Calls at home and abroad for the US to stop military action against Iran; Origin Energy confirms data breach as it probes how many are affected; the Commonwealth Games are officially underway in Scotland.
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TRANSCRIPT
- · Calls at home and abroad for the US to stop military action against Iran
- · Origin Energy confirms data breach as it probes how many are affected
- · The Commonwealth Games officially underway in Scotland
The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution directing President Donald Trump to halt military action against Iran unless Congress authorises it.
The measure passed 214 to 208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support.
But hours later, the Senate blocked a similar resolution.
The votes reflect growing concern in Congress over a conflict that has continued for almost five months, despite the Trump administration initially presenting it as a limited military operation.
The United Nations is mounting similar calls for an urgent return to diplomacy between the US and Iran, warning the conflict is making the entire world less safe.
There have been 12 consecutive nights of US strikes on Iranian military targets.
Spokesman for the UN secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, says the renewed exchanges of attacks after the signing of a memorandum of understanding is impacting global energy prices and trade.
He says the territorial integrity of every country in the region needs to be respected.
"It is making us less safe, in a sense, because there's a risk of even greater conflict, right? And it is making the world less safe in terms of the impact it has on energy prices, trade and everything else."
The White House says President Donald Trump wants Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel before a civilian nuclear agreement can go ahead.
The administration says the proposed deal is conditional on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords, a series of US-brokered normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab states negotiated during Mr Trump's first administration.
Saudi Arabia has previously said it will not normalise relations with Israel without a pathway to Palestinian statehood.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the condition is central to the president's plan.
"He wants to see these countries sign the Abraham Accords. It was one of the most historic accomplishments of his first term... Yes, this deal with Saudi Arabia, the energy deal, is contingent on this condition as far as the president is concerned."
The proposed nuclear agreement would still need approval from the US Congress before it could take effect.
Origin Energy has confirmed a customer data breach but says it's still working to understand how many people have been impacted.
The company says it will contact any customers where it confirms they've been affected.
The data may include a name, address, date of birth, contact phone number and account information, as well as the last four digits of a credit card, or the last four digits of a bank account.
A spokesperson says incomplete credit card or bank account information can not be used to make purchases or access accounts.
Origin CEO Frank Calabria has apologised for the breach and any impact on customers.
He says the company is working to secure its systems and ensure no further unauthorised access.
The association representing speech pathologists is welcoming a federal government announcement expanding paid prac, saying it will help the workforce to address a talent shortage.
Ten new fields are being added to the paid prac scheme, and will be able to receive $340 a week when undertaking a mandatory placement as part of course requirements.
Chief Executive of Speech Pathology Australia, Lyn Brodie, tells SBS News the move will help address placement poverty, where students suffer food insecurity and income loss as a result of completing mandatory placements.
"We have done a lot of work advocating, I think we will have a lot of happy students, there are something like 7000 speech pathology students at the moment, and I'm sure they are absolutely thrilled with now being in a situation potentially being covered when they do their mandatory placements, it's a better choice than do I do my placement or do I pay my rent."
The Commonwealth Games are officially underway in Glasgow after King Charles declared the Games open at the Opening Ceremony, attended by Queen Camilla.
More than 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories will compete over the next 11 days for 215 gold medals across 10 sports, in a streamlined edition of the Games.
The King officially opened the Games by reading a message he placed inside the King's Baton when he launched the Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace in March last year.
The relay, which lasted 500 days and travelled through all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, was the longest King's Baton Relay in Commonwealth Games history.
