Australia imposes sanctions on a Russian cyber criminal involved in the Medibank data breach; The US and its allies hit Houthi rebel targets in Yemen's capital; And in football, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold announces changes to the line-up ahead of tonight's Asia Cup match against Uzbekistan.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Australia imposes sanctions on a Russian cyber criminal involved in the Medibank data breach;
- The US and its allies hit Houthi rebel targets in Yemen's capital;
- And in football, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold announces changes to the line-up ahead of tonight's Asia Cup match against Uzbekistan.
Australia has used cyber sanction powers for the first time, imposed on a Russian man involved in breaching the Medibank Private network in October 2022.
At least 9.7 million Medibank customers had their data compromised and published on the dark web in the attack, including names, dates of births and phone numbers.
The government has now named Russian citizen Aleksandr Emrakov for his role, and made it a criminal offence to provide assets, overhaul or deal with his assets - including via cryptocurrency.
Any breaches will be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Minister for Cyber Security Clare O'Neil says its a historic day, calling the Medibank breach the "single most devastating cyber attack" Australia has experienced.
"We all went through it, literally millions of people having personal data about themselves, about their family members, taken from them and cruelly placed online for others to see. It helped us, I think, understand the enormous cost this problem will have for all of us as Australians if we don't step up to this challenge. It also showed us something about the calibre of people we're dealing with in terms of this problem on the other side. These people are cowards and they are scumbags."
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The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out further strikes against Houthi rebels, this time in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
The US defence department detailed eight new strikes in a joint statement with Britain, which said the military action had support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.
The Houthis claim to have also hit a U-S cargo ship off the coast of Yemen, but US defence officials have denied the attack.
The rebel group has reiterated it will respond to "any attack" on Yemen and continue to target ships crossing the Red Sea, in protest against Israel's war in Gaza.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says "everyone" will get a tax cut, amid reports the government is considering toning down its controversial stage three tax cuts.
Federal cabinet is meeting to discuss the tax cuts, which from the 1st of July are set to create a single tax bracket for workers earning between 45,000 and 200,000 dollars a year.
But reports from Nine media and ABC suggest there is a new plan to lower the top tax bracket to $180,000, reducing the amount top earners would receive.
The Prime Minister's interview on KISS FM also hints that the tax cuts may be expanded to benefit those who earn less than 45,000 dollars a year, who were originally excluded.
Mr Albanese says his government is focused on "middle Australia" but didn't directly address whether higher bracket earners would miss out.
"I support tax cuts and everyone will be getting a tax cut. Look what we need to do, across the board what we're looking at is how we can help low to middle income earners. Middle Australia particularly is doing it really tough, you know people have a mortgage so we're looking at ways in which we can provide assistance to them."
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Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says he has the luxury of changing the side's starting lineup at the Asian Cup, without weakening it.
Australia has already qualified for the Round of 16 at the tournament in Qatar heading into tonight's final group stage game against Uzbekistan.
After wins against india and Syria in their first two games, Australia need only a draw to secure first place in the group.
Arnold says part of the reasons he'll make changes is to bring younger players in to set up the side better for the future.
"We've got some older players that probably may not make the next World Cup, and I've got to find replacements for them while I'm expected to win games. So, here will be changes. But it won't impact the strength of the starting eleven."
One player who definitely won't start against Uzbekistan is striker Mitch Duke.
He's sidelined with what Arnold says is a minor hamstring injury.
