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TRANSCRIPT
- A man suspected of driving a vehicle into a synagogue in the US state of Michigan shot dead
- The opposition urges faster action to secure Australia's fuel supply...
- Iran's men's football team says only FIFA can determine participation in the upcoming World Cup
A coalition of Iran-backed armed groups, calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for downing a US military refuelling aircraft over western Iraq.
In a statement, US Central Command says the incident involved two US aircraft, with the second plane landing safely.
The statement did not mention any casualties - and says more information will be provided as the situation develops.
A US official has told Reuters the aircraft that crashed had as many as six service members on board.
An attacker armed with a rifle has been killed after driving a vehicle into a synagogue in the U-S state of Michigan, in what authorities say was a targeted act against the Jewish community.
Police say the suspect rammed his car into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield before the vehicle caught fire.
More than 140 children and staff inside the synagogue were safely evacuated, although a security officer was injured and dozens of officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
Authorities say the suspect is dead and the motive remains under investigation.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor is accusing Energy Minister Chris Bowen of failing to secure Australia's fuel supply during the escalating Middle East crisis.
The Albanese government is activating emergency fuel reserves today, releasing 20 per cent of its petrol and diesel stocks for the first time since 2022 to combat regional shortages.
The move is following intense pressure from the Opposition regarding supply.
Mr Taylor says Mr Bowen is not responding to the crisis quickly enough.
"He told us that the fuel supplies were secure by the end of the week, by yesterday, we heard that we had a national crisis, a national crisis. This Minister has been asleep at the wheel, and I've been hearing from my constituents and others around Australia about their inability to get fuel supplies, farmers, truckers and others."
The Insurance Council of Australia says at least 1,200 claims have already been made by people impacted by floods in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory's top end have endured severe weather all week, with Katherine experiencing its worst flooding in 28 years.
Major floodwaters have affected multiple communities in Queensland, with the Bundaberg , Gympie and Chinchilla areas among some of the hardest hit.
Kylie McFarlane, deputy CEO of Insurance Council of Australia, says she expects claims to increase substantially, as the active, serious flood events continue to impact thousands of Australians.
"At the moment we're collecting data on a daily basis. We expect the number to increase as people get home to their homes or businesses and see what damage there has been, or as the damage continues to unfold. So as I said, 1,200 claims at the moment, approximately 1,100 in Queensland and the remainder in the Northern Territory."
The Australian Council of Social Services has revealed capital gains tax discounts flow overwhelmingly to the country’s wealthiest inner-city suburbs.
Analysis of taxation data shows a small number of rich enclaves in Sydney and Melbourne account for a fifth of the total annual tax break.
The report highlights a substantial disparity, where high-income earners in the east receive thousands more in concessions than those in western regions.
Researchers argue the current system disproportionately benefits a tiny fraction of investors, while the broader population receives minimal relief, and are calling for the existing discount be halved.
Iran's football team has responded to comments made by US President Trump about its participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, stressing that its governing body is FIFA, not any individual country.
The Iranian team's participation is in doubt.
Earlier, President Trump said Iran's team was welcome at the World Cup, but advised he didn't think it would be appropriate for them to be there.
In a statement on social media, the Iranian team says that no individual could exclude a country from the World Cup.
Iran's sport minister says he doesn't believe his country can compete in the tournament, after the US and Israel launched air strikes.
Sports law professor Mark Orth says the FIFA regulations are clear.
"Under the FIFA statutes, it's the independent decision of the Iranian Football Association to decide whether to participate in the World Championships or not to do so. It's not a political decision of the political leaders in Iran, so, it's a decision of the Association, and as far as I know, there is no clear decision of the Iranian Football Association not to participate."
