
Israel’s Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a plan to shut down the Gaza operations of dozens of aid organisations.
The NGOs had petitioned the court in a dispute over new Israeli rules requiring them to name Palestinian staff.
Israel says the measures are needed to prevent militant infiltration, while aid agencies call them intrusive and warn they would disrupt life-saving assistance.
The decision comes as Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least five people in Gaza, despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began last October.
**
Nearly 50 years after the first Mardi Gras, Sydney is welcoming LGBTIQ+ communities and supporters once again.
Around 250,000 spectators are preparing to watch the Mardi Gras parade today, featuring 170 floats and 10,000 marchers.
Among them will be First Nations participant, Vivica.
"There's not many queer people in my hometown. There's not many people out. I wanted to represent and get out of my comfort zone."
**
To sport, and Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold is a doubt for the Asian Cup opener after limited time in training, raising the possibility of a third-choice goalkeeper starting.
Former Perth Glory keeper Morgan Aquino has been flown in as a train-on player amid concerns over Australia's goalkeeping depth.
If Arnold is unavailable, either Chloe Lincoln or Jada Whyman could be called on to start in goal.
The Matildas are also entering the tournament with confidence after reaching the 2023 World Cup semi-finals and building squad experience.
