Key Points
- “Devastated” NT police believe missing indigenous child’s remains found
- Christchurch mosque shooter to spend life behind bars after failed appeal
- Key funding to be pulled for LIV golf tournament
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
A warning this next story contains distressing material
Police say they have found what they believe is the body of missing 5-year-old child Sharon Granites.
Search teams have spent the past five days searching for her in the Northern Territory, after Sharon's family put her to bed late on Saturday night.
Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police Force Martin Dole says the body was found before midday.
"The body was found about five kilometres south of the crime scene at Old Timers camp (on the outskirts of Alice Springs). This is an incredibly distressing development. Sharon's family have been formally notified, and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time. I want to be clear from the outset, we are not in a position today to provide answers around the cause of Sharon's death - or how long she may have been deceased. A post-mortem examination will now be conducted now most likely tomorrow."
Listeners seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14; or call 13YARN on 13 92 76 to talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter.
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The Australian responsible for the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings that killed 51 will spend the rest of his life in prison after losing his appeal in New Zealand.
During a week-long Court of Appeal hearing in February, the 35-year-old had claimed he was forced to plead guilty to 92 charges, because he was irrational as a result of his prison conditions.
But in a unanimous decision released today, the Court of Appeal's justices have said they have ruled the appeal to be "utterly devoid of merit".
In a statement, lawyers acting for the survivors and families of victims have said they were pleased by the court's decision.
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Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla say their boats have been intercepted by Israeli military vessels in Greek waters west of Crete.
The Global Sumud Flotilla of more than 50 boats set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy, with the goal to deliver aid to Gaza.
Global Sumud Flotilla have said on social media that Israeli military boats surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence, while crew members say communications have been jammed and they have issued an emergency distress call.
Australian Peter Schofield says his son Zack is on board one of the boats - and he is concerned about his safety and that of the crew.
"The flotilla was apprehended miles away from the Israeli border. I think of this is like the good Samaritan being crash-tackled because he smiled. Obviously, very concerned about the safety of our son. But I equally recognise that there are many others in this flotilla - all of whom who need the attention of our government to ensure the safety of bringing them back."
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Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has declared the federal government is ready to act on key recommendations from the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
The report makes 14 recommendations, including increased security at Jewish events, a review of Australia’s intelligence systems and nationally consistent gun laws.
It also calls for consideration of a full-time Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator.
"This is one of the recommendations which is why we say that we're adopting everything to the extent of the commonwealth, which means that we are ready and able to undertake the review that's been recommended. Those joint teams for each of the states; and obviously both governments have to be able to agree and from a Commonwealth perspective we're ready to go."
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Australia’s largest supermarket chain, Woolworths, has announced it will freeze prices on 300 items for three months.
CEO Amanda Bardwell says the measure is part of efforts to provide more price certainty as the Middle East conflict, interest rates and fuel prices add to household pressures.
She says the company will absorb any extra costs that are agreed with suppliers on the affected products.
The price freeze will cover a range of products from May 1, covering hot roast chicken, milk, bread and toilet paper.
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Anglicare Australia says rental affordability has crashed to record lows.
Its latest Rental Affordability Snapshot surveyed around 49-thousand listings across the country, finding just one rental nationwide was affordable for a person on JobSeeker, and none for someone on Youth Allowance.
Single pensioners could afford about one in every 500 rentals, while a single person working full-time on the minimum wage could afford fewer than one in every 200.
Chief executive Kasy Chambers says housing must be treated as a basic right.
"It's time to think about housing in terms as a human right; a foundation for our lives - from where people go to work, from where people can send their children to school, from where they can manage their health, and where they can feel safe and secure and have somewhere to come home to."
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And to sport, LIV Golf is reportedly planning to tell players and staff this week that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will stop funding the circuit after this season.
The Wall Street Journal says organizers will inform players and staff by today, citing people familiar with the matter.
Launched in 2022, the LIV circuit disrupted professional golf by signing several top players to lucrative contracts, including major winners Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.
Tournaments have proven extremely popular with golf fans around the world, with the LIV tournament in Adelaide being a massive drawcard for the South Australian capital.
