TRANSCRIPT:
- Police investigating the alleged assault of a Queensland Labor MP;
- More wild weather on the way for an already saturated New South Wales;
- Daniel Riccardio records his best qualifying result for the year ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
Forensic tests are being carried out on three bodies found in Mexico, near to where two Australian brothers and their American friend were reported missing.
The prosecutor's office for the state of Baja California says the testing is being conducted by a state laboratory which will allow for positive identification of the bodies.
Callum and Jake Robinson, as well Carter Rhoad, were last seen on April 27 on a surfing trip near the popular tourist town of Ensenada, about 90 minutes south of the U-S-Mexico border.
Local surf instructor, Miguel Arroyo, says everyone is concerned about what might have happened to them.
“I feel upset, fed up and sad at the same time for no longer being able to have these beautiful places because you don’t feel safe. I have a family and part of what I like to do is take my children to these places, to camp, to have a good time, to fish."
.
Queensland Police have confirmed an investigation is underway into allegations that a Labor MP was attacked on a recent night out.
Assistant Health Minister Brittany Lauga posted on social media that she went to the police and the hospital the morning after allegedly being drugged and sexually assaulted on a Saturday evening in Yeppoon, a town in her electorate in central Queensland.
Ms Lauga has been reportedly contacted by other women who alleged they were also drugged on the same Saturday evening.
.
Authorities have called off a week long search for a man missing in Western Australia's far north.
Superintendent Steve Thompson says police had found footprints and an item of clothing believed to belong to 21 year old Zane Stevens, who was last seen travelling with another man when their car became bogged in marshland at Coconut Wells, north of Broome, on April 26.
But he says until further information comes to light, they cannot do anything more.
.
A severe weather warning is in place for New South Wales after a week of rain, as authorities predict more intense downpours over the weekend.
The heaviest falls are expected to hit the Illawarra, Hunter, Central Coast and Greater Sydney from Saturday evening into Sunday.
Some areas could get up to 100mm while other areas will have between 30mm and 50mm.
Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines has told Channel Nine the rainfall could lead to flooding as the east coast is already saturated after a dumping in April.
"We've got a big high pressure area south of Tasmania, which had just been feeding showers onto the east coast of the country all up that New South Wales coast all week. That's why we've had that spotty off and on again, rainfall all through the week so far, but that's going to get amplified and enhanced by a disturbance in the upper atmosphere, which is going to turn that spotty showery weather into more widespread and persistent rainy weather on Saturday night, overnight tonight, and on Sunday as well."
.
Four culturally significant artefacts have been returned to their traditional owners in South Australia almost two centuries after they were given to German missionaries in the 1840s.
The sword, club, spear and net were taken back to Europe before ending up in the Grassi Museum in Leipzig.
They have now been returned to the Kaurna people on country in North Adelaide.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney has praised the German government for facilitating the repatriation.
"I thank very, very much the German government in the support and facilitating this significant return. And I acknowledge the proactive nature of the German government in that return. And I think the repatriation for cultural items and our ancestors, many of them stolen under dreadful circumstances, means so much to our people."
.
China has launched an unmanned space shuttle towards the moon, aiming to land the vessel on the far side of the lunar surface.
It's carrying four payloads as part an international agreement - scientific instruments from France, Italy and the European Space Agency, as well as a small satellite from Pakistan.
The shuttle's job will be to collect and return samples from the moon's mysterious far side in what is the first endeavour of its kind in the history of human lunar exploration.
The side of the moon that faces away from the earth is said to contain more craters, which scientists believe could reveal the secrets of the moon's creation.
.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen has grabbed pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, while Daniel Ricciardo has finished fourth.
It's the best qualifying result this year for the Australian driver.
He says he didn't expect a second row start after clipping the wall during his two qualifying laps.
