The PM announces further support funding for flooded North Queensland; St Vincent's Health hit by cyber attack, with data stolen; And in sport, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja defends his decision to wear a black armband during the first Test in Perth.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The PM announces further support funding for flooded North Queensland;
- St Vincent's Health hit by cyber attack, with data stolen;
- And in sport, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja defends his decision to wear a black armband during the first Test in Perth.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced $64 million in support for flooded North Queensland, following record rainfall and flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
It comes as the PM visits affected residents in Cairns, urging Australians not to cancel their holiday bookings to the region.
Twenty-five million dollars in support is being made available for primary producers and a further $25 million has also been pledged for small business and not-for-profit organisations.
Another $9 million will also be given to eligible councils to assist with additional clean-up costs, while a further $5 million will support tourism operators.
Around 35 communities are still isolated with Kowanyama in the remote Cape York bracing for major flooding over the weekend.
Mr Albanese says it's vital the region is helped out of a devastating period.
"We need to make sure that, as the floodwaters recede, the visits to this beautiful part of Australia don't recede with them. We want people to come here in increasing numbers, not reduced numbers, in order to provide support as this community recovers. This is an amazing community in such an extraordinary part of Australia."
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Australia's largest not-for-profit health and aged care provider, St Vincent's Health says it has been the victim of a cyber attack.
In a statement, St Vincent's says it discovered that hackers had infiltrated its system late on Thursday who have stolen data from its network.
It says an urgent investigation has begun - and it is not yet clear what data has been removed.
The provider says the incident has not affected the ability of St Vincent's to deliver usual services across its hospital, aged care, and virtual and home health networks.
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A day of mourning has been declared across the Czech Republic after the country's worst mass shooting.
A 24-year-old Czech student shot dead his father then killed at least 14 people and wounded 25 others at his Prague university before possibly shooting himself.
The country's Prime Minister Petr Fiala says the motive is still being determined but it is not being treated as "an act of international terrorism".
Mr Fiala says there is no justification for the horrific attack.
"Let me express my deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of all the victims. None of us can fully imagine the depth of grief and pain they are now experiencing. Many lives, mostly of young people, have been needlessly lost. Many of them are injured, some unfortunately very seriously."
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Former NRL star foward Carl Webb has died aged 42, after a four-year-battle with motor neurone disease.
Webb spent more than a decade in the top grade, playing for the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and the Parramatta Eels.
The powerful enforcer also represented the Queensland Maroons 12 times, scoring a try on debut in a famous 2001 series.
He also played one game for Australia and two games for the Indigenous All Stars - before his retirement in 2011.
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Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has defended his decision to wear a black armband during the first Test against Pakistan in Perth, after being charged by the International Cricket Council.
The ICC says Khawaja didn't seek prior approval to wear the armband - deeming it a "personal message" which is against the rules.
Khawaja has been working with the ICC and Cricket Australia about how to appropriately show his support for those suffering during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East - after being stopped from wearing shoes brandishing supportive messages in Perth.
The opener says he will contest the decision, suggesting he wore the armband for "personal bereavement" rather than as a political statement.
"I don't have any hidden agendas. If anything, you know, if anything this brings out more negativity towards me - people come and start attacking me. I don't get anything out of this. I just feel like it's my responsibility to speak up on this."
