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TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Israel steps up attacks in southern Lebanon, as ceasefire talks stall
- Australia considers vaccinating wildlife as the bird flu toll rises
- Two Iranian footballers become Australian citizens
Israel has stepped up attacks on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon after two of its soldiers were killed in an explosion.
The military says it struck a Hezbollah command centre and weapons storage facilities, while Lebanese officials say at least eight people were wounded.
The escalation has clouded US-brokered talks in Rome, which ended without a major breakthrough on Hezbollah’s disarmament or an Israeli troop withdrawal.
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq says officials are working with both sides to calm the situation.
"We're coordinating with them to see what can be done to calm the situation down. The Office of the Special Coordinator, which is currently led, as you know, by Jean Arnault, is also working to see what kind of support we can provide in order to make sure that the ceasefire that has been agreed to will actually be implemented fully."
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Russia says it shot down more than 600 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the largest attacks of the war to date.
In the Yaroslavl region, falling debris sparked a fire at an oil refinery and damaged nearby homes.
Ukraine says it also hit a second refinery deep inside Russia, as well as military patrol boats and vessels linked to Moscow’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the strikes are aimed at cutting the oil revenue Russia uses to fund the war.
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US President Donald Trump has acknowledged some American munitions supplies are tighter than others.
The admission follows his earlier denial of reports the United States was facing weapons shortages during the war with Iran.
His administration is seeking billions of dollars to replenish military stockpiles.
Mr Trump says defence companies are expanding production.
"Fortunately, I built up so much during my term. I rebuilt the military and also loaded it up with a lot of stuff. We have certain types of munitions that are very powerful, that we have unlimited - virtual, unlimited supply. We have others where it's a little bit tighter. As you know, our defense companies are building more plants right now than at any point in history. They're building plants for the Patriots, for the Tomahawks, for everything."
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A worsening bird flu outbreak has sparked debate over whether Australia should vaccinate wildlife against the deadly H5N1 strain.
The federal government is conducting vaccine trials in non-poultry birds as the national death toll rises above 100.
New Zealand has already begun vaccinating some of its rarest species after completing a world-first trial last year.
But some experts say questions remain over the safety, effectiveness and practicality of rolling out a similar program in Australia.
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A court in the US state of New Mexico has ordered social media giant Meta to pay 806-million Australian dollars for harm caused to young people on its platforms.
Almost 600-million dollars will fund mental health treatment services for children and teenagers.
The remainder will go towards prevention campaigns, screening services and other support over the next five years.
The court found federal privacy laws prevented Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, from applying age-verification tools to children under 13.
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Two Iranian footballers have become Australian citizens, five months after their government branded them traitors for protesting during the Women’s Asian Cup.
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were among several players who refused to sing Iran’s national anthem on live television.
Seven players were offered humanitarian visas after the protest, but five returned to Iran because of concerns for their families.
Both players say they are proud and grateful to now call Australia home.
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