TRANSCRIPT
- Israel strikes Iran's capital and declares a state of emergency ...
- The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash describes the moment of impact ...
- A disappointing start to the US open for Australian veteran Adam Scott.
Israel has attacked Iran's capital, with explosions being reported across Tehran.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed his country carried out the attack, without saying what it targeted.
A state of emergency has been declared in Israel with Mr Katz saying missile and drone attacks against Israel and its civilian population are expected immediately.
Mr Katz described the strikes as preventative and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Israel has told his administration the attacks were in self-defence.
It comes as the International Atomic Energy Agency for the first time in 20 years criticised Iran over it not working with its inspectors.
The US had been preparing for further tension in the area and had already pulled out some diplomats from Iraq's capital; and offered voluntary evacuations for the families of US troops in the wider Middle East.
A multinational investigation is underway into the Air India plane crash which killed all but one passenger on board late yesterday.
The Boeing 787-8 was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members from the Indian city of Ahmedabad to London, when it crashed into a residential area minutes after take-off.
241 people onboard the plane died, and an unknown number of people on the ground were killed.
The only survivor - a British National named Vishwashkumar Ramesh, whose brother was also on the plane - is being treated in hospital for injuries.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times from his hospital bed, he described in this voiced statement, the moment of impact.
"Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed… It all happened so quickly… When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me… Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital."
The flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.
Both Boeing and Air India say they are co-operating with an investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The United States and British government have also confirmed they will help investigate the incident.
The Opposition says Australia should increase defence spending, after theTrump administration announced a review into the AUKUS submarine partnership with the U-S and U-K.
Australia is set to acquire three nuclear-powered submarines from the U-S in the next decade, and another fleet in the 2040s at a cost of 368 billion dollars.
But the White House has announced a review of the deal's terms carried out by Under-Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby.
Opposition Finance Minister James Patterson told Channel Seven, Mr Colby has concerns about Australia's ability to finance the agreement.
"The second is Australia's ability to receive and operate these Virginia Class submarines without it coming at the expense of ADF capability and that is a much harder task. He believes we're not spending enough on defence, and all the national security and defence experts in Australia believe that too. So in our own national interest we should increase our defence spending, and we will also help convince the Trump administration we are serious about AUKUS."
Australia's defence spending is on track to hit 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently rebuffed calls from the US for Australia to it to 3.5 per cent.
The Australian Red Cross is urging more people to give blood regularly, as the end of National Blood Donor week draws near. The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood organisaton says around 3 per cent of the population currently donate blood or plasma at least once a year, which accounts for around half a million people.
However, only around 30,000 donors give blood more than three or four times a year. The organisation's, Jemma Falkenmire, has told SBS Gujarati the level of need requires more people to sign up to donate, and to do so on a regular basis.
"So at the moment we need about 1.7 million donations of blood and plasma to help patients in hospitals across Australia. Demand is very high. The demand for plasma, the golden part of blood is the highest it's ever been in Australia, and the demand for blood itself is around at a twelve year high."
And in golf,
Australian veteran Adam Scott has suffered a late setback in his opening round at the US Open, after a strong early effort at the Oakmont course.
Starting from the 10th hole, Scott reached the turn in two under.
But dropped shots at the third and eighth holes dragged the former Master back to level par, four shots behind American J.J. Spaun, who recorded a bogey-free 66.
The 44-year-old is competing in a remarkable 96th consecutive major championship dating back to the 2001.
Fellow Australian and current green jacket holder Rory McIlroy ended up eight shots back after a four-over 74.
