TRANSCRIPT
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australians in Iran and Israel are safe, including both diplomats and military personnel.
Iran and Israel have targeted each other with airstrikes early on Saturday after Israel launched its biggest-ever offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Mr Marles is calling on both Israel and Iran to show restraint, while also urging Australians in the region to monitor the smart traveller website.
"For Australians who are in the region, our advice is to seek shelter in place to monitor the Smarttraveller website, and if necessary, to contact the emergency consular centre."
In a statement, the Opposition leader Sussan Ley says the target of Israeli population centres by the Iranian regime is deeply concerning. She says while the Coalition continues to urge caution, Israel has the right to defend itself.
Israel and Iran have launched fresh waves of attacks on each other, leading to dozens injured on both sides.
Israeli authorities say two people were killed after an Iranian missile strike that hit homes south of Tel Aviv.
The violence has sparked concern from the international community, with global leaders calling for all sides to whow restraint.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urges Israel and Iran to engage in dialogue.
Over 40 people have been arrested by the Los Angeles Police since Thursday night following days of mass protests against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the city.
Around 500 arrests have been made since the mass protests erupted last Saturday.
The Trump administration has imposed a curfew and also deployed National Guard troops and 200 Marines to contain the protests.
Asslemblyman Mark Gonzalez condemns Mr Trump's involvement with the protests.
"We didn't need federal troops. We don't need marines. We need leadership that respects the Constitution. Trump claimed victory before the National Guard even hit the ground. That wasn't leadership. That's propaganda. And now he militarizes our streets. He unleashes ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to violate due process and tears families apart. Our National Guard took a note to the Constitution, not to one man's agenda."
Agriculture Victoria says the latest avian influenza outbreak across the state's north-east has ended.
The state detected the H7N8 bird flu strain in four commercial properties near Euroa in Febraury, resulting in hundreds of birds being euthanised.
Restrictions on the movement of birds, bird products and poultry equipment continue around the region.
Victoria's acting chief veterinary officer Sally Salmon has thanked the poultry industry and local farmers for their help in eradicating the outbreak.
The Opposition treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor says it's a top priority for Australia to have a sit down meeting with US President Donald Trump over the AUKUS review.
The US has announced a review into the $368 billion nuclear submarine project this week, after the federal government said it won't increase its defence funding to 3.5 per cent of GDP as the U-S requested.
Mr Taylor says Australia's alliance to the U-S is essential, urging the Labor government to make sure AUKUS will be proceeded as planned.
"We call on the government to make sure they engage with the United States to ensure AUKUS is successful in the future. We also think it's enormously important that the Prime Minister sit down with the president of the United States, talk with him face to face, build that relationship, and strengthen the alliance that is a top priority for this country and we need to see it happen as quickly as possible, secure that meeting immediately."
Two men have been jailed in the U-K for stealing a $9 million solid-gold toilet in a historic English property.
The 18-carat toilet is an artwork called America.
It was stolen from an exhibition at Blenheim Palace in 2019.
The two men were sentenced for four years and 27 months respectively.
The gold hasn't been recovered, and prosecutors suspected it had been melted down and sold after the theft.
Now in sport....
Panthers winger Brian To'o is confirmed to play for New South Wales in State of Origin II, after going through a Blues' training session in Sydney on Saturday [[June 14]].
To'o's sore left hamestring once sparked concerns over his capacity to join the Blues and compete against the Maroons in the next game.
But now the four-time premiership-winning winger is cleared to join the next game, which will be held on the coming Wednesday in Perth.
