Damage to Melbourne defence manufacturer investigated as terrorism; a mass funeral in Gaza for 112 Palestinians; Mitch Marsh helps Leeds Sunrisers set a record score in The Hundred.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Attack on a Melbourne defence manufacturer attack investigated as terrorism
- A mass funeral held in in Gaza for 112 Palestinians
- Mitch Marsh helps Leeds Sunrisers set a record score in The Hundred
An arson attack on a Melbourne defence manufacturer is being investigated as an act of terrorism, with police examining whether far-left extremists were responsible.
Lovitt Technologies was allegedly targeted because it supplies parts for F-35 fighter jets and has links to Israel’s defence supply chain.
The attack involved vandalism and vehicles being set alight at the company’s Greensborough site in July last year.
Counter-terrorism expert Dr Josh Roose says the aim was to intimidate the wider industry and its workers.
"This is part of the broader Australian manufacturing industry , so the attempt here is to not only scare and frighten off this particular business - but others, in this case they said that they know the addresses of the workers so it's very serious and it's obviously not only damaging to broader manufacturing but the Australian economy."
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A mass funeral has been held in Gaza City for 112 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes almost three years ago.
The victims, including more than 40 children, were recovered from the ruins of a residential block in the Sabra neighbourhood.
Gaza’s civil defence agency says many more bodies remain trapped beneath the rubble.
Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti says hundreds of families have still been unable to bury their loved ones.
"It's a very painful moment, it's the largest funeral probably in the history of the Palestinian people, and the sad thing is that more than 200 other families from the same clans could not really say goodbye to their loved ones, because they are still under the rubble and could not be found."
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Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel have begun a new round of direct US-backed talks in Rome.
The discussions are aimed at implementing a framework agreed in June, including Hezbollah’s disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
The plan also calls for the Lebanese army to deploy across the region and restore government authority.
The US State Department says the talks are intended to lay the groundwork for a broader peace and security agreement.
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The federal government is moving to fix an unintended consequence of its negative gearing reforms, dubbed the ‘widow’s tax’.
Under the changes, people who inherited a jointly owned investment property from a spouse could have lost access to existing tax concessions.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says draft amendments will preserve eligibility in cases of inheritance or relationship breakdown.
Independent MP Allegra Spender says housing affordability means property taxes cannot be ignored.
"With this sort of tax reform I think you've got to take it slowly you know we did have to address some of the property taxes because honestly Sydney is the second most unaffordable housing in the world. We just can't keep on going on like this. So, we do need to address it but you've got to do it carefully, you've got to do it with consultation and I think the government hasn't done that well enough."
European Union interior ministers have met in Brussels to discuss border security following last week’s mass migrant crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
More than 70,000 people crossed from Morocco within hours, triggering a humanitarian emergency.
The crisis has reignited debate over the bloc’s migration policy.
European Commissioner Magnus Brunner says smuggling networks and social media disinformation helped drive the surge.
"Over 70,000 people, as you know, crossed in a matter of hours, fuelled by criminal smuggling networks and also disinformation; social media disinformation, the integrity of our external border was placed, of course, under severe strain."
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Part of a SpaceX rocket is expected to crash into the Moon, reigniting debate over space junk.
The upper section of a Falcon 9 rocket is due to hit the lunar surface at about 4:35 this afternoon Australian Eastern time.
Scientists say the collision could create a visible flash and provide valuable information about the moon’s surface.
But space law experts say it highlights the need for clearer international rules and warnings about debris near the moon.
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And now to sport.
Australian cricketer Mitch Marsh has helped English side Sunrisers Leeds post the highest team score in the history of The Hundred.
Marsh hit 76 from 37 balls in a record opening partnership with South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton at Headingley.
The pair put on 148 runs before Leeds finished on 241 from their 100 balls.
London Spirit made 204 in reply but fell well short.
