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TRANSCRIPT
- In this bulletin, Israel says it has killed a top Iranian security chief
- A nervous wait for flood zones as a tropical cyclone looms off the Queensland coast
- And in sport, The Matildas defeat defending champions China to go through to the Asian Cup final
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz says it has killed a top Iranian security official and former nuclear talks strategy advisor, Ali Larijani, in an overnight strike.
Israel also says it has killed the head of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force, General Gholam Reza Soleimani.
Iranian state media has not yet confirmed either death, but the killings would strip Iran of important leaders during a war that presents the greatest test for the Islamic Republic in recent decades.
The United Nations deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, says the UN fears these deaths could make things worse for everyone.
"We do not believe that this program of killing different officials will be helpful for what is needed, which is a diplomatic solution to this problem."
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Donald Trump has condemned NATO allies for declining to get further involved in the war in the Middle East.
The US President had earlier called for allies to help protect the Strait of Hormuz which remains largely closed off, after US allies rebuffed Trump's request for help to reopen the critical waterway.
Mr Trump has now said in a social media post on Truth Social that the US no longer need or desire the NATO countries' assistance.
Mr Trump's comments have come as he was seated beside Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the White House, who earlier said the war is illegal and an attack on international law.
“He's lucky I exist...Because if you're going to allow countries that are sick and demented, and they are demented, to have nuclear weapons, everybody in the whole world should be very thankful. And I'm disappointed in NATO. Very disappointed. I'm disappointed in a couple of other countries, too. But they should be thankful that this group of people feels the way we do. Because if a country like Iran was allowed to have the power of a nuclear weapon, if we didn't stop them. I stopped them twice.”
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Members of the Australian Afghan community have expressed deep concern over reports of a strike on a drug treatment hospital in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.
The Taliban government earlier reported at least 400 people were killed and hundreds more injured, accusing Pakistan of carrying out the airstrike.
Pakistan has denied striking any health facility or civilian sites, saying it targeted "terrorist support infrastructure" in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangahar.
With Afghan officials saying around 2,000 people are being treated in hospital, Mohin Iqbal has told SBS Pashto the diaspora community wants to see an international investigation.
"This has caused serious concern among Afghan community in Australia and internationally. They are calling on United Nations, human rights agencies, Australian government, and other entities to call this brazen war crime that has happened in Afghanistan. And they're very concerned for their loved ones and family and friends who live in the area."
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A tropical cyclone forming off the Far North Queensland coast has triggered a cyclone watch for communities between Port Douglas and Lockhart River.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle is forecast to be a category four system when it makes landfall on the far North Queensland coast later this week, unleashing wind gusts of up to 224 kilometres per hour.
The storm could also further impact the Northern Territory, which is recovering from their worst flood event in almost 30 years.
Police Commissioner Martin Dole says parts of the Top End could remain above major flood levels for the remainder of the week.
"Katherine, Beswick, and Jolk Mingen have transitioned to recovery. There are no more people in shelters in Katherine. 37 houses remain without power. 166 evacuees remain at Mataranca, but will return to Jilk Mingan in the coming days once water levels recede and road assessments have been undertaken. The Daly River region, 578 people from Daly River and Palumpa remain in evacuation centres in Darwin."
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The government says it will continue to support the work of SBS, despite deciding to abandon a planned expansion into Western Sydney.
The overnight announcement from Communications Minister Anika Wells said the decision had been taken because of funding constraints in the current fiscal environment.
In a statement, Ms Wells has said the government has delivered 5-year funding terms to SBS and will invest more than $1.7 billion through to the 2027-28 financial year.
The expansion would have seen SBS establish a production hub in Western Sydney aimed at enhancing programming and engagement with local multicultural communities.
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To sport,
The Matildas are into their fourth Women's Asian Cup final, thanks to Australia captain Sam Kerr helping to seal the 2-1 win over China overnight.
Defending champions China had levelled the match with a Zhang Linyan penalty in the 26th minute following an early strike by Caitlin Foord - but Kerr scored at the 58 minute mark, netting the ball from a tough angle to the delight of Australian supporters.
The Matildas will now play either Japan or South Korea, depending on who wins the second semi-final in Sydney tonight (March 18).
Player of the Match Caitlin Foord says the Matildas are overjoyed to have made it this far and are already thinking about their next match.
"We obviously set the job out to get the win, which we did and I think there were some good patches but like Joe said there's some stuff we need to clean up but at the end f the day it's tournament football and it's just about getting the job done and we did that in the quarters and we've done that tonight, so yeah, one more to go."
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